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Homelessness and our Wisdom Traditions by Elizabeth Dowling rsm
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Inspired by the outcomes of the Mercy International Reflection Process, the new vision statement of Mercy International Association has two foci: “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.” Homelessness, with its multi-faceted causes, is a key aspect in the scope of this vision statement. This paper, marking World Homelessness Day on October 10th, seeks to bring homelessness into dialogue with some of our biblical and mercy wisdom traditions…
Vision in Action
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Mercy Global Presence
‘Cosmos Mercified into Being’
Editor: Thirty-three participants enrolled in the Mercy Global Presence programme led by Elizabeth Davis rsm and held at MIC last week (30 September - 4 October), experienced an introduction to the focal points (Global-Mercy-Presence-Integrated) and themes to be explored over the next sixteen months.
This article ‘Cosmos Mercified into Being’ from the forthcoming special issue of MAST (see Members’ News section below) provides a taste of the material covered over those four days.
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MGA
New Intern at Mercy Global Action
‘I am Sr. Amanda Carrier, RSM and it is my pleasure to introduce myself as the new intern at Mercy Global Action. Over the course of my formation as a sister these past nine years, my understanding and commitment to social justice has grown, thanks in great part to the many wonderful connections I have made through the Mercy community…’
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Prayer
MIA Prayer intention: Synod on the Amazon
Let us pray the Prayer for our Earth during the Synod (6-27 October) for fruitful dialogue between all those involved in the Synod and for attentive listening to indigenous peoples and communities living in the Amazonia.
Download the prayer: in English here, in Spanish here.
Post your prayer in our online chapel.
Members' News
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ISMAPNG
‘SHELTY’ a STEM project
On the 22nd of October, Emily, Alannah and Greta, from 8 Blue, will be representing the Academy of Mary Immaculate at the national finals of the Go IT Challenge, having been chosen as one of the most innovative projects submitted to the competition in 2019.
Their idea, “Shelty”, is about using technology to help people in our community, who find themselves homeless, connect with support services nearby…
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Stock imageAmericas
Looking Back to Find Ways Forward in Housing
"We can do better" — this simple idea was uttered in a front-porch meeting of Catholic sisters in the early 1980s in Nebraska, setting a precedent that would lead to the birth of the nation's largest affordable housing nonprofit, Mercy Housing.
With a presence in 42 states, nearly 40 years of experience and a 341-property portfolio, one would assume that from the outset, Mercy Housing wanted to become a real estate powerhouse, but that wasn't the case. Our founder, Sr. Timothy Marie O'Roark ('Sister Tim'), a Sister of Mercy in Omaha, just wanted to help low-income families find stable, healthy homes…
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Stock imageNorth Sydney
Project update: Older Women’s Housing Project
The pilot of the Older Women’s Housing Project in Melbourne by Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) has taken an enormous step forward with the issue of the planning permit for development of four townhouses. The Mercy Foundation provided seed funding for this project through the Grants to End Homelessness program. This innovative project will enable four older women on fixed, low incomes who are currently relying on an expensive rental market to each secure their own brand new home.
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Newfoundland
Special MAST Edition - Cosmology: Embraced by Earth, World and Universe
The forthcoming issue has been prepared by Newfoundland Sisters, their interfaith colleagues and lay partners-in-Mercy. Topics addressed include ‘Cosmology and Ethics’, ‘Cosmology and Missional Leadership’, ‘Cosmology and Spirituality’.
A full listing of topics and authors can be found here. Subscribe to MAST here
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Stock imageThe Congregation
Deirdre Mullan rsm Keynote Speaker at Stockton Freshman Seminar
Deirdre Mullan was the keynote speaker to the 2019 class at Stockton State University of NJ.
The Freshman Seminars are an integral part of the first-semester experience at Stockton…
Sr Deirdre’s report is linked to this item.
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Americas
New Group Committed to Service
‘A play on “first responders,” Hurst Responders is a response to the mission of the Sisters of Mercy as ambassadors of service. The Hurst Responders aim to be the response mechanism to the needs of the campus and community as well as give students a more active roll in their service opportunities…’
Mercy Matters
MGP
Support the Amazon Synod
UISG invites Congregations worldwide to support the Synod in these ways:
Symbolic Space, Online Prayer, Webinar, Meeting Online.
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Fact
On This Day
1893: Death of M Xavier Wood
1884: Death of M. Catherine Ryan, first Sister to be buried at Golden Bridge
1961: Death of M Imelda Collins, four times Superior at Baggot St.
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Gospel
13 October 2019. 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Luke 17:11-19
'Every day we hear news of race riots, ethnic violence and discrimination somewhere in our world, often quite close to us. Even those who do not resort to violence can tend to be suspicious of those who have different origins and different ways from them. The worst atrocities are frequently perpetrated between those who have differing understandings of the same faith…’
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Mercy Resource
Catherine McAuley, Mercy Charism and Mission - New Mercy Leaders Orientation Program (2019-2020)
The New Mercy Leader Orientation Program is a two-year program offered online for new administrators and board chairs throughout the Mercy Education System of the Americas (MESA). The first session of the 2019-20 academic year featured Sister Mary Sullivan, rsm (pictured above), presenting on Catherine McAuley and the Mercy Charism.
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Technical Tip
How to Set Your Google Data to Self-Destruct
‘Google has now given us an option to set search and location data to automatically disappear after a certain time. We should all use it.’
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International Days
10 October: World Suicide Day
Every 40 seconds someone loses their life to suicide.
Information from WHO on suicide prevention can be found here.
Further Resources
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Worth Watching
Calm the Soul
Newly released video reflection by the Galway Poor Clares based on a poem from the book of the same name they brought out in 2012.
Watch or listen here)
Worth Reading
Stop Trafficking!
The October issue (Vol. 17 No. 10) of Stop Trafficking is now available.
This issue highlights the connection of sporting events with human trafficking.
Read the issue here)
Worth Reading
4 Things to Know About the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere
‘On the heels of its report on climate change and land, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has now assessed the impact that climate change is having on the world’s oceans and frozen areas (known as the “cryosphere”). The IPCC’s Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is a bleak read…’
Read the article here)
Worth Reading
Way of posthuman life could revitalize religious communities
‘Religious life was never meant to be a bounded, closed system or a tribe, but a life lived on a new level of consciousness of belonging to the whole earth, in love with the whole Body of Christ.’
A companion piece to ‘Religious life in a post-human age’
Read the article here)
Worth Watching
'Global Caring: Living in Harmony with God's Creation'
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has just released a second film on Laudato Si'. It works as a stand-alone or companion volume to ‘Global Healing’ and is intended to introduce parish groups and individuals to Pope Francis’ teaching in *Laudato Si’
*The film can be downloaded or watched on line for free.
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Worth Reading
Cardinal Turkson reminds Irish religious and missionaries of spiritual, social connection
‘Cardinal Peter Turkson has defended Pope Francis' outreach to the poor and on the environment from conservative critics who want the pope to devote less time to social issues and more time to speaking about prayer….’
Read the article hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘This Synod is like a table that God has prepared for His poor and He is asking us to serve at that table.’ 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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