The Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellowship 2022-2023 Commenced in Cambodia
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The MGA Emerging Leaders Fellowship 2022-2023 began at Mindol Metta Karuna Reflection Centre in Siem Reap, Cambodia on the 19th of August 2022. Our second cohort of ten women travelled from the Philippines, Italy, Ireland, United States, Kenya, New Zealand, and Australia to commence their leadership journeys and further their passion for Mercy and Justice.
Writing about their experience of the MELF immersion, fellows said “I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the team in Cambodia and the MELF Team Leaders and their generosity, support, challenge, and love. And so thankful for my cohort - an incredible group of women - brave, open, caring and supportive. What a blessing!” while another noted “this programme has helped me appreciate more deeply the beauty of interculturality and the privilege of being an advocate for Mercy and Justice in our world”. Overall, it was a special time of blessings, learning, and empowerment at Metta Karuna, and as one fellow wrote “by experiencing the grassroots and knowing the people of Cambodia by name, each of us is now empowered to walk in solidarity with them and lead collaboratively to seek just solutions for a future that belongs to all of us”.
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Vision in Action
Mercy International Centre
Mercy Day 2022 Prayer Service & Art Submission
Mercy International Centre
Mercy Day 2022 Prayer Service & Art Submission
The 2022 Mercy Day Prayer Service is now available here in A4 and here in US Letter. The prayer service focuses on this year’s theme, Catherine McAuley: Boundary Breaker. Catherine reminds us ‘You should remember that not to advance is to go back.’ And so in this spirit, we are challenged to move forward, to break boundaries, and to walk with those on the margins of our society. MIA encourages all in the Mercy World to use the Mercy Day Prayer Service.
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Calling all artists! To celebrate the Season of Mercy, MIA is seeking image submissions for creative depictions of Catherine McAuley. This year’s Mercy Day theme, Catherine McAuley Boundary Breaker, reminds us of the courage and compassion of the woman who founded the House of Mercy on Baggot Street. Images of Catherine have provided so many in the Mercy World comfort and companionship as they journey in Mercy. This year, we seek to know how each of you envisions Catherine.
Full submission details can be found here. Submissions are requested by 4 October. Please email info@mercyinternational.ie with inquiries.
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Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Pakistan and All Those Effected by Climate Change
Prayer
MIA Prayer Intention: Pakistan and All Those Effected by Climate Change
Mercy International prays for the people of Pakistan who are currently experiencing devastating floods. With one third of the country under water, the people are experiencing one of the worst floods in their history. In this Season of Creation, we are especially mindful of our human impact on the earth and the continued displacement and devastation occurring as a result of climate change.
Together, we pray for the people of Pakistan and all those effected by climate change…
O Lord,
in the goodness of your constant love,
be with the people of Pakistan
as they face devastating floods.
At this time of great loss –
loss of lives, homes and crops –
may we be filled with your compassion
and moved to reach out in love.
Prayer from CAFOD.
Mercy Matters
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Fact
On This Day
September 8, 1830: Catherine McAuley, Mary Anne Doyle and Elizabeth Harley began novitiate at Georges Hill Presentation Convent
Contribute a fact from your Mercy congregation, institute, or federation, to our online archive.
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Mercy International Centre
Mercy Season of Creation Prayer Service
Mercy International is celebrating this year’s Season of Creation through both contemplation and action. To share in the spirit of the season, MIA created a new Mercy Season of Creation prayer service so that all may celebrate this season of the 8th Work of Mercy. In a recent gathering in Rome Pope Francis said, "The phenomenon of climate change has become an emergency that no longer remains at the margins of society. Instead, it has assumed a central place, reshaping not only industrial and agricultural systems but also adversely affecting the global human family, especially the poor and those living on the economic peripheries of our world." This Season of Creation, we are called to explore more deeply our relationship with earth and gather as a community to celebrate our connectedness.
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Mercy International Centre
Reminder: Mercy Week Events
During Mercy Week, MIA will host virtual dialogues, Mass at Baggot Street, and participate in Dublin’s Culture Night on 23 September. The three virtual dialogue experiences will explore how Catherine broke boundaries, how we in Mercy continue to break boundaries today, and how we are called to break boundaries in the future. Sessions will be hosted via Zoom at 9pm (Dublin) for 1.5 hours in both English and Spanish. To register for the sessions please click here. Additionally, all are invited to Mercy Day Mass at 12pm noon on Saturday, 24 September. To register to attend mass in-person, please call MIC or email Thomas, MIC receptionist, at info@mercyinternational.ie.
Further Resources
Worth Watching
Pope Video September: Abolition of the Death Penalty
There are many reasons to say “NO” to the death penalty. It is not a just punishment, since it “offers no justice to victims, but rather foments revenge… And it prevents any possibility of correcting a possible miscarriage of justice.” It’s morally inadmissible, because “it destroys the most important gift we have received: life.” And, as Francis reminds us, “in the light of the Gospel, the death penalty is unacceptable.” Let us not remain indifferent in the face of laws which, in some parts of the world, still allow the death penalty. Let us join the Holy Father in his prayer intention by sharing this video.
Watch the Video)
Worth Knowing
Virtual Programme: Heart Presence, Catherine's Legacy
On Saturday 17 September, Sr Brenda Peddigrew will offer a virtual programme, Heart Presence: Catherine’s Legacy, from 12pm (noon) - 2:30pm (Dublin).
Programme: Our culture emphasises the mind - unbalanced and exhausting. Heart Presence Practice invites us to balance and restore ourselves, leading us to continue Catherine’s legacy no matter where we live or what we do - or can no longer do. This workshop will offer teachings and practices to enable participants to speak and act from the heart in their everyday lives.
Details: €25 suggested donation - all are welcome! Register to Máire Hearty at mairehearty@mercyinternational.ie.
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Worth Knowing
Mercy Investment Service Joins Valuing Water Finance Initiative
In 2020, natural disasters displaced an estimated 30 million people, and headlines such as “rainwater is no longer safe to drink anywhere on Earth due to ‘forever chemicals’” have become more common. These crises and others have prompted the United Nations General Assembly to adopt a resolution recognizing a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a universal human right and part of an international legal framework.
In support of the resolution, Mercy Investment Services joined Ceres’ new global investor-led effort, the Valuing Water Finance Initiative. More than 60 signatories representing $9.8 trillion in assets under management will engage 72 companies with a large water footprint to drive large-scale change to better protect water systems. Ceres developed six science-based expectations called the Corporate Expectations for Valuing Water to help investors move companies to strategically address water risk.
Read More on MIS Blog)
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