Californian elected new president of Sisters of Mercy

Published: 2005-07-08

LAREDO, Texas (CNS) -- More than 300 representatives of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas have elected Sister Mary Waskowiak as their president for the next six years. The women religious elected their new leader during their congregational meeting, called a chapter, held June 20-30 in Laredo. Since 2003, Sister Waskowiak has been president of the Sisters of Mercy regional community in Burlingame, Calif. She replaces Sister Marie Chin, who is from Jamaica and was the first non-U.S.-born sister to serve on her community's leadership team. The new president said she hopes to serve her community well during what she called "challenging times," and she expressed a vision for the sisters that involves taking up the mandates of the institute more fully.

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