About Us

how we serve you

What We Do

Dawn of Mercy helps women and men who are seeking healing from sexual assault through retreats, trauma recovery programs and referrals to professional counseling. We began this work to address a need for acknowledgment and recovery. We hope to foster the healing process by reconnecting survivors to the power of God’s love and grace, as well as providing them with the solidarity and support of a spiritual community.  Through our work, we aspire to provide emotional and spiritual healing.

How We Do It

Our healing program consists of a weekend retreat and a series of ten continuing support sessions. This program offers a safe environment as well as an ongoing source of support that addresses the difficulties that arise from sexual violence and offers ways to move on.

Who We Are

Everyone working at Dawn of Mercy is driven by a desire to address the emotional and spiritual needs of survivors. Meet the leaders:

Sheree Havlik

Sheree Havlik

Executive Director Sheree Havlik volunteered for The Catholic Pro-Life Community as the director of the Speakers Bureau for 24 years.  Sheree has authored a book entitled “Because We Love Them: Fostering a Christian Sexuality in Our Children,” published by Ave Maria Press.  She has represented the Catholic Church’s pro-life/pro-family views at international conferences including the United Nations in New York.  She has been invited to speak both nationally and internationally.  Sheree worked as an engineer at Raytheon Corporation for 40 years, leading sustaining and new business development projects, and served as an adjunct professor for Johns Hopkins University.

Bernice Simmons

Bernice Simmons

Ministry Director Bernice Simmons is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional trained specifically in counseling for trauma, crisis, grief, and loss.  She is trained and certified in multiple marriage and relationship enrichment programs.  Over the course of the past 20 years, Bernice has ministered and worked in Adult and Family Faith Formation.  She has volunteered with the Catholic Pro-Life Community for many years as a speaker and as a volunteer therapist on the Healing After Abortion Retreats.  Bernice presently practices counseling through her private practice, Faithful Changes Counseling, PLLC.