Mercy Conference and Retreat Center

MCRC's Why
Mercy is a gift entrusted to us, rooted in the traditions of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy. We welcome individuals and groups into a tranquil environment of hospitality where personal, spiritual and professional growth can occur. We believe that when individuals are refreshed and renewed they can renew their communities and transform our world.

General Overview
Mercy Conference and Retreat Center combines the best features of a conference facility and spiritual oasis in a single location, making it the perfect space for meetings, seminars, workshops, and retreats. Our beautifully wooded 72-acre campus offers a spacious setting and supportive atmosphere for professional, educational and spiritual activities. Our center can host day groups of up to 150 individuals and has overnight accommodations for up to 102 guests.

Conference Services
MCRC serves groups in the Midwest and around the United States by providing a tranquil environment that promotes deeper reflection, greater collaboration and communication, enhanced creativity, and the opportunity to expand the possibilities for positive impact in their respective fields of influence. The Center hosts faith communities from diverse spiritual traditions, health and social service organizations, and schools and universities. Hosted groups use the space for retreats, educational programs, strategic planning workshops, and operational meetings. Many of our groups have been using our facility and services year after year and are booked far into the future.

Sponsored Programs
MCRC offers programs that encourage and empower individuals to greater depth and breadth in their spiritual journeys. Retreats, days of reflection, and shorter programs offer a wide array of presenters and topics to meet the needs of participants. Mercy Center offers shorter guided retreats during Advent and Lent and a longer guided retreat in the spring. [A guided retreat is a silent retreat in which a presenter usually provides two sessions of input for a group on a particular theme. This input provides guidance for the rest of the day which is spent in personal reflection and prayer. The retreat may include a session of dialogue or faith-sharing.] The Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - women, immigration, nonviolence, anti-racism, and earth - are woven into our programs. MCRC collaborates with individuals and organizations to ensure that programming remains relevant and responsive to an ever-changing population.

COMPASS kits
COMPASS stands for Companion of Mercy Conference and Retreat Center Personal and Shared Soul-Care. The self-paced retreat/reflection kits arrive personalized for the recipient and include: 3 guided reflections, a candle, and a handcrafted item with an associated soul-word as a keepsake. Eight Original and two Special Edition COMPASS kits are available. All content is created by Mercy Conference and Retreat Center staff. We believe COMPASS kits will be beneficial to the recipient on a personal level, but also to groups who wish to share in meaningful discussions either virtually or in-person.

Virtual Ministry
Created and developed (or sourced) resources from around the world that are available on the internet for free placed into meaningful categories that will allow a person to go quickly to whatever might be needed. These resources include downloadable files, music, videos, blogs, daily Mercy Moment inspirational emails, virtual daily or weekly spiritual programs and other tools and communities that will serve in the moment of need and also be available on an ongoing basis.

Spiritual Opportunities
Spiritual Direction: Spiritual direction (or spiritual companioning) is a relationship in which the director listens to an individual's story with an ear to the holy, to the divine. It's a confidential conversation in which the Spirit of God is present.
The director is:
-a companion for the journey who assists the person in recognizing the presence and call of the Holy in their life.
-not a therapist, but rather a listener who can be helpful in opening more fully to the action of the Spirit.

Personal Quiet Day
An opportunity to spend quiet time reading and relaxing, praying and meditating, or just have a safe and quiet place to work other home. During the day, guests will have access to a private room and bathroom for the day. Each room has a desk and chair, as well as a comfortable chair/rocker for relaxing and reading. A boxed lunch is provided. Guests will also have access to free WIFI, the chapel, and the grounds (including the Labyrinth and Cosmic Walk).

Individual Overnight Retreats
Mercy Center offers two types of retreats to meet spiritual needs:
Private Retreat - An individual retreat, usually of 1 - 5 days duration, allows the freedom to enjoy solitude, silence, and time for personal prayer and reflection. There are no structured activities during this retreat...