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Update on Mercy International Association Activities
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The red doors are open again at 64a Baggot Street! While we do not expect the usual number of people for this time of year to be coming through them, we look forward to welcoming those who can visit.
We are negotiating uncertainties and restrictions as you all are doing in different countries, on different continents, in different climates. It is impossible not to be very conscious of the many blessings in our lives as we gain some awareness of the suffering others endure in this pandemic…
Vision in Action
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Events
Hold a 'Good Cup of Tea' Event - In-person or Online
In her last moments, Catherine McAuley directed that the Sisters would have a good cup of tea together in the community room, after she had gone. Between 24 September and 12 December (the Season of Mercy), Mercy groups throughout the world are invited to join an international 'Good Cup of Tea' event. Funds raised at the 2020 Good Cup of Tea events will contribute to the Heritage Room upgrade.
This year provides an opportunity to hold virtual as well as in person events.
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Photographer: mehdi shojaeian. CC4.0. Mehr NewsagencyPrayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Beirut
We pray for those residents of Beirut, their visitors and foreign workers who lost their lives or were injured as a result of the catastrophic explosion on 4 August.
We pray for those left homeless, or jobless, or in need of food, medical care or other humanitarian aid.
We give thanks for those able to offer comfort and support as well as their prayers to everyone in Lebanon suffering from this devastating tragedy and to their relatives and friends living outside the country, hearts numbed with grief.
Post your prayer in our online chapel
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CImage: Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge PlatformMGA
MGA Reflects on the 2020 High-Level Political Forum
From the Decade of Action to a Decade of Recovery
The annual meeting…is the main United Nations platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In a year when most other multilateral meetings and processes have been cancelled or postponed, the 2020 HLPF took place during its originally-scheduled dates from 7-16 July, albeit in a much different format than previous years due to the global COVID-19 pandemic…
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Third MGP Poster & Regional Gathering Information
The third of the Segment Two posters —'Mercy & Displacement of Persons'— and accompanying guide will be released through Mercy eNews next week (19 August).
Bookings for the third set of Regional Gatherings open online on Monday, 17 August.
Members' News
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GB Union
Sister Evelyn Gallagher 1945—2020
The Union of the Sisters of Mercy GB are sad to report the death of Sister Evelyn on 10 August 2020. Evelyn had been unwell for two years, but her death was not expected.
A Sister of Mercy for almost 55 years, Evelyn served on the Central Leadership Team for a number of years and as Congregational Leader from 2000—2005.
A staunch supporter of the Ministry of Mercy International Centre, Baggot Street, and Mercy International Association, she accepted her role as President of MIA from 2003 to 2005. The world-wide reach of Mercy through MIA was an inspiration to her.
May she rest in the peace of our God of Mercy.
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Stock imageBrisbane
Mater Convent to Become Nation's Largest Mother Baby Unit for Post-natal Depression
‘Former head of Mater Hospital Brisbane, the iconic Mercy Sister Angela Mary Doyle, said during a virtual event in Brisbane that work was underway to open the Mother Baby Family unit in November 2022.
“Mater will build a world class mother and baby unit, and change the future for thousands of Queensland families,” Sr Doyle said.
“Our mothers deserve nothing less.”'…’
Source: Catholic Leader
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Americas
Residents' Needs are the 'North Star' of Mercy Housing
‘"Housing is a human right. Food security is a human right. Water is a human right. Health care is a human right," said Sr. Linda Werthman, who chairs the board of Mercy Housing and is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. "I heard someone say this pandemic may give us a ... chance to get right what we provide as a country. But from our communal experience as women religious, we understand that it's what you give instead of how much you can amass that matters."…‘
Source: Global Sisters Report
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Americas
Woman in her 90s makes over 1,000 masks for hospital
‘From mid-March through mid-July, the experienced seamstress made over 1,000 facemasks for staff and patients at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. And she’s still going…“It’s a work of mercy,” she said. “I always just pray whoever is wearing these masks, I hope they will wear them in good health.”’
Source: The Witness
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Aotearoa New Zealand
Caring is Key!
Jeff Aukuso, an Intensive Care Paramedic with St John Ambulance and 4th year Medical Student at Otago School of Medicine, has attended a number of calls for miscarriages of precious baby foetus’ often before they had a chance to be held. Fortunately ambulance staff do not have to attend such tragic events very often…
Jeff approached the St John Territory Manager, Doug Third and District Operations Manager Pauline Buchanan to discuss the initiative of implementing a baby kete (basket) that would be compact enough to store in the ambulance and allow respect for the sorrow felt by families at this time…
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Photo by Stéphane Hermellin on UnsplashISMAPNG
Mother Pleads for her Daughter: Elaine Wainwright rsm
Elaine Wainwright rsm interprets the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28. Sr Elaine writes: ‘There are some biblical stories that capture our imagination as well as our hearts. The story of the Canaanite woman — who challenges Jesus in seeking healing for her daughter — is one such story for me…’
Download the article here
Mercy Matters
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Immaculate Conception window in the sanctuary of the MIC chapelInternational Days
15 August, Feast of the Assumption
‘Mary…took a chance, she said “yes” to some big invitation, a mystery, an event, an encounter. She said, “Count me in!” — She was all about being part of incarnating God in our midst.’
From the Reflection by Paula-Mary Cancienne rsm, written and published for Mercy eNews in 2018
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Resource
Mercy Partners: Reflections on 10 Green Commandments
Ten Green Commandments #5: The Human Roots of the Ecological Crisis
Previously published: No 1 , No 2 , No 3 , No 4 and Introduction
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Fact
On This Day
1987: Foundation to Hywany, Ballinasloe, Co Galway
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Gift Shop
Good Cup of Tea Items
Mercy Tea coasters and Teabags (Barry’s Tea, Rainforest Alliance Certified™) are on sale for use at Good Cup of Tea Events - or at any time.
Visit our online shop
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Gospel
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Matthew 15:21-28
' The gospels are written in Greek and much of the language of the gospels has to be understood against a Greek philosophical background. Today’s gospel story culminates in the healing of a “daughter” who may be a little girl or even a young woman. Her mother, the main character in the story, is known to Matthew’s community simply as a Canaanite woman, or in other words an indigenous woman...'
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Digital Life
14 Practical Google Sheets Templates For Everyday Use
‘Google Sheets templates…can have surprising time-saving uses when you apply them to everyday situations.’
Further Resources
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Worth Watching
Salve Regina - Choir
450 voices from 33 different countries interspersed with scenes expressing faith and devotion
Watch/listen here)
Worth Reading
Convention on worst forms of child labour receives universal ratification
‘All 187 countries that are members of the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) have now ratified a convention to protect children from the worst forms of child labour, including slavery, prostitution and trafficking.’
Read the article here)
Worth Watching
Pope's Prayer for August: The Maritime World
‘Let us pray for all those who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families.‘
Watch the prayer here)
Worth Knowing
In light of pandemic, pope will begin new series on social doctrine
‘"In the next few weeks, I invite you to tackle together the pressing questions that the pandemic has brought to the fore, social ills above all. And we will do it in the light of the Gospel, of the theological virtues and of the principles of the church's social doctrine," he said Aug. 5 during his weekly general audience…’
Read the article here){kind=logo}
Worth Reading
A virtual LCWR assembly aims to discern modern role of women religious
‘This year's theme, "God's Infinite Vision: Our Journey to the Borders and Beyond," comes from a desire to see beyond present difficulties and to embrace a more mystical vision that has hope for the future, said Sr. Annmarie Sanders of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, LCWR's associate director of communications.’
Read the article here)
Worth Reading
Sisters, humanitarian leaders warn that pandemic may worsen hunger
‘The COVID-19 pandemic's effects on those living in economic poverty may be spiraling out of control, leading to worsening hunger, the leaders of humanitarian organizations and Catholic sisters who advocate for the most vulnerable say…’
Image: Photo by shihab hossain on Unsplash
Read the article here)
Worth Knowing
Only One in 26 Jobs in Poor Countries Can Be Performed at Home, World Bank Paper Finds
‘The World Bank has published a policy research working paper that estimates the share of jobs that can be performed from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper titled, ‘Who on Earth Can Work from Home?’ finds that the ability to telework is correlated with income.’
Photo by Gabriel Benois on Unsplash
Read the article here)
Worth Reading
The Amazon we want
‘We, scientists of the Amazon and those who study the Amazon, have come together under the auspices of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to contribute our knowledge and experience to a scientific assessment of the state of the diverse ecosystems, land uses, and climatic changes of the Amazon and their implications for the region.‘
Explore the websiteSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2020 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘If the defacement of the poor is a defacement of God, in the same way a defacement of Earth is a defacement of God…
From now on, caring for the environment has to be understood as being at the core of what mercy is, of what mercy asks us to do.’ 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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