Generative Conversation: Exploring our Learnings
During Mercy Week, MIA hosted a six-session Generative Conversation: Opening Doors to an Emerging Future. This conversation was planned in the context of moving into the third century of living Mercy in the spirit of Catherine McAuley. Over the six sessions, participants across the Mercy World engaged in passionate conversations involving a variety of engaging topics.
Key to the conversation was the following ponderings…
- What might the future of MIA look like?
- What is wanting to emerge?
- What is Mercy’s Agenda?
- What are the Non-Negotiables for MIA?
MIA has continued to reflect on all that has emerged from this fruitful experience and would like to offer a short summary of themes, insights and reflections gathered up over the six sessions. These reflections continue to influence MIA as we work to implement the inspiration and energies brought forth through this conversation.
Vision in Action
MIA News
Mercy International Association Christmas Blessings!
MIA News
Mercy International Association Christmas Blessings!
A message from Board chairman, Ron Ashworth: The past year has been one filled with both great challenges and positive changes in the Mercy world that enable the Mercy family to approach the future with great anticipation. There has also been continued growth in the number of people who are participating in the mission of Mercy around the world. As we near the celebration of Christ’s birth, we wish everyone a peaceful and fulfilling Christmas season. Christmas Blessings to all of the Mercy family from the Board of Mercy International Association.
A message from CEO, Berneice Loch: Advent and we wait for God to come among God’s people! Even more perhaps, we wait for our slow wits to realise that God is already with us, is always with us, is sustaining our lives in every moment. In 1993 Sallie McFague wrote “The Body of God: An Ecological Theology”. It is a beautiful work that helps us understand that God, the Creator of all that is, has become embodied in the Universe, and in a particular way, in Jesus. If we understand this, then all of Creation is recognised as sacred, all bodies are sacred, the Universe itself is sacred. What a Christmas this will be if we can understand this just a little more.
Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: People on the Move
Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: People on the Move
International Migrants Day, commemorated on 18 December each year, is a day to celebrate the many contributions of migrants. Migrants around the world use their knowledge, networks, and skills to build stronger, more resilient communities. The global social and economic landscape can be shaped through how we address the challenges and opportunities presented by global mobility and people on the move.
The International Organization for Migration recently published the “World Migration Report 2022,” where it examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered migration and mobility for people around the world. In “Hope in a Time of Pandemic,” the Mercy world also reflects on how innovation, skill, compassion, resilience, and hope have been witnessed in responding to this global health crisis.
During this season of anticipation, we pray for all those who are on the move. In Mercy, we pray: “We thank you for opening the hearts of many to those who are fleeing for their lives. Help us now to open our arms in welcome, and reach out our hands in support. That the desperate may find new hope, and lives torn apart be restored. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ who fled persecution at his birth and at His last triumphed over death.”
Mercy Matters
Fact
On This Day
1874: Death in Bermondsey of Foundress M Clare Moore.
Contribute a fact from your Mercy congregation, institute, or federation, to our online archive.
MIA News
MIA Communication Milestones
Very recently we have been presented with Weaving a New Fabric of Mercy Through Global Contemplation and Ecological Conversion: A report of Mercy Global Presence Process. It is a comprehensive report of the Mercy Global Presence process linking it back to the Mercy International Reflection Process (MIRP) and even earlier to the International Mercy Research Conference held in Burlingame in November 2007. As many of you are aware, Anne Walsh (of Anne Walsh Communications, Melbourne) managed the Communications Plan for Mercy Global Presence right through to the publication of the final report.
prayer
3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C
“The third Sunday of Advent used to be called Gaudete (be joyful) Sunday. It provided a mid-term break within a period of austerity or penance in preparation for Christmas. Advent is no longer a penitential period, but rather a reflective time of expectation and hope. The invitation to rejoice nonetheless remains part of the Advent liturgy. This invitation is explicit in the first two readings and implicit in the gospel...”
Further Resources
Worth Knowing
MIA Virtual Women's Christmas Retreat: January 6
Mercy International Association is pleased to announce a virtual celebration of Women's Christmas which will take place on Zoom on Thursday, 6 January 2022. Women’s Christmas is an Irish tradition to mark the Feast of the Epiphany. The retreat will uncover stories of the women who made a great impact on the birth of Christ, and explore the journey of the Magi. MIA would like to invite all within our Mercy community to gather virtually to pray, reflect, and celebrate together the gifts and challenges of this past year. Email programmes@mercyinternational.ie to register.
More Information
Worth Reading
Advent Gathering
Our final Advent Spirituality Night will be hosted this Sunday. Videos from previous gatherings on previous weeks, including Foundation Day, can be found on our website here. Together, the Mercy world gathers virtually for a night of spirituality 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. Click the button below to view last week’s recording.
View the Advent Webpage
Worth Knowing
Volunteer at Baggot Street in 2022
If you are interested in volunteering at MIC in 2022, we ask that you respond to this invitation by completing the form linked here and email your resume or CV to heritage@mercyinternational.ie. MIC will work to coordinate the schedule and finalize dates as quickly as possible. To ensure that we are able to coordinate volunteers’ schedules, please respond to this request by Tuesday, December 21st.
Interest Form
Worth Reading
MGA Mercy Migration Mapping: DEADLINE EXTENDED
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 Monday, 10 January 2021.
More Information & SurveySpecial Announcement: eNews to Resume in January
Mercy eNews will pause for the remainder of the holiday season. This issue will be the last of 2021. Mercy eNews will resume on 18 January 2022.
Mercy eNews
The online newsletter of Mercy International Association is published weekly, 48 weeks each year and distributed to subscribers via email.
For more information on the directors click here
