Graduation of Cohort Four of the Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellowship

On Wednesday 3 September 2025, we celebrated the Graduation of the Fellows from Cohort Four of the MGA Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellowship.

The ceremony took place in the International Room of Mercy International Centre in Dublin in the presence of family and friends of the graduates as well as people from the Mercy World in person and on our online offering of the event.

The graduates are:

• Elizabeth Blom, Australia
• Charlotte Cummings, New Zealand
• Jewellyn Enemecio, Philippines
• Fozia Gulab, Pakistan (in abstentia)
• Jessica Marshall, Australia,
• Mai Nguyen, Australia
• Luciah Njogu, Kenya
• McKenna Smith,. USA
• Sarah Terry, South Africa
• Teresa Vaughan, New Zealand
• Maria Pearson (Cohort Three)

The ceremony began with an Invocation from Elizabeth Blom.

Mary O'Donovan, CEO of Mercy International Association the addressed the graduates saying: "Today we celebrate not only the completion of a rigorous and deeply transformative journey, but also the emergence of a new generation of women committed to leading with compassion, courage and conviction.

"This programme has called you to think boldly, lead collaboratively, discern ethically, and act with integrity. nd you have responded with grace and determination. Your work stands as a testament to what is possible when women - lay and vowed alike - are empowered to lead across every sector of society."

Mary concluded by saying: "We are proud of you. We believe in you. And we look forward to the transformative change you will continue to inspire wherever Mercy and Justice is called for."

The keynote address was given by Patricia Lambert. Patricia is a passionate South African human rights lawyer and social justice advocate. She recently retired as a Vice President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in Washington, DC. From 1994 until 2006, Patricia worked as a legal adviser to the South African cabinet during the presidency of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. Her briefs in that role included the public health, justice and constitutional development and the promotion and protection of human rights, including the rights of women, workers and children.

Addressing the Fellows, Patricia urged them to use their voice, their actions and influences to foster inclusion. She also said that it is their awareness and empathy that will truly make a difference in the world. Patricia finished her address to the fellows by reading Seamus Heaney's poem From the Republic of Conscience, a poem which emphasises the centrality of conscience in the conduct of human affairs. The poem was written in 1985 following a request from Amnesty International.

Following the keynote address the Fellows gave their MELF Statement.

Teresa Vaughan gave the MELF reflection and a vote of thanks to all involved in the programme, especially the staff of MIC, Dublin.

The graduates were then presented with their certificates.

The Closing Prayer was offered by Mai Nguyen RSM and the ceremony concluded with the Circle of Mercy.

In her message to the graduates Sr Angela Reed RSM, Head of Mercy Global Action said, "This graduation is not an ending, but a milestone along a lifelong journey of Mercy leadership and justice. the path ahead will take many turns, but you now walk it with the strength of a global community and the wisdom you have gained together. May you continue to reach out, to share insights, and to accompany one another in this work of Mercy."

Note: The video presentations of the MELF research will be available in the coming days.

The full research along with any resources and handbooks will be available at a later stage on our website.