Intersecting Realities: The Common Good, Jesus’ Ethic, Politics and Catholic Social Teaching - <br>Marilyn Sunderman rsm

Vision in Action

MIA Prayer Intention: 17 October, International Day of Poverty.

Prayer

MIA Prayer Intention: 17 October, International Day of Poverty.

This week we mark the International Day of Poverty. In our prayers and actions let us remember:

Those who lack the resources to feed, house or care for themselves and must rely on the generosity of others;

Those who struggle bravely each day to make ends meet;

Those in countries where droughts, floods and locust plagues have made them food insecure…

MGA Observes the International Day of the Girl and the Urgent Need to Build Equity for Girls Globally

MGA

MGA Observes the International Day of the Girl and the Urgent Need to Build Equity for Girls Globally

On the 11th of October 2020, the United Nations invites us to celebrate the ninth annual International Day of the Girl (IDG) and to raise awareness of girls’ situations, struggles and potentials all around the world. This year’s theme centres on building equity for girls, recalling the oppression, challenges and discrimination faced by girls and the vital need for girls to get equal opportunities with their male counterparts…

Remembrance Day 2020 Liturgy

News & Events

Remembrance Day 2020 Liturgy

On the 11th November, we remember the death of Catherine McAuley. Gathering in large numbers in the Chapel at Baggot St is still restricted, so this year a prerecorded liturgy will be available on that date. We hope that you are able to link in and join in prayer for this anniversary.

MESSAGES TO: Anna Nicholls rsm Head of Heritage and Spirituality

Members' News

Sister’s Million-dollar Birthday Present Going to Mothers with Postnatal Depression Image: Courtesy Catholic Leader

Brisbane

Sister’s Million-dollar Birthday Present Going to Mothers with Postnatal Depression

‘Birthday presents are a yearly occurrence so it was an “amazing” surprise when Mercy Sister Angela Mary Doyle received a belated gift worth $1 million last week.

The first and former administrator of Brisbane’s Mater Hospital for 21 years turned 95 in August and, to celebrate, her close friends and philanthropists Maha Sinnathamby and Bob Sharpless gave her a late gift worth $1 million…’

Source: Catholic Leader

MESSAGES TO: Angela Mary Doyle rsm
Reports of Mercy Day Celebrations

ALL

Reports of Mercy Day Celebrations

The following Mercy Day celebrations have been brought to our attention:

Feast of Our Lady of Mercy at St Anthony's Sunderland, UK, in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, by Mercy Works Australia, at Santa Maria College, Western Australia, by Sisters of Mercy North Sydney, at Catherine McAuley College Westmead NSW, and at Mercyhurst University Pennsylvania.

We look forward to 2021, to sharing Mercy Day reports from celebrations held next September.

'A More loving people': Scripture with Kathleen Rushton rsm Photo by Omer Salom on Unsplash

Aotearoa New Zealand

'A More loving people': Scripture with Kathleen Rushton rsm

In her discussion of Matthew 23:34-36, Kathleen Rushton rsm suggests COVID-19 is inviting us to live the commandments more fully. Sr Kathleen writes: ‘The post-pandemic world invites us: to take responsibilty for our faith; to a more active discipleship rather than being passive consumers; and to make spiritual sense of the COVID tragedy.’

Download the article here

MESSAGES TO: Kathleen Rushton rsm

Mercy Matters

Giving Thanks in 2020

Resource

Giving Thanks in 2020

12 October was Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Recognising that in the midst of the pandemic, ‘it can be hard to be grateful’, we are reminded by Kairos, the creators of this video for this celebration day, that ‘there is something about the seasonal rituals like Thanksgiving that nudge and encourage us into gratitude’.

Your Photos Are Irreplaceable. Get Them Off Your Phone

Technical Tip

Your Photos Are Irreplaceable. Get Them Off Your Phone

‘You absolutely need to get your photos off your phone, regularly, and onto another platform for long-term storage.

16 October, World Food Day

International Days

16 October, World Food Day

2020 Theme: Grow, Nourish, Sustain Together. Celebrations in Rome will include messages and calls to action from Pope Francis, the President of the Republic of Italy, and the UN Secretary-General. Details here

The UN World Food Programme has won the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity around the globe.

On This Day

Fact

On This Day

1845: Margaret Garden entered Liverpool Convent - became Sr Mary Bernard.

1851: Foundation to Ballina from Sligo - M de Sales McDonnell

1876: Death at Baggot St of M Agnes Whitty, Crimea, Buenos Aires

1887: Foundation to Casino from Grafton - M de Sanctis Collins

Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Gospel

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

‘The emergence of a common enemy is often the catalyst for sworn enemies to unite. In first century Palestine, Pharisees were the respected religious teachers of the law and Herodians represented secular Jewish power and wealth. They despised each other on both religious and political grounds. When faced with a perceived threat to their authority, however, they united in opposition. Jesus of Nazareth becomes the threat that unites them…’

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A - Video

Gospel

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A - Video

Veronica Lawson rsm is recording a gospel reflection each week which is different from the text reflection she also makes available (see left). The video format enables Sr Veronica to further develop her text reflection on the Sunday gospel passage. We plan to make these available to you each week.

Now you can hear the gospel read by Fr Eamonn, read the text reflection given by Sr Veronica and watch her video reflection.

MESSAGES TO: Veronica Lawson rsm

Further Resources

WCC (World Council of Churches) podcast focuses on the human right to water in times of COVID-19

Worth Playing

WCC (World Council of Churches) podcast focuses on the human right to water in times of COVID-19

The podcast with speakers Bishop Arnold Temple, from Sierra Leone, and Dr Maude Barlow, co-founder of the Blue Planet Project, from Canada, focuses on the importance of water in COVID-19 and the scandal of the lack of access to water by millions worldwide.

Listen to the podcast here (27:12)
Interreligious Responses to Laudato Si'

Worth Knowing

Interreligious Responses to Laudato Si'

A Fifth Anniversary Celebration and Reaffirmation of Pope Francis' Encyclical on Care of Our Common Home

A free online conference. RSVP to join the sessions

Image: Simon Migaj Unsplash

Agenda & details to join are here
Study Guide for Fratelli Tutti

Worth Reading

Study Guide for Fratelli Tutti

The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns has compiled a 6-page study guide for Fratelli Tutti. In this study guide they offer key points and quotes from each chapter of Fratelli Tutti, along with reflection questions and the two prayers that Pope Francis includes at the end of the encyclical.

Download the Guide here
The Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir 2.0 sing

Worth Watching

The Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir 2.0 sing "I'll stand by you" by The Pretenders

400 members of the Royal Melbourne Hospital staff form this choir, singing and playing ‘I’ll Stand by You’, which they have ‘dedicated to all healthcare workers and the broader community who have lost their lives and loved ones in the pandemic’.

Watch/listen here
Faith For Nature

Worth Watching

Faith For Nature

Speakers at this event included Cardinal Peter Turkson (10:59) and Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch (14:17)

Videos and papers from this global digital event held 5-8 October are archived online in the ‘Documentation’ and ‘Media’ sections of the conference site.

Watch/read here
Africa under water: heightened ‘mega’ crises

Worth Reading

Africa under water: heightened ‘mega’ crises

‘Africa contributes the least to global emissions, yet it is being affected by climate change in disproportionate, alarming and life-threatening ways, according to scientists. From Eastern Africa to the Sahel, climate change has made weather patterns more erratic, with prolonged droughts and more severe flooding. About a dozen African countries are under water, with flooding from this year’s rainy season destroying the homes and harvests of millions of vulnerable people.’

Read the story here
Countdown to a Better Future

Worth Watching

Countdown to a Better Future

On 10 October over 50 speakers in five curated sessions ( Urgency, Leadership, Transformation, Breakthroughs, Action) addressed the issue of climate change at Countdown. Speakers included Ursula von der Leyen (5:48), António Guterres (5:17), Christiana Figueres (7:56), Pope Francis (12:42)

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Watch the talks here

Send suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2020 to: The Editor

The Bottom Line

'By ourselves, we risk seeing mirages, things that are not there. Dreams, on the other hand, are built together”.[6] Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travelers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all.’ Read More

—Pope Francis, 'Fratelli Tutti', #8, 4 October 2020

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