)
)
)
Pandemic Thoughts Raised to a Higher Level: Noel Keller rsm
)
Photo by Sebastian Staines on Unsplash
I am an itinerant Scripture teacher who, often in the last several decades, led tour groups beyond the borders of the United States. Hopefully I helped them gain fresh or wider perspectives. Since March 2020, like millions of others, I am housebound. Indeed, in the last seven months, my car odometer advanced only 903 miles! The Pandemic is an experience I could never have imagined, and it has been difficult to adjust to. Although I am still employed, I’ve been shut out of my office; it’s located in one of our nursing homes whose doors are closed to all but essential workers. Moreover, my talks, tours, conferences, and retreats have all been cancelled. As a result, I am left with time on my hands and with a challenge to reconfigure myself. What to do?…
Photo by Sebastian Staines on Unsplash
Vision in Action
)
Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: End to Coronavirus
Responding to the call of UISG to support the Pope’s initiative of prayer during May for an end to the pandemic, let us do so, keeping in mind particularly the COVID crisis in India, where at least 222,000 have died from the disease from the more than 20 million confirmed cases, leaving the hospital system in crisis, lacking beds and oxygen to treat patients. We are reminded also of the invitation to join Parramatta Congregation’s COVID Prayer Circle.
Post your prayer in our online chapel
)
MGA
MGA Advocacy Workshop, 25th May 2021
Mercy Global Action is offering the first of three virtual advocacy workshops on May 25th.
Topic: Migration & Development, ahead of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
Date & Time:
● Session One - May 25th, 6:00am NY/11:00am IRE/10:00pm AU
● Session Two - May 25th, 5:00pm NY/10:00pm IRE/7:00am AU (26th May).
**It is expected that participants will attend both morning and evening sessions as it is formational in the advocacy workshop process.
Location: This workshop will be facilitated via Zoom video conferencing. A link to the zoom meeting will be sent via email to all participants…
)
Events & Programmes
Renewal Retreat Review
Last month, Mercy International Association hosted our first virtual retreat. More than forty participants from across the world participated in the three-day retreat, bringing together our Mercy community for reflection and prayer. The Mercy Spirituality Renewal Retreat featured daily speakers, diverse prayer experiences, and time for small group conversations.
On the first day, Mary Wickham rsm opened the retreat reminding participants of our strong Celtic roots and providing vivid imagery of the streets of Dublin. While we still cannot gather in person here in Ireland, Mary set the tone that wherever Mercy is gathered, the red doors of Baggot Street are open…
)
May MGP Gatherings: Bookings Now Open
Bookings have opened for the May 25-27 MGP Gatherings. Click here to book
All are welcome to attend the gathering or gatherings that suit you best
Members News
)
Americas
Institute Justice Team Joins Interfaith Call for Global Vaccine Justice
The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team has joined over 100 religious leaders and faith-based aid agencies calling for COVID vaccines to be made available for people in the global south.
The initiative has been launched by the People's Vaccine Alliance, a movement of health, humanitarian, and faith-based organisation.
)
The Congregation
A New Awakening to the Inequality of Life on Our Planet
A reflection by Elizabeth McNamee rsm.
Photos by Sr Elizabeth.
Click each black dot to read the text and to view the images
)
Aotearoa New Zealand
Tikanga Mercy: Knowing What We Stand For
Following the whakataukī or proverb which opens and ends the Statement of Purpose of Whānau Mercy Ministries, explored in last month’s reflection, come four guiding principles of tikanga Mercy. They answer the question of what whānau Mercy stands for. ‘We are committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the tradition of Catherine McAuley, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the sacredness of all creation.’ The four principles are listed, not in order of importance but as equally significant, such that if any one were missing, the identity of the entire Mercy whānau would be at risk.
Mercy Matters
)
Photo by Green Chameleon on UnsplashResource
Writing as Spiritual Practice: A Conversation with Rev. James Martin, S.J.
‘In this Faith and Culture Series event, James Martin sj and Paul Elie, author and Berkley Center senior fellow, discuss the challenges in writing about the interior life, the notion of writing itself as spiritual practice, and the tradition of spiritual masters–from St. Ignatius of Loyola and Thomas Merton to Annie Dillard and Edwina Gately.’ (1:06:58). Note: Introductions take the first 6:50 minutes.
)
Resource
Review for Religious Makes a Return
Review for Religious, the renowned journal for religious life, relaunches this June with ‘a fresh approach, peer-reviewed content, and book reviews focused on religious life and the challenges and contexts of the contemporary world’. The first issue features a contribution by Cardinal Michael Czerny sj “Religious Life from Vatican II to *Fratelli Tutti.*” The website includes news, submitted essays, and discussion of art to engage and inspire
)
Gospel
Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year B
John 15:9-17
'The constitutions of my religious institute remind me that “the tender mercy of our God has given us one another”. The implications of this profoundly beautiful truth are spelt out thus: “In our communities, we try to live in the friendship of Christ’s disciples [John 15:15]. To so live calls forth relationships of equality, a real acceptance of ourselves and others, a forgetfulness of anything that does not make love its message.” ..'
)
Fact
On This Day
1900: Foundation to Seymour from Mansfield - M Agnes Ryan
Contribute a fact from the story of your Mercy congregation, institute or federation, to our online archive.
)
Digital Life
How to Spot an Online Scam: 3 Dead Giveaways
‘It's easy to be fooled by scammers online. But it's just as easy to spot those scams if you're paying attention.’
)
Virgin Annunciate, Antonella da Messina. Public domainResource
May Retreat: Mary in Scripture
10 Meditations on the life of Mary -a new online retreat from the Ignatian Spirituality Centre, Glasgow.
There is no charge for this resource which lends itself to a variety of uses
Further Resources
)
Worth Reading
Accompanying People in Psychological Distress in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Members of One Body, Loved by One Love
...One of the less documented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the impact of lockdowns, uncertainties and restrictions on the mental health of the millions…In an attempt to address the issue, the Vatican has released this documentdocument
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Read the article here)
Worth Knowing
The Global Prayer and Action Chain for Climate Justice
The Global Prayer and Action Chain for Climate Justice invites all faiths and none to be prophetic, pray intensely, and act radically to reduce the negative effects of human activity on the planet.
Find out how to be involved)
Worth Watching
'Santa Maria'
A song by Emily Moment. ‘Inspired by interviews with migrants making their way to the US border, Santa Maria listens in on one woman’s prayer for some kind of salvation.’
Watch/listen here)
Worth Knowing
Verified - Coronavirus information
‘Verified is an initiative of the United Nations, in collaboration with Purpose, to provide content that cuts through the noise to deliver life-saving information, fact-based advice and stories from the best of humanity.’
Sign up for a daily or weekly briefing)
Worth Watching
The Road to COP15
The interconnections between the health, climate and biodiversity crises were discussed at this webinar, a lead up to the UN biodiversity conference (COP 15) which will take place from 11-24 October 2021, in Kunming, China
Watch the webinar hereSend suggestions and contributions for the ‘Worth’ Section 2021 to: The Editor
The Bottom Line
‘It is not insignificant that Mary, Queen of Peace, is also Mary of Nazareth and not Mary of Jerusalem, or Mary of Caesarea. The most significant woman of all time came from one of the area’s most insignificant of places. Mary made nothingness visible. It takes a lot of human growing to find value in the valueless—in small places and simple things and powerless people. But that is the basis for peace, both inside of us and in the world around us.’
)
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
)
)
)
)
)