To celebrate Earth Day 22 April 2011, the General Assembly had a one day conference entitled:
'Interactive Dialogue on Harmony with Mother Nature'.

Addressing the World Economic Forum session on “Redefining Sustainable Development” in Davos on 28 January 2011, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, described sustainable development as the “growth agenda for the twenty-first century”, but warned against “consumption without consequences” and called for all to “live in harmony with the world” around us, as did the ancients, who saw “no division between themselves and the natural world”.

Deirdre's reflections on the conference are linked to this item.

Messages to Deirdre Mullan rsm - Director MGC

Oxfam Ireland and the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice (MRFCJ) held a meeting to hear the voices of women leaders on climate justice at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland on April 12th. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, joined Jim Clarken, CEO Oxfam Ireland, Constance Okollet and Ursula Rakova of Climate Wise Women for a panel discussion on climate justice.

Mary Purcell, Assistant Director Global Action MIA participated . Her report is linked to this item.

 Messages to Mary Purcell - Assistant Director Global Action

It is said of Pablo Neruda (1904-1973), the Chilean Nobel Laureate 1971, that he grabbed poetry from the shelves of the salons and the royal courts and gave it back to the people – a source of hope, passion, peace and nourishment, a light shining on the troubled world. ‘On our earth, before writing was invented, before the printing press was invented, poetry flourished. That is why we know that poetry is like bread; it should be shared by all, by scholars and by peasants, by all our vast, incredible, extraordinary family of humanity,’

Those who attended a Hopkins poetry weekend, recently, in Stella Maris, Spanish Point, County Clare, given by Sr. Jo O’Donovan, Limerick Mercy Sisters, were able to identify with Neruda - we were the people, with not too much knowledge of Hopkins, being nourished by the bread of his poems.

Messages to Mary Coyle rsm

Sister Mary White RSM, member of the Institute Specific Issues Committee Eco-Justice, reflects on recent local and global natural disasters and the significant challenge of climate change. Mary writes, “We continue to stand at the threshold of deep change in consciousness and immerse ourselves as Christians in our vocation to be active participants in change for the common good”.

Messages to: Institute Specific Issues Committee, Eco-Justice (Sisters Marie Farrell and Mary White)

Over the last while from our many reflections on Mercy spirituality, justice and the ever evolving image of God, we have come to the conclusion that the heart and soul of our Congregation, our charism, is justice ministry. We, however, asked ourselves if we needed a new understanding of justice, one that embraces justice in its widest sense, as we give life to all the areas of justice that shape our vision and our Mercy ministry.

Messages to Susan De Guide rsm - Congregation Leadership Team

Congratulations to Fraynework and the Sisters of Saint Joseph on the selection of the St Mary MacKillop website as an Official Honoree of the 15th Annual Webby Awards in the Religion and Spirituality category.

The site recognises the story of a woman, a religious who has been declared a saint. Fraynework is proud to have been asked to work with the Sisters of St Joseph to bring this story to life online.

The message from the Executive Director of the Webby Awards which are given by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences in New York reads (in part)

"In recognition of the exceptional quality of submissions received this year, the Academy has acknowledged outstanding entries as Official Honorees, alongside our Nominees and Winners. With nearly 10,000 entries received from all 50 US states and over 60 countries, the Official Honoree distinction is awarded to the top 10% of all work entered that exhibits remarkable achievement – this is an outstanding accomplishment for you and your team."

Messages to Fraynework.
                         Sisters of St Joseph
 

The Mercy Young Adult Network (Australia) is a passionate network of Mercy minded women and men, committed to growing communities of justice and compassion to build a better world.

We are inspired and grounded in the continuing story of Catherine McAuley, embodying God's Mercy. We are a platform for action on local, national and global levels providing opportunities for groups throughout Australasia to connect, synergise, learn, challenge and share resources.

The latest edition of our newsletter (volume 4,2011) is now available.

Messages to Kate Garrone - Co-ordinator
 

1847: First profession in New York - M Vincent Haire (Foundress, Brooklyn 1855)

The "Heritage" section of the mercyworld.org website holds the stories of 30 great Mercy women - foundresses beyond Catherine.

Celebrating 150 years of Mercy Education in 2011

Gwynedd Mercy Academy, a Catholic College-preparatory school encourages young women to live and act justly in the spirit of Jesus Christ and to follow in the tradition of mercy and service handed down from Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy.