Prayers through the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley are requested for the intentions of Lory Gannon and all those whose names are on our prayer list.

Message to Anne Hannon rsm - Vice postulator Europe and Africa, Sheila Carney rsm - Vice postulator Americas or Mary Duffy rsm - Vice postulator Australia, New Zealand, Philippines

Aine O’Connor rsm, who has filled the role of Mercy Co-ordinator of Mercy Global Action at the UN on an interim basis since June 2011, has recently been appointed in a full time capacity for a three year term. In reflecting on her experience over the past six months she writes:

The growing inequality and abject global poverty of our world, the commodification and annihilation of peoples and our planet caused by human made structures and systems – all of these convince me that it is both necessary and critical that the Sisters of Mercy be a presence at the United Nations.

She offers a timely challenge to each person to engage with the Mercy Global Action Coordinator at the United Nations and she invites your involvement, participation and collaboration with Mercy Global Action, particularly in our national and international advocacy work. This will empower MIA to realize the vision and to do the critical global justice work of our day.

Messages to Aine O'Connor rsm

While governments and participants assessed the outcomes of the recent UN Climate Conference, participants held widely disparate views about whether this Durban event marked a modestly hopeful path toward averting climate disaster and the future sustainability for planet Earth.

What was gained? What was lost? What can the citizens of the world expect in the near term and what is the challenge for Mercy?

Sr. Aine O’Connor, RSM, (Coordinator of Mercy Global Action at the UN) and Sr. Immaculata Devine, RSM, (Sisters of Mercy, South Africa), who attended the first week of the talks, highlight impressions of Durban and outline the resulting climate justice work that lies ahead for Mercy International Association, especially as the world prepares for the June 2012 UN Sustainable Development Conference in Rio.

Messages to Aine O'Connor rsm

Once again we would like to thank all who contributed news items. We ask that you continue and so help build the global Mercy community online.

Please ensure that articles for publication in e-News in any particular week, reach Fraynework by close of business on Friday of the week prior. Please email your contributions, suggestions and feedback to mercynews@fraynework.com.au.

'Hurrah for foundations!’ wrote Catherine McAuley in 1841, ‘They make the old young and the young merry!'

Catherine could well have been writing about the gathering in Auckland last month, when Sisters of Mercy and their friends celebrated forty years of their ministry in Samoa.

Retired Cardinal Tom Williams from Wellington had been parish priest of the village of Leulumoega when the four pioneer Sisters from Auckland arrived there to begin their work on 21 January 1972. At the celebration held this past month, he spoke of the Sisters of Mercy and their colleagues as among New Zealand’s premier exports. Over the years these four pioneering sisters were joined by other Mercy sisters and companions from both Samoa and Aotearoa New Zealand in serving the people of Samoa.

Celebrations included a sit down meal for over 200 guests, much story-telling, and siva (Samoan dances).

Messages to Patricia Rowe rsm

Last month Sisters Eucharia Ryan and Mary Minogue attended a workshop at Kilkenny Castle, which was conducted by the Oral History Network of Ireland.

This conference offered a timely opportunity to co-ordinate and strengthen oral history practitioners and to discuss important aspects of the ethics and techniques of oral history. The outcomes of this conference may be of particular assistance to archivists and other Mercy women, who share an ongoing interest worldwide to garner stories, particularly from those in Mercy circles.

Messages to Eucahria Ryan rsm and Mary Minogue rsm

Sister Felistas King’ori rsm writes of the joy and gratitude of her people who have now received help in many forms following their struggle to survive devastating drought in Nguutani. After months of drought and high temperatures, the rains finally came in November. In addition, financial support provided by sisters, benefactors and people of good will also arrived. The financial support has enabled school lunch programmes, food distribution to needy families, and the planting of maize and bean seeds by the local community.

Messages to Felistas King'ori rsm

1868: Great fire at St Xavier’s, Pittsburgh
1875: Foundation to Stanthorpe from Brisbane – M Agnes White
1990: Mercy schools in Western Samoa devastated by cyclone Ofa
 

Among the many images of Catherine McAuley, the sculptures and portraits by Marie Henderson rsm remain strong in demand. In some sketches Marie links the artwork with Catherine’s favourite prayer, the Suscipe.

This is the website of the Mercy Volunteer Corps. In partnership with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, lay women and men of Mercy Volunteer Corps, enter into relationship with people who are economically poor or marginalised. In a spirit of mutuality, volunteers cultivate mercy and justice in the world by embracing compassionate service, social justice, spirituality and a simple lifestyle in community.

This article provides an overview of one way you can protect your computer; a firewall. It screens out hackers, viruses, and worms that try to reach your computer over the Internet.

Source: Microsoft