Remembrance Day 2020 Liturgy

From the Rule & Constitutions, Chapter 111, by Clare Augustine Moore

Vision in Action

MIA Prayer Intention: Let Us Remember Memorial Stone in the Sacred Garden

Prayer

MIA Prayer Intention: Let Us Remember

On this Remembrance Day, let us hold in our prayers:
Catherine, our deceased Sisters, partners-in-Mercy and members of the Mercy Family
We remember them;
those who died in the two World Wars and in conflicts since
We remember them;
Victims of coronavirus
We remember them;
Our deceased relatives, friends, and neighbours
We remember them.

Eternal rest grant unto them,
O Lord, and let perpetual light
shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
Amen.

Post your prayer at Catherine’s grave.

Leading up to COP 26 Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

MGA

Leading up to COP 26

At the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic outbreak, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) made the decision to postpone the 26th Conference of Parties (COP 26) that was originally due to take place in Glasgow on November 9th of this year. Now, there is exactly one year until the most important international meeting on the climate emergency with the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The postponement of COP 26 creates a challenge to keep up the momentum on climate action…

Bookings for Regional Gatherings Open Next Week

Bookings for Regional Gatherings Open Next Week

Bookings open Monday, 16 November for the Advent Regional Gatherings: 'Creating a Living Advent Wreath' to be held from 1-3 December. All are welcome.

Members' News

Teen Volunteers’ Hard Work Helps Rochester Food Pantry Reopen Photo courtesy Jeff Witherow, Catholic Courier

Americas

Teen Volunteers’ Hard Work Helps Rochester Food Pantry Reopen

‘When the food pantry at Bethany House prepared to reopen after a temporary closure brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, a veritable army of young volunteers stepped forward to lead the way.

Armed with strong limbs, willing hearts and social media skills, they assessed the pantry’s needs, coordinated drives to re-stock its shelves and prepacked bags of food for families in need, all while following the new safety guidelines required during pandemic times…’

Source: Catholic Courier

'Doing Works of Mercy': Scripture with Kathleen Rushton rsm Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

Aotearoa New Zealand

'Doing Works of Mercy': Scripture with Kathleen Rushton rsm

Kathleen Rushton rsm discusses mercy in Matthew 25:31-46. Sr Kathleen writes: ‘I ponder how we are living the works of mercy in Earth during this time of pandemic’.

Download the article here

Members of the Southern Province Share Their Approach to the MGP Theme 'Presence of/with/to God' 'The Angelus' by JF Millet. Public Domain

The Congregation

Members of the Southern Province Share Their Approach to the MGP Theme 'Presence of/with/to God'

Thankfully we had our session on Mercy Global Presence before the new Covid 19 restrictions came into play today, advising people to refrain from visiting other households. Due to social distancing still in place, we decided to have two sessions.

As we went through the Resources we felt it was necessary to make some adaptions to the content to suit our group here in Kinsale….

Q & A with Sr. Patricia McCann: 'Be a thorn in the side of injustice'

Americas

Q & A with Sr. Patricia McCann: 'Be a thorn in the side of injustice'

Patricia McCann rsm recalls marching in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 and shares her thoughts about current racial events, protests and Black Lives Matter.

‘We have to continue to be a thorn in the side of injustice. We have to be focused on the social Gospel and be present where the hard stuff is happening. We need to still march when we can and, of course, pray…’

Source: Global Sisters Report

Operation Sunshine Beams Hope for WA Foster Kids

ISMAPNG

Operation Sunshine Beams Hope for WA Foster Kids

‘A group of Year 12 Children, Family and Community (CFC) Mercedes College [Perth, Western Australia] students… spent their final weeks of secondary school producing soft cuddle blankets and sourcing items to include in their age and gender appropriate packs…
Teacher Sonya Roberts said this final project aligns with the school’s Mercy Service scheme.

Packing these bags has given students an opportunity to put what we have learnt about social justice into action,” Mrs Roberts said…’

Source: The Record

Carmel College Faith Cafe Diverting Compostable Packing Away from Landfill

Aotearoa New Zealand

Carmel College Faith Cafe Diverting Compostable Packing Away from Landfill

One of the hallmarks of Catherine McAuley was her ability to engage others in the works of Mercy. This week a similar example is highlighted at Carmel College in Auckland.

In 2014, two Carmel College students attended the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Student Conference in Melbourne. They heard about a fair trade cafe that was run at another Mercy school…

Mercy Matters

Visit the Baggot Street Cemetery Angel guarding Catherine's grave

Resource

Visit the Baggot Street Cemetery

Catherine McAuley was the first to be buried in this cemetery, consecrated at the time of her death in 1841, closed in 1884, now a sacred garden. The 49 Sisters who died at Baggot Street after Catherine are buried here. Find out something of their stories by visiting this sacred place, ‘unto all ages holy ground’ (William Kinsella).

 Pray at the First Mercy Burial Place Mercy burial place in St Teresa's crypt

Resource

Pray at the First Mercy Burial Place

Buried in the crypt of St Teresa’s Church, Grafton Street, Dublin are the first thirteen Sisters of Mercy who were laid to rest between 1831 and 1840.

Find out something of their stories by visiting the online crypt.

Book Launch: Mapping Faith Theologies of Migration and Community

Resource

Book Launch: Mapping Faith Theologies of Migration and Community

The Format of the morning will include a presentation by Lia D. Shimada, editor of the book, and a short presentation by Sheila Curran rsm who contributed a chapter entitled Welcoming Refugees the Canaanite Woman and Breaking Down Borders. Presentations will be followed by a discussion.

The launch on zoom will take place on 25 November at 10am Irish time (Click here to see your local time).

Register your attendance

MESSAGES TO: Sheila Curran rsm
On This Day Infirmary where Catherine spent her final days

Fact

On This Day

1841: Death of Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy

1928: St Catherine's Orphanage transferred from Geelong to Highton - M Margaret Mary O'Brien

2011: Inaugural International 'Good Cup of Tea' Event

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

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Gospel

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Matthew 25:14-30

'In answer to my usual greeting, “G’day Muff, what are you up to?” my polymath brother-in-law, David (nicknamed Muff), would invariably reply, “Just contemplating the eternal verities!” The conversation that followed, usually over a glass of wine, would confirm the veracity of his response. Contemplating the eternal verities was a way of life for my brother-in-law until his all too early death 15 years ago...'

MESSAGES TO: Veronica Lawson rsm

Further Resources

Jan Richardson: Stubborn Hope

Worth Playing

Jan Richardson: Stubborn Hope

In this latest episode of Kate Bowler’s ‘Everything Happens’ podcast, Kate and Jan Richardson talk about ‘the ways grief cracks us open and the ways blessing invites us to stubborn hope’.

Jan Richardson: Stubborn Hope
Artificial Intelligence: Pope's Prayer Intention for November 2020

Worth Reading

Artificial Intelligence: Pope's Prayer Intention for November 2020

‘Let us pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence may always serve humankind.‘

Watch/Read the prayer here
' Laudate Dominum'(Praise the Lord)

Worth Watching

' Laudate Dominum'(Praise the Lord)

Cai Thomas sings Mozart's Laudate Dominum, accompanied by the London Mozart Players and Pegasus chamber choir, conducted by Robert Lewis.

Watch/listen here
'Hunger for Hope: Prophetic Communites, Contemplation and the Common Good'- Simone Campbell sss

Worth Knowing

'Hunger for Hope: Prophetic Communites, Contemplation and the Common Good'- Simone Campbell sss

Hunger for Hope explores the quest for a justice that works for all, and explores what it means to be “holy” in today’s world.’

In kindle and paperback versions.

Read a review in Maryknoll magazine

Order from Amazon

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

The Bottom Line

Will we all meet in heaven? O what joy even to think of it.’

—Catherine McAuley to Teresa White, 3 February 1841

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