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MIA Prayer Intention: Our Common Home, Our Common Good
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This week our focus areas of degradation of Earth and displacement of Persons come together with the fourth anniversary of the publication of Laudato Si’ occurring yesterday, and the nineteenth World Refugee Day commemorated tomorrow.
Laudato si’ calls us to recognise the interconnection of all life forms and to action on behalf of the needs of Earth and all Earth's creatures, human and other-than-human.
Let us pray again the Prayer for our Earth with firm resolve to ongoing action for justice, peace, acceptance and understanding. For our concern and response must be for more than just an anniversary day.
Post your prayer in our online chapel
MIC Silver Jubilee Celebrations in September
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24 September: 10am-4pm; 7pm for Evening Prayer
Join us in the Mercy International Centre Chapel in person or through live-streaming for Mass on the feast day of Our Lady of Mercy. Eucharist is about giving thanks, and we give thanks for the women and men who have lived Mercy, for our benefactors and donors, and for all those who have passed through the red doors of the House of Mercy over the past 25 years.
In the afternoon, Brenda Dolphin rsm will share with us examples of how Catherine is known and loved throughout the world and the Cause for the canonisation of Catherine.
The day will conclude with Evening Prayer.
Rituals will be developed for each of the days. Versions of the rituals used at MIC will be made available online to Mercy groups who may wish to adapt them to use in local celebrations.
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25 September: 10am - 4pm
On this day, the Sacred Garden will be blessed and we will acknowledge those who have made the redevelopment possible. We will bless: the remembrance space for those who have died; the new sculpture of Catherine where pilgrims can sit with her and share their joys and sorrows; the well and rill where Earth’s waters flow and call us to care for our Common Home; and the learning space where pilgrims can be inspired and encouraged to live Mercy.
Elizabeth Davis rsm, the guest speaker today, will make connections between Scriptural images of gardens, our Sacred Garden and Mercy Global Presence.
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26 September: 10am -4pm
The Mercy story over the past 25 years has been enhanced by those who have contributed through: governance and leadership, staffing and volunteering, participation in committees and by their scholarship, online communications and the visual and photographic displays around the House. Some of these contributions will be highlighted on this day. Additionally, a variety of speakers will share learnings on the treasures held in the Heritage Collection.
The presentations will include Clare Agnew’s Works of Mercy, the stained glass windows in the Chapel created by William Earley, stories of some of the women who lived in the House in the 1830s, as well as recitals on the Telford Organ.
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Register to Attend on One, Two or all Three Days
Planning to attend? Please fill in the registration form linked to this item.
For those unable to attend, arrangements for live-streaming of some of the key events will be advised well ahead of time in Mercy eNews and on our website, once details have been finalised.
Members' News
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ISMAPNG
Listen to the Voice of Sophia
Elaine Wainwright rsm focuses on Sophia's song of delight in creation in Proverbs 8:22-31.
Sr Elaine writes: ‘We can imagine that the voice of Sophia, the one who was there before the oldest of God’s works, might be lamenting in our time. Her voice from the heart of the Trinity needs to touch us. We, the human community, must now right our wrongs so that we can join in Sophia’s voice song of delight in the Earth community.’
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The Congregation
Páirc a’ Tobair’s Next Chapter: Becoming Part Of Green Sod Ireland
Páirc a’ Tobair, a Southern Province response to the devastation of our planet with a primary focus on the protection of biodiversity and the well-being of the whole community of life, has transitioned to Green Sod Ireland. Green Sod Ireland is a Land Trust whose vision is to establish ‘Wild-Acres’ in every county in Ireland…
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stock imageAotearoa New Zealand
Karanga Atawhai - a Journey for Whānau Mercy Begins to Unfold
In looking ahead to an unfolding future, Ngā Whāea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand have given thought to how their diverse ministries might be made sustainable, how their initiatives in healthcare, education and community development might continue to flourish even when there may be no sisters to guide and nurture them.
Follow the journey online in the bi-monthly newsletter:
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L-R: Srs Margie Tapia, Danielle Gagnon, Jennifer Barrow, Marybeth BerettaAmericas
Four Sisters Profess Final Vows
On Saturday, June 8, 2019, Sisters Marybeth Beretta, Jennifer Barrow, Danielle Gagnon and Marjorie Tapia professed their final vows as Sisters of Mercy. Over 500 sisters, family members, associates, and friends gathered for the Eucharistic liturgy. The four sisters individually pronounced and signed their vows and received their rings which symbolize the promise of their vows. The rings are inscribed with their personalized mottos which inspire their lives.
Read the Instruction on the Vows presented by Sheila Carney rsm
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The group poses on Detroit Mercy's beautiful campusAmericas
Mercy Campus Ministers Meet
The Campus Ministers of the Conference for Mercy Higher Education (CMHE) met for a four-day program at Mercy Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan in early June. The ministers participated in a retreat led by Sister Sheila Carney (Carlow University) and explored how best to welcome a new generation of students to Mercy college and university campuses, "Generation Z." They also visited the University of Detroit Mercy, an institution co-sponsored by the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy and the Society of Jesus.
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Wajat Ali's FamilyISMAPNG
From Refugees to Small Business Owners
Moving across the world in search of a better life has been a fundamental feature of human history, bringing with it incredible diversity in ethnicities, languages and culture. In Australia, we are fortunate that our society has been so enriched by this multiculturalism.
Wajahat Ali, his wife Saiqa and their three children, Komail (20), Abbas (16) and Aniga (12), arrived in Australia from Quetta, Pakistan in 2013…
Mercy Matters
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Digital Life
How Updates From Apple and Google Will Change Your Smartphone
‘New versions of the Apple and Google operating systems are packed with hundreds of new features. Here are the few you should know about.’
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Gospel
The Body and Blood of Christ - Year C
Luke 9: 11-17
'The gospel for today brings together elements that have traditionally formed part of Christian worship. In the first part of the story, Jesus welcomes those who follow him. He then speaks to them of God’s kin-dom and heals those in need of healing. In the second part, he takes the loaves, blesses them, breaks them and puts them before the disciples who distribute the bread to the assembled people. All eat and are satisfied...'
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Reflection
Pope’s Address to Summit of Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development With Heads of Oil Companies
‘Today’s ecological crisis, especially climate change, threatens the very future of the human family…There is still hope and there remains time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, provided there is prompt and resolute action…’
- Pope Francis
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Global Action
Session Three Inherent Dignity Webinar Series
The third and final session of the Inherent Dignity Webinar Series entitled, 'Prevention of Trafficking: What Governments and Individuals Can Do' will take place on 25 June, 2019, from 7am-8am (New York time) (Your time here)
Register here
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Fact
On This Day
1932: Death of M Alacoque Ryan, Foundress of Mansfield - Lilydale, Victoria
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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RESOURCE
Splashart
SplashArt is a new creative product for all ages that was inspired by Mercy Health CEO, Stephen Cornelissen who was exploring expressive artistic options for residents of Mercy Aged Care homes.
Further Resources
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Worth Reading
The Role of the Catholic Church Towards a Sustainable Life Style
Address by Mgr Jean-Claude Hollerich sj, Archbishop of Luxembourg/President of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the EU) to participants at the Second European Laudato Si’ Reflection Day, 12 June.
Read the address here)
Worth Reading
What Does It Mean to Be Human Today?
‘God’s final command to us in Genesis: “Serve the earth from which you were taken!” (Genesis 3:23)…leaves no doubt about whether we may shape the world to suit ourselves. Instead, it commits us to serving the interests of all life on Earth, for only by doing so do we ultimately serve our own…’
Read the article here)
Worth Knowing
Two-hour ‘dose’ of nature significantly boosts health – study
‘A two-hour “dose” of nature a week significantly boosts health and wellbeing, research suggests, even if you simply sit and enjoy the peace…’
Read the article here)
Worth Watching
The Story of Water: Who Controls the Way We Drink?
This newly released video exposes the dangers of water privatization and highlights innovative solutions that cities are adopting to keep water management in public hands. Say the producers, “Water is a human right and shouldn't be controlled by corporations whose primary motivation is profit
Watch it here)
Worth Watching
'Everyday God' by Bernadette Farrell
‘Earth’s Creator
everyday God
Loving maker
O Jesus
You who shaped us,
O Spirit
Recreate us
Come be with us!
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Worth Watching
Following the Homing instinct
‘You can never find a house better than the one you had.’
-Jihad
Among the resources made available by the UN for World Refugee Day 2019 is this video story of Jihad and his family (1:39)
Watch the video here)
Worth Knowing
Four Years later: Laudato Si'
12 part video/ lesson plan series.
‘The series stands up beautifully as a statement of Canadian Catholic concern and experience.’
Watch the video series)
Worth Reading
Synod for the Amazon: 'Instrumentum Laboris' released
The 'Instrumentum Laboris' (Working Document) of the upcoming Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazonian Region has been released in the Vatican. The Synod takes place from 6 to 27 October 2019 on the theme 'Amazonia: new paths for the Church and for an integral ecology'.
Send suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘In a world of threat and intimidation, we sing Mercy until the violent hear nonviolence. In a world of carelessness and disregard, we whistle Mercy until the wasteful hear care for our Common Home. In a world of displacement and homelessness, we hum Mercy until immigrants and refugees hear “Welcome.” In a world of rejection, we chant Mercy until all who experience discrimination hear respect. We sing Mercy until, as happened at Pentecost, Mercy becomes the word that all hear in their own tongues and are gathered in….’
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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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