Sisters of Mercy | betsybeadhead

I like going on retreat to Mercy Convent, a home for retired Sisters of Mercy. I’m fortunate that this place is about thirty minutes from my house. I wish I could go here every month. Honestly, I wish I could live here. The last time I was on retreat (11-15-14) I took several pictures so I could share the feeling of being there virtually.

Welcome!

The statue of Mary and Jesus is straight ahead

The parlor where you will meet with the other retreatants is just to your left.

If you turn to the left of the statue, you are walking to the dining hall and the chapel. Pictures of those follow in a bit.

Turning to the right of the statue, you are walking down the hallway to your room.

On the way to your room. At the end of the hall is an intersection with some plants, a Pieta nook, and a display cabinet with Mercy history.

The hallway ahead is the A wing. The B wing is to the left, and the C wing is to the right.

This is looking down the A wing.

The Pieta corner is at the intersection of the three wings. It is nice to sit here at night.

One item in the display cabinet.

The TV room for the nuns. Off limits to the retreatants. Panning right. This is at the corner of the A and B wings.

The stained glass windows marking the library. This is at the corner of the A and C wings.

In the Library

Down the hallway of the B wing is the small chapel.

The stained-glass window there.

Welcome to your room.

The cross on the wall as soon as you open the door.

The room. Most are laid out like this. They all used to be rooms for the retired nuns. After they “started going to heaven” as the director euphemistically says, members of the community asked if they could use the area for retreats. They said yes, as hospitality is part of their charism.

The pictures on the walls are different in every room. Some are similar. Many are of Mary and Jesus. There are usually about 4 pictures. These are various ones I’ve seen over my many times here.

Instructions.

A close-up of the Mercy Cross.

The bathroom.

Even your soap is friendly.

Your desk.

On the wall in the hallway near your room in the C wing.

On the way to the day room – handrails

The day room for retreatants is in the C wing.

Opposite the day room – an open porch. Don’t forget your key – you’ll never get back in otherwise.

Walking back to the dining room and chapel area.

Mary inside, near the dining hall and chapel. The dining hall is right, the chapel is left.

In the sacristy. A dispenser for Holy Water.

In the chapel, just before communion. It wasn’t dark, but I had to play with the settings to get the stained glass windows to show up.

The aumbry, with key.

Random prayers in the Missal that I found interesting.

In the dining hall

The buffet line

The quiet area for dining for retreatants (also where the art supplies are)

Art supplies for retreatants

The sun porch at the end of the dining hall – looking left

Looking right

Looking straight ahead

Go outside and see the yard.

A pan around the yard outside. Panning right.

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Mary outside

In the yard – a feather

Because it is winter, you can see the nearby farm with cows.

An interesting hackberry tree – note how it grows around obstacles. This is in the back yard.

An interesting bit of old tree with lichens.

These were taken at the retreat I went to in September at the Sisters of Mercy convent in Nashville.

Here is the Sisters of Mercy cross that is the first thing you see when you go into your room.

Getting further into the room, there are large closets and a chest of drawers.

Panning further left

My room has my bear sitting on my bed. His name is Arthur. I think life is better with a bear.

Going all the way into the room, looking back towards the door.

Panning right. There is a nice little writing desk by the bed. Say Hello to Arthur!

A sweet picture of Mary and Jesus is over the writing desk.

The bathroom is near the door. It is just big enough.

Then, a few pictures from in the center itself.
The main chapel.

In the small chapel – our theme for the retreat. “Boat Time with Jesus” (See Luke 8:22-25)

I love how the Sisters who live there treat the small chapel as if it is their home. (It is, actually.) Here are two sets of rosaries they have left behind after their prayers.

Midway through the retreat they added a new candle. A candle is lit when there is blessed sacrament on the altar. The candle lasts about a week. It burns continuously.