Survey: Review of Mercy e-News
)
The Board has asked to review the Mercy e-News, particularly with respect to frequency of publication. We would really appreciate your taking time to complete the survey linked to this article. If you don’t want to do this but want to give your feedback anyway, please feel welcome to email me at ceo@mercyinternational.ie . If you know of people who are some-time readers of e-News and who might miss the request, or people who have decided not to be subscribers, would you please invite them to join in by completing the survey? The Board of MIA and the Executive Team thank you very much in anticipation of learning your opinions. We will appreciate it if you could give us your responses by Wednesday 7 April.
—Berneice
)
Vision in Action
)
MGA
Mercy Global Action and the Value of Water
MGA
Mercy Global Action and the Value of Water
On 22 March, 2021 we commemorate the 23rd annual World Water Day. World Water Day provides the opportunity to celebrate water and raise awareness to its various intersectional issues and injustices. This year’s theme for World Water Day is “Valuing water.” UN World Water Day toolkits highlight that how we value water determines how water is managed and shared; further resources demonstrate that the value of water is so much more than its price.
MGP
MGP Reflective Poster on 'Presence to Self & Others'
MGP
MGP Reflective Poster on 'Presence to Self & Others'
The fourth and final of the four 'Presence' posters on the theme 'Presence to Self & Others' and accompanying Reflection Guide is being released through Mercy eNews today.
There are now 12 MGP posters and guides available - four each from the ‘Global’, ‘Mercy’ and ‘Presence’ themes.
A reminder that Segment Four ‘Integrated’ presentations will be released on 31 March.
)
Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Syrian Crisis
Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Syrian Crisis
Monday, 15 March marked 10 years since conflict broke out in Syria. Since then, an estimated 400,000 people have been killed, more than 5.6 million have fled, 6 million have been internally displaced and the country has known widespread damage and destruction.
Pray for an end to the suffering of the people of Syria and for peace and stability in this country which has known massive loss, hardship and devastation for the past decade.
Post your prayer in our online chapel.
)
MIA
Happy St Patrick's Day!
MIA
Happy St Patrick's Day!
We send greetings to Irish Sisters of Mercy, Associates, partners-in-Ministry and Friends of Mercy all over the world for St. Patrick’s Day, and to all Sisters of Mercy and the extended Mercy Family, who can claim Celtic roots through our foundress, Catherine McAuley.
A prayer service for St Patrick’s Day prepared by Elizabeth MacNeal, Head of Heritage & Spirituality, is linked to this item
Members' News
)
The Congregation
Fratelli Tutti: A New Vision of Community and Social Friendship
Sheila Curran rsm was invited by Doctrine and Life to contribute an article to the January 2021 issue on Pope Francis ‘ most recent encyclical, ‘Fratelli Tutti’. Her article, Fratelli Tutti: A New Vision of Community and Social Friendship, in which she outlines some of the highlights of the encyclical, is linked to this item.
)
ISMAPNG
Q & A with Sr. Maryanne Loughry on Grief and How COVID-19 has Changed the World
‘Mercy Sr. Maryanne Loughry, a member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea and a trained psychologist, has long led psychosocial and well-being trainings throughout the world, particularly among refugee communities. But in the last year, she has also been a sought-out figure to conduct webinars on ways of coping with the global pandemic…’
Source: Global Sisters Report
)
Newfoundland
Hope Springs: Spirituality for Lent 2021
On 9 March, Elizabeth Davis rsm gave an online presentation for Galilee Spirituality Centre, Ireland, on the theme ‘Metanoia: Return to God, to Earth, to One Another and to Self’. The presentation was recorded and is available, together with the PowerPoint slides and Gathering Prayer, for viewing on the Galilee Centre website.
)
ISMAPNG
Ursula Frayne Inducted into Hall of Fame
Ursula Frayne (1816-1885), leader of the first group of Sisters of Mercy to Australia’s shores in 1846, was one of fourteen women selected for posthumous recognition by Western Australia’s WA Women’s Hall of Fame. Her citation acknowledges that ‘Regardless of great challenges she is credited with opening the first Mercy school in Australia and introducing secondary education into WA.’
)
Parramatta
Sisters of Mercy Parramatta Take Action on Climate
The Sisters of Mercy Parramatta, colleagues, friends and students held a symbolic action on 11th March at 11am where they ‘sounded the alarm’ for the Earth’s climate.
The group did this by ringing the Convent bell, reflecting and praying as part of a global multi-faith Day of Action in which hundreds of faith communities across Australia and overseas called for more ambitious action on climate change…
Americas
Saint Xavier University Celebrates 175 Years of Service Excellence (1846-2021)
Saint Xavier University is proud to celebrate 175 years of providing a Mercy education to the underserved in Chicago! Founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy, Saint Xavier is Chicago's first Catholic university, the first Mercy institution of higher learning in the world, and one of the oldest operational educational institutions to remain in the metropolitan area…
Mercy Matters
)
Resource
‘Caring for the Human Family and Our Common Home’.
Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila and president of Caritas Internationalis, gave the 2021 St Patrick’s College Maynooth Annual Trócaire Lenten lecture on 9 March.
)
Resource
Robots, Ethics and the Future of Jobs by Seán McDonagh
A celebration and launch of Seán McDonagh's new book, Robots, Ethics and the Future of Jobs held on 4 March. Dr Lorna Gold and Prof John Sweeney were guest speakers. Fr Seán explained the origins of the book and the challenges ahead.Music was provided by Fr Seán’s neices, Orla and Ailbhe McDonagh, The McDonagh Sisters. (58:47)
)
resource
Women of the Cross
‘They are women of God, who have been present in Jesus’s life; women whose stories are often told but not always heard; strong women, loving women who, even though they do not fully understand what is happening, are waiting, waiting for God to act.’
)
Gospel
5th Sunday of Lent, Year B
John 12:20-33
'Today’s gospel tells us that among those who go up to Jerusalem to worship at the feast of Passover are some “Greeks”. The reference is probably to a group known in the early church as “God-fearers”, although that designation is found only in Luke’s second volume, the Acts of the Apostles. These people were, in relation to Judaism, a bit like RCIA candidates in the Catholic tradition...'
)
Fact
On This Day
1857: Opening of Mercy Hospital, Cork - the first in Ireland
1912: New Boys' Orphanage, Goulburn - M Benignus Bowe St Johns
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
)
Digital life
4 Ways to Do More With Your Smartphone Camera
‘If you are still using your phone’s camera only for selfies and quick videos, you’re barely touching its potential.’
Further Resources
Worth Watching
'Carry My Song'
Clare Sands & Susan O’Neill perform together on a Co. Clare cliff-top in winter in the first of a four-part series project titled ‘Tírdreacha agus Fuaimdreacha’ (Landscapes and Soundscapes) which is sponsored by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Watch/listen here)
Worth Reading
Vatican Calls for More Action on Domestic Violence
On International Women’s Day, the Vatican COVID-19 Commission released Women in the COVID-19 Crisis: Disproportionately Affected and Protagonists of Regeneration (7pps) calling for more action on domestic violence by governments and the Church.
Violence/Domestic Violence was one of the six concerns under the theme ‘Displacement of Persons’ raised during the MIRP process, highlighted during the ‘Hope in a Time of Pandemic’ report and is a particular focus for Mercy Global Action in 2021.
Worth Watching
“We Are Water Protectors,” written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade, won the 2021 Caldecott Medal for illustration. ‘Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption.’
Image: YouTube
Watch the story being read aloud hereWorth Knowing
'Where the Water Ends: Seeking Refuge in Fortress Europe' by Zoe Hollman
‘Where the Water Ends urges us to reflect on the lessons of the past, the isolationist spirit of the present, and the promises and failures of the international institutions and conventions we continue to rely on in our hope for a better future.’
Order from Melbourne University Press in paperback or ebook format.
Send suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2021 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘A prayerful Lent gives us the strength to roll back the stones we have used to seal ourselves off from love and life and the good work of justice.
It is hard work to enter willingly into the dark spaces of our hearts to do the holy work that resurrects us to life. ..’ Read more
)
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