Secret Pal Social

To thank and learn more about the Sisters of Mercy of Mobile, Alabama, for sharing their convent as the Associates’ monthly meeting place, Lillian Martin hatched a plan. One of the first Mercy Associates on the Gulf Coast, Lillian ingeniously paired an associate with a Sister of Mercy to discover more about them, pray for them and celebrate them with a thoughtful small gift. This strategically fell in February to celebrate Valentine’s Day but instead of calling the associate a secret valentine, the name “secret pal” was designated so the associates would have several months of this journey. It will culminate on Mercy Day when the secret pal or Mercy Associate will be revealed to the Sister. The kick off included a Happy Hour and a pizza party social with salads and homemade desserts. Theresa McGonagle, who became an associate with Lillian in 1989, and Sr. Marilyn Graf delivered small gifts to each sister to keep their benefactors confidential. “What a grand event with almost 100 percent participation of the Sisters. All but one, who was sick, came out for the pizza social,” said Sr. Marilyn.

Pictured from left at the Secret Pal Social are (top) Sr. Elizabeth Ann Cannon, Chabanel Finnegan, Sr. Mary Ann Wilhelm and Carolyn Flokerwitz (Mercy Associate applicant); (middle row) Sr. Regina Ann Hatton, Sr. Deborah Kennedy, and Sr. Padraic Halloran; (bottom) Sr. Jeanne Marie Keller and Sr. Mary Eileen Wilhelm. Not pictured in photo are: Sr. Julianne Carey, Sr. Marilyn Graf, Sr. Mary Zoe Keller, Sr. Mary Riordan, Sr. Jackie Tarrant and Sr. Joan Serda.