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Intersecting Realities: The Common Good, Jesus’ Ethic, Politics and Catholic Social Teaching -
Marilyn Sunderman rsm
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The common good, the ethics of Jesus, politics, and Catholic social teaching are intersecting realities. Pursuit of the common good in government and society entails working to make accessible to all persons what they need to lead a truly human life. Jesus’ ethic of love and justice provides a framework for government which exists for the sake of the pursuit of the common good. Citizens’ engagement in the political process contributes to the attainment of the common good. Hospitable dialogue is a method for forging the common good and each person’s political decision-making calls for the exercise of a well-formed conscience aided by the virtue of prudence. Rooted in Jesus’ ethic, Catholic social teaching establishes a set of moral principles for informing political discourse and decision making…
Vision in Action
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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…
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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…
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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.
Members' News
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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
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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.
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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
Mercy Matters
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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’.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…’
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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.
Further Resources
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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))
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 hereSend 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
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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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