On this first anniversary (9 July) of the world's youngest country, South Sudan, we pray for peace and prosperity for the people of South Sudan and Sudan.

Messages to Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

The following programmes and dates have been finalised for 2013:

Sun June 2 – Sat June 29 : Watering the Roots at the Wellspring of Mercy

Sun July 16 – Sat July 19: Pilgrimage of Young Mercy Leaders (for Secondary School students)

Sun July 28 – Sat Aug 3: Come Home to Catherine

Sun Aug 25 – Sat Aug 31: Come Home to Catherine

As other dates are finalised they will be advertised in Mercy E-News with links to further information in the "Programmes" section on the mercyworld.org website.

Messages to: Mary Kay Dobrovolny rsm - Assistant Director Heritage & Spirituality

On June 22, 2012, Heads of State and high-level representatives from almost 200 countries adopted the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference. To download the full text in English or Spanish, click here

What happened to the four primary Rio+20 issues lobbied so intensely by Sisters of Mercy worldwide?

Mercy Global Action Coordinator at the UN, Áine O’Connor rsm, provides a first-hand perspective through this initial take on each of the following four issues as they are treated (or not) in the final outcome document:

1. Reaffirmation of the Rio Principles and commitment to an equitable and sustainable future for all peoples and Earth
2. Reaffirmation of a rights based commitment to sustainable development and, in particular, reaffirmation of the human right to water and sanitation
3. Commitment to the need for mining regulation and recognition of the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples for mining activities impacting their land, territories and resources
4. Reining in of transnational corporations and ensuring their accountability and transparency to enable sustainable and equitable development for all in harmony with nature and within our planetary boundaries.

Messages to: Áine O’Connor rsm - MGA Co-ordinator at the UN

We will always need theologians to interpret our experiences of the Divine mysteries. We need saints to help us embrace that mystery. Minds are moulded and hearts are moved not by abstractions but by models.

- Brenda Dolphin rsm - Postulator. To read the article, click here.

Prayers through the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley are asked for the intentions of the 1300 persons whose names are on our prayer list.

Messages to:
Anne Hannon rsm - Vice postulator Europe and Africa
Sheila Carney rsm - Vice postulator Americas
Mary Duffy rsm - Vice postulator Australia, New Zealand, Philippines

We know from the subscription list that Mercy E- news is read by members of the Mercy network in the following countries: Aotearoa New Zealand, Argentina, Australia, Belize, Brazil, British Colombia, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Guam, Guyana, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Newfoundland, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Peru, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Poland, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, the United States, Venezuela, Wales, Zambia.

If you receive Mercy E-news in another part of the world, or if you forward your copy to members of the Mercy network in a country not listed above, please let us know so we can update this list.

Messages to: E-news Editor

The July issue of Stop Trafficking lists the US State Department  2012, Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, now publicly available. That Report is linked to this item.

The Prosecution, Protection, and Prevention sections of each country narrative describe how a government has or has not addressed the relevant  minimum standards.

Review the Report to see how your country of residence and the countries where Mercy has a presence are rated and what improvements have been made since the 2011 Report.

Due to its large size, the Report has been separated into sections for easier download.

Messages to: Mary Purcell rsm - Assistant Director Mercy Global Action

The two-week, 2,700-mile Nuns on the Bus tour concluded with an interfaith prayer and press conference on Capitol Hill, in Washington last week.

Among the ministry events enroute were stops at Mercy Housing, Chicago and Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia, ministries wrote Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs, in the Huffington Post "that cherish individuals and strengthen communities".

Reg McKillip, Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team, and  Diane Guerin rsm, Sisters of Mercy justice coordinator, are among the Catholic sisters who have been aboard the bus for portions of its journey.

Mercy Housing develops & finances affordable homes & safe communities for families, seniors & those with special needs

The Mission of Mercy Neighborhood Ministries (MNM) of Philadelphia, Inc. is to create partnerships and services that respond to the needs of those who are poor in the North Philadelphia community, especially women, children and persons with special needs.

Messages to: Pat Kenny rsm - Institute Communications

Editor: Mission of Mercy Neighborhood Ministries is this week's featured Mercy website

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) has selected 84 Michigan artists to provide artwork for its new South Patient Tower scheduled to open in 2014.

A call for artists issued this spring by SJMO requested submissions that support the healing journey, represent the community and present elements of nature or water and landscapes. Peace and healing is the dominant theme of the art project. The SJMO arts program is aimed at creating an experience that heals bodies, nurtures souls and comforts hearts.

Messages to: Heidi Press -  Public Relations Specialist

At the recent MIA Board meeting in Mercy International Centre, the leaders of the nine Mercy Congregations viewed a presentation on how our participation in Mercy Global Action Network can impact what we do as Mercies together around the world. Linked to this article is a written report and an upload of that video.

Messages to: Susan deGuide rsm - Congregation Leadership Team

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—When it comes to safety, Consumer Reports magazine says Mercy Hospital Springfield is the best in Missouri, and sixth across the nation.

In its August issue, Consumer Reports says it looked at data from government and independent sources, as well as hospital investigations and inspections. The highest score, on a scale of 0 to 100, was 72. Mercy Hospital Springfield scored 70.

“This national ranking, from such a well-known publication, is great news,” says Jon Swope, president and CEO of Mercy Springfield Communities. “But our foundress, Catherine McAuley, always said we need to give the best to those entrusted to our care. We still have work to do.”...

Messages to: Sonya Kullmann - Mercy Springfield Communities

...In the spring of 2005, Merion Mercy Academy explored the idea of commencing a rowing program. Merion Mercy Academy, a small, independent all-girls Catholic school nestled off of Montgomery Avenue in Merion, felt if it was making the commitment to start a rowing program, the administration wanted to build a competitive and sustainable program...

...With a program starting from scratch, Merion Mercy knew the challenge in front of them and quickly adopted the biblical passage from Matthew 17:20 as its mantra for success: “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."...

Source: MainLineMediaNews.com

Messages to: Barbara Buckley rsm - Principal

Gemma Byrne rsm who has died aged 81, was one of the founders of the Mater Private Hospital and served as chief executive from the hospital’s opening in May 1986 until her retirement in February 1997.

"She was an exceptional person, respected by colleagues and business associates. Former hospital chairman Brian Joyce remembers her as “persuasive, patient and good at working with people”, someone who “never sought personal recognition and saw her aim of excellence in medical care realised”...

Source:  Irish Times

Messages to: Ailish O'Brien rsm - Communications Co-ordinator

St. John's Regional Medical Center and the Sisters of Mercy are being honored during this centennial year for being a mission-driven healthcare leader and innovator in the Region, and for promoting health and wellness within the communities it serves.

Messages to: Pat Kenny rsm - Institute Communications

Students at Catherine McAuley are working towards creating a more environmentally friendly school community and are working on ways in which all students can help reduce the school’s environmental footprint...

The SRC students have surveyed the student body to estimate these figures and were astonished at the result. “With one single plastic bottle taking 80 years to breakdown that’s five of my life times for just that single plastic bottle... and we use 192,000 bottles per year”, says Chiara Misuraca, a Year 10 student and Publicity Officer for the SRC...

Messages to Jacqui Hamilton - School Development Officer

Editor: Water is likely to be the scarce resource of the future. Currently its distribution is extremely inequitable, with the average per person use in some countries, including Ireland exceeding 100L a day while many others get by on less than 10. Miriam Gormally of Soul Waves radio  talked with Christina Meehan, from Progressio Ireland about the challenge she took on to live on 10L a day (00:5:43) To hear the interview, click here.

1880: Foundation to Dubbo, New South Wales from Bathurst - M Aloysius Burke

1891: Foundation to Mansfield, Victoria from Carrick-on-Suir (via Gore, Aotearoa) - M Alacoque Ryan

1897: Amalgamation of Gore/Dunedin communities, Aotearoa New Zealand

Carmel McCarthy rsm, has combined years of working with parish Bible groups, lectio divina groups, and retreat groups with a distinguished academic career, latterly as professor of Hebrew and Syriac at University College Dublin.

The Psalms - Human Voices of Prayer and Suffering is her most recent publication.

The Sisters of Mercy have worked in partnership with the working poor of the Tioga-Nicetown community for more than 35 years resulting in adult and childcare programs.

Strengthening and supporting families, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia continues its promise to the community – neighbor helping nieghbor, transforming lives one person at a time.

Do you use an ipad or smartphone to visit the mercyworld.org website?

Do you miss seeing the homepage map of the Mercy world animate in?

The Puffin web browser ( free or premium) enables a user to view the Flash content on mercyworld.org and on other sites with Flash based content.

Details of the premium version are linked to this item.