)
)
)
MGP Reflective Posters on 'Global' Theme:
A Summary Resource
)
The Helix or 'Eye of God'
We have been working on a way to summarise our first segment ‘Global’ for the Mercy Global Presence process, allowing participants time for reflection on the richness and depth of that work, and leading us gently into our next segment ‘Mercy’ which will begin on 25 March 2020.
We would now like to share our plan with you…
Image credit: NASA, WIYN, NOAO, ESA, Hubble Helix Nebula Team, M. Meixner (STScI), &
T. A. Rector (NRAO)
The Helix or 'Eye of God'
Vision in Action
)
Prayer
MIA Special Prayer Intention for the Coming Week: Those living with Cancer
4 February is World Cancer Day.
Let us remember in our prayers in a special way today all who are living with cancer, especially the members of our families, our communities, our ministries, our networks and all cancer sufferers who have requested our prayers.
May our prayers be a source of strength and comfort; may our concern offer companionship and care.
Post your prayer in our online chapel
)
Events & Programmes
Mercy Education Pilgrimage 2020
Ten participants involved in education in Mercy ministries from New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines and the United States commenced their year with a five-day programme at Mercy International Centre.
The first half of the week focused on the beginnings of Mercy and included a visit to Coolock where participants undertook a little needlework and considered the impact that Catherine had in teaching the women/girls of the area to sew…
)
MGA
MGA Signatory to Oral Statement at CSocD58
The fifty-eighth session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD58) will take place from 10 to 19 February 2020. The priority theme is ‘Affordable housing and social protection systems for all to address homelessness’.
MGA is one of the signatories to an Oral statement on Homelessness and Mining to be delivered during the Commission.
Editor: Homelessness is one of the 11 issues of concern to MIA identified during the Mercy International Reflection Process (MIRP).
Members' News
)
Australia
There’s a New Neighbourhood in the School
McAuley Community School, Adelaide, a Catholic school in the Mercy tradition, is South Australia’s first new school in a decade. It opened last Tuesday for the new school year. Its commitment to the environment and to ecological awareness is evident in the Green Building Council Australia’s award of its 6-Star Green Star Rating for the school’s design…
)
England
A Nice Cup of Tea
When I arrived at the train station last Monday morning I was greeted by volunteers from the Samaritans handing out tea bags to commuters …
It was the day (20/1) of the year on which people are said to be most likely to be depressed. It’s the third full week back at work after Christmas, it’s still dark in the morning, and credit card bills are coming through…
The point of the tea bag, according to the Samaritans, is that it’s good to talk to someone…
When in Dublin I sometimes enjoy the warm hospitality of the Mercy sisters in Baggot Street …[where] the comfortable cup of tea [is] a symbol of the warm and caring relationships which were at the heart of Catherine McAuley’s Mercy vision…’
)
Americas
Mercy High School President Selected for Columbia University Fellowship Program
‘Mary Beth Lennon, president of Mercy High School [Baltimore], is one of just 20 school leaders from around the world selected for this year’s Klingenstein Heads of Schools Program at Columbia University’s Teachers College. This fully funded fellowship brings together 20 school heads from independent schools in the United States together with international school leaders from Colombia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Tunisia, India, Japan, and Honduras to consider educational philosophy, leadership, and strategic innovation…’
Source: Baltimore Fishbowl
Mercy Matters
)
Resource
Prayer Vigil 8 February 2020 -Together Against Trafficking
8 February, Feast of St Bakhita, brings to a conclusion National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month (USA) that helps us all raise awareness of this issue. A Prayer Vigil has been prepared by Talitha Kum (UISG network) for the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. Download it here in English; in Spanish
)
Digital Life
21 Tips to Make Google Docs, Sheets and Slides Work for You
‘Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides have evolved to become very competent online productivity tools, enabling you to churn out documents, spreadsheets and presentations from any computer (with other collaborators, if necessary).’
)
Communication
New to Mercyworld.org Website?
Tips to help you navigate the Mercyworld.org site can be found in the Library section on our website.
Filter by the category ‘Website Tips’ to help you discover the key features and functionality of our website.
)
Gospel
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
'In today’s gospel, Jesus addresses two short parables to his disciples in the presence of the crowds. The crowds as well as the disciples hear what he has to say. Parables were intended to tease their hearers, inviting them to see things differently or from a new perspective, to see themselves in a new light...'
)
Fact
On This Day
1851: Foundation to Little Rock, Arkansas from Naas - M de Sales O'Keefe.
1906: M Magdalen Kirwin died, Golden Bridge (Superior at Baggot St 1864-70)
1960: Goulburn Sisters began Motor Mission - M Regina Thompson, M Eymard Cusack
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
)
Resource
The Visual Commentary on Scripture (VCS)
It’s 12 months since we highlighted The Visual Commentary on Scripture (VCS). There are now 120 exhibitions online on VCS. Audio options and a video channel have been added as well as a tab for an overview of all the current exhibitions and associated art works available on the site.
Discover the Bible in new ways through the illuminating interaction of artworks & scriptural texts.
Further Resources
)
Worth Watching
Holy As The Day Is Spent
From the album "Kindred Spirits: A Collection" by Carrie Newcomer
Watch/listen here)
Worth Reading
UN ruling could be a game-changer for climate refugees and climate action
‘The recent ruling by the United Nations that governments cannot return people to countries where their lives might be threatened by climate change is a potential game-changer — not just for climate refugees, but also for global climate action…’
Read the article here)
Worth Knowing
Catholic Schools Week 2020 (Ireland) Resources for Schools
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the publication of Laudato Si’.
Primary and Post Primary schools outside Ireland might also find the resources on the theme ‘Living in Harmony With God’s Creation’ produced for Catholic Schools Week, (26 January-2 February) to be a helpful resource for the anniversary.
Resources can be downloaded here)
Worth Watching
The Wall Between Us
This recently produced 52 minute Voice of America documentary, The Wall Between Us, about immigration on the southern border of the United States, features the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia’s Border Immersion project.
Watch the documentary here)
Worth Reading
Pope Francis: Audience with the participants in the International Congress “The richness of many years”, Rome 29-31 January
‘In the twenty-first century, old age has become one of the distinctive features of humanity..Over a period of just a few decades, the demographic pyramid - which once rested upon a large number of children and young people and had at the top just a few elderly people - has been inverted.’ (Pope Francis, 31 January 2020)
Read the Pope's Address here)
Worth Reading
Not by numbers: Women religious finding new ways to minister, collaborate
‘In an interview Jan. 29, just a few days before the annual celebration Feb. 2 of the World Day for Consecrated Life, [Patricia Murray ibvm, executive secretary for UISG] said, “The Holy Spirit is at work in building us as religious women into a global family.”
“There’s something extraordinary happening in terms of inter-congregational collaboration,” she said. “We’re helping and sustaining and carrying one another as religious women.”’
Read the article hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2020 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience.’
)
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
)
)
)
)
)