On this Feastday of Sts. Joachim and Anne we pray for all grandparents, especially those who are raising their grandchildren as a result of violence, immigration, poverty, illness or other family situations that make this necessary.

May they receive the support and resources they need to deal with the challenges they face and have the good health and resilience to cope with these family responsibilities.

Post your own Prayer or Reflection in our online Chapel

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Image: Stock photo
 

Editor: Sunday, 30 July marks the fourth World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

MIA at the UN - MGA  is an active member of the NGO Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons (CSTIP), which, with other members of Civil Society organizations, created an advocacy document detailing specific points that Member States should include within the review process of the Global Plan of Action. Details are linked to this item.

The first 3 issues of the MIA at the UN - MGA newsletter can be accessed here

Messages to: Angela Reed rsm - MIA Coordinator at the UN - Mercy Global Action

Image: iStock. Used under licence

As a Mercy Community, we pray with those in need of physical healing through the intercession of Catherine McAuley.

God of love and mercy, touch with your healing power and restore to full health: Martin Finnegan, Kate O'Beirne, John O'Beirne, Jessica Clark, Hank DiSalvatore, Margaret Campbell, Thelma Stannard, Bernadette Tamati and all whose names are on our prayer list.

We ask this with confidence through the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley. Amen.

Messages to: the Vice postulators

The dates have been set for the forthcoming YML Pilgrimages:

• Post Secondary/ Tertiary Pilgrimage: 31 July- 3 August 2018.
   
• Secondary School /Second Level Pilgrimage: 9-12 July 2019.

Please mark these dates in your diaries!

Expressions of interest are welcome. Further details and registration information for each pilgrimage will be made available in MercyeNews and on the YML page on our Mercyworld.org website in due course.

Messages to: Anna Nicholls rsm - Team Leader Heritage & Spirituality

MECPATHS (Mercy Efforts to Counter Child Prostitution and Trafficking in the Hospitality Sector) is working to make it more difficult for traffickers to operate from Irish hotels and when hotel staff are in a position to raise the alert they can save trafficking victims from years of suffering and bring a halt to the activities of the criminals involved.

As always, MECPATHS relies on the support of all  Sisters of Mercy to help us in our endeavours to combat trafficking. There are some simple and practical steps you can take. We have drafted a letter that you can send to your MEPs to propose that it be made mandatory for all hotel staff within the EU to receive training in relation to trafficking...

Messages to: Aisling Murray - MECPATHS

Editor: The following message was received in response to an expression of concern and support sent to Marian Ladrera rsm Superior General. It is published here to update our readers on the situation in the Philippines.

'The MMH hospital has only very minimal damage...there are cracks in some areas...

It was our convent in Milagro that got damaged.  But we were thankful though the Sisters were safe.  We are always hopeful despite the many tragedies that we encounter.  We keep on going on.

On Saturday [22 July], together with the other religious communities in our archdiocese, we will distribute relief goods to those badly hit by the earthquake.  They are homeless now and they need food.  Whatever way we can, we need to make MERCY REAL in the hearts of the suffering people.

Please continue praying for us Sisters and the Filipinos.'

Messages to: Marian Ladrera rsm - Superior General

Image: L-r: Srs Marian and Carmela visiting a family to show support

On Saturday 24th June, two of our associate members made their commitment.  The other members supported and encouraged them and presented them with their candles, certificates and badges.  Both Denise Whittaker and Audrey Robbins have been associated with us at St. Mary’s for some time as well as attending the Associates Meetings.  Denise has been our Secretary for over three years and Audrey has been our Monday Volunteer.  It was a moving and joyful occasion...

Messages to: Noreen Cullen rsm c/- Annette McCartan rsm

On its own, big data is just big data. But when it can be crunched, digested and harnessed, it can be used to improve patient care and decrease health care costs. The use of sophisticated machine learning, or artificial intelligence, is one of the reasons Mercy has been named “Most Wired Advanced” once again.

It’s the third time in four years that the American Hospital Association (AHA) has recognized Mercy in the “Advanced” category for exceeding core criteria – a distinction given to only 27 of the nearly 700 organizations surveyed. In addition, it’s the 14th time Mercy has made the Most Wired list...

Messages to: Bethany Pope - Mercy St. Louis, St. Charles

'Today’s gospel passage begins and ends with reference to treasure. It invites us to pause and name what constitutes the real “treasure” in our lives, to know our own hearts...'

Read the reflection on the Gospel by Veronica Lawson rsm (ISMAPNG)

Listen to the Gospel read by Fr Eamonn O'Connor (Ireland)

Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation provides housing assistance and supportive services to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Mercy works to empower its clients to become independent, so they may live and work with dignity and respect.

1838: House opened at Booterstown - M Ursula Frayne
1898: Orphanage opened, Broken Hill, New South Wales
1954: Establishment of Union of Sisters of Mercy of Australia - M Patricia O'Neill

Contribute a fact about the Story of the Sisters of Mercy in your congregation or institute to our online archive

'Our ministry is God’s word in action.'

- Marcia Wilson rsm

Sisters of Mercy Parramatta Congregation have made a series of reflections on Mercy themes available on their website.

Topics include: 'Bringers of Hope', 'The Shawl of Mercy', Living Lives of Balance'.

Download the complete set or by individual topic.

Build a personal protection plan that makes sense for you.

Source: Wired