An invitation is extended to all members of the Mercy network - Sisters, Associates, Colleagues, Family and Friends - to post Christmas Greetings on the mercyworld.org website, a practice now in its tenth year.

Christmas Greetings can be posted directly onto the new Mercy site up to and including on Christmas Day. Many Sisters, Associates and Friends have already posted greetings. You can read these simply by clicking on the leaves on the Mercy tree.

To post your greeting, click here and follow the prompts.

This Christmas Week edition of Mercy E-News is the final edition for 2011. 48 editions were published this year ( 24 January - 21 December) with 170 items from Member Congregations and 129 items about the Vision In Action, as well as the weekly Feature article, Mercy fact, resource, website reference and technical tip.

Among the highlights of our reporting and connecting this year were: the reporting of the disasters experienced in Haiti, in Joplin Missouri, in Queensland, in Africa and the Philippines, the pilgrimage of the young Mercy leaders to Baggot Street; advocating for human rights and the earth, 180th Mercy celebrations, the Good Cup of Tea Event, new foundations, 150th celebrations...

Thank you very much to all those who contributed news items and so helped build the global Mercy community online.

Thank you to all our readers for your ongoing interest, support and encouragement.

A  reminder that Mercy E-News is available at no charge to anyone affiliated with the Sisters of Mercy who has an email account, simply by filling in the online registration form.

The first edition of Mercy E-News for 2012 will be published on Wednesday, 25 January. Send contributions for the first issue to Mercy News by Friday 21st January.

Messages to Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Suggestions for 2012, feedback and comments are welcome. Messages to The Editor

We want to take this opportunity to thank each person who has supported the ‘Good Cup of Tea’ event. It has been wonderfully successful, not just from a financial point of view but very importantly as a Mercy event that created an opportunity for sharing and celebration. ...

What most pleased us was the way in which this simple gesture of sharing a ‘cup of tea’ together called forth in all of us something that is very deep in our Mercy tradition – hospitality, community, celebration, fun, sharing, support, story-telling, solidarity and the ability to do extraordinary things in very ordinary ways. We are in no doubt that Catherine would have approved of the many and varied events and would probably have marvelled that her desire for the Sisters to ‘ have a good cup of tea’ when she was gone has such an appeal and relevance today...

Messages to Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Sisters and Friends of Mercy resident in North America, Australia and New Zealand and all locations outside Europe, UK and Ireland are reminded of the 20% discount on the forthcoming biography if ordered prior to 31 December 2011.

Sisters and Friends of Mercy resident in Europe, UK and Ireland have until 30 April 2012 to secure their special offer from Four Courts Press Dublin ( €30 plus free postage or £27 plus free postage.

Order forms are linked to this item

The Sisters of Mercy have elected the new leadership team for the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea:
Berneice Loch rsm, Congregation Leader;
Annette Schneider rsm, Vicar;
Sally Bradley rsm; Barbara Bolster rsm and Theresia Tina rsm, Councillors

Their six year term has commenced.

Thank you for the many prayers, messages of support and good wishes that accompanied us through the  Chapter.

Messages to: Anne Keim rsm - Executive Officer

Editor: A number of articles about the Chapter can be accessed from the ISMAPNG website including the latest media release (December 21) Foundation Chapter and Eucharist heralds new era for Sisters of Mercy which is linked to this item. An article posted on the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy Great Britain website tells of the sisters who went from Britain to Australia on foundation from 1860-1884.

As reported by Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), tropical storm "Sendong" (internatinal name: Washi) dumped 142 millimeters of rainfall in 12 hours over weekend (Dec. 17, 2011), which is considered "Super Heavy Rainfall".

According to the national news, the said typhoon whipped the Southern Philippines, unleashing mammoth floods across vast areas of the country of which more than 600 people were feared killed . Cagayan de Oro and Iligan city were reported as worst stricken cities and that 20,000 soldiers had been mobilized in a huge rescue relief operation.

Historically, Mindanao was rarely visited by storms, so that people were caught unprepared and commented "it was the worst flood in the history of our city". The more than 4,000 survivors evacuated to safe buildings or centers. The government officials are seeking national and international aid.

We thank the Lord that our RSM Sisters assigned in the Mission houses of Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and Camiguin are safe but some of their families are affected.

Let us pray a very special intention for the victims of this tragedy.

Messages to Marian Ladrera rsm

1843: Foundation to Pittsburgh from Carlow M Frances Warde
 

Kathleen Murphy rsm (Brentfod, England) has prepared a Prayer Service for Christmas on the Flight into Egypt, concentrating on the joyful and celebratory dimension of it. She has offered it to readers of Mercy E-News for their personal and community use.

The Prayer Service is linked to this news item.

Messages t:o: Kathleen Murphy rsm

This project consists of an exhibit showcasing the significant contributions made by sixteen religious communities of sisters to the healthcare history of Western Pennsylvania from 1847 to 1969. It features stories, photos, documents, artifacts, and historical clothing of Sisters and nurses covering this period. Among the communities featured are the Sisters of Mercy of Dallas, Pittsburgh and Erie.

A timely reminder of some security traps, some of which we see time and time and time again every year.
 

Source: PC& Tech Authority