The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas: The Canonical Development of the Proposed Governance Model

On July 20, 1991, the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas came into existence. This study examines the extent to which the development of the proposed governance model of the new Institute remained faithful to the heritage of the Sisters of Mercy as established by the founder, Catherine McAuley. The author devotes considerable attention to the on-going dialogue between the Mercy leadership and the Holy See, the Church authority to effect such restructuring while also discussing the broader challenges ahead for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Contents: Introduction; I. Historical and Canonical Context. The Heritage of the Sisters of Mercy; The Expansion of the Sisters of Mercy in the U.S.; II. Formation of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Movement Toward Restructuring the Sisters of Mercy in the U.S.; The Formal Juridic Preparation for the Formation of a Single Institute; Summary and Conclusions; Appendices.