News - Mercedarians find rest & spiritual renewal at JRH

Everyone needs a break from time to time, a chance to get away. This is especially true for men and women religious, whose commitment to ministry imposes considerable demands upon their physical, mental, and spiritual resources.

One way Jesuit Retreat House fulfills its mission is to provide a place of peace and prayer where men and women religious can recharge their batteries. A recent example is a community-building workshop for members of the Order of Mercy, or the Mercedarian Friars, which took place from June 29-July 2. During this workshop, the friars strengthened their sense of mission and fellowship while growing together as individuals and community.

According to Fr. Richard Rasch, vicar provincial to the United States and pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish on Cleveland ’s West Side, the Order of Mercy was founded in 1218 in Barcelona , Spain to redeem Christian captives captured during the Crusades. They came to the United States in the 1920’s to minister to the needs of Italian immigrants. Today, Mercedarian Friars engage in a variety of apostolic works, including ministry in prisons, hospitals, schools, and parishes. More information about the Order of Mercy may be found at http://orderofmercy.org/.	Br. Justin Freeman takes a moment of quiet.
Three Mercedarian friars take a moment to share their joy.	One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Order of Mercy is communal living, in which members live and pray together in community. Community life is both empowering and challenging, and so the friars gather every year for Permanent Formation, a community-building workshop. The purpose of the multiday workshop, according to Fr. Rasch, is to “grow together in unity as brothers.” This year’s workshop featured insightful presentations by Fr. Jerry McClone, S.J., a psychologist who works specifically with religious orders. In between presentations, the friars took time to pray on their own as well as enjoy social interactions with each other. They engaged in lively conversation during meals and breaks, and they even celebrated the birthday of one of their members with song and cake.
The workshop certainly made a strong impression upon its participants. Brother Justin Freeman, a seminarian studying in Philadelphia , said “It’s been a very good experience for everybody to work through the difficulties and to try to grow as religious and as people.” Fr. Rasch echoed that sentiment. “The beautiful thing is just being together.” he said, “It’s a start, a positive beginning.”	A table of friars enjoys their lunch.
Religious life, according to Fr. Rasch, requires “constant renewal.” Renewed by their experience together at JRH, the Mercedarian friars will return to their ministries and communities with new strength, purpose, and unity.