A little mercy goes a long way

The pull of a life committed to serving the poor

For Sister Maria Campos, captivating the hearts of young women so they can say “yes” to the Lord and to Mercy often begins with a heartfelt journey that provides an unforgettable and invaluable experience to all who attend. It is an opportunity to serve and love others in need, just as Jesus served and loved.

A Sister of Mercy and a vocation minister for the Auburn Regional Community and the Diocese of Sacramento, Maria fell in love with Casa Corazón, a residential community of children and youth living with HIV/AIDS located in Honduras.

At Casa Corazón, the children, many of whom have lost their parents to AIDS, are cared for physically and spiritually by the Sisters of Mercy, who are committed to the service of the poor, the sick, and the marginalized, especially women and children. It was also the perfect place for Maria to take three young women on a recent Mercy Journey experience.

After receiving a $10,000 grant, she invited young women with potential for religious life to Casa Corazón, where they spent two weeks caring for and working with 35 children from the ages of newborn to 19 years of age. It didn’t take long before the children stole their hearts, and one of the young women has asked to continue discerning with the order.

Responding to the needs of those who are poor and suffering is the special call of the Sisters of Mercy. Following the example of Jesus, the Sisters move in the midst of the world teaching and healing.

They are women of faith who follow in the tradition of their founder Catherine McAuley, who sought to empower people to achieve lives of dignity, drawing their inspiration from the gospel model of Jesus, who reached out to all those in need.