About Buckhead reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 2020)
Commentary | 7 MARCH 2020 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net ■ A aid and most insurance plans are accept ed. Mercy Care Chamblee, which opened in 2017, is an amazing 45,000-square- foot, state-of-the-art facility at 5134 Peachtree Road that I was privileged to tour recently. Notable in the lobby is a large plaque listing the donors who made it all possible. Many of the names are fa miliar to us all. Everything at this location is exem plary, from the abundant natural light to the colorful furniture and walls, spot less floors and cheerful, welcoming staff. Many fancy Atlanta clinics could take lessons! As chief mission officer, Sister Jane is responsible for keeping everyone on mission -- which is compassion, com mitment to the poor, excellence, integri ty, justice, stewardship and reverence for the dignity of each person. “I’m involved with employees as they’re carrying out the mission,” she said. “I give them structures for seeing their work as sacred. It’s God’s work, whatever their religion.” One of her “structures” is the daily re flection she sends to everyone. She’s also learning how to address the “compassion fatigue” that affects people “surrounded by so much challenge and sorrow.” “I’ve never seen so much joy at serv ing as I’ve seen at Mercy Care,” she said. “Part of my role is to listen and help them find balance and boundaries without giv ing up their heart.” And then, there are the patients. “I’ve never been so close to people who have so little,” she said. “I want to listen, learn and be close to them.” With only four Sisters of Mercy in At lanta and the numbers of religious dwin dling everywhere, she feels her ultimate goal is “keeping the flame lit” among the lay people. Unlike the nuns many of us remem ber from childhood, Sister Jane wears normal street clothes. Though she wore a traditional habit for eight years after joining the Sisters at age 17, she no lon ger owns one. “The old habit was off-putting,” she said. “Dressing as lay women makes us more accessible.” Like lay women, she lives in her own apartment in Brookhaven, very near the three other Sisters of Mercy, one of whom lives in an apartment across the street and the other two in the convent behind St. Joseph’s Hospital. They “live in community” by meeting several times a week for dinner and caring for one an other.. “We’re a virtual community,” Sister Jane said. Mercy Care accepts both financial and in-kind donations. For information, go to mercyatlanta.org. MOVE FORWARD WITH ATLANTA ATLANTA TRACK CLUB <${fembev & fotievy Stegisteration Open March 15-31 at AJC.com/peachtree 3lace 6 Day: Saturday, July 4, 2020 Jfogjehj arwL IT’S BETTER FOOD. WHAT WILL BRING YOU TO PETPEOPLE? Finicky? Picky? Not anymore! Roger and Dolly's human talked with a Pet Nutrition Specialist at their neighborhood PetPeople store and it's been smooth eating ever since. HEALTHY FOOD & TREATS NATURAL PET PRODUCTS EXPERTLY TRAINED STAFF DOG WASHES & GROOMING If it helps pets thrive, you'll find it at PetPeople. PetPeople* DUNWOODY 5556 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd. Dunwoody, GA 30338 (678)353-6660 Grooming + SPAW Dog Wash! PEACHTREE 2349 Peachtree Rd.NE Atlanta, GA 30305 (678)949-9347 SPAW Dog Wash! SANDYSPRINGS 4920 Roswell Rd. Atlanta, GA 30342 (404)500-2653 SPAW Dog Wash! $10 OFF $30 IN-STORE PURCHASE illjjff H l HI THRU 4.30.20 Coupon must be presented at time of sale. Cannot be used with any other discount or promo. USE RPRO# 17371 FREE DOG WASH WITH ANY PURCHASE! THRU 4.30.20 Coupon must be presented at time of sale. Cannot be used with any other discount or promo. USE RPRO# 13979 1 Ask our experts about our healthy food options and 100% food guarantee.
