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MIA Announces Six Online Programmes for 2021
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Mercy International Association is pleased to announce virtual retreat opportunities during 2021. While it has not been possible to open the Centre in Dublin due to COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland, MIA would like to invite all within our Mercy community to gather virtually for events, retreats, and workshops.
Today, we announce six virtual programmes which are open to all - Sisters, Associates, Partners in Ministry, and all who are interested in or engaged with our Mercy charism. The retreat programs being offered include a new Mercy Spirituality Renewal Retreat, the Young Mercy Leaders program, and a Virtual Conference. Three additional programs include workshop offerings presented by Mercy Global Action on the topics of Sustainable Development, Climate Justice and Water, and Violence Against Women.
Information about these programmes can be found on the posters here:
Programmes (A4), Programmes (US Letter) and on our website at mercyworld.org/our-centre/programmes.
We hope each of you will consider participating in these programmes and we are eager to be able to connect with many in our Mercy community across the world.
Messages to: Elizabeth MacNeal - Head of Heritage & Spirituality
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Vision in Action
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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.
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MGA
Mercy Global Action Prepares for 65th Commission on the Status of Women, Highlighting Women’s Leadership and the Elimination of Gender-based Violence
The sixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place from 15 to 26 March 2021. Every year, the CSW brings together thousands of participants from around the world to share the experiences, challenges and contributions of women, and to advance gender equality. This year, the priority theme is "Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls."...
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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.
Members' News
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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.
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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.
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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…’
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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…
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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…
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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
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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.
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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...'
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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.’
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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.
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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.
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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
There is no cost to participate but a small donation, if possible, would be welcome.
To register, please email slaitynetwork@gmail.com
Further Resources
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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)
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)
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)
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 trailerSend 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
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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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