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Soul Sisters: Psychology students learn life lessons from the Sisters of Mercy
by: Maria Anderson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Faculty Bio
The project that has brought me the greatest joy as a faculty member at the University of Saint Joseph began in my course “The Aging Brain” and has since blossomed into an ongoing partnership between USJ students and the Sisters of Mercy.
The original idea began with a simple question: How could I help my students see beyond the textbook and truly experience the human dimension of what they were learning about aging?
In class, we had been discussing research that showed how perspectives can shift later in life. As time horizons narrow, older adults often report focusing more deeply on being present, on their closest relationships, and letting go of worrying about the future.
I found this to be such a powerful lesson for young people, who are often weighed down by anxieties about their future, careers, and whether they are making the “right” choices. The idea that life can feel lighter later on, not because challenges disappear, but because priorities sharpen and attention shifts toward what matters most, seemed like a hopeful message worth exploring in depth. What would it mean for a 19-year-old, at the beginning of adulthood, to sit across from someone with a lifetime of experience to hear how priorities and joys shift with age?
We often speak about the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy in the classroom, but what if our students could meet them and put a human face to the values that continue to shape USJ?
Maria Anderson, Ph.D.
That question led me to Sister Beth Fischer. I sent her an email asking if she would be interested in collaborating on this intergenerational project. She agreed to meet, and over several days and multiple cups of tea at Jay’s Nest, Sister Beth and I began to imagine what this could look like. She had an idea: Why not invite Sisters of Mercy from our community to take part? Since our University was founded by these women — visionaries who dedicated their lives to education, service, and justice — it felt natural. We often speak about their legacy in the classroom, but what if our students could meet them and put a human face to the values that continue to shape USJ?
And so, the project began. Students spent hours in class crafting thoughtful questions. With Sister Beth’s facilitation, they sat down for conversations with several Sisters of Mercy. The impact was immediate. One student reflected, “She was honestly amazing and such a positive individual. I really enjoyed interviewing her; she made me have a different perspective about life now and when you get older!” Another shared, “We both really enjoyed interviewing Sister Mary Alice. All of her answers were very insightful. She has a really great attitude about aging and gave us great advice!”
For three years now, students from different Psychology classes have participated in these conversations. Every year, the experience feels both grounding and inspiring. For the Sisters, it is an opportunity to share their journeys, hopes, and values with the next generation. For our students, it is a chance to learn about, and from, the Sisters’ full lives and the non-linear paths that have led them to where they are today.
My hope is that these conversations stay with our students long after graduation, as reminders that perspective deepens with time, that there is worth in every stage of life, and that the values of service, justice, and compassion are best learned from those who have lived them.