Annual Gathering of Mercy Associates and Mercy Friends Leaders

July 3, 2026

The leaders of Mercy Associates and Mercy Friends gathered earlier in the year in Sydney for their annual gathering that was a time of rich discernment, sharing and reflection.

What a beautiful space I had the opportunity, on the last weekend of March, to gather in for my first Mercy Associates Leadership Group meeting. Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney has a sense of peace about it that reminds me so much of my visit to the House of Mercy on Baggott Street, Dublin. These days gave me time to reflect on both Venerable Catherine McAuley and Saint Mary MacKillop; how they were both courageous, ordinary, extraordinary and faith-filled women.

Walking through and revisiting the 7 Steps Pilgrimage over the weekend was a great reminder of how we are all continually on a journey that we pack for and walk each day. Our focal space grew over the gathering, with shared wisdom, wisdom from Catherine and her sisters, scripture and symbols to reflect not just the ‘what’ of the weekend, but the ‘who’. Who we are in Mercy, who we are as Mercy and how we are Mercy in our world.

Our leaders gave us many moments of reflection and discernment, which I am so grateful for after their input. The reading of a wonderful picture book I Grow in Grandad’s Garden by Brian Andrew led to a beautiful reflection, like the Examen, enabling each of us to discern where we believe we are headed with our Mercy Associate Groups. This reflection ended with the creation of a reminder to take with us. For me, this is now used daily with my Bible, a visible reminder that I might need to take a walk through that garden again!

The poem Influence  by Mary Wickham RSM was central to our weekend. It talks of the ripples made when a stone lands in water, and just as those ripples continue outwards our influences too are far-reaching, some which are unknown to us. This is what it is to work in Mercy – we never know the extent of our influence on others; the smile we share with a stranger, the prayer for someone struggling, the outstretched hand, the listening ear, the time spent with another, the way of Mercy.

Towards the end of our gathering, we revisited the wonderful artwork Collecting Hope: Encounters of Pilgrimage by Ruby Glenister. We had time to reflect on this image, including the empty shelf and shared what we would place on this shelf. When we shared our thoughts as a group, and like many times over the weekend, I was in awe of the wonderful group of people I shared that space and time with. There were such beautiful reflections shared, and even on further reflection I continue to be happy with putting nothing on that shelf. To me, leaving that shelf empty reminds me of the space I need to give God in my life; that silence and stillness are important. So, the shelf is not truly empty, it gives space for whatever God needs there to be space for in my life.

This was truly an opportunity that was inspirational, one I am so grateful to have experienced. Moving forward, we know that Mercy Associates and Mercy Friends have many paths that can be walked. We all need to channel the courage of Catherine McAuley, stepping out with extraordinary faith into the opportunities that are ahead of us.

Gemma Spradbrow-Hunt
Providence Mercy Associates Group

Find out more about Mercy Associates – https://institute.mercy.org.au/become-involved/become-a-mercy-associate/