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Slavery in the New Testament and Displacement of Persons Today
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In the New Testament, Slavery is unseen or side-stepped in translation. Similarly, modern human slavery is unseen and not named for what it is. This reflection is for the United Nations designated World Day against Trafficking in Persons, 30 July. The reader is invited to discover that a “genuinely subversive consciousness,”[i] which challenges and empowers us to confront the reality of slavery today, can be identified in the story of radical Jesus who washed his disciples’ feet. To prepare for interpreting our texts, Sandra Schneiders’ summary of the three worlds of text is helpful: “While history lies behind the text and theology is expressed in the text, spirituality is called forth by the text as it engages the reader.” [ii]…
[i] David Rensberger, Johannine Faith and Liberating Community, Philadelphia: Westminster, 1998, p.129.
[ii] Sandra M. Schneiders, “The Community of Eternal Life (John 11:1–53),” in Written that You May Believe: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel, New York: Crossroad, 1999, p.151.
Vision in Action
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MIA-MGA
Final reminder: MGA Intern Position Available
An intern position at MIA-Mercy Global Action Office in New York is now open. Applications will be received until the deadline of August 5, 2019.
This is a volunteer position five days a week for 9 months. A stipend is provided to assist with some food, housing and transport.
Download the role description here
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: All Held captive
‘ God of justice and mercy, you are our saving God. Come with your power to save, and free those held captive by oppression. Use us as instruments of mercy and peace. Give us the courage to challenge all that enslaves the human spirit.
This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen’
- from Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy for Tuesday, Week One.
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MIA-MGA
Advocates Work to Stop Human Trafficking's Causes like Poverty, Exploitation of Human Rights
Editor: Angela Reed rsm is among the Religious at the UN focussed on addressing human trafficking who is interviewed in this article to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and as Talitha Kum, the international anti-trafficking network of religious, marks its 10th anniversary and launches its Nuns Healing Hearts campaign.
Members' News
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Americas
Sr Lillian Murphy RIP
Sister Lillian who died 25 July, fearlessly led Mercy Housing for nearly 30 years as the President and CEO. Her commitment and impact on affordable housing and to those in need will forever be felt.
Sister Lillian joined Mercy Housing in 1987 as the second President and CEO. Under her leadership, Mercy Housing expanded from a small, regional housing development organization with 250 homes and 20 staff, to a nationwide leader, that today, provides homes to nearly 45,000 residents with over 1,500 employees in 21 states.
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ISMAPNG
‘Bright Night Project’ Fundraiser
Tuesday 18 June was the anniversary of Laudato Si – the signing of the Pope’s pledge for urgent action to save the environment. To celebrate the occasion the Year 12 Creation and the Environment Class organised our first annual event, which raised funds for the ‘Bright Night Project’ in East Timor. This is an initiative to fund solar lights to students living in East Timor. Lights are environmentally sustainable and help improve safety, health and education outcomes for the students.
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GB Union
Celebrating 175 Years of Mercy
Editor: On 2 August 1844, Sisters of Mercy made their first foundation in the Archdiocese of Westminster in Queen Square, Bloomsbury. A Mass of Thanksgiving with Cardinal Vincent Nichols was held on 14 June 2019 at St Edwards’s Convent Harewood Avenue where Sisters first moved in 1851.
A report of the wonderful celebration day is linked to this item. The Foundation story carefully documented by Sr Kathleen Mary Grogan can be read here
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ISMAPNG
Catherine McAuley College Success at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show
After months of practice and preparing our sheep, Catherine McAuley College (CMC) students and staff were ready for the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, which was held in Bendigo from 21 July.
CMC’s show team of six ewes was part of this year’s Polwarth feature breed celebrations. Students in the Year 9 Agriculture elective and the Certificate II Agriculture class prepared and looked after the show sheep while junior Agriculture students were involved in the daily management and feeding of the flock.
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Americas
Helping Migrants Find Safe Passage
It’s a little before 7 in the morning, and I’m scanning the people hanging around the bus station to identify who I might want to talk with. Do they have bags for travel? Do they have tickets in their hands? Or do they look like they are instead awaiting a family member’s arrival?…
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Ballyhoura Rural Services board members and Doon Social Farm staff. Picture Michael CoweyThe Congregation
Doon Produces Fine Crops of Hurlers and Now Crops of Vegetables on its Social Farm
‘The Sisters of Mercy may have left Doon [Co. Limerick] but they have left many legacies including Doon Social Farm. This parish has always produced a fine crop of hurlers and now it has crops of vegetables on the social farm. It is the brainchild of Ballyhoura Rural Services (BRS) – a charity set up in 2010 to tackle rural isolation in the region.
Having concentrated mostly on the provision of a befriending service to the elderly, there was a desire within the organisation to respond to the needs of other people in society who are experiencing social isolation, particularly young people…’
Mercy Matters
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Digital life
ShowYourStripes
This site allows you to generate and share a ‘warming stripe’ graphic for your location showing how the temperature has changed over the past 100+ years.
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MIC Gift Shop
Natural Soap
Natural Handmade Bars of Soap - Made in Ireland - Free of Palm Oil - 140g each
- Lavender and Aloe Vera
- Patchouli & Palma Rosa with Rose Clay
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Gospel
4 August 2019. 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year C
Luke 12:13-21
'Our tradition tells us that “the earth and all that is in it belongs to God” (Psalm 24). That does not stop people from arguing over possessions and even killing for them. It never has…’
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Fact
On This Day
1851: Death of Sr Bernard Garden - Foundress of Pontypool, Elgin and Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire.
1922: The combined convent, boarding school and Notre Dame Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa were destroyed by fire originating from a neighboring house.
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Resource
Displacement of Persons: Human Trafficking
Visit the human trafficking section of our website to understand the significance of this issue for Sisters of Mercy. Explore some of the resources on offer. These include the MIA-MGA Advocacy guidebook ‘Inherent Dignity’ flip book, PDF, webinar series; links to the latest issue of the Stop Trafficking! newsletter and the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report.
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International Days
30 July: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
‘The darkest underbelly of human existence hides right in front of us – modern day slaves are the foundation of the third largest criminal economy on the planet. As media consumption in the West is drawn to negative, sensational and explosive headlines, sinister realities escape our attention. This applies to reporting on human trafficking in the developing world, where stories center around organ trafficking, sweat shops and the sex industry….’
Further Resources
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Worth Reading
A new Bible exhibit struggles to grapple with America’s history of slavery
The Museum of the Bible’s colorful exhibit features a copy of the Scriptures given to enslaved Africans in British colonies in the 19th century as a way to convert them to the Christian faith. The first version of the Bible was published in 1807 and was heavily censored. Any verses that could inspire Africans to rebel were removed…’
Read the article here)
Worth Watching
'The Pray of the World' - Vangelis
Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Music Theatre Soloists: Kristina Bikmaeva, Alexander Eremeev
Watch/listen here)
Worth Reading
LCWR newsletter
The August/September issue of ‘Update’, the LCWR newsletter is now online
Download the newsletter here)
Worth Reading
Under Brazil’s Far Right Leader, Amazon Protections Slashed and Forests Fall
BRASÍLIA — The destruction of the Amazon rain forest in Brazil has increased rapidly since the nation’s new far-right president took over and his government scaled back efforts to fight illegal logging, ranching and mining.
Protecting the Amazon was at the heart of Brazil’s environmental policy for much of the past two decades.’..
Read the article here)
Worth Reading
Holy See Advocates Responsible use of Seabeds
Warns that Condition of Oceans Continues to Decline
Read Archbishop Auza's Intervention here)
Worth Knowing
One of Four Trafficking Victims in Europe is a Child
A quarter of suspected or identified trafficking victims in Europe are children and the main goal of human traffickers is sexual exploitation – a new report released by Save the Children finds.’..
'Read the article hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘To free these poor slaves is a gesture of mercy and a duty for all [people] of goodwill. Their cry of pain cannot leave individuals or institutions indifferent. No one must look the other way or wash his hands of the innocent blood that is shed in the roads of the world.’
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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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