About the Font of Mercy

The concept of the Font of Mercy is simple. It channels the stipends and donations received through spiritual direction and retreats to help people living on the margins of society: the homeless, the hungry, and the imprisoned. 

In this way, the ‘font of mercy’ flows from the spiritual works of mercy to the corporal works of mercy.  Through spiritual direction and specialty retreats, the spiritual works are in full display:  counsel, instruct, comfort, and forgive.  The funding received from these spiritual works funds several other charitable organizations that provide aid and assistance to the hungry, the homeless, and the imprisoned, and all others that Jesus calls “the least among us” in Matthew 25. 

I am Scott Gilfillan, Font of Mercy’s founder and executive director, spiritual director and retreat master. I also write reflections posted on this website. The concept may be simple, but its evolution came after a year of my spiritual director guiding me through the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius (19^th Annotation).  I thought I had reached the pinnacle of my ministerial service. In 2018, God opened the way for me to be the director of the Catholic Conference Center, a large retreat center in Western North Carolina.  My gifts of administration, preaching, writing, and spiritual direction found fertile ground to germinate and grow.  Just as I was looking ahead to five more years of flourishing in this environment, the Lord let me know in various ways that it’s time to move on.  But was not so clear as to what.  Like Abraham, the Lord told me to pack up all my things and go, but didn’t tell him where. After a couple of months of additional prayer, the concept of the Font of Mercy began to emerge.  Through God’s providence, I can do what brings me great joy, share my gifts with others, and support the people who are dear to my heart.

You can support this ministry by making an inquiry for spiritual direction, talking to me about a future retreat, subscribing to the weekly reflections, or simply making a donation. 

I’ve come to believe that mercy needs to flow for it to flourish.  Jesus said it best in the Beatitudes:  “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.”  (Mt 5:7) May God show you how to let your mercy flow.

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