The title of this week’s reflection comes from Catherine herself when she says: We ought to have great confidence in God in the discharge of all these offices of Mercy, Spiritual and Corporal, which constitute the business of our lives. The Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy are given expression today in the myriad of ministries in which Sisters of Mercy engage around the world.

Each week the series published in E-News ‘Where Sisters of Mercy Minister’ gives us a tiny glimpse of the variety and richness of these ministries. Joanna Regan rsm in her publication ‘Tender Courage’ reflects: In the contemporary world, in spite of energetic measures to alleviate the ills of society – poverty, sickness, ignorance – the poor, the sick, the ignorant abound; the alienated, the lonely, the deserted and the abused abound. In a world of indifference concerning belief, the erosion of faith in God and intranscendent reality has spawned self destructive greed, selfishness and lifestyles of outmaneuvering one another. Out of the consequent erosion of integrity in word and work, dishonesty, brutality and destructiveness abound' and against this background, she asks: 'When were spiritual and temporal works of Mercy – performed with tender courage – more needed?'

As we go about ‘the business of our lives’ the example of Catherine in her love and concern for people, her faith belief and conviction that she encountered Christ in every person in need and her fertile imagination that envisioned an alternative society can continue to challenge and guide us.

Messages to Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

In Mercy E-News on Monday, 28th June, I alerted membership that Bolivia had presented a resolution to the UN General Assembly (GA) that Water and the Right to Water and Sanitation be recognised as a Human Rights issue (Briefing Paper no 2, July 2010) . As the General Assembly move to vote next week some of the big powers are voting the resolution down. These include: Australia; New Zealand; USA and Canada. We are meeting with the EU delegation on Monday to see where they are as we now are moving in the direction of Water Apartheid.

For the first time since the Declaration for Human Rights was adopted 60 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly is poised to recognize the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. By the end of July, the GA will consider an historic resolution brought to the UN member states by the Bolivian government.

For many years, the water justice movement has been calling for UN leadership at the highest levels on this critical issue and, now is the time for us to raise our voices.

To get a strong resolution adopted by the General Assembly we must let our governments know that we support the human right to water and sanitation. Billions of people are suffering because the world is not focused on providing water and sanitation for all.

HOW TO TAKE ACTION
Write to your United Nations Representative as soon as possible and urge him/her to support the resolution entitled: 'The Human Right to Water and Sanitation'. The vote in the General Assembly will take place during the last week of July, so, we urge you to act as soon as possible.

The Blue Planet Project has provided an easy and fast way to send your message to your UN Representatives. Go to: www.blueplanetproject.net to support the Human Right to Water and Sanitation and find more information regarding the draft resolution.

Messages to Deirdre Mullan rsm - Director MGC

Editor: Report no 1 July 2010 is the UN Human Development report: Multidimensional Poverty Index which is linked to this item.

Sisters of Mercy from Australia went to Uganda in 2002 as part of Mercy Refugee Service, in association with Jesuit Refugee Service, under Mercy Works Inc. They ministered on the Ugandan-Sudanese border with Sudanese refugees. Today, Mary Frances Walshe rsm, a Sister of Mercy belonging to the Institute of the Americas, West Midwest Community, ministers in the district of Mbarara in western Uganda.

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

The mid-year edition of LISTEN, the journal of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia, is out now. This edition explores the theme of the forthcoming Institute chapter, “Longing for God’s Mercy”.

Contributors are Sisters of Mercy: Kathleen Williams, Valda Dickinson, Trish Fitzsimmons, Mariska Kua, Maryanne Kolkia, Patricia Wood, Kerry Gordon, Patricia Weekes, Trudy Keur, Breege O’Neill, and Monsignor Kevin Long.

If you’d like to subscribe to LISTEN, the Institute’s theological journal, published twice yearly (AUD$25 per annum), contact Kathy Fuller at the Mercy National Centre.
 

During the year, members of the Institute Justice Network have discussed and reflected on the centrality of apostolic service for Sisters of Mercy. Sally Bradley rsm (Melbourne), Anne McGuire rsm (Rockhampton) and Celestine Pooley rsm (North Sydney) share their understanding of apostolic service.

Messages to
Sally Bradley rsm
Anne McGuire rsm
Celestine Pooley rsm

Friday, 28th May 2010 was a great and blessed day for the Sisters of Mercy, Kenyan Province and indeed for the whole Mercy Congregation. On that day, Sr. Celestine Kakwasi Muli and Sr. Lucy Watiri Gachuki made Profession of Final Vows in St. Austin’s Catholic Church, Msongari, Nairobi.

Messages to Margaret O'Brien c/- Ailish O'Brien rsm Communications Co-ordinator

While no events are recorded in the 'Mercy Through The Years' calendar as occurring on this date, there are many events recorded for this coming week including:

Foundations to St Johnsbury, Vermont; Kyneton, Victoria; Albury, New South Wales; Wilcannia from Yass, New South Wales; St Mary's Christchurch; Portland, Oregon; Edinburgh

The anniversary of the death of Catherine's father, James McAuley

Founding of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - first president, Doris Gottemoeller

Opening of Mercy International Centre, Baggot St, Dublin

Bernadette Rodgers rsm relates her early experiences in hospital chaplaincy. Her story reveals her love of chaplaincy work, her deep concern for others and her willingness to walk with them in the joys and sorrows of their illness and recovery.

Mercywords 3 is now available online

Articles in this issue:

• Mercy Ministry - Mary Delargy rsm
• For As Long As We are Able - Elizabeth 'Betsy' McMillan rsm
• Ministry Now and in the Future - Colleen Wilkinson rsm
• Sisters of Mercy Daring to Be in the 21st Century - Elizabeth Davis rsm

Time magazine offers video clips on a range of topics in its 'Computers and internet' section.

Today's DIY tutorial is 'How to add more RAM to your laptop'