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175 Years of Mercy in the United States
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Editor: On 21 December 2018, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas will celebrate the 175th anniversary of the arrival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania of the seven founding Sisters of Mercy —the establishment of the Mercy community in the United States.
‘They came at the time of the winter solstice when earth was beginning to turn again to the light; on the day when the "O Antiphons" of Advent bid us pray that the Sun of Justice will enlighten our lives. They came with a new bishop to a new local church in a new country to find here and to reveal here the mercy of God. They came in hope and we were called to one and the same hope when we were called.’
(Sheila Carney rsm)
On 21 December, join with the members of the Institute in celebration through prayer, by learning about their Mercy history and legacy, or following events in Pittsburgh once the page has been updated.
Messages to: Sisters of Mercy c/- Institute Communications Office
Vision in Action
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Mary Louise Petro rsmPresident, MIA Members
Christmas Greetings
Mercy Global Presence has been a focus this year for all members of our Mercy world. As we move towards the celebration of this beautiful Christmas season, let us gather into our thoughts each corner of the world where Mercy has a presence– the Presence of the Child Emmanuel. Let us send our blessings of Healing and Love to those whose lives we tend…
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Denise Fox rsmChair, MIA Board
As We Celebrate Christmas
…As we celebrate Christmas, may we be strengthened by our immersion in the Mystery of the birth of the Christ child to give expression to Mercy in our diversity and in what we hold in common, treasuring our Mercy global presence…
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Mary Reynolds rsmCEO MIA
A Christmas Wish
As you celebrate Christmas, may you be cheerful and happy animating all around you.
In all your tripping about and busy preparations, may your heart remain centered in God.
May many little cheering things come your way and may peace be in your heart…
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Greetings
Christmas Greetings from the Mercy World
Christmas Greetings from Mercy Congregations and Institutes, Mercy Communities, Sisters, Associates and partners-in-Mercy across the Mercy world are linked to this item.
Messages to: the Editor
Do check out the homepage of our website to see MIC with Christmas lights a-blazing and the star of wonder over head.
You may need to refresh the page in your browser.
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MIA
MIA Ministry Position: Leader Administration & Finance
An opportunity will become available in the latter part of 2019 for appointment to the role of Leader of Administration and Finance.
The position will be based in Dublin with, initially, a 3 year contract.
The successful candidate will:
-be able to demonstrate an understanding of Mercy International Association
-have experience in personnel and financial management
-possess well developed interpersonal and organisational skills
-be proficient with Word and Excel, accounting and payroll software packages
The role is supported by a facility manager and a part-time accountancy resource person.
Indications of interest are now invited for this post. The recruitment process to fill the post will commence early in 2019.
Contact: Mary Reynolds rsm - CEO MIA
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All People
Extreme weather events, terrorism, refugee crises, hunger & malnutrition, political unrest, governments in chaos…many of the issues the world has faced this year will require international co-operation and global development in 2019 and beyond if there is to be resolution .
As we each listen again at Christmas to the Angels proclaiming ‘peace’ and ‘goodwill’, let us pray for these words to be written on our hearts and evident in our actions throughout the coming year, and in the hearts and actions of all who hear the Christmas story.
Post a prayer in our online chapel.
Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - CEO MIA
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Events & Programmes
Carol Singing in the Baggot Street Chapel
There was a wonderful turn out for the Christmas Carols (and songs) with the Celtic Choristers in the Baggot Street Chapel last week. The repertoire included well-known and well-loved favourites such as ‘Silent Night’ and’ O Holy Night’, as well as ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Jingle Bells’. €700 was raised. As the photo shows, the setting was atmospheric and contributed greatly to the success of the evening. Mulled wine (non-alcoholic!) and minced pies were served afterwards.
It is hoped that Carol singing in the Baggot Street Chapel will become an annual event.
Messages to: Emma Horgan - Development Officer
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Communication
Mercy eNews: Important Information
Thank you to all our contributors for news items, greetings, the longform articles and suggestions of resources, all of which have helped build the global Mercy community online. Thank you to our readers for your support, encouragement and feedback.
All issues of MercyeNews for this year have been archived online and are linked to this item.
The first issue of Mercy E-News for 2019 will be published on Wednesday, 23 January. Please send your contributions for the first issue of Mercy News to the Editor by Friday, 18 January.
Messages to: the Editor
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Canonisation Cause
Letters Were Written: Trees Now Planted
In 2015/2016 during the Jubilee Year of Mercy thousands of letters were written and sent to Pope Francis , thanking him for the gift of the Jubilee year of Mercy…
Heart-warming letters were sent in from all the continents, from women and men, young and old. In a letter sent in to Pope Francis introducing a three hundred page book (compiled from a randomly picked ten percent of all the letters sent in) a promise was made that trees would be planted in order to compensate for the paper used in writing the letters…
On Monday, December 3rd that promised was fulfilled…
Members' News
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Degradation of Earth
Climate Change is Fundamentally a Moral Issue
‘…We write from a faith perspective. Inspired by the leadership of Pope Francis expressed in his ecological encyclical Laudato Si, which he addressed to all the peoples of the world, we believe that all are stewards of the Earth with a duty of care. Many of our religious congregations are working in countries where climate change has already caused destruction through droughts, typhoons and rising seas...’
Extract from the letter written and signed by members of a number of religious congregations in Ireland, including Sheila Curran rsm, published 14 December in the ‘Irish Times’ newspaper and linked to this item.
Messages to: Sheila Curran rsm - Justice Co-ordinator, Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI)
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Image: Courtesy Western Sahara Research WatchNewfoundland
Sisters of Mercy Help Push Canadian Mining Giant to Abandon Operations
‘After years of lobbying by a small community of Catholic sisters from eastern Canada, the world’s largest producer of potash is abandoning mining operations in territory south of Morocco…
[Sr Elizabeth] Davis stresses the intervention by her congregation was not the only factor, or perhaps even the major one, in the Nutrient decision. But others have expressed admiration for how the sisters galvanized support for their cause…’
Source: The Catholic Register
Messages to: Sisters of Mercy
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Stock ImageAmericas
HARK! Mercy puts Mental health and social service providers on the same channel
A homeless veteran struggling with substance dependence may not have the energy or resources to coordinate social and medical services that could open a path back to mental health, economic stability and sobriety. Likewise, the parents of a child with mental illness or developmental delays may be confounded by a lack of coordination among schools, social service providers and medical providers.
A partnership between Mercy Northwest Arkansas and the Endeavor Foundation is using a technology platform to dismantle those obstacles to coordinated care and ensure that individuals and families don't get lost in a disconnected system…
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Americas
Dignity Health receives grants from U.S. Department of Justice for Human Trafficking Response Programs
Dignity Health, one the nation’s largest health systems, has received two federal grants totaling more than $1.5 million from the United States Department of Justice that will help the health system expand human trafficking response programs and services.
Messages to: Chad Burns - Media Inquiries Dignity Health
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Philippines
Chapter of Elections
The Chapter of Elections will take place on Sunday, 30 December 2018.
Please keep the Religious Sisters of Mercy Philippines in your prayers.
Messages to: Sisters of Mercy
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Image: Jane Maisey rsjAotearoa New Zealand
Jesus Comes Bringing Peace: Scripture with Kathleen Rushton rsm
Kathleen Rushton rsm draws attention to how the story of Jesus’s birth in Luke 2:1-20 challenges our domesticated Christmas images and ideas. Sr Kathleen writes, ‘Heaven and Earth come together in this birth. These cosmological spheres, known to Luke’s readers, are affected and come together. The whole inhabited creation is involved…’
The latest article and a PDF of the 11 articles published this year are linked to this item and in the Library..
Messages to: Kathleen Rushton rsm
Editor: We are grateful to Ann Gilroy rsj, Editor of Tui Motu Interislands magazine for permission to reproduce Sr Kathleen’s monthly reflections. Support Tui Motu
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The Congregation
Cork Hospital Bids Farewell to the Last of Mercy Sisters
‘STAFF at one of Cork's busiest hospitals marked the end of an era today [ 12 December] with a farewell gesture for the last Mercy nuns working there…
Mercy CEO, Sandra Daly also paid tribute to the order's legacy. "Mercy is not only the name of this hospital; it is its chief characteristic," she said…
"The Sisters have demonstrated to us that we must sustain a culture which provides a compassionate and dignified place where our collective values and respect prevail. This is a key strength of this hospital, as we continue to strive to create the space in which, to nurture the skills that keep core values at the centre of all evidence-based medicine."…’
Source: Evening Echo
Messages to: Srs Laurentia and Concepta c/- Sr Laurentia
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Great Britain
Editor: In Mercy eNews Issue #798 (21 November 2018), we featured the release of the report Threads of Solidarity by the Arise Foundation, highlighting the anti-slavery commitment of religious women and men in the UK.
The news item by Luke de Pulford, Co-founder and Director of the Arise Foundation and Lynda Dearlove rsm MBE, CEO of women@thewell and Board Member of Arise, published in the Catholic Herald and linked here, builds on that report.
Messages to: Lynda Dearlove rsm MBE
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ISMAPNG
Sister Brings Planetary Perspective to Planning Inquiry
Patricia Powell rsm OAM recently represented Rahamim Ecology Centre at the Independent Planning Commission public meeting in Mudgee, New South Wales during its determination of the Bylong Coal Project. This was an important meeting for the public to express their views on whether or not the Korean-based Kepco Coal Mine should go ahead in the Bylong Valley…
Messages to: Patricia Powell rsm
Mercy Matters
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Gospel
23 December 2018. 4th Sunday of Advent Year C
‘Advent is not a time of passive waiting. It is a time to ponder the various ways that God sustains life in its diverse forms. It is a time to become householders, like Elizabeth, who clear the paths and open our doors for the God of life to enter in…’
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Fact
On This Day
1914: Death of M Liguori Keenan at Carysfort, which she had purchased, Co Dublin
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
Gospel
30 December 2018. Feast of the Holy Family Year C
‘The time between Christmas and New Year is often family time, a good time to think about what family means. For many, it is a challenge to juggle the various family commitments. We do our best, and trust that everyone will understand the difficult choices that sometimes have to be made…’
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Reflection
Imagining the Nativity
Contemplative Exercises (Audio) from Pray-as-you-go (Jesuits in Britain).
- Introduction
- The Visitation
- Joseph
- The Shepherds
- The Innkeeper’s Wife
- Mary & Jesus
- The Magi
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Resource
Kairos Christmas Video
Peace on Earth, goodwill to all.
The annual, reflective and challenging video from Kairos Canada
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Resource
The O Antiphons
The "O Antiphons" accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer during the last seven days of Advent. Performed here by Gloriae Dei Cantores (Singers to the Glory of God).
17 Dec: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
18 Dec: O Adonai (O Adonai [Lord])
19 Dec: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
20 Dec: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
21 Dec: O Oriens (O Rising Sun)
22 Dec: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
23 Dec: O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel)
Further Resources
Worth Watching
'O Holy Night'
Marc Martel sings ‘O Holy Night’, the well-known carol composed in French in 1847 and translated into English in 1855.
Listen hereWorth Reading
Rethinking global poverty reduction in 2019
‘The good news is that 2019 will start with the lowest prevalence of extreme poverty ever recorded in human history—less than 8 percent…The bad news, though, is that poverty reduction rates are expected to keep slowing down considerably over the next decade…’
Read the article hereWorth Reading
Bishops and Astronauts Gather in Washington to Remember Apollo 8
‘The mission, which lasted from Dec. 21 to Dec. 27, 1968, included an unusual religious element: As the trio of spacefarers [James Lovell, William Anders and Frank Borman] rounded the moon on Christmas Eve, they paused to read the first 10 verses from the Book of Genesis…
[Lovell] paused, then added: “In my mind, the answer was clear: God gave [hu]mankind a stage on which to perform. How the play ends is up to us.”’
Read the article & view the Space window hereWorth Knowing
At COP24, countries agree concrete way forward to bring the Paris climate deal to life
After two weeks of crunch negotiations – with overtime – the almost 200 parties gathered in Katowice, Poland, for the United Nations COP24 two-week climate change conference, adopted on Saturday a “robust” set of implementing guidelines for the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, aimed at keeping global warming well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
Read the report from the UNSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘The stories of the first Christmas…offer the expansive vision of a God who loved the world & each person in it so much as to enter it as a little child dependent on other people’s love and respect. The story invites people to treat one another as precious & with respect for their inherent worth…
Christmas puts human beings first.’
Andrew Hamilton sj, Nauru Children: Why did we wait so long?’, 3 November 2018
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Mercy eNews
The online newsletter of Mercy International Association is published fortnightly, 24 weeks each year and distributed to subscribers via email.
For more information on the directors click here
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