The theme of the second Lenten Reflection in this six part series is Hunger and HIV/Aids in Africa. You are invited to engage with it by:

• Learning about the ministry of gorta in Africa in the following ways:
o Reading the overview of gorta below and exploring their website at: http://www.gorta.org/;
o Watching the presentation ‘Hunger in Africa and the Response of gorta’ by Rebecca Amukhoye, gorta field worker in Uganda and Tanzania; and
o Reading the attached document that presents case studies of people living with HIV/Aids and the ways in which gorta is mitigating the impact of this disease on their lives.

• Finding inspiration in the Scripture and Mercy Tradition

• Taking Action

This Reflection is suitable for both personal and group engagement.

Messages to Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Mary Mc Aleese President of Ireland has sent a letter to Mercy Global Concern from her residence at Aras An Uachtarain congratulating us on our recent publication: Are Women Human?

See attachment re ordering book

Congratulations

Sr. Carol Rittner rsm (Midatlantic Community - USA) was inducted into the Atlantic County Women’s Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the Trump Marina Casino Hotel on Tuesday, March 22, 2011. Carol has been honored for her contributions in the field of education. She is Distinguished Professorin Holocaust and Genocide Studies and Dr. Marsha R. Grossman Chair in Holocaust Studies at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (USA).

Carol is the author or editor of many books and essays about the Holocaust and other genocides of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Messages to Carol Rittner rsm

Social Protection for All

At a meeting held at Baha'i' International on Wednesday March 16th, Griet Cattaert from the International Labour office spoke on the proposed social protection campaign.

As events unfold in the Middle East and as we watch other struggling democracies emerge, the proposed Universal Social Protection Campaign has two objectives:

Long-term objectives: Universal Social protection at the Human Rights Council
Short-term objectives: Engage in a signature campaign with NGO's worldwide to garner support for universal social protection that can be used for advocacy with national governments and legislatures, with the United Nations member states- particularly through its functional commissions.

What is the social protection floor?

The Social Protection Floor corresponds to a set of basic rights, services and facilities that the global citizen should enjoy. It can be seen as a core obligation of ensuring the realization of minimum essential levels of rights embodied in human rights treaties.

See full outline attached and if you wish to join the campaign, contact gess@ilo.org

Messages to Deirdre Mullan rsm - Director MGC
 

On Sunday, March 20, Sister Mary Roch Rocklage, RSM, was inducted into the Modern Healthcare and the American College of Health Care Executive’s Hall of Fame honoring individuals who dedicated their lives to advancing the health of people around the world. These persons exemplify the best in executive leadership and public service.

Richard Umdenstock, President and CEO of the American Hospital Association, noted that Sister Mary Roch had served as board chair of both the Catholic Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association. He praised Sister Mary Roch for her many characteristics, notably for being “prescient, persuasive and persistent” in her advocacy for health care access for every person. He noted her fidelity to the struggle of health care reform and her mentoring countless health care leaders.

Sister Mary Roch accepted the honor with her characteristic humility and directness, thanking the Sisters of Mercy who made all that she has done possible.

Having worked within the Sisters of Mercy Health System, I can attest to the fact that everything that was said about Sister Mary Roch was true. It was indeed an honor to be present at her induction ceremony.
 

Messages to  Roch Rocklage rsm c/- Patricia Talone rsm - VP, Mission Services, The Catholic Health Association

Editor: Modern Health Care first started this Hall of Fame in 1988 and since that time seven women religious have been named as honorees, including two saints – Mother Francesca Cabrini and Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton.

View Live@ACHE 2011 Interview with Sister Mary Roch Rocklage here

The Sisters of Mercy in Newfoundland are a Congregation of 124 sisters involved in global action in Canada, Peru, Kenya and Zambia.

Newfoundland’s vision for Global Action stems from their Chapter Proclamation of 2009...

Sr. Mary Tee is Director of the Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice located in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice focuses its energy and resources toward the unfolding of the vision to live a spirituality flowing from the sacredness of all creation and to work in solidarity with others for the restoration of ecology and justice in the world and in all creation...

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

1835: Convent opened at Kingstown ( Dun Laoghaire) for sisters to convalesce

1853: Foundation to Ballinasloe from Loughrea - M Bernard Maguire/M magdalen Bourke

1884: Death of M Juliana Hardman, Foundress of Birmingham

Editor: The featured site this week is St Mary's Convent Birmingham. The featured resource is the recently published biography of the Hardman family.

If you would like to buy a copy of Sr Barbara Jeffery's book, these are available directly from the Sisters of Mercy:

Price: £6.50 plus £1.50 p&p (cheques made payable to “Institute of Our Lady of Mercy”)
Available from: Sisters of Mercy, Cemetery Road, Yeadon, LEEDS, LS19 7UR

St. Mary’s Convent, a Pugin Building, opened in 1841 , the last house founded by Catherine McAuley..

St. Mary’s was built due to the generosity of John Hardman, a local button maker, and John Talbot the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury. John Hardman’s daughter, Juliana became the first superior of the convent.

Retweet – Repositing another user’s tweet to your followers, generally because it’s particularly clever, stupid, funny or informative.

Twitter stream – The messages a user sees before them. It is either updates from your following list, or, alternatively, updates from everyone using a particular hashtag.

Hashtag – A combination of a hash (#) and a tag (a word indicating the topic of conversation). There is no formal way of creating a hashtag; they evolve organically.  Type a hashtag into the search box, and you’ll find all tweets using that hashtag, whether you follow the Tweeter or not.

Source: The Big Issue no 375 1-14 March 2011