Everyone can appreciate what it means to be merciful, to feel compassion for those who suffer, sympathy for those in need, visceral indignation in the face of patent injustice, and a desire to respond with loving respect by attempting to set things right. If we reflect on this natural feeling of mercy, we begin to see how God himself can be understood in terms of this defining attribute by which Jesus wished to reveal him to us. God’s name is mercy. –Pope Francis addressing Roman clergy June 2, 2016, Basilica of St. John Lateran

Dad is slowly dying in an Alzheimer’s unit. He spends his days with his hands covering his face. He says it feels good. My sister Carolyn recently visited and was able to coax him into lowering one of his hands for a brief moment. The look on her face is pure love. I can’t look at this beautiful image without tearing up. –Rich D’Amour ‘76

Student Katherine O’Rourke checks blood pressure at her Summer Service Learning Program placement at a clinic in Grand Rapids, Michigan; image courtesy Center for Social Concerns.

Depicted is the fifth station of the cross, where Simon of Cyrene assists Jesus in carrying his cross. The image was taken on a Center for Social Concerns service trip to Glenmary Farm in Vanceburg, Kentucky in 2009. Located in the beauty of the surrounding forest, this station reminded us of the mercy shown to Christ in his life, and it also resonated with the acts of mercy we were called to show to others during our time in Appalachia. –Meghan Thornton ’10

Father Lou Delfra, CSC, and members of the ACE Staff visited the 2nd-5th graders at St. Ann School in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. The students entered this “Door of Mercy” and learned about what mercy means through stories, activities, and songs. –Marisa Foyle ’10 M.Ed.

Andy Czarnecki, who works for the Congregation of Holy Cross, uses his gifts as a handyman to serve the residents at Hope Ministries in need of bike repair. Located just a couple miles from Notre Dame, Hope’s vision is to create a community for people who are hurting to find healing through God’s grace, to allow God to transform their lives, and ultimately to thrive as disciples. -Submitted by Becky Czarnecki ’12M.Div.

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