Calendar & Events

The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas have served in East Tennessee since coming to Knoxville in 1896  By Dan McWilliams The retirement of the last two Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in the Diocese of Knoxville ends a tradition of more than 120 years of the community’s service in East Tennessee. Sister Patricia “Pat” Soete, RSM, the pastoral associate at St. Jude Parish in Helenwood since September 1994, retired to Mercy Convent in Nashville in late November. In spring of this year, Sister Yvette Gillen, RSM, pastoral associate at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, retired to Nashville. Several Sisters of Mercy have retired in recent years, ending a long run of service that began in 1896 when the first Sisters of Mercy came to East Tennessee to teach at St. Mary School, next door to Immaculate Conception Church in downtown Knoxville. The Sisters of Mercy founded... Read more →