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Earth Hour
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Editor: Saturday, 30 March is Earth Hour. To mark this occasion and heighten our consciousness that ‘the planet is increasingly polluted, rapidly warming and dangerously depleted’ (UN Environment), requiring us all to change our behaviours, let us join millions of people around the world in taking action at 8.30p.m. (your local time).
There are many actions that can be taken and reflected upon, apart from turning off lights for an hour. Some suggestions: watching the Earth Hour video (right) or the Earthrise documentary (see Resources section); exploring another related resource from this issue of Mercy eNews, a previous issue, or from the library; reflecting on the outcome of MIRP actions collated under the Addressing Degradation of Earth theme on our website, and praying for the planet and the future of its life forms.
Messages to: MIRP Continuation Group
Vision in Action
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MIC
LED Lights Installed at Baggot Street
Editor: MIA is committed to addressing degradation of Earth, expressed in our new Vision Statement as ‘Actively engaged in the protection of our Common Home, we will witness to the sacredness of all creation’.
In the lead up to Earth Hour this month, MIC undertook an energy efficient lighting upgrade, replacing all fittings at the Front of the House, along corridors and walkways, in bedrooms, offices and the kitchen and dining area – 460 replacement lights in total…
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MIA
Chief Executive Officer Mercy International Association
Mercy International Association is seeking a Sister of Mercy for the position of Chief Executive Officer. The role of the Chief Executive Officer is to provide leadership and inspiration for the implementation of the Association’s vision in a global Mercy context. This role, based in Dublin, Ireland, is characterised by unity in diversity, inclusion and respect for our multiple cultures, languages and local realities. The Chief Executive Officer represents the Association publicly and is its spokesperson…
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Baggot Street BellMGP
'Sounding 12 Years': Join Us in this Symbolic Action
ClimateKeys is inviting places of worship and individuals the week beginning 15 April (Monday of Holy Week) to sound 12 bell rings to symbolise the twelve year timeline we have left in which to limit climate change catastrophe (IPCC Report).
MIA invites the global Mercy Family to participate with us in this symbolic action.
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Events & Programmes
Wellspring Programme
The main presenters this year will be Anne Curtis rsm (Americas), Brenda Dolphin rsm (The Congregation, Sheila Carney rsm (Americas) and Margaret Daley Denton. Guest presenters will be Elizabeth Davis rsm (Newfoundland), Carmel Bracken rsm (The Congregation) and Margaret Prendergast rsm (The Congregation).
There are still a few residential spaces available in the programme. Sisters living out out are also very welcome to enrol…
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MGA
Sisters of Mercy Signatory to Statement Holding Corporations Accountable for Human Rights Abuses
On March 11th, Constantine D'Abreu from Edmund Rice International delivered a statement on behalf of the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy International Association and Members of the NGO Mining Working Group during the 40th Session of the Human Rights Council… focussed on prevention, protection, and accountability…
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Impact of Cyclone Idai
Tropical cyclone Idai has caused catastrophic damage across Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. At least 750 people are dead, hundreds are missing and nearly half a million people have been left homeless.
Join us in prayer for all members of the communities affected by this disaster, that they may have the strength and support they need to deal with what confronts them.
Post a prayer in our online chapel.
Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - CEO MIA
Member News
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Holy Cross SchoolAmericas
Mercy Ministries Respond to the Cry of the Earth
Implementing Green initiatives
The Mercy Community is taking to heart Pope Francis’ call to ‘ecological citizenship’ through changes in lifestyle and policies that exemplify its critical concerns and the sustainability of life.
Mercy-sponsored hospitals, colleges and universities are leading the way.
Messages to: Marianne Comfort - Institute Justice Team
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L-r: Srs Barbara Bolster, Mary Pat Garvin, Catherine ReuterISMAPNG
Fifth Australian Catherine McAuley Symposium
Over the past two weeks, Mary Pat Garvin rsm (Sisters of Mercy of the Americas) has led the exploration of the topic of Catherine McAuley as a ‘social mystic’, at the Fifth Australian Catherine McAuley Symposium…
Sr Mary Pat described Catherine McAuley as a “a mystic, a ‘live-wire’ between God’s grace, God’s mercy and a world in need!”…
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Americas
The Galaxy and Beyond. Mercy Students Explore Earth and the Universe
Mercy High School, Middletown, Connecticut, Dean of Academics and Technology Mrs. Melissa Bullock and Science teacher Ms. Gianna Iannucci have been involved with the University of Notre Dame Science and Religion Initiative since 2015. The Initiative is designed to help secondary Catholic school teachers to integrate Catholic teaching into the science classroom in terms of ethics, awareness of the history of Catholic scientists, and clarifying superstition from religion…
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Brisbane
Ten Year Celebration of the Mater Refugee Maternity Service
It was in 2005 that, having identified an unmet need, the Social Work department through one of their staff, Kate Ramsay, approached the Sisters of Mercy under the then leadership of Sandra Lupi rsm and team for assistance in establishing a service that would cater for the needs of mothers –to-be from refugee backgrounds. As one of the refugee women speaking at the 10 year celebration remarked, it is hard enough to be making a new life in a new country with a strange culture but facing birth in a very different hospital environment is another step up in challenge…
Messages to: Genevieve Caffery rsm
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The Congregation
Speaker Series – Mount Saint Mary’s Academy, Oklahoma
Deirdre Mullan rsm (Northern Province) was the keynote speaker recently at Mount Saint Mary’s Academy in Oklahoma.
Focusing on the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Deirdre spoke to a packed assembly of the importance of Forgiveness. Using as a background her experience of growing up in Northern Ireland and her early years as a young teacher, Sister Deirdre highlighted how Words Matter…
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Sr. Maureen Lally, left, with Sabina Higgins, the first lady of IrelandThe Congregation
Q & A with Sr. Maureen Lally, helping County Mayo's local farmers thrive
‘Sr Maureen is founder of the Tóchar Valley Rural Community Network, a grassroots initiative based in County Mayo in the West of Ireland that empowers 18 rural communities by establishing microenterprises producing homegrown products to help local farmers supplement their incomes…
Mercy Matters
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Reflection
Pale Blue Dot
One of the resources widely used to introduce MIRP was the film version of Carl Sagan's famed 'Pale Blue Dot' monologue where he muses on our planet's appearance in a photograph taken by the Voyager 1 space probe.
Here’s a recent animated version using Carl’s voice. (1:54)
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Fact
On This Day
1922: Amalgamation of New Mexico/Arizona, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco to form Burlingame community
1957: Foundation to Phillipines from Buffalo - M Vincent Vossler
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Gospel
31 March 2019. 4th Sunday of Lent Yr. C
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
'Unfailing forgiveness and arms open to welcome back wayward sons and daughters is a key motif in today’s gospel story. There is no room in the hearts of Jesus’ critics for such forgiveness: upright law-abiding people should exclude “sinners” from their company…’
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Reflection
Time for Change
Lenten reflection Week 4
‘Few of us can relate to the level of sacrifice and commitment that Jesus displayed in his forty days, yet Lent provides us with an opportunity to deepen our spirituality by engaging in regular discipline from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday. The wilderness — the desert days of Lent — is the true path toward spiritual transformation.’
- Dan R Dick
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Technical Tip
How to Rescue, Repair and Revive Old Family Photos
‘If the march of time is eroding your personal picture archive, give your beloved images new life.’
Source: NY Times
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Catherine
4 Ways to Access Film Page 'In God Alone'
From the link in the Catherine panel on the homepage of our website
From the link in the film panel in the Catherine section
From the film panel in the Spirituality section
From the film panel in the Canonisation section
Further Resources
Worth Knowing
Earth Overshoot Day
To learn about the Ecological Footprint, to explore Footprint and biocapacity data, and to study the long-term trend of the global ecological deficit, Global Footprint Network has developed a lesson plan and devised a competition to estimate the date of Earth Overshoot day 2019.
Find out hereWorth Watching
'Earthrise' documentary
Earthrise tells the story of the first image captured of Earth from space in 1968, forever changing the way we see ourselves.. Told by the Apollo 8 astronauts.
Watch for free online (30.23)
Watch it hereWorth Reading
Latest Issue of 'A Matter of Spirit' Now Online
A Matter of Spirit (AMOS) is the quarterly justice journal of the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center with analysis, theological reflection and action on justice issues. The latest issue on ‘Seeking Racial Justice’ is now available.
Read the issue hereWorth Reading
Cardinal Bo calls for ‘ecological reparation’ for indigenous peoples
Read the article hereWorth Watching
We've Got The Whole World In Our Hands
Listen hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.’
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Mercy eNews
The online newsletter of Mercy International Association is published weekly, 48 weeks each year and distributed to subscribers via email.
For more information on the directors click here
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