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Mercy Global Presence Process Has Commenced!
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‘Global’ theme for first segment
The initial exploration of Mercy Global Presence centres on “Global,” the context in which all mercying happens.
Through the wisdom of many voices, new meanings of “global” will unfold over four months (September - December 2019). We begin with Cosmos/Cosmology.
How to Join us:
Visit the MGP microsite. Scroll down the page to Segment 1: Global to see the first theme Cosmos/Cosmology. Click on ‘View Themes’. A menu of eight options will be revealed.
Now you are able to explore the resources and to share your reflections with the Mercy family.
Note: The direct link to the microsite is: www.mercyglobalpresence.org
We invite your feedback online or to mgpfeedback@mercyinternational.ie
Vision in Action
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Events & Programmes
Young Mercy Leaders Pilgrimage Dates
The dates for the YML Secondary (Second level) Students Pilgrimage have now been set. The Pilgrimage will take place Tuesday, 13 July - Friday, 16 July 2021.
The dates for the YML post school Pilgrimage in 2020 have previously been set: Tuesday, 28- Friday, 31 July 2020.
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MIA Initiatives
Celebrations Mark 25 Years of Mercy International Centre
Editor: Three full and wonderful days (24-26 September) of talks and presentations, prayer and ritual , companionship and conversation, marked the Silver Jubilee Celebrations at MIC.
Videos, photos and reports remain online for your information and nourishment: Mercy Day here, Sacred Garden Rededication here, Showcasing Our Heritage here
The prayer prayed each morning can be downloaded here
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Prayer
2 October: MIA Prayer Intention: International Day of Non-Violence
Images and stories of violence, including murder and hate crimes, political and institutional violence, abuse of women, refugees and asylum seekers, plundering of Earth’s resources…confront us daily.
Let us continue to pray and work for nonviolent communities by giving witness to non-violence in the ways we speak and act.
Post your prayer in our online chapel.
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Statue of St Francis on a hillside in AssisiDegradation of Earth
Season of Creation Ends, the Challenge for us all Continues
While the Season of Creation comes to its formal conclusion on Friday, 4 October, Feast of St Francis, we are reminded by our MIA Vision Statement of our commitment: ‘Standing with the displaced, we will model a world of welcome and inclusion. Actively engaged in the protection of our Common Home, we will witness to the sacredness of all creation. We will continue to publish in Mercy eNews reports, articles and resources that will help us to create this reality and we welcome your contributions for doing so.
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18th century woman's bonnet. There is no known image of Catherine CallaghanFact
Remembering Catherine Callaghan
Many of the early Mercy women featured in presentations given during the Silver Jubilee celebrations - see Showcasing our Heritage.
Another woman significant in the Mercy story is Catherine Callaghan. Tomorrow marks the 200th anniversary of her death…
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Degradation of Earth
Synod on the Amazon Begins this week
A reminder that the Synod commences on 6 October and continues until 27 October. Please keep those involved and the work of the Synod in your prayers as its importance for the Church and the World cannot be underestimated.
The long form article by Sheila Curran rsm (The Congregation) published in Mercy eNews Issue #837 (17 September) can be read here. A shorter piece can be found on page 30 of the Sisters of Mercy Newfoundland Season of Creation booklet. Read that here: in English, in Spanish
Members' News
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Namoi River todayISMAPNG
Drought of All Droughts
As you look at these photos taken from a helicopter in early July 2019, you can get a ‘picture’ of no water, the land without any vegetation and the ever clear blue sky with no sign of rain. Two months later the scene is no better, add to this the recent high velocity winds and the dust storms across the land, towns and villages and many farmers losing the topsoil carried many kilometres off their property.
As we now are facing water shortage not only from the catchment area, namely Keepit Dam near Gunnedah, we see most dams on farms are empty and water trucks are delivering to many people on farms and in smaller towns and villages….
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Americas
Sisters in Portland, Once Missioned to the Bahamas, Help Hurricane Victims There
Due to the special relationship between the Sisters in Portland and the people of the Bahamas, where approximately 16 sisters previously served, the Sisters are engaged in Hurricane Dorian relief efforts in the Caribbean country in a special way, says Sister Mary Miller, who ministered in the Bahamas intermittently for 26 years. “We are praying for the Bahamian people and collecting money among ourselves to send to the Nassau Diocese,” she says…
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Americas
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Affirm Support for Global Climate Action
We are inspired and motivated by the thousands of people around the world in more than 117 countries who have committed to participating in Friday’s Global Climate Strike to demand climate justice.
This movement, led by courageous young people like Greta Thunberg and embraced by students in our own Mercy schools, reinvigorates our call to act in harmony and interdependence with all of creation.
Mercy Matters
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Fact
On This Day
1844: Foundation to Killarney from Limerick - M Elizabeth Moore
1857: Foundation to Sacramento, California from San Francisco
1875: Founding of Monte Sant'Angelo convent, North Sydney - M Ignatius McQuoin
1968: Mission to Andros Island, Bahamas - first from Portland, Maine
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Gospel
6 October 2019. 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Luke 17: 5-10
The strength to remain faithful in the face of adversity, the capacity to forgive, and the courage to do what we ought to do without seeking recognition or reward are perennial challenges for most people. According to the Lukan Jesus, it takes faith to meet such challenges. The devastating fires in the Amazon forests and in north-eastern Australia are testing the faith of those who have devoted much of their energy, even their whole lives, to speaking truth to power about the need for action to offset the effects of global warming…
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Mercy Resource
Praying in the Spirit of Catherine McAuley
This collection of prayers, written or compiled by Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, published in 1999, has been out of print for a number of years.
We are grateful to the Institute archives for making a scanned copy of the collection available and have now added it to our online Library
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Digital Life
Sky View Lite
Lets you explore the firmament by pointing your phone at the sky and mapping what’s up there.
There’s also a paid version of this app
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International Days
7 October: World Habitat Day
The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
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MIA
MIA Vision
The new MIA Vision is centred on Mercy Global Presence.
Embrace the new Vision
Further Resources
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Worth Reading
Religious life in a post-human age
NCR calls it ‘An intriguing title, and a fascinating piece by Ilia Delio that discusses institutional religious life, tribes, inclusion that excludes, the symphony of Earth and the life of Francis of Assisi.’
Read Part One here)
Worth Knowing
Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning
A new programme in the UK run by international development charity CAFOD, and supported by the British Council, is designed to help better understand how to integrate global issues - like climate change and peacebuilding - into the curriculum and the Catholic life of the school.
Significant resources are available on the website.
Explore the website)
Worth Reading
Al Gore: The Climate Crisis Is the Battle of Our Time, and We Can Win
‘We have the tools. Now we are building the political power.’
Read the article here)
Worth Watching
Greta Thunberg Speech to Leaders at UN Climate Summit
‘You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing….’
Watch the video, read the text of the speech)
Worth Reading
Talitha Kum Ends First Assembly, Sets New Goals to Address Structural Injustices
An overview of the tenth anniversary gathering in Rome, 21-27 September)
Worth Knowing
In St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis Unveils Life-size Sculpture of Migrants Throughout History & World
‘On 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Francis Celebrates a Day “to Reaffirm the Necessity that No One Remain Excluded from Society, Whether He Is a Long-Time Resident or One Newly Arrived”
Image: Vatican Media
Read the article here)
Worth Watching
The Pope Video: Missionary Spring in the Church
‘In this extraordinary missionary month, let us pray that the Holy Spirit engender a new missionary spring in the Church.’
-Pope Francis
Watch the video here)
Worth Watching
Send suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘The greatest communication is love: in love there is the fullness of communication: love for God and among us.’ Read more
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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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