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‘Hope in a Time of Pandemic - Responding to COVID-19 through a Mercy Lens’
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Today, Mercy Global Action COVID-19 Response Task Force is pleased to launch a new report, ‘Hope in a Time of Pandemic - Responding to COVID-19 through a Mercy Lens’. The MGA COVID-19 Response Task Force is made up of Mercy Global Action staff, Sisters, and Partners in ministry from Mercy Congregations and Institutes around the world. This document is the culmination of a process of reflection undertaken by the Task Force since May 2020. The process included collecting stories and reflecting on them in the light of our Mercy Tradition and Catholic Social Teaching. The Task Force also engaged with commentary and analysis from academia, civil society, faith-based organizations, the United Nations, and other international stakeholders…
Second MGP Regional Gatherings, 11-13 August
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MGP
From 16 Countries...
261 Sisters and partners-in-Mercy from Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, Ireland, Peru, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Romania, Philippines, Guyana, Argentina, United Kingdom, Chile, Honduras and the United States, participated in one or more of the three regional gatherings held last week on the theme ‘**Mercy & Degradation of Earth’.**
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MGP
We Gathered Together Online...
Conversations were held in breakout rooms for 15 minutes in small groups of five. Participants were randomly selected for these groups, giving the opportunity to meet new people. Feedback opportunities were provided in the large group, using the chat function and via email.
Join us for the third Gathering.
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MGP
To Express Our Shared Concern for Earth...
Once again, the quotes, images and voices of Mercy people represented in the posters provided the focus for prayer, reflection and conversation. Carmody Grey reminded us: ‘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.’
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Book in for Round Three MGP Regional Gatherings
Bookings for the third round of Regional Gatherings (25-27 August) on the theme 'Mercy & Displacement of Persons' have opened! We look forward to your participation.
The third of the Segment Two posters and accompanying reflection guide are now available for download
Vision in Action
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Recognising Our Interconnectedness
‘Care for Earth and care for each other are central to the healing energy of the Risen Presence’ (Adele Howard rsm)
This video reflection is from the Reflective Prayer prepared for the theme ‘**Mercy & Degradation of Earth**’.
As we continue to struggle with the shared global experience of the illness and destructive action of the COVID-19 pandemic, let us hold each other and our world in prayer.
Post your prayer in our online chapel.
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MGP
MGP Reflective Poster: 'Mercy & Displacement of Persons'
This poster is now available for download.
The poster content comprises the names of presenters as well as key words/phrases and images drawn from the May theme. Accompanying the poster is a Guide with a suggested approach for using the posters for personal or group reflection.
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Events & Programmes
Virtual Tours
Further opportunities to take a tour of Mercy International Centre if you haven’t already made a virtual visit:
Dates: 20, 26 August.
Contact Sr Anna if you are interested in organising a special tour this month for your school, university, staff or community group.
Members' News
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Americas
Grace Filled Aging Presentation
Mercedes McCann rsm, a psychologist and member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas presents on the losses we experience as we age. This presentation was prepared for the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia.
‘Grace Filled Aging’ (49:45) is the first of two videos by Sr Mercedes. The follow up video will be available in late October, 2020 and we will include it in Mercy eNews.
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The Congregation
Welcome English Language Centre
In response to a need in the Cork City Region, the Mercy Sisters enabled Sister Celestine Forrest to set up the Welcome English Language Centre to teach English to asylum seekers. In recent years it became clear that there was a need for English classes for other immigrants in the Cork area who couldn’t afford paid classes and were in danger of becoming marginalised…
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Americas
Students Raise Funds, Awareness for Mercy Focus on Haiti
Catherine McAuley believed that “no work of charity can be more productive of good to society or more conducive to the happiness of the poor than the careful instruction of women” (Original Mercy Rule, Chapter 2, art. 5). Embracing her conviction, Mercy secondary schools in the Americas seek to make that merciful mission a reality, as evidenced in the lives of their graduates….
Mercy Matters
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Resource
Praying with my Surroundings
Still Life in my Home - ‘Come and see where I live’
‘This is a prayer exercise to help us pray in our home.’
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Fact
On This Day
1841: Profession of M Julianna Hardman (Foundress - Birmingham) and M Vincent Whitty (Foundress - Brisbane)
1901: Foundation to Beaudesert, Queensland from Brisbane - M Canice Phelan
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Gospel
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Matthew 16:13-19
‘“Be yourself. Everybody else is taken”, sings Melinda Schneider. The lyrics of this song, composed for Melinda’s dying father, affirm some fairly obvious truths. Even though we know that “everybody else is taken”, most of us spend energy trying to measure up to other peoples’ expectations and fail to be truly ourselves…’
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Digital Life
10 Useful Tech Tips You’ll Use Over and Over
‘We may use gadgets every day without knowing their helpful quirks‘
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International Days
22 August, Earth Overshoot Day
Earth Overshoot Day (EOD) is*'the date on which humanity's resource consumption for the year exceeds Earth's capacity to regenerate those resources that year'.*
By the end of 22 August, humanity will have used up all of the renewable natural resources —water, soil and clean air —that the planet can replenish in 2020. After today we will be living on credit for the remainder of this year.
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Resource
How to find your mindfulness
‘With so many approaches to mindfulness, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Explore these methods to find what suits you.’
Further Resources
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Worth Reading
LCWR Virtual Assembly Presentations Available for Download
God's Infinite Vision: Our Journey to the Borders and Beyond
The texts of various presentations given at the Virtual Assembly (12-14 August) have been made available here on the LCWR site for download. A highlights video is also available for viewing.
Read the coverage of the Assembly by Global Sisters Report (GSR))
Worth Watching
'Blessing of Hospitality'
Words and music by Marie Dunne CHF.
Sr Marie writes: At a time when there is is much unpredictability and fear in light of the Covid-19 Coronavirus, one thing that we can be sure of is God's loving presence with us on our journey. ‘Blessing of Hospitality’reflects a blessing we might pray on our world at this time.
Watch/listen here)
Worth Knowing
Women and Leadership Real Lives, Real Lessons
‘As a result of their broad experience on the world stage in politics, economics and global not-for-profits, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Julia Gillard have some strong ideas about the impact of gender on the treatment of leaders…Featuring Jacinda Ardern, Hillary Clinton, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Theresa May, Michelle Bachelet, Joyce Banda, Erna Solberg, Christine Lagarde and more.’
Find out more)
Worth Reading
Sr. Elise García is a bridge for sisters, younger and older, as she assumes LCWR presidency
‘Before she surprised everyone, including herself, by becoming a sister at age 50, Elise García lived a life that, in one sense, closely resembled that of a sister: She was engaged in social justice issues, advocacy and nonprofits and had a keen lifelong concern for the fate of the planet…’
Image: AdrianDominicans.org
Read the article)
Worth Knowing
21 brilliant ideas to remake the world
‘Since Covid-19, nothing is the way it used to be. So what better time for a complete reset? Authors, scientists, activists and thinkers share their radical proposals.’
Read the ideas here)
Worth Reading
As the Global Economy Melts Down, Human Trafficking Is Booming
‘...Desperate families face risky job offers, dubious loans, and online predators.‘
Read the article hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2020 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘The pandemic has highlighted how vulnerable and interconnected we all are. If we do not take care of each other, starting with the least -- those who are most affected, including creation -- we cannot heal the world.’
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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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