Two new Announcements have been added to the MGC section of the Mercy International Association website:-

Announcement Number 1, July 2010: On- Line Discussion in preparation for CSW 2011

Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent workAnnouncement Number 2, July 2010:

Announcement Number 2, July 2010: In historic move, UN creates single entity to promote women’s empowerment

2 July 2010 – In a bid to accelerate the empowerment of women, the General Assembly today voted unanimously to create a dynamic new entity merging four United Nations offices focusing on gender equality, a move hailed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other senior officials.

Messages to Deirdre Mullan rsm - Director MGC

Your prayers through the intercession of Venerable Catherine are requested for all those whose names are on the MIA prayer list which is linked to this item.

Requests for names to be added to the prayer list should be sent to the Vicepostulator in your region:

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

Our Lady’s Abingdon celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and part of the celebrations included a reunion picnic for past pupils and staff on Saturday 19th June. Between 350 and 500 people attended the event – it became impossible to keep count – many travelling very long distances to get here, including the USA and New Zealand!

Messages to Mrs L. Renwick Head Senior School

Editor: Our Lady's Abingdon is this week's featured website

The Ruby Jubilee Celebrations of the Mercy Sisters in Nigeria began on Sunday night 9th May with the Sisters welcoming Ambassador Kyle O'Sullivan on the tarmac of Yola airport surrounded by six armed policemen, Secret Service Officers, and the protocol personnel from the Governor’s office! During Mass the following day, the Ambassador addressed the Congregation briefly, bringing the greetings and congratulations of the Irish people to the Mercy Sisters in Nigeria and giving high praise to Irish missionaries who have given their country a great reputation for peace making and development.

Messages to Goretti Kelleher rsm

The Sisters of Mercy have ministered in Mexico since 1980. Initially, Ruth Marie Hotz rsm and Lucina Kozeny rsm worked with economically poor families in Rosarito, Baja California Norte, in providing food, clothing, and household items. They have returned to Nebraska (USA) for health reasons, and Clare Manhart rsm has continued this ministry of Project Love, Hope, Trust. A major part of this ministry is to provide for the education of kindergarten through preparatory school students through fundraising for tuition, uniforms, and school supplies. In addition, classes in computers, sewing, crafts, cooking, English, religion, and scripture are offered.

Messages to Mary Kay Dobrovolny rsm - Assistant Director Heritage & Spirituality

1837: Foundation to Cork from Baggot Street - M Clare Moore

1847: Death of M Aloysia Strange, first Sister professed in the Americas

1880: Death of M Liguori Gibson, Foundress of Liverpool

Short biographies of two of the Mercy women - Mother Mary Clare (Georgiana) Moore and Mother Mary Liguori Gibson - who are remembered in the Mercy calendar today can be found on the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy great Britain's website.

The biography of Mary Clare (Georgiana) Moore is by Mary C. Sullivan rsm; that of Mary Liguori Gibson is by Bernadette Roche rsm

The School was founded in 1860 by the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters resident in Abingdon still have a role in the life of the School, helping to strengthen the ethos of integrity and warmth that are two of its special characteristics. Christian principles and teaching are at the heart of all that we do, although we welcome boys and girls of every faith or none. OLA aims to develop the individual talents of each pupil, believing that every human being is created to become a unique person with gifts that need to be recognised and valued.

Google Maps has a neat feature that lets you calculate distance between two points anywhere on the Earth – you could use this to measure the approximate distance between two cities or to calculate the size of a local football field or to know how far is your new office from home.