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In-Person Programmes Return to Baggot Street
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Mercy International Centre welcomed participants for our first in-person programme, Catherine’s Suscipe: Prayer of a Social Mystic, at Baggot Street last month. Mary Pat Garvin, rsm facilitated the programme which offered both input and time for quiet contemplation. Since welcoming our first pilgrims back to Baggot Street, MIC has also hosted Storytelling with Mercy Associate Marcy Fox and Venerable Catherine McAuley with Brenda Dolphin, rsm.
If you are interested in an upcoming programme, please visit our 2022 programmes webpage or email the Heritage and Spirituality Team at programmes@mercyinternational.ie. Upcoming programmes include the Spiritual Directors Retreat, Sustainable Development: A Justice Focused Programme, and Eco-Spirituality & the 8th Work of Mercy.
Vision in Action
Global Action
CSW Event Showcases Mercy Experiences on Women & Climate Change
Global Action
CSW Event Showcases Mercy Experiences on Women & Climate Change
On 14 March, Mercy Global Action hosted a parallel event during the 66th Commission on the Status of Women, “Women’s Leadership and Resilience in the Face of Climate Change.” During the event, moderated by Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellow Rebecca Rathbone, Sisters of Mercy and partners from around the world shared their experiences working with women and children at the front lines of climate change. They emphasized that climate change isn’t just a scientific phenomenon - it has real impacts on the lives of people, especially girls and women.
MELF Fellow Sister Paula Anamani, rsm shared her experiences of water as an indigenous woman from Samoa, and how environmental realities have changed the lives and livelihoods of people in the Pacific. Evelyn Torrequemada-Deguit, Assistant Department Head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of the Province of Cebu, Philippines, and a pioneer of community-based marine protected areas in the Philippines, discussed her work with women in fishing communities, whose livelihoods are severely affected by climate change. Founder of Mercy Medical Missions, Sister Karen Schneider, rsm, MD, showed photos and told the stories of children who she has treated in places that have lost infrastructure and clean water due to severe storms and other environmental impacts. Finally, Sister Verna Aucoin, rsm in Peru shared her work with communities that have been displaced by heavy rains and flooding, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has further impacted women & girls who have experienced extreme weather events. Each speaker highlighted the important role that women play as leaders and as agents of change, and stressed how critical it is to lift up women’s voices and experiences to build resilient communities.
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Easter
Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Easter
Mercy International Association holds in prayer this week all who are preparing for Easter. We are Easter People bringing the Easter message of God’s Mercy and boundless hope to a world deeply troubled by war and division. We pray for world peace and for all who are suffering so much in the face of war, greed, and disregard for life itself. We pray for all those who are working for peace and to relieve the suffering. May each of us be an agent for peace and justice wherever we live and minister.
We pray the Easter prayer prepared by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas…
May our Risen Jesus bless us with the grace of a new appreciation of the Resurrection so that we may inspire hope in the darkest, most neglected and broken parts of our world. Amen.
May Jesus, who is living among us now, renew our belief in our own resurrection, and call us afresh to experience the joy of this new season in faith, hope and love. Amen.
May the blessing of our God, Creator, Redeemer and Purifier, descend upon us and remain in our hearts, souls and minds forever. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Mercy Matters
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Fact
On This Day
13 April 1846: Foundation to New York from Baggot St - M Agnes O'Connor.
Contribute a fact from your Mercy congregation, institute, or federation, to our online archive.
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Mercy International Centre
Oceans Task Force for Mercy Global Action
MGA is pleased to announce the establishment of an Oceans Task Force. The role of the Oceans Task Force is to raise a voice about oceans, climate justice, and water ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in June 2022. The Oceans Task Force will also provide direction and leadership to the Mercy World on issues related to the impact of climate change and water on the oceans and make recommendations moving forward. We thank the members of the Task Force for their expertise and generosity: Alexis Stephens (Guyana), Cecilie Kern (MGA) Elizabeth MacNeal (MIA), Leah Schiffman (MGA), Monika Moal rsm (Tonga), Letecia De Los Santos (Philippines), Magdalena Musau (Kenya), Marietta Latonio (Philippines), Mary Galing (Philippines), Paula Amamani (Samoa) Wendy Flannery (Australia), and Angela Reed (MGA).
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Programmes
Lenten Spirituality Sessions: TODAY!
The Mercy world gathers virtually for spirituality sessions to journey through the Lenten season together. All are welcome to join MIA on each of the seven Wednesdays of Lent at 2pm Dublin Time (find your local time here). To register your interest in attending this week’s virtual session, please complete the Google Form here. The live sessions are hosted in English and Spanish. Speakers and recordings of previous events are available here.
Mercy Ministry News
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Mercy Ministry
Mercy Spirituality Online Program sponsored by Georgian Court University in New Jersey
Join us from anywhere in the world in a global conversation about Mercy Spirituality in this fully online program. Nourish your spiritual journey through study, reflection, and dialogue with others on the journey. This program is open to all who are interested in exploring more deeply Mercy Spirituality. It is especially relevant to Sisters of Mercy, Associates, and anyone associated with a Mercy-sponsored work or ministry. It is comprised of 5 10-week online courses. There are options for academic credit and non-credit. For those taking the program for academic credit, there exits the possibility at the end of the 5 courses of continuing on to complete an MA in Theology remotely. We are starting a new cohort in Fall 2022. Please see the attached pdf brochure and application. Feel free to contact Johann Vento for more information and to apply: jvento@georgian.edu.
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Mercy Ministry
Mercy Foundation (Sydney) asks international Body to find that Australia is violating human rights to housing, an adequate standard of living, and non-discrimination and equality.
Earlier this month, the Mercy Foundation appeared via zoom before the United Nation’s Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Committee oversees Australia’s progress in realising economic, social and cultural rights, which under international law, it has agreed to respect, protect and fulfil. These rights include the right to housing, non-discrimination and equality, and an adequate standard of living, among others.
The Mercy Foundation is a work of the Sisters of Mercy North Sydney, committed to social justice and structural change to address the drivers of poverty and inequality in Australia.
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Mercy Ministry
Mercy Ministry Companions: PJP launched in Australia
The establishment of Mercy Ministry Companions, a newly established Public Juridic Person of Pontifical Right, was recently celebrated in Sydney, Australia. The new body of lay trustees has accepted canonical responsibility for a wide range of ministries in education, health care, and social services, formerly in the care of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia. Bishop Terry Brady celebrated the Mass of thanksgiving and spoke of the works established by Sisters of Mercy in Australia over the decades since Sr Ursula Frayne, companion of Catherine McAuley, was the first Sister of Mercy to come to Australia in 1846. Sister Eveline Crotty, Leader of the Institute, spoke about the importance of committed lay people taking their “rightful place in the Church”, and in her address, Ms. Margaret Bounader, Chair of the Trustees, spoke of the worldwide Church movement to see lay people taking leadership in the Church, referring particularly to the recent initiative of Pope Francis in this regard.
Further Resources
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Worth Knowing
Sustainable Development Retreat: Justice Focus!
Mon, 9 May - Fri, 13 May: This justice focused five-day retreat will explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through a lens of Mercy. We will discuss intersectional justice issues, the Mercy justice advocacy model, and what a future of sustainable development looks like. This retreat will be facilitated by Angela Reed, Head of Mercy Global Action at the United Nations. Residential: €550 (Accommodation & all meals provided). Non-residential: €290 (Lunch provided).
To register or express interest please email the H&S Team at programmes@mercyinternational.ie.
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Worth Reading
Mercy Ministry Provides Training for At-Risk Child Trafficking Victims Migrating from Ukraine
In response to increasing Ukrainian refugees, MECPATHS has initiated planning with the Irish government to train frontline professionals on the identification of at-risk child trafficking victims. JP O’Sullivan, Network and Communications Manager at MECPATHS says: “MECPATHS continues to be alert to the risk of the trafficking of children from domestic and international origins. We are grateful to be able to offer training for anyone wishing to learn more and to contribute to the increased safeguarding and protection of children, globally. We are aware of the heightened vulnerability of children traveling to Ireland from Ukraine and wish to respond in whatever way we can.”
Learn more about MECPATHS)
Worth Knowing
Spiritual Directors Retreat
Facilitated by Maria DiBello, rsm, this five-day retreat includes sessions for spiritual directors to explore more deeply what it means to listen for the movement of God in every day life. There will be intentional time for renewal to address the weight carried in spiritual accompaniment and training to explore new possibilities.
Residential: €475 (Accommodation & Meals Provided) Non-Residential: €300 (Lunch Provided).
Date and Time: Monday 2, May - Friday, 6 May
How to register: To RSVP for this event, please email programmes@mercyinternational.ie.
More Information)
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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