The outdoor labyrinth was dedicated in honor of Sister Maureen M. Reardon, RSM, Ph.D. of West Hartford.

The Maureen M. Reardon, RSM, Ph.D. Labyrinth at The Mercy Community. Submitted photo

Submitted

The Mercy Community, West Hartford’s premier continuing care retirement community, is pleased to announce the recent official dedication and opening of two new projects on their sprawling 32-acre campus- a Labyrinth and the new state-of-the-art Palliative Care Center inside Saint Mary Home.

During the annual President’s Reception event, William J. Fiocchetta, President and CEO of The Mercy Community, officially unveiled and opened the new Labyrinth, which takes inspiration from the Sisters of Mercy and used stone pavers, wrought iron lampposts and materials from the former convent of the Sisters, Mercyknoll, a recently redeveloped parcel of land adjunct to The Mercy Community campus on Steele Road.

Sister Maureen Reardon. Submitted photo

During his remarks, Fiocchetta made this surprise announcement:

“Parents and artists know very well that choosing a name is rarely an easy assignment.  How will it roll off the tongue?  Is it easy to remember?  To spell?  If you choose a name to honor another person, does that give the person or thing you’re naming too much to live up to?  Will everyone agree that such an honor is deserved?  Will anyone even make the association?

“We don’t imagine that any of these issues will be problematic with the name we have selected for our Labyrinth.  It springs off the tongue with a wee bit o’ a lilt, much like the rolling green hills of Ireland.  The honor is deserved, and people will make the association, because no one was a more passionate, faithful, determined champion for this Labyrinth as a critical component of our Palliative Care Program and as a nod to the Sisters’ of Mercy legacy than the person for whom it has been named.  And as far as pressure to measure up, well, if our Labyrinth can evoke a spirit of healing, grace and Mercy in all who enter its path, it will certainly deserve the name of : The Maureen M. Reardon, RSM, Ph.D. Labyrinth at The Mercy Community.”

The Labyrinth is not only a place for reflection and peace, but also of prayer and healing. It is believed that after walking the labyrinth you will walk back out newly empowered on your journey back into your everyday life.

In addition to the new Reardon Labyrinth, the new Palliative Care Center in Saint Mary Home was also officially opened and dedicated during the event. Many rooms in the Center were converted from double to single occupancy, as well as completely renovated ‘as-new’ with modern amenities and finishes. The unit also features a Family Room to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of not only the resident, but the entire family, including children and/or grandchildren of those under care. Soon, a modern solarium fine dining facility will also open on the same floor, rounding out the transformation.

Recognized as a critical component of healthcare, palliative care is the treatment and management of pain that comes with serious disease and illness. While it is often a component of hospice care, Palliative Care can be used at any stage of life. With the opening of the new floor, The Mercy Community becomes one of the limited number of continuing care communities in the nation to offer a true Palliative Care Center.

For more information on Palliative Care and the complete spectrum of services available at The Mercy Community, please visit www.TheMercyCommunity.org.