MELF Fellows pay tribute to Sr Angela Reed RSM

We invited two of the Fellows from our Mercy Global Action Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellowship Programme (MELF) to share some words of appreciation for Sr Angela Reed as she concludes her time with Mercy Global Action.

Sarah Terry (South Africa)

Sarah Terry is a MELF Fellow from Cohort Four which concluded last September.

I first had the privilege of hearing Angela Reed speak at a conference in 2019. She spoke with passion about the dangers of human trafficking and encouraged us to flex our “Mercy muscles.” From the start, it was clear that she embodied the qualities of so many Mercy Sisters: a doer, a go-getter, and someone who simply does not take “no” for an answer.

Since then, I have been fortunate to witness her humble and grounded approach to Mercy leadership. Effective leadership, as she models so well, requires balancing empathy with sound judgment - one cannot exist meaningfully without the other. True leadership means making difficult decisions while still honouring people’s dignity. What we need are leaders who are both courageous and compassionate, and Angela consistently embodies this. Her broad-minded, people-centred leadership has helped cultivate a healthy culture of safety, curiosity, learning, inclusion, and heartfelt communication.

In her role as the head of Mercy Global Action over the past decade, she has been a steadfast champion for justice and the driving force behind the Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellowship Programme. It was through MELF in 2024–2025 that I truly experienced her vivacity, generosity, and infectious energy. Angela has never shied away from vulnerability; she listens deeply, shares laughter freely, and leads with genuine openness.

If I were to describe her through Catherine McAuley’s words, they would be these: "The simplest and most practical lesson I know is to resolve to be good today but better tomorrow. Let us take one day only in hands at a time, merely making a resolve for tomorrow. Thus, we may hope to get on, taking short, careful steps, not great strides." 

We wish you well, Angela. You are a beacon of light to all in Mercy.

Sarah Terry

Yonette Alexis Stephens (Guyana)

Yonette Alexis Stephens is a Fellow from Cohort Three.

It is difficult to imagine MGA without Sr. Angela Reed, who has been the face of the organization for the past 10 years.

I first met Angela in 2022 when I participated in the MGA Oceans Task Force. Since then, I've had the privilege of working alongside her on numerous task forces and was deeply impressed by her warmth, clear insights, and unwavering commitment to social justice.

Angela's impact on MGA has been tremendous, especially through the MELF program, which has benefited almost 50 women to date. As a participant in the third cohort, I appreciate her dedication to diversity and inclusion.

Angela, please accept my deepest gratitude for your exemplary leadership. May the next chapter of your life be just as successful.

Yonette Alexis Stephens