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The Man with the Merciful Gaze- Jean Vanier
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Jean Vanier (2012). Photo by Kotukaran, cropped by Gabriel Sozzi. Used under CC 3.0
The death of Jean Vanier in May this year at the age of ninety brought to a close the earthly life of a hero of the Spirit, champion of the poor, and prophet for the disabled.
As people of Mercy it is timely for us to reflect on what we can learn from this remarkable man. How did he reveal the Merciful God? What did he teach us about being human?
Most of us are probably familiar with the basics of his story and have read some of his 30 books on community and spirituality. L’Arche, the Ark, is an organisation that from its humble beginnings in 1964 has grown to 150 communities in 38 countries. In addition to the residential communities that constitute L’Arche, Vanier also co-founded a movement known as Faith and Light, which is an international support network for parents, family and friends of the intellectually disabled…
These are the facts, but they do not convey the beauty and wonder that is the legacy of Jean Vanier…
Jean Vanier (2012). Photo by Kotukaran, cropped by Gabriel Sozzi. Used under CC 3.0
Vision in Action
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Aotearoa New Zealand
MIA Prayer intention: Aotearoa New Zealand Chapter
From Friday, 23 August until Friday, 30 August, Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand will be in Chapter.
Join us in holding them in prayer during these days.
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Events & Programmes
Come Home to Catherine Programme
Sisters of Mercy from Ireland and from the United States participated in this programme last week. Presentations included the political and social history of Catherine’s time, lives of some of the early Mercy women, the story of the Kingstown Foundation, the features of the Sacred Garden. Other highlights included reflection times on key letters from Catherine and an introduction to Mercy Global Presence.
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MIA Initiative
Reminder: Season of Creation Resources
A reminder about the new resources we have produced for the Season of Creation and of our invitation to **let us know **of new resources for the Season of Creation which you have produced or discovered so that news of these might also be shared through Mercy eNews during this time.
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25th Anniversary Celebrations at Baggot Street
Places for the Days One (24th September) and Two (25th September) programmes at Baggot Street are all filled. Bookings for both these days are now closed.
Spaces are available for the Day Three (26th September) programme. With heritage as its focus, enjoy sessions on various dimensions of the heritage collection, including recitals on the Telford organ, presentations on some of the early sisters, displays of heritage materials and an overview of 25 years of Mercy Global Action.
Bookings close 2nd September.
Members' News
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ISMAPNG
Informal Study and Discussion Group: Re-visiting our Cosmic Journey
Patricia Powell rsm will be leading an online informal study and discussion group inspired by the classic series Canticle to the Cosmos by mathematical cosmologist Brian Swimme.
Weekly sessions will be held using the online platform Zoom on Tuesday mornings in September, 10-11.30am.
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Americas
Mercy National Conference on Aging
The Mercy Network on Aging (MNOA) will present Oneness in Transitions and Aging Gracefully, October 3–5, in Buffalo, New York. This year’s conference is open to all Mercy sisters, associates, companions and our lay co-workers who are interested in our Mercy future.
The keynote address will be given by Sister Judith Frikker of the Institute Leadership Team who is also a physician. She will open the conference with a session titled “Grace of Change.” Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, international lecturer and author, will speak on “The Gift of Years.”
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Australasia
'Speaking the Silence' Conference Report
More than 250 delegates and guests gathered at Monte Sant’ Angelo North Sydney over 8-10 August from a wide range of Mercy schools and settings in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, United States and South Africa. Here, they considered the identity of a Mercy school, in light of the theme ‘Speaking the Silence’ and the prevailing context of what Bishop Vincent Long identified in his homily as , ‘the darkness of despair and alienation that many people experience, especially in the Church at this time’….
Mercy Matters
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Pat Murray ibvm speaking at LCWR Assembly on global leadershipResource
Livestreams from the LCWR Assembly Archived Online
Five sessions from last week’s LCWR Assembly were livestreamed, including the Keynote Address by Pat Murray ibvm, Executive Secretary UISG, and the Presidential Address by outgoing president Sharlet Wagner csc.
Access to these and to the corresponding reports on the Assembly from Global Sisters Report are linked here.
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Gospel
25 August 2019. 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Luke 13:22-30
'Some people seem to have an ingrained sense of entitlement. They put themselves first without regard for the sensitivities or rights of others. Whether their behaviour derives from childhood experiences of over-indulgence or from some other source, it can be quite divisive and even destructive of family or workplace or community. Those who put themselves first will often find themselves last in that they are tolerated at best rather than welcomed into most circles...'
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Bronze life size sculpture of Catherine McAuley (left) and Juliana Hardman (right) in the prayer garden at St Mary's Convent, Handsworth by Philip Jackson CVO DL MA FRBSFact
On This Day
1841: Foundation to Birmingham from Baggot St - M Juliana Hardman
1862: Foundation to Rochfortbridge from Tullamore - M Gertrude Dunne
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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MIC GIFT SHop
The Practical Sayings of Catherine McAuley
This is a reprint of Mary Clare Moore’s, A Little Book of Practical Sayings, Advices and Prayers of … Mary Catherine McAuley with New Preface, Introduction and Appendix by Mary C. Sullivan rsm
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International Days
21 August: International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
63 people were killed and 182 wounded in a suicide bombing at a wedding last Saturday evening in Kabul at what should have been a joyous occasion. The young couple’s invitation cards had read: ‘We celebrate “with a world of hope and desire.”’
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres in his message for the Day, has called on the human community ‘to reflect on the lives that have been changed forever as a result of terrorism.’
The account in The New York Times of the heartbreak and horror of this incident last Saturday, reinforces the depth of loss and damage experienced by individuals, families and communities when a terrorist attack occurs.
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Digital Life
The Ultimate Guide to WhatsApp’s Powerful Privacy Options
‘Many WhatsApp users aren’t getting the maximum privacy out of the app that they could be getting today.’
Further Resources
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Worth Reading
What it means to be human in an age of climate change
Three writers examine humanity’s place on Earth and in the cosmos
Read one or all three articles here)
Worth Knowing
Religious Life for the 21st Century: Creating Communities of hope on a Global scale
9 September - 2 December 2019
This class at CTU Chicago is also being offered in a modified distance-learning format.
Special audit rate for religious community members is US$500.00
Course details can be read here)
Worth Knowing
Catholic Climate Covenant 2019 Feast of St. Francis Program Now Available for Free Download
This year’s program is described as ‘complementing and accompanying the Vatican's Amazonian Synod and focuses on integral ecology, environmental and climate justice, and lifting the voice of indigenous communities. The program contains prayers, readings, a short video, and suggested activities.’
Fill in download form here)
Worth Playing
On The Wings of Grace by Melanie Demore
‘Gently I go
Softly I know
Nothing to fear
Spirit is here.
Love be my guide
Lift me, I’ll fly
Far from this place
On the wings of grace’
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Worth Knowing
Iceland holds funeral for first glacier lost to climate change
‘Nation commemorates the once huge Okjokull glacier with plaque that warns action is needed to prevent climate change’
Read the article here Watch the video here)
Worth Playing
Contemplating the Holy Spirit in music
‘Ahead of the world premiere of his Symphony No.5: ‘Le grand Inconnu’ (The Great Unknown), Sir James McMillan and Cardinal Vincent contemplate the mystery of the Holy Spirit and the exploration of representations of the Holy Spirit in music.’
Listen to the podcast hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘The Mercy legacy is entrusted to us that we may make it grow and spread, not through the old paradigm of power and conquest but through prophetic witness and critical agency.’
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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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