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Create a Cosmic Wreath for Advent
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Credit: NASA, ESA, & Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration
In keeping with our MGP Segment ‘Global’, and in particular the theme ‘Cosmos/Cosmology’, we are pleased to provide the instructions for creating a Cosmic Advent Wreath. We are grateful to Gen Cassani SSND for sharing her artwork in this way. In responding to our invitation, Sr Gen shared her ‘joy in the fact that cosmic advent wreaths will grace many in a new way this year and hopefully beyond.’
We echo her hope and wish you all the graces of this Advent Season.
The instructions are linked to this item.
Credit: NASA, ESA, & Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration
Vision in Action
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MGP
November Resources Available 27 November
Resources on People and Deep Social Change, the third of our Global themes, will be published on the MGP microsite next Wednesday, 27 November and linked from Mercy eNews.
Presenters for November are: Elizabeth Davis rsm (Newfoundland, Introduction), Julia Upton rsm (Americas, Theological Imaginings), Mary White rsm (Parramatta, Artistic Inspiration), Susan Browne rsm (GB Institute, Grassroots Ministry), Angela Reed rsm (MIA, Mercy Global Action), Ailish O’Brien rsm (The Congregation, Distinct Voice), Carmel McDonough rsm (North Sydney, Reflective Prayer)
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Giving Thanks
Let us take the time today to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for and give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. Let us be mindful of God’s care of us and ask ourselves how might we care for others in this new day given to us.
Post your prayer in our online chapel
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MGA
Using Your Voice to Support Survivors: The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November)
Violence against women and girls is an expansive and overwhelming issue complicated by the intersections of discrimination, objectification, and abuse. Raising awareness of this pervasive crisis is one of the many ways we can work towards ending the culture of abuse. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November) launches the ‘16 Days of Activism Campaign’…
Members' News
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ISMAPNG
'Divine Lover of Life': Elaine Wainwright rsm
Reflecting on Wisdom 11:22–12:2, Elaine Wainwright rsm suggests that by contemplating creation we will develop love to care of the Earth community.
Sr Elaine writes: ‘We know we need a theology — a way of speaking of the Divine — that is attuned to the complexities of life around us, that will assist us in our time. For this, we can engage in a reflection process which will lead to a new vision and also a new praxis — a new way of being in and contributing to the universe in this time.’
Download the article here
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Americas
Advent Reflection Guide: Awake! Wonder, Welcome.
This 32 page reflection guide (PDF) has been prepared by Sisters, Associates and Companions of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.
Each day’s reflection includes links to the readings of the day and a few questions to ponder as you pray. Further information about the Guide which is linked to this item can be found here
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Brisbane
Celebrating 130 Years of Service Excellence
The Sisters of Mercy, Brisbane Congregation, recently joined with Board and staff members from Holy Cross Laundry to celebrate 130 years of service. In 1888 the Congregation opened a home in Wooloowin to meet the needs of unmarried mothers, women in need and intellectually and physically handicapped people. An industrial laundry was built nearby in 1889 to create revenue and to provide employment for those resident in the home…
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GB union
November Reflection: Saintly Birmingham
On 14th October of this year, Birmingham rejoiced that it had its own saint, namely John Henry Newman, whose conversion to Catholicism in 1845 caused great controversy…
We know that Saint John Henry visited Saint Mary’s Handsworth in 1879 after he was created a cardinal, to thank the sisters for the motto painted on vellum for him by Juliana Hardman, and for making his pallium. On that occasion, he celebrated Mass at the altar, which is now in Catherine’s Oratory but was then in the main chapel…
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Americas
Fiscal 2019 Accountability Report
By 2025, 66% of the world’s population is projected to face water scarcity as a result of use, population growth, and climate change – a startling reminder of the moral imperative we each have to protect the global water supply. Mercy Investment Services’ Fiscal 2019 Accountability Report highlights how the socially responsible investment program is addressing the global water crisis through shareholder advocacy and impact investments.
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Americas
CHA's leader spotlights ministry's involvement in housing
‘CHICAGO — Going back to its origins among women religious, Catholic health care has extended beyond ministering to the sick. The foundresses were concerned with basic human needs including safe shelter, CHA President and Chief Executive Officer Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, said at a recent conference on the nation's affordable housing crisis.
"We weren't founded to provide health care," she said of congregations of women religious. "We weren't founded to provide education. It's very clear that sisters went in and said, 'What's the need and how do we best respond to that need in the community?'"
Mercy Matters
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Technical Tip
Sync Your Calendar with the Solar System
Add the calendar on Google or iOS
Starting evening of 16 November, the Leonids meteor shower is set to put on a show in the night sky, just one of many solar events before year’s end.
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Gospel
24 November 2019. Feast of Christ the King Year C
Luke 2: 35-43
'Sadly, there have always been those who scoff at others or make fun of them, generally because they themselves feel threatened in some way. Those who suffer such bullying behaviour often feel powerless and demeaned. There may be some comfort for such people in today’s gospel. We find here a serious case of bullying and two dignified responses that undermine the destructive power of those who taunt or deride...'
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Fact
On This Day
Nothing is recorded in our online calendar (Source: Mercy Through the Years) as having taken place on this date. Can you contribute a Mercy fact from your congregation or institute?
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Advent
Free Resources Online for Advent
As we do each year, we have compiled a list of new- for- Advent free online resources for your reading, listening, viewing, praying and reflection.
We will continue to add to this list and welcome your suggestions of worthwhile additions.
Messages to: the Editor
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Gift Shop
Time for Mercy
This CD by Teresa Martin rsm (The Congregation/Northern Province) is a follow up to Cothú aghus Iomlánú (Nurture and wholeness) published in 2010.
Purchase from the MIC gift shop or directly from Sr Teresa
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Stock imageInternational Day
Universal Children’s Day
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Thirty years ago, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world's children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 20 November 1989
Further Resources
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Worth Watching
Kyrie (feat. Shara Worden) - Bifrost Arts.
Τhe phrase Kýrie, eléison (Greek: Κύριε ἐλέησον) is one of the most repeated phrases in Byzantine-Rite Eastern Christianity. The biblical roots of this prayer first appear in 1 Chronicles 16:34.
LIsten here)
Worth Reading
Making Ministry Whole - How MJPs Could Transform the Church
‘…There are other post-conciliar developments, however, that may prove to be far more significant in declericalizing the church.
Perhaps the most consequential of these is the emergence of “public juridic persons” as a way to maintain the mission and identity of Catholic institutions.’
Read the article here)
Worth Knowing
Faith and Reasons: Two Authors Explore the Persistence of Religious Feeling
‘Jack Miles’s new book opens with a question: What is religion, as we know it? Having edited “The Norton Anthology of World Religions” in 2015, after decades of teaching, this Pulitzer Prize-winning author is well aware of the difficulties of finding a workable answer. Here he focuses on this: How have we, in contemporary culture, come to separate religion from what we think of as ordinary, secular life? How was that artificial separation made for the first time?’
Read the article here)
Worth Reading
Catechism will be updated to include ecological sins, pope says
‘Following through on a proposal made at the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon, Pope Francis said there are plans to include a definition of ecological sins in the church’s official teaching.’
Read the article hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2019 to: The Editor
The Bottom line
‘I like to imagine that the personal and communal prayer of us Christians is the breath, the heartbeat of the Church, which instills its strength in the service of those who work, study, teach; which makes fruitful the knowledge of educated people and the humility of simple people; which gives hope to the tenacity of those who fight injustice.’
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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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