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Sunderland Sisters Explore New Forms of Outreach After the Acclaim of their Thursday NHS Singalongs
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YouTube: News & Pictures North
Sisters of Mercy in Sunderland say they are “totally taken aback” at the international reaction to their weekly singalong for the NHS [National Health Service] outside their convent – and are now actively investigating new forms of outreach to their local community, building on the links developed in recent months…
As a community they are now reflecting on the legacy of this experience which “came out of the blue!” “We want to build on these new links – we just think God must be opening new doors to us.”
YouTube: News & Pictures North
Vision in Action
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MIC
MIC Gift Shop Reopens Today
We are pleased to announce that the MIC Gift Shop has reopened for in person and online orders. Unfortunately, it is still not possible to post goods from Ireland to Australia, New Zealand or the Philippines.
We will advise in Mercy eNews when that changes.
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Coronavirus cases
With record new case numbers in India and Iran, a surge in cases in the United States, further outbreaks in other parts of the globe, including Victoria, Australia, we are reminded of the invitation to participate in the global circle of prayer at 6:30 pm local time each evening.
Post your prayer in our online chapel
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MGA
Emerging Leaders Reflect on Their Experiences
The 2019-2020 participants (Fellows) in the MIA-MGA Emerging Leaders Fellowship Programme (MELF) have written reflections about their experiences. The reflections can be read here
L-r: Julia, Anneke (back) Jemima, Theresia, Tylia, Siobhán, Anastasia, Carmen Rosa, Edith, Amy. Short biographies of each participant can be read here
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MGP Segment Two Posters
The first of the Segment Two posters —'Faith Traditions and Mercy'— and accompanying guide will be released through Mercy eNews next week (15 July).
Members' News
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The Congregation
COVID-19 And Kenya
Three articles from the Kenyan Province on how they are coping in these strange times of COVID-19: ‘Mukuru Promotion Centre and COVID-19’, ‘Natural Calamities, Demolitions And Corona Virus Pandemic In Kenya’ and ‘Education as Therapy to Children Growth and Development’ have been published on The Congregation site.
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Americas
Mercy Spirituality Online Program Sponsored by Georgian Court University New Jersey
Applications are being accepted until 15 August for this online program.
Join us from anywhere in the world in a global conversation about Mercy Spirituality in this fully online program. Nourish your spiritual journey through study, reflection, and dialogue with others on the journey. This program is open to all who are interested in exploring more deeply Mercy Spirituality. It is especially relevant to Sisters of Mercy, Associates, and anyone associated with a Mercy-sponsored work or ministry…
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Image source: Southern Cross. Used with permissionISMAPNG
School of St Jude - A Tale of Hope
‘Three years ago, at the age of 23, Maddie Kelly [a former St Aloysius College Adelaide student and Social Justice coordinator], boarded a plane bound for Arusha, Tanzania, and began working in the School of St Jude. Here she writes about her experiences, including the impact of COVID-19 on the local community.’
Source: The Southern Cross
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Image source: Southern Cross. Used with permissionISMAPNG
Extending Hand of Unconditional Friendship
‘“I must admit I got a great surprise when I found out I had been nominated,” Sr Kate told The Southern Cross, adding that the OAM was really recognition for the work of all Sisters of Mercy.
“What has made my work worthwhile is that I did it from the heart and from my Mercy life, with the backing of the Sisters.
“I am very proud of the Sisters I have lived and worked with, their friendship, their faith and often their own courage in tackling new places and new things that need to be done...”’
Source: The Southern Cross
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Aotearoa New Zealand & ISMAPNG
Scripture Commentaries from Tui Motu
Both Kathleen Rushton rsm and Elaine Wainwright rsm have addressed the same Gospel this month - the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13: 1-22). The commentaries are sufficiently different that together they provide us, the readers, with rich additional insights.
Elaine Wainwright rsm: Sowing the Seeds
Kathleen Rushton rsm: Listen, Understand & Bear Fruit
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Americas
Catholic Leaders Call to Free the Families and End Family Detention
In response to the ruling by a federal judge that all children currently held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for more than 20 days must be released by July 17, the organizers of the Catholic Campaign to End Immigrant Child Detention, offer a joint statement as well as individual responses.
The Statement by Sister Patricia McDermott rsm, President, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, can be read here
Mercy Matters
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Resource
Faith and Spirituality in a Time of Crisis: St Joseph's Maine
17 Conversations with faith leaders, theologians, philosophers, and more about maintaining the spiritual life during a time of self-isolating and social distancing.
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Fact
On This Day
Nothing is recorded in our ‘Mercy Through the Years’ calendar as occurring on this day.
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Digital Life
What's App is Rolling Out New Features
The latest versions of WhatsApp will include a number of new features including improvements to group video calls.
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Gospel
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Matthew 13:1-23
'Since the outbreak of Covid-19, we have necessarily distanced ourselves from others…changes in lifestyle are conditioning us to use our eyes to see and our ears to listen, as today’s gospel invites us to do....Ann Lewin’s words come to mind: “You do not have to Look for anything. Just look. You do not have to Listen for specific Sounds. Just Listen. You do not have to Accomplish anything. Just Be. And in the Looking and the Listening and the Being, find Me.”'
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Resource
Join the Global Laudato Si’ Prayer Services
GCCM (Global Catholic Climate Movement) is organising monthly prayer services to help us prepare for the Season of Creation, simultaneously translated into English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.
Enrol to participate or, if the time doesn’t suit, to receive the recording.
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Resource
World Religious Leaders Reflect on Spiritual Challenges and Opportunities of Coronavirus
A series of video interviews with almost 40 religious leaders worldwide. 15 countries, 7 religions are represented in a project that speaks to all of humanity, across countries and across religious differences.
Further Resources
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Worth Watching
A Sky Full Of Stars
The Symphoniacs perform an instrumental version of Coldplay’s song.
Watch/listen here)
Worth Reading
Impacts of COVID-19 disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable: UN chief
‘Addressing poverty eradication on Tuesday in front of the General Assembly, UN chief António Guterres warned that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are falling “disproportionately on the most vulnerable: people living in poverty, the working poor, women and children, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups”.’
Read the article here)
Worth Reading
Amazon churches create transnational body to implement synod proposals
‘The first significant implementation of last October’s Synod on the Amazon took place on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, with the founding of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon, a new transnational church structure that is intended to implement many of the synod’s proposals.’
Read the article here Watch the video report (2:15))
Worth Watching
What is ecosystem-based adaptation?
‘Healthy ecosystems can reduce the negative impacts of climate change. For instance, coastal habitats like mangroves provide natural flood defences, well-protected lakes retain water sources during droughts, and healthy forests reduce the risk of devastating wildfires.’
Watch the video here (3:23))
Worth Watching
Our Families: July 2020 Prayer Intention of Pope Francis
‘Let us pray that today’s families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance, and especially, that they may be protected by the State.’
Watch it here (1:00))
Worth Reading
'Update'Newsletter
The July issue of ‘Update’, the monthly newsletter of LCWR, is now available
Read the newsletter here)
Worth Reading
Vatican backs debt relief for poor countries as part of COVID recovery
‘ROSARIO, Argentina – According to the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations in Geneva, “tackling crippling external debt burdens” of developing countries could help save millions of lives.’
Read the article hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2020 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘With the pandemic, new and old forms of poverty are expanding, while social illnesses are coming to light that make rebirth difficult. Many people remain excluded not only from the internet, but from social consideration, with enormous losses, and thousands of victims of exploitation, of marginalization. We ask ourselves: how can we bear witness to the living presence of a god who moves and bends over them to care for them?
We are asked for a renewed “creative charity”.’ 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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