Sr. Margaret Brackett, RSM
Spiritual Director
New York, NY


For the past 23 years, I have worked as spiritual director at two Jesuit retreat houses. These are places of silence and tranquillity where people come to spend time with the Lord. Once a day, they meet with me one-on-one to share thoughts about their prayers or any questions or concerns they may have. I love meeting so many wonderful people. I feel very fulfilled and peaceful. I don’t experience the stress of meeting deadlines or anything else. When I’m with the person, I focus on him or her as if there was no one else in the world.

In my earlier religious life, I taught on the elementary, high school, and college level. I also worked in the Vocation Office in the Chancery, which is the hub of the Archdiocese of New York, and I taught at the prep seminary.

I value the companionship of my sisters in religion and also my time for prayer—quiet time with the Lord each morning. At this stage in life, my schedule is not as busy as it used to be. I appreciate the regular rhythm of companionship with my Mercy sisters and my friends outside the community. It’s been a good life.

I’ve also had difficult times. But the thing that keeps me even-keeled is Chapter 21 of the Gospel of St. John. After the resurrection, the disciples went fishing. Jesus was on the shore and because of the fog, they couldn’t see him. He asks them, “Have you caught anything?” and they say, “No.” He tells them to cast on the other side of the boat and John says immediately, “It is the Lord.” That’s my motto. It’s what comforts me in challenging times—when I’ve experienced the deaths of loved ones—and it’s also what brings me joy when I’ve had wonderful things happen in my life.

From an academic viewpoint, I would say that my Fulbright scholarship for American Teachers of Classics is my top accomplishment. My parents thought my bachelor’s degree from Mt. St. Vincent was a very big honor since I was the first child of my generation to get a degree. But I would say reaching my 60th anniversary as a Sister of Mercy is also a great milestone. This diamond jubilee is by the grace of God. And I’m going for the 70th—the platinum! I thank God that I have never had second guesses about being in the right place. This is a gift because I know people struggle with it. But I’ve never had the thought, “Maybe I shouldn’t be here.”

About 80 years ago, I was born prematurely—a seventh-month baby. Back then, there was little neonatal technology, but I survived with love and care. When I was 23, just before I made my final vows, I was diagnosed with lymphoma, so I’m a cancer survivor as well. The way I see it, every day is a gift. It’s one day at a time. I try not to live in the past or the future but just live today.

What motivated me to become a Sister of Mercy were the sisters I had as teachers, the priests in the parish, and very early on, in 7th grade, I began to go to Mass everyday. Nobody made me, but I think the frequency of the Eucharist and watching people, seeing their happiness, made me aware that God uses human instruments—just as He has used me. For example, the former principal of Our Lady of Victory, Sr. Patricia Vetrano, was a student when I was principal of the school. That’s what I mean. It’s a chain reaction. So every day I pray for vocations to the religious life and the priesthood.