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Hope in A Time of Pandemic
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‘Hope in a Time of Pandemic - Responding to COVID-19 through a Mercy Lens’ (HIATOP) has been produced by The MGA COVID-19 Response Task Force 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.
The HIATOP reports in English and in Spanish, and related resources produced since their publication, have been collected together in the MIA Initiatives section of our website for ease of access and to shed light on further issues and opportunities.
We invite you to explore and make use of these materials.
Vision in Action
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: 4 February, World Cancer Day
Tomorrow is World Cancer Day. The theme is #IamAndIWill.
Let us all join our prayers with those who are living with cancer, especially the members of our families, our communities, our ministries, our networks and all cancer sufferers on our prayer lists.
May our prayers be a source of strength and comfort; may our concern offer companionship and care.
Post your prayer in our online chapel
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MGA
Inaugural Group of Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders to Graduate
The final immersion of the inaugural group of the Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders Fellowship is due to begin on 12 February until 20 February, 2021.
Due to the coronavirus, the Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders Fellowship has met unprecedented and unexpected obstacles in its inaugural year. The first Fellowship group was due to graduate in Ireland this past July 2020…
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MIA
MIA Board Support of Philippines Relief Operation
The MIA Board (through the committee handling distribution of funds from the Douglas Fund) sent a donation to each of the two Mercy groups in the Philippines (Religious Sisters of Mercy Philippines and Sisters of Mercy of the Americas) at the end of last year. A video and written report have been received showing the work carried out in January to help victims of the flood in Mindinao caused by Typhoon ‘Vicky’ when it hit the Philippines on 18 December 2020.
Members' News
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Sr Karen Scheer receiving a shot of the COVID-19vaccineAmericas
The Importance of Being Vaccinated Against COVID19
Karen Scheer rsm MD and Karen Schneider rsm MD have each written on the importance of being vaccinated against this virus. ‘As a doctor …I’ve seen enough…I urge each and every one of you to please get vaccinated…’ writes Karen Schneider rsm. (En español)
‘It is a modern-day MIRACLE that such a highly efficacious vaccine is available to save so many lives.
Don’t miss your shot—get vaccinated!’ writes Karen Scheer rsm. (En español)
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The Congregation
A New Dawn: Corona Challenge
I gaze half-dazed out of sleepy eyes wondering
When will the new dawn break?
The sky shimmers with morning freshness
While I search for the dawning –Restlessly, fearfully, resolutely, wholeheartedly -
How could I have missed it? Again?
A new year begins with renewed vigour from Covid-19 and added restrictions. There is fresh optimism too with the early emergence of vaccines….
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ISMAPNG
Mercy Health Scientists Awarded $1.1M to Develop a Preeclampsia Blood Test
Mercy Health scientists have been awarded $1.1 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to develop a new blood test which could identify women at risk of preeclampsia – a disease considered one of the most significant causes of pregnancy complication…
Mercy Matters
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Resource
ISMAPNG/ACU Laudato Si' Conference
The Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG), in partnership with the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy at ACU and the CRA Ecology Alliance Committee, invite you to join us as we explore the call to heal and restore Earth’s community of life in collaboration with a wide range of internationally acclaimed scholars, animators, media personnel and practitioners…
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Gospel
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Mark 1:29-39
‘In Australia, Sunday of the Word of God is celebrated this weekend. It comes at a time when our planetary community is in need of deep healing. It invites us to bring the distress of the Earth community into dialogue with the gospel…’
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Resource
Aiseiri: Treating Addiction. A Memoir by Sr. Eileen Fahey
Aiséirí, meaning ‘resurrection’ was founded by Eileen Fahey rsm in 1983. Aiséirí provides a range of treatment services in its four centres in Ireland to people with addictions, their families or anyone affected by addiction. Sr Eileen’s memoir, launched 8 December 2020, is enlivened by case histories from grateful past residents. Purchasing details: info@aiseiri.ie
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Facts
On This Day
1966: Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight closed and house opened at Newport instead.
1970: Foundation to Negrie, Papua New Guinea from Townsville
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
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Digital Life
How to Insert a Signature in Google Docs
There are a few different methods you can use to insert a signature in Google Docs.
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International Days
1-7 February, World Interfaith Harmony Week
‘The World Interfaith Harmony Week extends the Two Commandments ‘Love of God, and Love of the Neighbour’ by adding ‘Love of the Good, and Love of the Neighbour’. This formula includes all people of goodwill. It includes those of other faiths, and those with no faith…’
Further Resources
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Worth Reading
UN Humanitarian: Why the climate crisis is a humanitarian emergency
‘Without drastic efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the humanitarian impacts of climate change will be far worse in the decades to come…’
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
View the story)
Worth Knowing
Ecumenical & Interreligious Guidebook on Laudato Si': Care For our Common Home
Released on 25 January, this 56 page Guidebook, is free to download.
‘Its 56 pages provide an extensive compendium of prayers, liturgy suggestions, methods and topics for ecumenical or interreligious dialogue, and theological underpinnings of why caring for God's creation is a primary responsibility for all Catholics.’
jointly published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers, and Catholic Climate Covenant
Read about the Guidebook)
Worth Watching
'Spancil Hill '
The Irish cellist Patrick Dexter, from County Mayo, has been giving regular performances outside in his backyard since the beginning of lockdown last March, playing music ranging from Schubert to traditional Irish folksongs. Here he plays the traditional Irish folk ballad, ‘Spancill Hill’ by Michael Considine
Watch/listen here)
Worth Knowing
Climate Emergency Toolkit
The Climate Emergency Toolkit, the work of a number of organisations including EcoCongregation, The Church of England and Green Christian, was launched on Wednesday, 28 January.
The kit is free to download (24pps, PDF) but requires you to sign up to have the link sent to you via your email
Photo by Li-An Lim on Unsplash
How to downloadSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2021 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘Hope… takes life on its own terms, knows that whatever happens God lives in it, and expects that, whatever its twists and turns, it will ultimately yield its good to those who live it well.’
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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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