Can you imagine that the Mercy Center for Healing the Whole Person will begin its 23rd year of service and ministry in 2011? We are grateful for the opportunity to have served clergy and religious from over 51 countries. We have trained hundreds of lay men and women as spiritual companions, spiritual directors, and inner healing providers; cared for those who have been injured while serving in foreign missions; helped those who suffer from unresolved grief and trauma – Post Trauma Stress Disorder while serving in the military, police and fire departments; became a companion for major superiors transitioning out of office; listened to the stories of long-term missionaries who are preparing for re-entry back into the United States; assisted in the vocation discernment of men and women preparing for novitiate, entrance into seminary, retreats for final profession or deaconate and priestly ordination. It has been an honor to serve so many of our Catholic lay leaders who gave of themselves in generosity while serving in short-term mission projects. Our commitment to stewardship of time, talent and treasure encouraged the Mercy Center to provide over $70,500 in tuition assistance during 2010.
We accepted the invitation from Archbishop Donald Reece to expand the Mercy Center to serve the Archdiocese of Kingston and the 19 Dioceses of the Antilles Episcopal Conference. We have established a Mercy Center - National Center for Healing in Mandeville, Jamaica at Our Lady of Dunsinane - National Shrine. The Mercy Center will provide the Two-Week Pastoral Leadership Institute for Clergy and Religious, the Vocation/Formation Providers Program, the Rich in Mercy Institute for Spiritual Companions and Spiritual Directors, Directed and Guided Retreats and Ongoing Pastoral Formation for Clergy, Religious, Seminarians, Deacons and Lay leaders serving all three Dioceses of Jamaica. It is our hope that the Missionaries of Mercy with other volunteers will share their time, talent, and treasure in teaching the Rich in Mercy Spiritual Companion Program, Spiritual Directors Training Program and the Pastoral Leadership Institute and the various retreats that will be offered. If you would like to join us for any of our upcoming short-term mission projects to Jamaica please contact Fr. Bill Jarema.
The Mercy Center will also extend its Spiritual Directors Training Program and Vocation/Formation Providers Program to St. Lucia and the surrounding islands in September of 2011. Fr. Bill continues to provide retreats, conferences and Diocesan Convocations for clergy and religious throughout the United States, Ireland, England, and Jamaica. In the fall Fr. Bill will provide a clergy retreat in St. Lucia and a series on “Mysticism and Prophecy” for an international congregation of women religious in Rome. Fr. William Jarema’s transfer to the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica brought about other challenges for the Mercy Center staff. Mr. Bill Winaski has absorbed some of Fr. Bill’s workload as the Associate Director for the Colorado - Mercy Center. The Missionaries of Mercy (A Lay Catholic Movement – U.S.A.) have been most generous in volunteering to cook, provide transportation for our international program participants, and manage all five buildings used by the Mercy Center.
The Mercy Center is proud to announce that it has established a unique program for those who suffer from Post Trauma Stress Disorder and Acute Stress and Loss PTSD: An Approach that Works. See Fr. Bill and Mr. Alan Lane on Facebook and our web-site www.mercycenter.com explain this new program and the hope to reach out to those active and retired military, men and women in high stress jobs and individuals who have suffered from significant losses and traumatic experiences. Pass along this resource to your own family and friends who may benefit from this very successful and effective treatment program.
The Society of Missionaries of Mercy will launch their new program for families, “A Family Gathering: Growing in Mercy”. You can see the new brochure on the web-site www.societyofmissionariesofmercy.org
Fr. Bill Jarema will have his sixth book published by Paulist Press to be released this July - 2011, “A Survivor’s Guide for Church Ministers”. A one - three day workshop is available for your Diocese, Religious Congregation, School and College staff and employees, Church employees, and volunteers that will help equip them so as to avoid potential ministerial hazards and personal and professional harmful events.
On behalf of all our program participants from around the world who have benefited from the services of the Mercy Center and the volunteer work of the Society of Missionaries of Mercy we thank you for your support and advocacy. You are in our intercessory prayers every Wednesday at Morning Prayer and our evening celebration of the Eucharist. Keep our staff, volunteers, mission projects and growing pains in your prayers throughout 2011.
In His Mercy,
Rev. William J. Jarema
Founder Society of Missionaries of Mercy
Founder/International Director Mercy Center Inc. Colorado & Jamaica
