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'United Nations 2020 World Social Justice Day:
No More Small' by Veronica Lawson rsm
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Chaim Potok’s novel, ‘I Am the Clay’, is set in the final stages of the three year Korean War (June 1950-July 1953). It tells of a small boy rescued by an elderly peasant woman who finds him semi-conscious and almost frozen to death in the ditch where she and her husband have taken shelter. Despite her husband’s vehement protests, the woman insists on dragging the boy on to the cart that serves as their transport by day and their resting place by night. That cart holds all that this displaced couple have in the world…
Vision in Action
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Resources
Resources for Lent 2020
Editor: 26 February is Ash Wednesday.
Our annual ‘new and free online’ listing of resources for Lent is attached to this item. We include in the listing the MGP reflective posters and accompanying Guides as sources of reflection and encouragement for this season.
As always, we welcome your further suggestions.
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: For Justice
Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:
a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;
a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect;
a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Author unknown)
Post your prayer in our online chapel.
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MGA
MGA Focus on Homelessness in 2020
This year one of the core focuses of MGA will be on homelessness. During 10-19 February, 2020, the 58th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (CSocD) is meeting to address "Affordable housing and social protection systems for all to address homelessness". This is very significant, as homelessness has never been a priority theme at any of the United Nations Commissions. The Mercy Global Action Office, together with other NGO’s and allies, will be advocating for housing to be recognised as a human right…
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Reflective Poster 3: 'People and Deep Social Change'
Available now to help 'bridge' the time between Segments One and Two, encourage reflection and provide newcomers with an entry point into the Mercy Global Presence process.
Members' News
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ISMAPNG
Mercy School Setting for Launch of Slavery- free Resource
Editor: Academy of Mary Immaculate Fitzroy was the setting chosen for the launch last Thursday, 13 February, of the ‘Make your school slavery-free’ resource. Academy is committed to using fair trade products and teaching about modern slavery forms part of the school curriculum. A number of Sisters of Mercy across Australia are involved in addressing the issue of modern slavery through membership of ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans).…
This resource is designed to help all schools begin the transition to a slavery-free environment by creating a slavery-free staffroom…
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Americas
Mercy Focus on Haiti
Mercy Focus on Haiti, an initiative of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, currently sponsors a program in Gros Morne Haiti that alleviates Ulta-Poverty. It provides intensive support and coaching to women and their families over an 18 months period to help them achieve independence and HOPE.
The Video shows how this program, entitled a Pathway to a Better Life, is a Beacon of Hope to those suffering from Poverty.
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Stock imageAmericas
Verizon Awards $100,000 Grant To Mercy Education Project For STEM Literacy
‘Verizon has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Mercy Education Project to provide digital literacy, STEM education and technology-related workforce development opportunities in under-resourced communities…
Since it was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in Detroit in 1992, MEP has served more than 3,500 girls and women, empowering them through educational opportunities, life skills development and cultural enrichment to help them improve their lives….’
Source: MiTech News
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The Congregation
The Mercy Girl Effect supports the Mission of Ireland
The Mercy Girl Effect supports the mission of Ireland who organized a high-level event to launch "The Drive for Five" initiative, which aims to spur "five transformative actions" to promote education of adolescent girls.
Like the Mercy Girl Effect (MGE), which has a focus on Mercy projects on the ground, this new campaign calls on Nation States to take "five transformative actions" for girls' education to deliver on the fifth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG5) of the UN's 2030 Agenda: gender equality…
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Getty Images/Andreas Solaro. Used under licenceThe Congregation
A Short Reflection On The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Of The Holy Father Francis, “Querida Amazonia.”
…It is important to note that, while the title of this Exhortation is Querida Amazonia [Beloved Amazon], the document is addressed to “the people of God and to all people of good will.” The Synod for the Amazon, the Final Document and this Exhortation form a unit that is an urgent call to the universal Church to ecological conversion, reminding us that everything in interconnected. The Exhortation is Pope Francis’ personal response to the Synod and complements the Final Document entitled: New Paths for the Church and Integral Ecology…
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ISMAPNG
Mercy Students in Nebraska Support and Pray for Australia
In yet another wonderful demonstration of the connection across the Mercy world, Helen Law rsm received a lovely request from Mercy High School in Omaha, Nebraska [USA], looking to support the Australian community as it continues to face the bush fire crisis.
On January 14, Sr Helen, who has been a Disaster Recovery Chaplain for the past 10 years, received an email from Lori Umstead, a librarian and science teacher at the school.
“We are thinking of and praying for the people of Australia during this crisis and would like to help by educating our community about the Australian wildfires…
Mercy Matters
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Digital Life
Museum of Endangered Sounds
Click on the image of an item to hear the sound then click again to turn the sound off.
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Fact
On This Day
1851: Foundation to Ballinrobe from Westport, Co Mayo - M Gertrude O'Brien.
1889: Foundation to Broken Hill from Singleton
-M Josephine Callen
1958: Mission from Grafton to Torembi, Papua New Guinea
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Gospel
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Matthew 5: 38-48
'Today’s gospel is a continuation of the Matthean Jesus’ teaching on the sort of righteousness, the right relationship and justice, to which his followers are called in their living of the Law...'
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Siubo11A. Used under CC 3.0Reflection
Light Moves at Washington National Cathedral
Time lapse Photography of the Stained Glass windows at Washington National Cathedral
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Resource
Lavish Mercy
‘We exist in the infinite embrace of God’s mercy. In mercy, we all were created. In mercy, we all live. In mercy, we all have the hope of eternal life.’
An invitation to check out this valuable Mercy resource from Renee Yann rsm if you’ve not already visited this site.
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International Days
20 February: UN World Social Justice Day
‘For the United Nations, the pursuit of social justice for all is at the core of our global mission to promote development and human dignity.‘
Further Resources
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Worth Watching
Sheku Kanneh-Mason - Fauré: Après un rêve for cello & piano
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, British cellist, plays Fauré: Après un rêve for cello & piano
Watch/listen here)
Worth Reading
Teenage girls' education, ‘an indispensable foundation’ for achieving development goals: Guterres
‘Promoting education for adolescent girls is an “indispensable foundation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”, Secretary-General António Guterres declared at the launch event of the Drive for 5 education initiative at UN Headquarters on Tuesday [11 February], hosted by the Irish Mission to the United Nations…’
Read the article here)
Worth Knowing
Querida Amazonia (Beloved Amazon) Study Guide
Commentaries have been published in major Catholic and secular press.
The Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach in the U.S. has produced a Study Guide which may prove a helpful introduction to this Apostolic Exhortation.
Download the Guide here)
Worth Reading
The End of Australia as we know it
‘The wildfires that ravaged Australia have forced the country to imagine an entirely new way of life.’
Read the article here)
Worth Knowing
1325 And Beyond - International Essay Competition
In the run up to the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, Women In International Security (WIIS) and the Heinrich Böll Foundation Washington, DC are launching an international essay competition, 1325 And Beyond, open to young professionals and graduate students.
Details are hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2020 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘Stories can have an alchemical magic to them, take you on a deep and powerful journey and shift your perspective…. In times of such uncertainty, climate breakdown, division, and ecological devastation we need stories that can help us listen to the Earth and move beyond the human-centric worldview that’s killing us to one that respects and embraces the non-human.’
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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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