Mercy Global Action team pays tribute to Sr Angela Reed RSM

As Sr Angela Reed RSM departs Mercy Global Action after almost 10 years, we invited two of her colleagues to share their thoughts and to express their gratitude.

Cecilie Kern

I am grateful for Angela’s energetic and passionate leadership over the past nine years at Mercy Global Action, first as a collaborator, and now as a colleague.

Her commitment to advancing women’s leadership, ending human trafficking, and championing the human right to water has brought vital focus to some of our most urgent challenges.

Angela’s ability to generate big ideas and create space for diverse voices and experiences around the global Mercy community has left a meaningful impact on our collective advocacy efforts.

I will always appreciate Angela for placing trust in me to take on leadership roles and contribute my expertise in ways that have helped me to grow; her encouragement of a participatory and people-centered approach to advocacy has helped shape Mercy’s global presence in profound and long-lasting ways.

Cecilie Kern, MGA’s Global Policy and Research Advocate.

Marietta Latonio

I met Angela in the year 2011, when she came to the Philippines to do her doctoral studies on vulnerabilities of Filipino girls and women to human trafficking, as her bi-cultural assistant. I was recommended by the Good Shepherd Sisters to Angela, for whom I was doing volunteer work at that time. 

Angela as my mentor

From the year 2011 to 2015, Angela and I had been working closely on writing a handbook titled. I HAVE A VOICE: Trafficked women in their own words. It was an outcome and a gift to women and girls who bravely shared their stories with us. We used the words of the women and girls to heighten the awareness of the Philippine government and other institutions and did advocacy presentations to different Philippine embassies, such as in Canberra, Australia, and Washington, DC. in the United States and Bangkok, Thailand, aside from numerous presentations to different non-governmental organizations that included Mercy sister congregations.

In the following years, I was privileged to join the Mercy Global Action as a consultant (based in the Philippines) to help the organization facilitate the dream project of Angela, which she founded, the Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders Fellowship (MELF) program. Through these years, Angela, I am especially grateful to you for the gift of mentorship. You have guided me with patience during the early years as I have had to familiarize myself with things to be done. You have challenged me to grow and encouraged me to lead with integrity and compassion. Sometimes, I misunderstood the challenges you put on me as personal; however, those shaped me well to lead with a mercy lens. Your wisdom and support strengthened me during the whole journey. You may not be perfect, but you were the best mentor that I have had.

Angela as Head of Mercy Global Action

Angela, thank you for your remarkable years of service as Head of Mercy Global Action. Your dedication and unwavering commitment to the mission of Mercy and passion for justice have influenced countless lives, which one time I remembered and challenged you to name different personalities that you have influenced, and you just smiled and told me that advocacy at the UN level does not necessarily bring individual results but rather it is collective. It is the cause that we have advocated so that individual lives may prosper and that it brings a good quality of life for many. Your leadership strengthened the work of the Mercy International Association in countless ways.

Angela as a friend

Beyond your role and mentorship, Angela, I am very much honored and grateful for you as a friend - someone who listens and challenges. You understood my worries and motivated me to believe in my own capacity and capabilities.  You were my anchor, especially during the trying times in my life. I hold dear the bond we have formed, and I truly considered you as family.  Thank you for walking with me not only in professional spaces but also on a personal level. It did not go unnoticed; the glitters on my family's faces are immeasurable when your name is mentioned. You are indeed not only a friend but also family.

Blessing as you go forward 

May you continue to be blessed as you embark on the next chapter of your life. Carrying with you the profound legacy of mercy that you so beautifully embody, Angela, I wish you every success and blessing. May this new chapter be filled with purpose, joy, and a spirit of compassion, which you generously share with the world. Your gifts, foresight, and vision will undoubtedly continue to improve more lives and inspire many. 

May God guide your path, sustain the spirit, and surround you with the grace that you need as you continue to live out the mission of Mercy with courage and love. 

I am grateful to have met and known you, Angela. I am thanking God for this opportunity. 

Marietta Latonio, Leadership Advocacy Associate, Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders Fellowship