MIA-MGA Emerging Leaders Fellowship

The MIA-MGA Emerging Leaders Fellowship is a transformational experience for women who are passionate about advancing Mercy and Justice. This international leadership program is fully funded, and unique in the ways in which it provides an opportunity for Fellows to establish strong links and networking across the Mercy World through international encounters, webinars and modules, mentorship and other activities. The Fellowship program has been designed to stimulate creative and critical thinking, promote collaborative leadership and personal reflection leading to a compassionate and communal response to current concerns of our world.

MIA-MGA Emerging Leaders Fellowship

Meet the 2022-2023 Fellows

Stellah Wamaitha Mathe (Kenya)
Stellah Wamaitha Mathe (Kenya)

Stellah lives in Nairobi, Kenya. She is currently working at Mukuru Promotion Centre, situated in an urban slum in Nairobi, Kenya as a Donor Relations Officer. She has a background in International Relations and a Bachelor in Diplomacy.

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Rebecca Rathbone (Canada)
Rebecca Rathbone (Canada)

Rebecca was born and raised in Hamilton, Canada. She is currently the Southwestern Ontario Animator for Development & Peace – Caritas Canada, which is the official Humanitarian Aid and International Development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada.

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Paula Anamani rsm (Aotearoa New Zealand)
Paula Anamani rsm (Aotearoa New Zealand)

Paula works as a Social Practitioner in Counselling and also as a Children & Family Social Worker for ‘Blind and Low Vision’ of New Zealand. This role has exposed her to journey alongside women who have had loss of vision as a result of domestic violence.

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Sarah Brown (United States)
Sarah Brown (United States)

Sarah lives in the United States of America. She currently serves as the Office Manager of the Mercy Administration Center in Belmont, North Carolina for the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, South Central.

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Gaby Kinsman (Australia)
Gaby Kinsman (Australia)

Gaby lives in Adelaide, South Australia. She is currently working as the Coordinator of ‘Young Mercy Links SA’ a post-schooling formation initiative of ISMAPNG. She also works in Marketing and Communications for St Aloysius College, Adelaide.

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Magdalene Musau (Kenya)
Magdalene Musau (Kenya)

Magdalene Musau lives in Nairobi, Kenya. She is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Kenyan Province. She is currently working part time with the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya as a lecturer and a counsellor.

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Elizabeth MacNeal (Ireland)
Elizabeth MacNeal (Ireland)

Elizabeth lives in Ireland and is originally from the United States of America. Elizabeth holds an M.Sc. in Sustainable Development...

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Derby B. Mercado rsm (Philippines)
Derby B. Mercado rsm (Philippines)

Derby is a member of Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas from the Philippines. Currently she is working as the Finance Officer and Registrar at the School of Saint John the Baptist.

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Dominique Marendy (Australia)
Dominique Marendy (Australia)

Dominique lives in Sydney, Australia. She is currently working in an Animal Health company called 'Elanco'. Through both her career and vocations she has developed a strong passion for positive social change as well as empowering others to find meaningful ways to contribute.

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Michelle Gorman rsm (United States)
Michelle Gorman rsm (United States)

Michelle Gorman, RSM lives in the United States. She is currently an Institute Minister in the administration of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and a chaplain at the California State Senate.

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What is the MIA-MGA Fellowship (MELF)?

At the heart of our Mercy charism is the education, empowerment, and encouragement of women. The contribution of younger women to the Mercy Global Action Office is both a gift and an opportunity, providing mutual benefits to the women and also to the advancement of our work at MGA. The Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders Fellowshop seeks to build upon the capacities of women and provide effective tools to be agents of change in their own communities and in the greater society. The fellowship consists of six components: 1. Three International Engagements and Encounters: Siem Reap, Cambodia; New York, USA; Dublin, Ireland 2. Individual Research Project 3. Reading Modules 4. Mentorship Program 5. Grassroots Ministry Justice Engagement 6. Webinars and Online Engagement

Watch MELF Group 1 Video Presentations

Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders Fellows (Group One 2019-2021) have prepared extensive research presentations on various Mercy justice issues. These research presentations were presented via Zoom on 16-18 February, 2021. The presentations can be viewed through the link below.

View the Presentations

Can I Apply to be a Mercy Emerging Leader Fellow?

Applications for cohort three are now open! Applications can be submitted until December 31. Please review the application materials and consider submitting an application.

Meet the 2019-2021 Fellows

Carmen Rosa Ccallomamani rsm (Peru)
Carmen Rosa Ccallomamani rsm (Peru)

Carmen Rosa is a Sister of Mercy of the Americas and was born in a farming community in Puno, Peru, where she acquired her first language Aymara.

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Theresia Tina rsm (Papua New Guinea)
Theresia Tina rsm (Papua New Guinea)

Theresia is from Mt Hagen in Papua New Guinea and is a Sister of Mercy from the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG).

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Jemima Welsh (Australia)
Jemima Welsh (Australia)

Jemima lives in Brisbane, Australia. She is currently working in the fields of impact investing, social enterprise development and philanthropy, with a focus on growing the for-purpose business sector within QLD.

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Tylia Barnes (United States)
Tylia Barnes (United States)

Tylia lives in the United States of America. She currently leads more than 700 associates for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, South Central Community, as director of Association.

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Amy Keller (United States)
Amy Keller (United States)

Amy lives in the United States of America. She works with a nonprofit organization called ‘Girls Incorporated of Omaha’ which strives to ensure all girls recognize their inherent dignity and value.

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Siobhán Golden (Ireland)
Siobhán Golden (Ireland)

Siobhán is from Westport, Ireland. She graduated with honors from the University of Limerick in 2018 with degrees in Psychology and Spanish.

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Anneke Kat (United States of America)
Anneke Kat (United States of America)

Anneke is an American and Dutch Citizen raised in Philadelphia, USA. She is a community development practitioner with academic and applied experience working with refugees, women, and youth on issues of education and economic empowerment in the United States and Sub Saharan Africa.

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Anastasia Freeman (Australia)
Anastasia Freeman (Australia)

Anastasia is an artist, educator and writer living in Bathurst, NSW, Australia. She currently works at Rahamim Ecology Centre (A ministry of the Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea) as their online educator and is responsible for delivering workshops and online education.

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Julia Morisi (United States)
Julia Morisi (United States)

Julia lives in the United States of America. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Theological Studies and a certificate in Religion and Conflict Transformation at Boston University.

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Edith Maclaren (Papua New Guinea)
Edith Maclaren (Papua New Guinea)

Edith lives in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. She holds a Diploma in Accounting and is currently working as a marketing coordinator for the Government Department of Sport.

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