The Sisters of Mercy are inspired by the courageous and compassionate example of their founder, Catherine McAuley.  The Sisters of Mercy on Guam are involved in various ministries: education, pastoral work, prayer ministry, and social work.

Guam Foundresses

MERCY’S JOURNEY…

» Decade of the ’40′s

November 5, 1946 •  Sister Mary Inez Underwood, RSM,  Sister Mary Louise Wiensenforth and Sister Mary Annette McBennett of the  Sisters of Mercy arrived on Guam from Belmont, North Carolina.

Guam Postulants 1946

December 12, 1946 • First group of women entered and started their postulancy

December 1947 • First Reception of 20 novices at the Cathedral Inarajan convent opened

August 29, 1949 • Inarajan convent opened

September 1949 • Academy of Our Lady & Cathedral Grade School opened

» Decade of the ’50′s

1950 • Santa Barbara Catholic School opened in Dededo

Tai Convent construction

1951 • Permanent Tai Convent and Novitiate erected

1952 • Infant of Prague Nursery established

1955 • First Final Profession

1959 • New Agana Convent dedicated

» Decade of the ’60′s

1960 • Sister Callista Camacho appointed Superior

Sister Bernadette Marie and Sister Cecilia

• Saint Anthony School opened and Sister Bernadette Marie became the first Principal.

• Juniorate was established and Sister Redempta became the first Directress

1962 • Sister Redempta returned to Belmont; Sister Margaret Mary Lujan succeeded as the new Juniorate Directress

• Renovation of Tai Convent damaged by Super Typhoon Karen

1963 • Sister Mary John Madden appointed Superior

1964 • Aspiranture program started

1965 • Junior professed sisters sent to Belmont for college and teacher training

• Sr. Mary Louise Weisenforth returned to Belmont after 19 years on Guam

1966 • Discalced Carmelite Sisters resided at Tai Convent pending construction of monastery

1966 • First General Chapter in Belmont: Guam delegates: Srs. Mary John, Roberta and Mary Mark

1967 • Sr. Mary Mark Martinez appointed Regional Superior

• Aspiranture closed

• Tai property deeded to Sisters of Mercy

» Decade of the ’70′s

1971 • Guam Region’s 25th Anniversary

• First Regional Assembly

Sr. Evelyn Muna

1972 • Sr. Evelyn Muna: first elected Regional Superior

• Sisters of Mercy: incorporated

1973 • Diocese acquires Mercy Hts.Convent and property

1975 • New Mercy Heights Convent dedicated

1978 • Transfer of Sr. Maria Thecla Camacho from Franciscan Missionaries

» Decade of the ’80′s

1981 • Inarajan convent reopened

• 15oth Anniversary of the Sisters of Mercy worldwide

1983 • Sr. Evelyn Muna elected to North Carolina Regional Council

1985• Mercy Futures project began

1986 • Two candidates from Chuuk entered

1988 • Sr. Mary Cabrini Taitano elected Regional Superior

• Mercy Associates program inaugurated

1989 • Opening of Rota Mission: Sisters sent were Mary Benedict San Nicolas, Mary Carmelita Peredo and Mary Veronica Chargualaf

» Decade of the ’90′s

1991 •  Mercy Convent in Saipan opened

• INSTITUTE OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY OF THE AMERICAS’ FOUNDING EVENT: Buffalo, NY

1992 • Mercy Hts. Nursery renovated

•  Infant of Prague nursery damaged by typhoon

Chuuk convent

1993 •  “Pathways toward the Future” project started

1994 • Completion of Belmont-Guam Task Force Study

•  new Inarajan convent dedicated

1996 •  Sr. Angela Perez elected Region President

• Guam Region’s Golden Jubilee; Mary Underwood returned to Guam

•  Chuuk mission opened: Sisters Mary Cabrini Taitano and Grace Joseph first Mercy sisters

1997 • Golden Jubilee of first group of Sisters in Guam community

1998 • Mary Underwood passed away in March

» Decade of the 2000′s

2000 • 50th Anniversary: Santa Barbara School and Infant of Prague Nursery/Kindergarten

2001 • Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the America’s 10th anniversary

• Initial conversations around Re-imagination and Reconfiguration of new communities in the Institute.

2002 • Mercy sponsored ministries, Mercy Action Marianas, Ltd. and two nurseries, incorporated

• Saipan and Rota missions closed

Mercy Care Center

2003 • Mercy Care Center opened

Mercy Sisters took over ALEE Shelter ministry

2004 – Sr Cabrini Taitano elected Guam Region President

• Institute Justice Solidarity Retreat in Chuuk and Guam

2005 • St. Anthony School’s 45th Anniversary

2006 • Emerging “South Central Community” (Baltimore, Cincinnati, Guam,Jamaica, North Carolina, and St. Louis) named at Joint Leadership Team meeting in Nashville, Tennessee

November 5, 2006 • Guam Region community’s 60th Anniversary with Eucharistic celebration at the Cathedral-Basilica. Special guest, Sister Mary Waskowiak, Institute President

60th Anniversary

November 11,2006 • Sisters of Mercy worldwide celebrate 175th Anniversary with promotion for the cause of Beatification of the Foundress, Venerable Catherine McAuley

September 2008 – The Sisters of Mercy South Central Community is formed. Made up of the former regional communities of Baltimore, Cincinnati/Jamaica, St. Louis, and North Carolina/Guam, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – South Central Community unites more than 700 sisters in the Institute.

The first Community Leadership Team elected: L-R: Sr. Kathy Green, President; Sr. Paulette Williams, council member, Sr. Barbara Wheeley, council member; Sr. Mary Angela Perez, council member; Sr. Jane Hotstream, Vice-President; Sr. Marie Chin, council member.