Prayers through the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley are asked for the intentions of Vanessa Lockyer, John Shapiro and all those whose names appear on the prayer list.

Messages to:
Anne Hannon rsm - Vice postulator Europe and Africa
Sheila Carney rsm - Vice postulator Americas
Mary Duffy rsm - Vice postulator Australia, New Zealand, Philippines

For the past ten weeks, we have published the MIRC papers that articulated contemporary experience of Mercy in our world today.

This week, we begin the final group of papers which dialogue these experiences and situations with the biblical, theological, spiritual and ecclesial traditions in which we stand. In this week’s paper Mercy Embodied/Embodied Mercy as Justice, Wisdom and Holiness, Elaine Wainright rsm draws the themes and real life situations of these preceding papers into her dialogue with the Gospel of Matthew as she explores the concept of embodied mercy/mercy embodied in Jesus and in other human persons, places, value systems and cultures.

Elaine’s concluding sentence challenges us all: It will be the ongoing storytelling in our different contexts in dialogue with our situational questions and issues and with our sacred traditions and texts that will enable us to embody rachamim/mercy as wisdom, justice and holiness in today’s world and into the twenty first century.

Messages to Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIC

A full-time archivist is being sought for the newly created Mercy Archives/Heritage/Research Center in Belmont, North Carolina. The archivist is responsible for the appraisal, collection, preservation, cataloging and display of historical records, artifacts, and administrative records of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas stored at the Mercy Heritage Center. 

The archivist authorizes and assists researchers, responds to administrative requests, organizes occasional displays, promotes efforts to appreciate the historical background and traditions of Mercy and replies to inquiries that draw on the historical riches of the Mercy Heritage Center Collections.

The position begins in January 2011. For a complete job description and qualifications, click here. 

If interested, please forward a cover letter and resume to
Monte Kniffen, C.A., 
Chair, Search Committee; 
7262 Mercy Rd., Omaha, NE 68124

The three minutes spent in the 8.8 magnitude quake that jolted Chile in February were the longest in her life, says Kiwi Margaret Milne rsm.

The Sister of Mercy from Christchurch, who works with families and women’s health groups in poor areas around Santiago, says the experience was like being in a huge washing machine.

Messages to Margaret Milne rsm

Editor: A support group in New Zealand sends funds to Margaret on a regular basis.  Contributions to the Margaret Milne Support Group may be sent to Mary Boyes rsm, Unit 2, 14 Wharenui Rd, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8041.

A letter written by Florence Nightingale features in a display at Waiatarua Mercy Parklands, the aged care facility in Ellerslie this month, marking the 100th anniversary of her death in this International Year of the Nurse.

Sisters of Mercy worked alongside Florence Nightingale in the Crimea.  One of them, Sr Mary Clare Moore who founded the Bermondsey community in London, became a lifelong friend.  Another, Sr Bernard Dickson from Ireland, spent four years in Auckland before travelling to lead the first Mercy foundation in Wellington in 1861.  She is buried in the small cemetery behind St Mary’s Convent, Ponsonby.

Messages to Vaughan Smith -  Administration, Leadership Office
Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand

1879 - Foundation to New Inn Co. Tipperary from Charleville - M Joseph Croke

Editor: Issue 2 of 'Mercywords' is now online. The following questions are taken from an article in this issue written by Angela Hartigan rsm (Kenya)

...What defines religious community today? Our Sisters are multicultural, multicolored and multilingual. The tapestry of our membership is immeasurable richness and a gift that needs to be recognized in our understanding of community. Many Sisters from western/northern countries have experienced the richness of culture in developing countries. How would it be for us to reverse the trend?

How do we rationalize our poverty in a world so unequally divided between ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ nations? Is everything relative? How is my choice of poverty related to the poverty that is thrust upon so many who are powerless to choose otherwise? Real poverty is something to be eradicated or at least avoided at any price. This poverty cannot coexist with power or control. Who will look up to or seek the opinion of the poor?...

Messages to Angela Hartigan rsm - Author
                        Carol Rittner rsm - Editor

The Suuthern Province Heritage Centre is located in the Convent of Mercy Charleville, Co Cork. This Convent has special significance as it was the third house founded by Catherine.

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