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Persistence in Pursuit of Justice: A Feminist Interpretation of Luke 18: 1-8 for the UN World Day of Social Justice
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In 2007, the UN General Assembly declared that 20 February will be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice, recognising the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment. Today, more than ever, the cries for justice can be heard throughout our global community, whether it is from the millions of displaced women, men and children who are fleeing situations of war, famine or a life of poverty, or from our planet Earth where we are witnessing unprecedented climate change…
Messages to: Sheila Curran rsm (The Congregation)
MIA Vision in Action
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MIA Inititiatives
Sowing Hope for the Planet Project Adopts MIRP Resources as Key
The JPIC Commission in the name of UISG (International Union Superiors General) and GCCM (the Global Catholic Climate Movement) are collaborating on a 3-year project (2018-2020) ‘in which every Sister whose congregation is a member of UISG, and their connections are provided with an opportunity to make a difference in our care of the planet’. The project, Sowing Hope for the planet, aligns with our MIRP process and themes which continue to engage all members of the Mercy family.
Project organisers have welcomed the opportunity to list the MIRP Guide book and VOICES videos as key resources for use by participants in their project
Messages to: MIRP Continuation Group
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Events & Programmes
Last Opportunity: High Tea and Film at Mercy International Centre
The final of these events to 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, will be held next Wednesday, 27 February.
If you would like to watch the film in Catherine’s House, book online here, by phone (1-661-8061) or by email
Messages to: Emma Horgan - Development Manager
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Global action
The Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 SDGs address global challenges that our themes of degradation of Earth and displacement of Persons recognise, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.
MGA has now completed a leaflet on each of the 17 SDGs.
The leaflets can be downloaded individually or as a set.
Messages to: Denise Boyle fmdm - Team Leader Mercy Global Action
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MIA New Vision: Make it Your Own
Last week the new MIA Vision was launched online in 8 languages: English, Irish, Spanish, Maori, Samoan, Tok Pisin, Tagalog and Tongan, honouring Mercy’s presence in 6 continents of the world - Africa, Americas, Australia, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
A reflective process to help you make the new vision your own—personally, in community and with your ministry— was also made available. We invite you to read the Vision statement, reflect on it and make it your own.
Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - CEO MIA
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Justice for All
‘God of mercy: may we befriend those eduring violence or injustice. May we respond in mercy when confronted with another’s sorrow or pain. Give us hearts warmed by your love and strengthened by your justice, that we may not only reach out with care to individuals, but also address the causes of their suffering.
We ask this as a community of faith called to service. Amen.’
Post a prayer in our online chapel.
Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - CEO MIA
(Source: Intercessions of Mercy, Edited by Joy Clough rsm)
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Global Action
Honing in on Social Protection
During February and March, Mercy Global Action will participate in two important Commissions, the 57th Commission for Social Development (CSocD57) and the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63).
Significantly, both commissions this year include Social Protection in their Priority theme.
Comprehensive social protection systems cover the following eight functions: benefits for sickness, unemployment, old age, employment injury, family/child, maternity, invalidity/disability and survivors (Social Security Minimum Standards Convention, 1952 No. 102)…
Messages to: Angela Reed rsm – MIA-MGA Coordinator at the UN
Members' News
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Corey Payne, his son, Deb Bogenhuber, Sr Carmel Setford and Fr Mick McKinnonISMAPNG
Blessing of the Rivers Ceremony a Powerful Community Gathering
Editor: A large gathering of adults, younger people and children, most with jars or bottles of rain, tap, creek, spring, lake or river water, assembled under the trees at the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers in Wentworth, New South Wales, on Saturday, 16 February, for the Blessing of the Rivers Ceremony.
The presence of so many people at this community event— including Indigenous Elders, Sisters of Mercy, Community Leaders, Parishioners of many denominations and Local Citizens— reflected the deep concern shared by the local community and those who had travelled long distances, for the health of Australia’s largest and most diverse river system, the willingness to express this publicly and the desire for action to heal the rivers…
Messages to:
Adele Howard rsm
Helen Nolen rsm
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Stephen Walsh (Principal) and Sr Mary-Louise Petro (Congregation Leader)Parramatta
OLMC Marks 130 Years of Mercy Education in the Year of Service
The 2019 Opening College Mass on Friday 8 February 2019 was an historic occasion for Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta, marking the official launch of the College’s 130th anniversary year…
Sister Mary-Louise Petro rsm, Congregation Leader of the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta, presented the College with a gift for our anniversary - a plaque displaying individual images of the founding Sisters. In her address, Sister Mary-Louise encouraged each community member to choose their 'Spirit Sister,' the founding Sister who particularly resonates with them and inspires them in their own way…
Messages to: Christine Pace - Communications Officer
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Americas
Mercy Focus on Haiti Celebrates Graduates of Chemen Lavi Miyo Program
Nine delegates from Mercy Focus on Haiti (MFOH), a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, traveled to Gros Morne, Haiti, last month to celebrate two hundred women who graduated from the Chemen Lavi Miyo (CLM) program which they began in June 2017…
CLM is based on the graduation approach methodology—a means of enabling families to lift themselves out of ultra poverty through an intensive, 18-month program. With the guidance of Fonkoze case managers, the women created dependable livelihoods and a plan for their future…
Messages to: MFOH c/-Dale Jarvis rsm
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Americas
Mount St Mary Academy Celebrates
Recognized as Arkansas’ oldest educational institution in continuous operation, and the second oldest of the secondary schools operated by the Sisters of Mercy worldwide, Mount St. Mary Academy has been providing Mercy education to young women in Arkansas since 1851.
As students gathered in the McAuley Centre on Founders Day, 5 February, the “Angelus Bell” (pictured) rang out 168 times in honor of the school’s 168-year history. The bell was given to the Sisters of Mercy by Bishop Byrne at the school’s first location in downtown Little Rock.
Messages to: Jamie Groat - Director of Communications & Marketing
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ISMAPNG
Commissioning Ritual
The Commissioning Ritual (PDF) in which the new member of the Institute Leadership Team, Maureen Sexton rsm, will be welcomed, will be live-streamed on 22 February.
Details of the live-streaming are linked to this item.
Messages to: Institute Leadership Team c/- Institute Communications
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Americas
Small Acts of Faith, Kindness Meet at Southern Border
I often take the gift of my faith for granted. It is not until I am met with some struggle or challenge that I truly reflect on the place of faith in my life. Then, caught short, I begin to reflect on this gift, on God’s unfailing presence and unconditional love. Our refugee brothers and sisters call me to renew my own faith and to appreciate more deeply this gift of God’s abiding presence.
A recent trip to McAllen, Texas to volunteer at a respite center administered by Catholic Charities provided an opportunity to reflect on caravans, refugees, faith, courage and tenacity…
Messages to: Diane Guerin rsm
Mercy Matters
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Reflection
Attaining Justice
‘Justice will never be fully attained unless people see in the poor person, who is asking for help in order to survive, not an annoyance or a burden, but an opportunity for showing kindness and a chance for greater enrichment. Only such an awareness can give the courage needed to face the risk and the change involved in every authentic attempt to come to the aid of another…’
-St. Pope John Paul 11, Encyclical Centesimus Annus, #58
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Tech Tip
How to do a Very Quick Google search
A two-step process:
1: Use your mouse to select (i.e. highlight) the term you want to search for.
2. Right-click on the highlighted term and click ‘Search Google for “TERM” ‘
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Fact
On This Day
1846: Foundation to Portland Sq, Bristol from Bermondsey - Sr Francis Beauchamp
1940: Groundbreaking ceremony for new 75-bed south wing of St Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Gospel
24 February 2019. 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time C
Luke 6:27-38
'This classic gospel message is addressed to those who listen. To hear and respond to the heart of the message that follows, namely to love your enemies and to do good to those who hate you, calls for an extraordinary expansiveness of spirit only possible for those who are totally open to the power of God’s Spirit working in their lives...'
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21 February: International Mother Language Day
Every two weeks a language disappears taking with it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage.
International Mother Language Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
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Resource
Access to Justice: Closing the Gap
Watch Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon, Graça Machel and Ernesto Zedillo explain why The Elders believe the time is right for a new push to deliver justice for all.
Further Resources
Worth Watching
'The River Is Flowing (Mother Carry Me)' - M.Kia
Lyrics:
‘The river is flowing, flowing and growing
The river is flowing, back to the sea
Mother carry me…’
Worth Reading
'The river is dying': the vast ecological cost of Brazil's mining disasters
The Brazilian government has been urged to step up punishments for environmental crimes after the deadliest mining disaster in decades.
The torrent of mud and iron ore tailings that engulfed the community of Brumadinho on [25 January] continues to inflict a toll on residents, river systems and freshwater species.
See also the NY Times interactive report which reconstructs the mud’s deadly journey and illustrates how these dams are built
Read the article hereWorth Reading
Public Good or Private Wealth
A new report by Oxfam suggests that a generation of reckless financial deregulation, wealth accumulation by the world’s richest one percent and the rolling back of essential State services has resulted in extreme levels of social and economic polarisation
Read the Report herehello
Australia parliament votes to take in sick refugees in historic defeat for government
‘The Australian parliament has passed a bill giving doctors greater say over medical transfers for refugees, the first time a government has lost a vote on its own legislation in the country for almost 80 years.’
Read the article hereWorth Reading
UNICEF Report: In their own words: the hidden impact of prolonged drought on children and young people
‘The severity of the drought in inland eastern parts of Australia is undeniable and continuing…The media has reported regularly on the enormous pressure facing farmers and their families…What is less known, and discussed, are the specific ways in which children and young people are being impacted by the drought.’
“When it rains it’s like a present.” (Boy, Year 6)
Read the Report hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘But what I have learned… is that even the most basic act of decency can serve as the spark that will lead one back toward humanity, and even the most basic individual interaction has the power to upend the idea of the “other.”’
-Francisco Cantú, ‘Has Any One of Us Wept?’, The New York Review of Books, 17 January, 2019 Issue
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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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