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MIA Advent Spirituality Nights
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Mercy International Association hosted our first Advent Spirituality Night this past Sunday to begin the Advent season with our Mercy community. From around the world, seventy five people gathered for communal prayer. You can watch a recording of the first week of Advent prayer here. MIA will post a recording of each week’s prayer on our Advent webpage with resources and video links. The third week of Advent will be celebrated joyfully on Foundation Day, December 12 - MIA will offer a special Advent prayer focused on Catherine for this night!
Our next Advent Spirituality Night will be hosted this Sunday. Together, the Mercy world will gather virtually for a night of spirituality to enter the season of anticipation on each of the four Sundays of Advent at 9pm Dublin Time (find your local time here). To register your interest in attending one or more sessions, please complete the Google Form here.
Vision in Action
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Global Action
MGA Marks Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence
Global Action
MGA Marks Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence
Mercy Global Action is marking the Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) through the use of a Twitter campaign. The campaign began on November 25, the International Day to End Violence Against Women, and concludes on International Human Rights Day, December 10. We encourage the Mercy World to like and retweet our advocacy points which you can access through @MIAGlobal Action.
Last week MGA was pleased to offer a virtual advocacy workshop on Gender Based Violence. Participants were presented with key concerns in relation to Gender Based Violence and designed their own advocacy tweets to assist with our campaign.
This year marks 30 years since the Center for Women’s Global Leadership first began the campaign. The campaign will focus on femicide, the gender related killing of women.
Despite numerous increases in violence against women during this time of pandemic, we must remain people of hope and work and pray for a world without violence.
To learn more about the issue of Femicide and ways in which you can respond, click here.
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Safe Spaces
Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Safe Spaces
As we mark the Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, we are reminded of the importance of safe spaces for women and children. Home is often the most dangerous place for a woman. The 2019 UNODC report notes that “137 female victims of intentional homicide were killed by a family member each day in 2017.” We know that violence against women has only continued to increase throughout the pandemic.
As a Mercy community, the House of Mercy on Baggot Street has been a safe space for so many of us: physically and spiritually. A house of Mercy is a stronghold, a place to find refuge in God. How often do we extend a house of Mercy to women and children in need of a safe space, a refuge in God? How often does our Mercy hospitality extend beyond our own walls?
The Gospel of Luke reminds us of the importance of joyful hospitality, “When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.” Luke 19:1-10
Together we pray: For all those in need of a safe space. May I offer a refuge in Mercy. For all who seek joyful hospitality. May I offer a refuge in Mercy. For women and children experiencing violence in our world today. May I offer a refuge in Mercy.
Mercy Matters
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Fact
On This Day
2006: The inaugural Catherine McAuley Lecture is delivered by Dr. Alice Sinnott rsm. The lecture series would become an annual event.
Contribute a fact from your Mercy congregation, institute, or federation, to our online archive.
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Global Action
MGA Mercy Migration Mapping Reminder
The MGA Task Force on Migration launched a project to map our global presence and action for migrants, refugees, and all people on the move. Complete the Survey: Mercy Migration Mapping - EN; Mapeo de migración de la Misericordia - ES. The deadline for the survey is Friday, 17 December 2021.
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prayer
1st Sunday of Advent, Year C
“Today’s gospel passage, with its vivid description of the end-time signs, may seem a strange choice of reading for Advent and the beginning of the Church year. Its depiction of global devastation has a particular resonance in a post-industrial world faced with climate crisis...”
Further Resources
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Worth Reading
The Picture on the Wall: Bringing Catherine to Life
Sister Kathleen Gooch (UK) reflects: “It was at the first meeting of the National Commission set up on 28th Oct 2000 where Associates and Sisters from the Federation, Institute and Union came together to see how Venerable Catherine McAuley could be made more well known, that I met Eileen. We were asked to get into pairs and tell our stories of Mercy, I was paired with Eileen, and I am convinced that it was Catherine that brought us together. We shared on how Catherine had touched our lives. That first meeting led to more meetings where it was decided that it should be an Associate who would Chair the Commission, not a Sister. Yes, Eileen was chosen to be the Chair.
Read the Article)
Worth Watching
New Meditation Resource from CHAUSA
Catholic Health Association of the United States offers Meditative Reflections. Listen to Peace in Anxiety for 2 minutes 5 seconds to recenter yourself.
Listen to the Meditation)
Worth Knowing
Cosmic Advent Wreath Resources
The rich resources of the Mercy Global Presence Programme continue to be available on the Mercy World website. Information about creating a Cosmic Advent Wreath is available from 2020 as well as on the MGP web page here in the Key Documents section - Spanish and English, sizes US Letter and A4 are all available for download.
View the MGP Webpage)
Worth Knowing
A World without Violence is Possible: Femicide Advocacy Guide
“For the 30th anniversary (of the 16 Days Campaign) in 2021, the Campaign will focus on femicide, also referred to as the gender-related killing of women and girls, because we are at a critical turning point. There has been a surge in femicide in many countries due to lockdown and additional measures imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.” Read the Advocacy Guide to learn more about how you can advocate for women and girls.
Read the Advocacy GuideMembers of Mercy
Members of Mercy International
Members of Mercy International Association share the passion of their foundress, Catherine McAuley, to bring mercy to people who are poor, sick and uneducated.
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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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