By Jessica Easthope
Every walk of life finds compassion here at the Mercy House. There are three in the Archdiocese of Newark, the Newark location serves 100 people a day.
“God was like. Oh, if you think you’re only helping women that is not what you’re doing here. We don’t just help women, we help children, families, anyone that needed help,” said founder Cheryl Riley.
Riley who serves as the director of the Archdiocese’s Respect Life Office and the Mercy House started out, she thought she’d only be helping pregnant women who were contemplating abortion but chose life instead, women who made the decision she was too afraid to make 40 years ago.
“They gave me, like, a paper receipt. And I remember just thinking, like, years later, like I received a receipt that day in exchange for my baby’s life. My fear was greater than my faith,” she said.
On May 30, 1985 a 19-year-old Cheryl ended the life of her unborn child. What followed was years of unimaginable pain.
“After my abortion, I didn’t even want to live. That’s how bad the pain was,” Riley said.
Through her faith and Rachel’s Vineyard, an organization offering retreats for women who have had abortions, Cheryl found peace.
“On Rachel’s Vineyard, we asked God to reveal the sex of the baby. I didn’t even have to think about it. The name Christina came to me. And that’s what really helps you heal is when you put a name, it’s your child,” Riley said.
Out of her healing came a new life. Cheryl married and had three children, started the Mercy House and made a promise to God to do his work, helping mothers and anyone who needed her.
” I want to see my baby. When I die, hopefully I’m going to be able to see her. And I know I’m not going to be able to do that unless I make it right here,” said Riley.
Cheryl thinks of all the things Christina never got to do, so this is how she honors her every day.