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Living Water - For All
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Editor: One in three of the Mercy International Reflection Process (MIRP) groups across the world that focussed on degradation of Earth as their MIRP issue, identified Water as their critical concern. Across ISMAPNG, Water was the Earth issue of most concern.
It’s not surprising then that in Australia, Sisters of Mercy have joined their voices to the call for action by communities and individuals around the country in regard to the current crisis facing Australia’s struggling river systems. Of particular concern is the Murray-Darling river system where up to a million fish, including 100-year-old Murray cod, died on 6-7 January in one of the biggest environmental catastrophes (video) to ever hit the river. This follows the fish kill before Christmas and local people have since reported that a third fish kill occurred overnight on 27 January…
Messages to:
Adele Howard rsm (ISMAPNG)
Helen Nolen rsm (ISMAPNG)
MIA Vision
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: World Day for Consecrated Life, 2 February
On this day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life, we give thanks for all Sisters of Mercy and the witness they give by their lives.
Let us pray that the God of Mercy will continue to bless the Mercy family with people prepared to witness to the mercy and tenderness of our God as Religious, Associates and partners-in-Ministry in a world so in need of God’s compassion and consolation.
Post a prayer in our online chapel.
Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - CEO MIA
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Prayer
MIA Special Prayer Intention for the Coming Week: Those living with Cancer
This coming Monday, 4 February, is World Cancer Day. The theme this year is #IamAndIWill. Let us all join our prayers with those who are living with cancer, especially the members of our families, our communities, our ministries, our networks and all cancer sufferers on our prayer lists.
May our prayers be a source of strength and comfort; may our concern offer companionship and care.
Materials for World Cancer Day, an initiative of Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), can be downloaded here
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Events & Programmes
2019 Young Mercy Leaders Pilgrimage: Important Information
This pilgrimage, for high school students aged 16-18 will be held from 10am, Tuesday 16th July until 5pm, Friday 19th July 2019.
Thank you to the schools who have pre-registered. If you have not done so, please let me know and I will add your delegation name to the registration form as an option to choose from. We are now asking that every participant (including accompanying staff) completes the online registration form available at this link
Download the information letter of 15 January here.
Messages to: Anna Nicholls rsm - Team Leader Heritage & Spirituality
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2018 ISMAPNG Ethos programme participantsEvents & Programmes
Ethos Pilgrimage for partners- in -Mercy 2019
This pilgrimage is for administrators, staff and board members of Mercy ministries. It is an opportunity for participants to strengthen their approach to Mercy leadership and mission in the context of today's challenges.
The programme is being run twice this year, in March (register here) and July (register here).
Messages to: Anna Nicholls rsm - Team leader Heritage & Spirituality
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Events & Programmes
Final Reminder: High Tea and Film Screening
Watch the recently completed film 'In God Alone, the Story of Catherine McAuley' and enjoy a sumptuous High Tea in either the Callaghan or Doyle Room at Mercy International Centre on a Wednesday afternoon during February 2019. €25 per person.
Book by phone (1) 661 8061, by email or using our Eventbrite booking system.
Messages to: Emma Horgan- Development Manager
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Global Action
Global Action
‘Amid rising public skepticism and outright opposition to migration in a number of countries, 2018 was marked by a turn to harder policies in the United States and parts of Europe—even as most of the world came together to endorse a first ever international compact on migration. The year unfolded with an escalation of humanitarian crises in sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and beyond.’ (Migration Information Source)
The Migration Policy Institute has published their “TOP Ten Migration Issues” selections for 2018. Review or broaden your expertise on the biggest developments in migration and migrants’ rights over the past year.
Messages to: Angela Reed rsm - MIA Coordinator at the UN - Mercy Global Action
Members News
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Americas
Calling for an End to Political Polarization
In time for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Jan. 21, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team and 10 other national and international Catholic justice and peace organizations delivered a joint statement to Congress lamenting the political polarization that is eroding democracy in the United States.
Messages to: Institute Justice Team
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The Congregation
Communicators for Women Religious and Mercy
Suzanne Ryder rsm reports on her attendance at the the annual conference of Communicators for Women Religious held in the US in October 2018.
Messages to: Suzanne Ryder rsm
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ISMAPNG
Anointed to Act Justly
Elaine Wainwright rsm reads Luke 4:14-20 ecologically, pointing to our invitation to respond to the Spirit poured on us to do justice in our world. Sr Elaine writes: ‘“Good news to the poor” extends beyond the human community to include all Earth’s species. That good news is of right and just relationships that support the flourishing of all on land, in the oceans and in the air…’
Messages to: Elaine Wainwright rsm
Mercy Matters
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Resource
MESA Curriculum Guides
Curriculum Guides on each of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Critical Concerns (Anti-racism, Earth, immigration, Nonviolence, Women) have been developed by Mercy educators and are now available. Well worth a look if you address any of these topics in your classroom or ministry.
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Reflection
David Attenborough Warns of Damage Humans can do ‘without even noticing’
‘The essential ingredient, the central part of human life is a healthy planet. We are in the danger of wrecking that.’
Video clip from the interview at Davos (2.54)
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Technical Tip
Hacks to Clean and De-Clutter Your Computer (Inside and Out)
‘Your computer needs the Marie Kondo treatment. Here's how to do it.’
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International Days
1 February: Feast of St Brigid
Brigid, together with Patrick and Columba, is a patron saint of Ireland. She was renowned for her hospitality, almsgiving and care of the sick. The image shown above is an aspect of the icon painted by the late Aloysius McVeigh rsm, noted Irish iconographer, for the Parish of Kildare, Ireland, Brigid’s home place.
Explore the interactive version of the icon here to learn more of Brigid’s story.
A full listing of the 2019 Féile Bride (Festival of Brigid) events in Kildare Town, Co. Kildare can be accessed here
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FACT
On This Day
1923: Opening of St Patrick’s Business College, Sydney - M Marcella Baragary
1956: Foundation to Goroka, Papua New Guinea from Australia - M. Elizabeth Miller
1993: Sisters from Gt Britain to Falkland Islands - Mairead Burke, Bridie Farrelly
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Prayer
3 February 2019. 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
'The gospel reading opens with Jesus by the lake shore looking for a little space from the people who are pressing around him to hear “the word of God”. For the gospel writer, the word of Jesus is the word of God...'
Further Resources
Worth Watching
'Somewhere Only We Know'
Reneé Dominique singer/songwriter performs a cover version of this song
Listen hereWorth Knowing
“Weather” and “climate” are used interchangeably. They shouldn't be
‘At a very simple level, "weather" refers to day-to-day conditions. "Climate" describes the average over many years.’
Learn the differenceWorth Reading
A Call to Action: Transforming the Global Refugee System
The World Refugee Council has released a comprehensive report with 55 recommendations to transform the global system for refugees and internally displaced persons.
Read it hereWorth Watching
'Our House is on Fire'
Greta Thunberg, the 16 year old Swedish activist who galvanised 100,000 fellow teens around the world to follow her example in striking for the climate, told world leaders at Davos last week 'I don't want you to be hopeful, I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day and then I want you to act. I want you to behave like our house is on fire. Because it is.’
Watch the address hereWorth Reading
UN Secretary-General António Guterres' Davos Speech
‘If I had to select one sentence to describe the state of the world, I would say we are in a world in which global challenges are more and more integrated, and the responses are more and more fragmented, and if this is not reversed, it's a recipe for disaster.’
Read it hereWorth Reading
Archbishop Auza: UN Talk Warns of Climate-Change Dangers
‘We are witnessing the effects of extreme weather conditions across the world from the Caribbean to the Pacific.’
Read his remarks hereWorth Reading
A Water Crisis Is Brewing Between South Asia’s Arch-Rivals
‘Women and children walk miles each day in search for water in a crowded, downtrodden district of Pakistan’s financial capital, Karachi — a scene repeated in cities throughout the country.
Across the border in India, government research indicates about three-quarters of people don’t have drinking water at home and 70 percent of the country’s water is contaminated…’
Read the article hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘But we have only begun to love the earth.
We have only begun to imagine the fullness of life.
How could we tire of hope?
— so much is in bud…’
-Denise Levertov, ‘Beginners’
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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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