MIA Announces Six Online Programmes for 2021

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Vision in Action

MIA Prayer Intention: International Women's Day

MIA Prayer Intention: International Women's Day

‘A better future’, ‘A more equal future’, ‘A fairer future’
This week we hear again calls for transformative action and societal change in the lives of women and girls across the globe in order to achieve gender equality.
May we be strengthened in our resolve to help build that world - where all people are treated with dignity and respect, live in freedom and safety, experience justice and kindness, know compassion and equal opportunity.

Post your prayer in our online chapel.

MESSAGES TO: Berneice Loch rsm CEO MIA
MGP Reflective Poster on 'Presence in Community & in Ministry'

MGP

MGP Reflective Poster on 'Presence in Community & in Ministry'

The third of the four 'Presence' posters of key images and quotes from each of the presenters on the theme 'Presence in Community & in Ministry' and accompanying reflection guide is being released through Mercy eNews today.

The fourth and final of the four 'Presence' posters on the theme 'Presence to Self & Others' will be released through Mercy eNews next Wednesday, 17 March.

MESSAGES TO: MGP Guiding Group

Members' News

On Religious Life in Ireland

The Congregation

On Religious Life in Ireland

Over two recent issues in the periodical Doctrine and Life, Liz Murphy rsm, former Secretary General of AMRI (Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland), reported on her research with 14 major superiors in Ireland:
'Is Religious Life in Ireland Moving Towards Closure?’ (January 2021) and
‘“Go and make the preparations”: (Luke 22:10) The Call to Religious in Ireland Today’ (February 2021) are linked here for download.

MESSAGES TO: Liz Murphy rsm
Circle of Mercy, Northern Province, Ireland

The Congregation

Circle of Mercy, Northern Province, Ireland

In Ireland we have three Associate Groups - Mercy Associates, Together in Mercy and The Circle of Mercy.

The group I am involved with is the Circle of Mercy (Northern Province) and I am the link person between the Congregation and the Circle of Mercy. Our core values are Prayer, Mutual Support and Compassionate Living.

Breastmilk Bank Celebrates Ten Years

ISMAPNG

Breastmilk Bank Celebrates Ten Years

‘More than 1000 sick and premature babies have been fed precious breastmilk donated by new mothers since the Mercy Health Breastmilk Bank opened its doors. Grateful families, thriving children, generous breastmilk donors and committed Mercy Health Breastmilk Bank team members gathered at Melbourne Zoo to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the service…’

Marking International Women’s Day with a Homage to Women@thewell

Great Britain Institute

Marking International Women’s Day with a Homage to Women@thewell

Women@thewell was developed by the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy (IOLM) to provide a uniquely holistic and multifaceted range of services to vulnerable women caught in multiple cycles of abuse and social exclusion. The concept of Women@thewell was built on 10 years’ experience of its founder Sister Lynda Dearlove. Sr Lynda had been working with women in the East-End area of London, the majority of whom were victims of street-based prostitution, homelessness, drugs & alcohol, violence, and both physical and mental ill-health…

From Upheaval to Hope, Being Mercy for the Storm-Ravaged People of Texas

Americas

From Upheaval to Hope, Being Mercy for the Storm-Ravaged People of Texas

“This is your life, joys and sorrow mingled, one succeeding the other.”– Letter from Catherine McAuley to Frances Warde, May 28, 1841

The week of the February storms was a challenging one for our two ministries in Laredo, Texas. Temperatures dropped to ranges between 17º F and 35º F. This type of weather event had not occurred in South Texas since 1989, and the electrical grid was quickly overwhelmed, plunging millions of Texans into darkness, with no heat and often no running water. All of this as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on. But this story has a surprise ending…

Thinking Big

Australia and Papua New Guinea

Thinking Big

As Mercy Works begins to wind down in Goroka and Mt.Hagen in the Papua New Guinea highlands, Sr Maryanne Kolkia, the PNG In-Country Coordinator for Mercy Works, reflects on her experience in the programs and projects she has started there.

Mercy Works has been working tirelessly in the Goroka/Mt.Hagen region for just over fourteen years now.

In that time, Maryanne has become the driving force behind various instruments of change such as the life and skills training programs…

Mercy Matters

On This Day

Fact

On This Day

1890: Foundation to Gore from Carrick-on-Suir - M Brigid Murtagh

1892: Death of M Vincent Whitty, Foundress of Brisbane, Queensland

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

4th Sunday of Lent, Year B

Gospel

4th Sunday of Lent, Year B

John 3:14-21

'The gospel for today is the concluding section of Jesus’ conversation with a Pharisee called Nicodemus who comes to him “by night”. It features a number of typically Johannine themes: life, eternal life, believing, seeing, God’s love, salvation, judgment, light, darkness, the world, truth...'

Create a space for yourself in Chrome

Digital Life

Create a space for yourself in Chrome

‘Chrome is revamping its profiles experience, making it even easier to create, customize or switch to your personal space within Chrome.’

Webinar series: Pathways to Christ's Passion

Resource

Webinar series: Pathways to Christ's Passion

A series of evening webinars given by biblical scholar, Father Henry Wansbrough, a Benedictine monk of Ampleforth Abbey,.

Dates: 10, 17, 24 March. Cost: Free.
Time: 7.45pm to 9.15pm (London time).

Find out the time and date for your local area here for the first session. It will be the same time for the following sessions.

Book on eventbrite

Catholic Sisters Week Online Prayer Service

Resource

Catholic Sisters Week Online Prayer Service

A one hour online prayer service is being held on 11 March to mark Catholic Sisters Week, celebrated annually, 8-14 March, to raise awareness of women religious internationally.

Click here for further details, to see the time and date in your local area and to register.

Negotiating the Paschal Journey Today

Resource

Negotiating the Paschal Journey Today

Online Lenten Retreat facilitated by Desmond O'Murchu

As part of their Lenten Journey series, a Scottish laity group has organised a one day online retreat on Saturday, 27 March from 10:00am - 3:00pm (London time). Click here to find out the day and time in your local area

Download the flyer

There is no cost to participate but a small donation, if possible, would be welcome.

To register, please email slaitynetwork@gmail.com

Further Resources

  'We Sing' for a better future of work for all women and men

Worth Watching

'We Sing' for a better future of work for all women and men

An original song and music video for International Women's Day, created by Jona Oak for the ILO (International Labour Organisation) and featuring a collective of artists and musicians from around the world.

Watch/listen here
The Science Behind Covid-19

Worth Knowing

The Science Behind Covid-19

This infographic shows the events that occur following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Understand how it affects the body

Free download from Azuravesta Design.

Licensed under CC 4.0

Download here
Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director, on International Women’s Day 2021

Worth Reading

Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director, on International Women’s Day 2021

‘We need women’s representation that reflects all women and girls in all their diversity and abilities, and across all cultural, social, economic and political situations. This is the only way we will get real societal change that incorporates women in decision-making as equals and benefits us all.’

Read the Statement here 8 March: International Women's Day 2021
 'It’s devastating': Margaret Atwood on a musical project honouring women killed by partners

Worth Knowing

'It’s devastating': Margaret Atwood on a musical project honouring women killed by partners

‘In 2015, Nathalie Warmerdam was killed by an ex-partner. Now her brother Joshua Hopkins has teamed up with the author [Margaret Atwood] to write a song cycle highlighting such everyday atrocities.’

Read the article & watch the film trailer

Send suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2021 to: The Editor

The Bottom Line

‘To live a life shaped by the Beatitudes … is to make passing things eternal, to bring heaven to earth.

But how do we practice the Beatitudes? They do not ask us to do extraordinary things, feats beyond our abilities. They ask for daily witness. The blessed are those who live meekly, who show mercy wherever they happen to be, who are pure of heart wherever they live. To be blessed, we do not need to become occasional heroes, but to become witnesses day after day. Witness is the way to embody the wisdom of Jesus. That is how the world is changed: not by power and might, but by the Beatitudes….’ Read more

— Pope Francis, Homily, Mass in the Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph in Baghdad, Iraq, 6 March 2021

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