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From the very foundation of the Misericordia Sisters, lay people have
collaborated on their mission and, all along its history, a spirit of
heartfelt union has been established between those people, which gave
rise to a spiritual Family.
The Misericordia Family is a network of various groups of christians eager to share in the spiritual heritage of the Misericordia Sisters in the Church and in the world. All members of this Family can be readily identified by common evangelical features: "To live the mercy of Jesus the Savior with young girls and women who are pregnant out-of-wedlock and with their children and, also, with married women who find it difficult to live their pregnancy." They share in the same charism, are nurtured by the same spirituality and are in solidarity with the same mission, according to their own occupation and within their own walk of life.
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SPIRITUALITY
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The contemplation of Merciful Jesus is the source of the spirituality, first constituent of this charism.
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MISSION
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The other constituent, the mission, is nurtured by contact with the mothers
and children.
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SPIRIT
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The charism, lived out in such a way, gives those people a spirit characterized
by unconditional welcome, compassion, simplicity and absence of any prejudice
in their relations with others. Under the breath of the Spirit, the various members of this spiritual Family are called upon to live in ever closer union, so as to respond better to the call sent out to them.
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MEMBER GROUPS
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The Institute of the Misericordia Sisters constitutes the nucleus of this
Family around which the various groups revolve: the Misericordia Friends, the group "Misericorde et Vie" and the group Esperanza y Solidaridad, the Prayer Network, the Collaborators, the Heritage Group, the Twin Works the Group of Parents, the Private Vows
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BELONGING OF GROUPS
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The Sisters, nucleus of the Family, are personally committed by perpetual vows. In the groups of Misericordia Friends, "Misericorde et Vie" and Esperanza y Solidaridad, Prayer Network, Collaborators, Parents and Private Vows, each member personally takes the steps according to the pattern determined for each group. As for the members of the Heritage Group and the Twin Works Group, it is the institution that commits itself through the Board of Directors. The kinship of the Family stands at the spirit level; that is, there is no juridical or canonical bond between the Institute and the members of the Family.
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GATHERINGS
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Celebration is well alive in the Family life. Along the year, there are
opportunities when the various groups are invited to meet together. Among
those, there is the Patronal feast day, Our Lady of Mercy (Misericordia),
which takes place on September 24 in the liturgical calendar. The Motherhouse of the Misericordia Sisters is the gathering location. This is where the mortal remains of the grandmother of the Family, Rosalie Cadron-Jetté, are kept and venerated; her canonization cause has been introduced in Rome.
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