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'Hope in a Time of Pandemic' Issue Spotlight #7 - Housing
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The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally increased the urgency of issues of housing and homelessness and the critical need to put the dignity and well-being of those without a home at the centre of the pandemic response. Homelessness is a cross-cutting issue across the globe and is often attributed to the failure of multiple social, political and economic systems. Approximately, 1.8 billion people do not live in adequate housing…
Vision in Action
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MGA
10 October, World Mental Health Day
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization in announcing the theme for World Mental Health Day 2020 Mental Health for All: Greater Investment – Greater Access stated, “The world is accepting the concept of universal health coverage. Mental health must be an integral part of UHC. Nobody should be denied access to mental health care because she or he is poor or lives in a remote place.”[1]** In the wake of COVID 19, the need for universal access to mental health services has become even more urgent…’
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MGP
MGP: October Resources will be Available on 28 October
Resources on ‘Presence to Earth’, the second of our Presence themes, will be published on the MGP microsite next Wednesday, 28 October and linked from Mercy eNews.
Presenters for October are: Elizabeth Davis rsm, Mary Tinney rsm, Carmel Bracken rsm, Dominique Marendy, Colleen Swain, Paula Anamani rsm, Judith Moroney rsm, Cheryl Connelly rsm and Michael Gross.
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Prayer for the Needs of Others
Let us hold in our prayers this week those whose stories, concerns and issues are shared in this issue of our newsletter: the homeless, the mentally ill, the hungry, victims of domestic violence, refugees, recipients and those in need of pastoral care, Earth, students and teachers, women seeking leadership roles in the Church, victims of trafficking.
God of Mercy, may we respond in mercy to the needs and dreams of others.
Post your prayer in our online chapel.
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Save the Date: MGP Regional Gatherings in Advent
Gatherings will be held on the following dates: Region One (1 December), Region Two (3 December), Region Three (2 December)
Members' News
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Americas
Peace Prize for World Food Program Reflects Wider Humanitarian Efforts
Marilyn Lacey rsm, executive director of the humanitarian agency Mercy Beyond Borders is among those interviewed for this article. Sr Marilyn spoke of how the World Food Program has been ‘"remarkably steady and helpful" to Mercy Beyond Borders' programs in South Sudan, with staff on the front lines who are attentive, brave and kind…’
Source: Global Sisters Report
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North Sydney
Mercy Together Project
Inside Out, The work of French artist JR ‘to give everyone the opportunity to share their portrait and a statement of what they stand for, with the world’ has inspired Year 10 art students at Mercy College Chatswood, Sydney, to give their Year 12 students a graduation gift, in the form of art. Watch the video here
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Americas
'Liturgy, Prayer, Pastoral Care and Pandemics': Julia Upton rsm
On 12 October 2020, over 400 people heard Julia Upton rsm, Provost Emerita and Distinguished Professor of Theology (retired) St. John's University, New York, give a public lecture ‘Prayer, Liturgy, Pastoral Care and Pandemics’ for the Centre for Liturgy, Australian Catholic University. A recording of the lecture has now been made available and is linked to this item.
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Australia
MercyCare Backs Loans Pilot for Domestic Violence Survivors
MercyCare’s Mercy Lending Services Program was selected to be one of three Western Australian referral partners in the nation-wide pilot. Part of the Good Shepherd Microfinance’s Federally funded expansion of the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS), the pilot was designed to provide safe, affordable loans up to $2000 to victims of domestic and family violence…
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Image: ‘A’ offers a prayer of thanksISMAPNG
Update: Mercy Sister Calls for Release of Sri Lankan Refugee
Editor: In Issue #883 we linked to this story urging the release of a Sri Lankan refugee who has spent the past 11 years in detention in Australia.
That gentleman known as ‘A’ has now been freed.
‘By the will of God and your support, I got the visa and am now, finally, a free man. I am forever indebted to you all. At this moment I am reminded of the words of God. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”’
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Americas
Many Maria College Students Aren't Sure When Next Meal Will Be
‘Over 340 of Maria College's 900 students are nontraditional, older than 25 and frequently working full time while attending the private, co-ed Catholic school.
That can leave them vulnerable to the pandemic's economic impact of furloughs and curtailed hours. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1958, Maria's longtime mission has been to prepare financially disadvantaged students for careers…’
Source: TimesUnion
Mercy Matters
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Pope Francis signing the new Encyclical "Fratelli Tutti" in Assisi, 3 October. Source: Vatican NewsResource
UISG: Fratelli Tutti
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Resource
UISG: Instruments of Sowing Hope for the Planet
Webinar. Towards the realization of the Laudato Si’ Roll Out plan. Practical developments of the plan for women and men religious plus examples.
22 October, 2-4 pm Rome time (Your time here). Registration not required.
Zoom link can be found here
In English, Italian, French, Portuguese and Spanish with simultaneous translation
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Resource
UISG: Religious Life in Africa and Madagascar
Webinar. Meeting with Cosmam: Confederation of Conferences of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar.
27 October, 2-3:30pm Rome time (Your time here). Registration not required.
Zoom Link: bit.ly/MeetingCOSMAM
In English, Italian, French, Portuguese and Spanish with simultaneous translation
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Fact
On This Day
1798: Death of Catherine's mother, Elinor McAuley
1864: Foundation to Omaha, Nebraska from Manchester, New Hampshire - M Ignatius Lynch
1876: M Gertrude Blake (professed Baggot St) died, Pittsburgh
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Gospel
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Matthew 22:34-40
‘Until fairly recently, the Jewishness of Jesus was often downplayed, even ignored. Today’s gospel passage has Jesus affirming the most central of Jewish traditions, namely the command of Deuteronomy 6 known as the Shema (so called from the first word in the statement meaning “hear”)…’
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Digital Life
Daily Offerings
The Pathways to God site offers a collection of ‘Daily Offering’ prayers. The Offering topics are broad and deep. The latest additions include themes such as ‘Offering my good memories’ and ‘Offering the mundane’.
Further Resources
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Worth Watching
Lament for the Valley
Today marks the 54th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, when the collapse of a colliery spoil tip killed 116 children and 28 adults. Cantata Memoria – For The Children was composed by Karl Jenkins for the 50th anniversary.
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Worth Watching
Women in Leadership Roles in the Church: October 2020 Prayer Intention of Pope Francis
‘Today, it is especially necessary to create broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church.’
Watch it here (1:26))
Worth Watching
Combatting Human Trafficking: Action in a Time of Crisis Symposium
‘A virtual Symposium organized by U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Callista Gingrich, and her embassy in Rome, titled “Combatting Human Trafficking: Action in a Time of Crisis,” Oct. 14, 2020, during which the Ambassador decried trafficking as “a stain on all of humanity,” noting it invades borders, destroys communities, and robs millions of their human dignity.’
Watch the video recording here (1:45:59))
Worth Reading
Danger and Opportunity
‘When historians look back in a hundred years time, they won’t say that COVID changed the world. But they will say that the world changed…What I call the ‘Undergrowth Movement’ (1) has been springing up, little noticed until recently (see e.g. Paul Hawken, Blessed Unrest). COVID has brought it into the public eye, but its shoots have been growing for thirty years and more. Undergrowth is organic, flexible, spontaneous, evolutionary, creative, democratic, networked, rooted in the local but embracing the global…’
Read the article by Margaret Atkins OSA)
Worth Watching
Pope Francis calls for Global Compact on Education
Pope Francis relaunched (video) an appeal on 15 October for a Global Compact on Education, saying ‘To educate is always an act of hope’
View the meeting at the Lateran University, Rome (1:36:35) View the Laudato Si': Special Anniversary Year PlansSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2020 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘The call to mission, the invitation to step out of ourselves for love of God and neighbour presents itself as an opportunity for sharing, service and intercessory prayer. The mission that God entrusts to each one of us leads us from fear and introspection to a renewed realization that we find ourselves precisely when we give ourselves to others.’ 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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