Among the tasks of the vice Postulators [is] the responsibility to gather and encourage the gathering of stories about Catherine to show how Catherine's life influences people. Her life of generous service to the needy, her deep faith and her trust in providence have been the inspiration not only for thousands of Mercy Sisters but also for their associates, families, friends, colleagues, co-workers and companions in ministry.
- Brenda Dolphin rsm - Postulator. Read complete article here.

Prayers with the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley are asked for all whose names are in our hearts and on our prayer list:Sofia Alvarez de Coronado, Valerie Lewis, Harry (Bud) Bowman, Margaret Brawley, Julie Morgan, Julie O'Connor, Araluen Mary Kelly.

Anne Hannon rsm - Vice postulator Europe and Africa
Sheila Carney rsm - Vice postulator Americas
Caroline Ryan rsm - Vice postulator Australia & PNG, Aotearoa New Zealand, Philippines

MIA joins with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in praying for all those whose lives have been affected by the loss of life and by injury as a result of the bombings in Boston. We pray for the safety and security of the people of the United States whose confidence has once again been shattered by the experience of unexpected violence. We pray too for all those who have died tragically in other places in our world this week.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Light a candle and add a prayer for those who died and those injured in the Boston Marathon bombings

On 25 April Sisters from across Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific will gather for Huihuinga Whakaaronui Tuarua.

This three day gathering in Wellington aims to:
• strengthen relationships with one another and partners in mission
• share understanding of our living of our Chapter mandate
• celebrate our present reality
• identify God’s invitation for mission today...

We invite you to join us in prayer as the gathering approaches...

Messages to: Katrina Fabish rsm - Communications Contact Congregation Leadership Team

The 2013 Project Compassion appeal at OLMC Parramatta has raised over $9000 for Caritas Australia, a record amount for the College.

Principal Kitty Guerin says the College community is thrilled with the result; “there is always very enthusiastic support for Project Compassion as it goes to the core of what we are about as a Mercy school. This year the College launched the appeal for the Parramatta Diocese on Shrove Tuesday, the beginning of the Catholic season of Lent. Since then, students have been busily fundraising with some Homeroom groups raising over $700.

Claire Thomas, Director of Mission at the College, says this great result is an example of Catholic Faith in action; “a combination of superior student leadership in the area of Mercy Action and genuine College wide commitment to living out Gospel values through social justice made this total possible.”

Read the Media Release here.

In keeping with their commitment to Social Justice, OLMC has hosted the 2013 Kid's View social justice conference which aims to help students explore the complex reality of poverty and encourage them to action. Read about that event here.

Messages to: Christine Pace - Communications Officer

Editor: OLMC Parramatta is this week's featured Mercy website

 

April 11, 2013 - More than 700 people from an array of Christian denominations participated in the 11th annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) held in the Washington, D.C. area April 5-8. The Sisters of Mercy co-sponsored this weekend of inspirational preaching and education along with dozens of other faith and food justice organizations from across the country. The theme of this year’s national gathering was “At God’s Table: Food Justice for a Healthy World.” ...

Messages to: Institute Justice Team

Extract from the Submission to the Prime Minister of Canada from Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice, March 25, 2013.

'Joining with the voices of a growing number of people across the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and with deep concern for the future sustainability of the finite natural resources of our province I draw to your attention the concern of the people on the West Coast of Newfoundland and indeed of the world globally on the issue of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). As a member of the Committee on Cosmology and Eco Justice of Mercy Global Action, a worldwide group representing Sisters of Mercy in over forty countries with an NGO at the United Nations and as coordinator of the Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice I am aware of the grave concerns being expressed regarding the potential hazards for the environment involved in the use of this procedure...'

Click here to access the complete submission.

Messages to: Mary Tee rsm

Editor: The Canadian Catholic bishops' justice and peace commission is encouraging reflection and action on recent church teaching on the environment.

The document 'Building a New Culture – Central Themes in Recent Church Teaching on the Environment' released April 8, can be accessed here. An interview with Bishop Bolen of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a member of the commission. can be accessed here. 

April 11, 2013 - As we are called in our Critical Concerns to “reverence Earth and work more effectively toward the sustainability of life and toward universal recognition of the fundamental right to water,” the Sisters of Mercy’s Justice Team invites each of us to take a personal step to living in closer harmony and interdependence with all creation on April 22, Earth Day 2013. Please pray for this precious gift God has given us. The National Council of Churches has also produced a “Sunday Morning Sustainability” reflection, which invites readers to consider the impact of their worship-day routine on Earth.

Access the “Sunday Morning Sustainability” reflection here (PDF)

Messages to: Institute Justice Team

Editor: An explanation of the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas which 'which call us "...to intensify our responses to critical needs of our times which continue to call us to conversion' can be found here

The Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland have been active over the last period in working to oppose Trafficking. In the report attached to this item Margie Taylor rsm shares the details of a number of activities including a Workshop on Strategic Planning for the Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

Details of these activities can be accessed here.

Messages to: Margie Taylor rsm

Editor: In his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis specifically mentioned human trafficking, saying that it is the most extensive form of slavery in the twenty-first century. To read the entire address, click here

1958: Mercy Secretarial High School opened, Albany - M Renee Hosey

'When Wall Street Journal reporter Fialka set out to tell the story of America's Catholic nuns, he knew he faced a daunting challenge. Church histories contained little about the women he calls "America's first feminists," though they built 800 hospitals and more than 10,000 private schools. Since doing them justice would require volumes, Fialka decided to use one large order, the Sisters of Mercy, as a model, mentioning some of the other 400 communities where appropriate...'

Publisher. St. Martin Griffin, New York. 2003. 368 pp.

ISBN 13. 978-0-312-32596-1

A review of this book by Maria Duddy rsm can be accessed here
NCR Online review can be accessed here
Purchase online from Amazon

OLMC Parramatta is a Catholic independent girls school whose vision, mission, policies and procedures are underpinned by the following Mercy values:

Mercy, Compassion, Justice, Dignity, Excellence, Hospitality, Stewardship and Service.

OLMC was founded by a group of insightful and dedicated Sisters of Mercy who arrived in Parramatta from Callan, Ireland, in 1888. They were determined to provide a wide range of opportunities for students which could lead to work outside the home or further education- radical possibilities for girls of the late 19th century.

Jenneth Orantia reviews the best apps for managing your passwords

Source: The Age