At a recent parallel event organized by the NGO Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons and co sponsored by Mercy International Association during the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, Kris Wade spoke as a self-described “survivor of many crimes against women” and the director/founder of the Justice Project in Kansas City, funded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She knows from experience how difficult and traumatic it can be for women in poverty (challenged by homelessness, mental illness, domestic violence, sexual exploitation etc.) to navigate various social systems and created the Justice Project to help.

Kris’s comments were recently reported on networkforpeace blog

Messages to Mary Purcell – Assistant Director Mercy Global Action
 
Editor: The Stop Trafficking newsletter serves as a forum for exchange among religious congregations and their collaborating organizations:• to promote awareness re. human trafficking;• to exchange best practices in advocacy for and empowerment of survivors of human trafficking; • to recommend actions to counter human trafficking. Sisters of Mercy of Americas are among the congregational sponsors of this newsletter which can be accessed here.

Each year, Earth Day -- April 22 -- marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

On April 22, more than one billion people around the globe are expected to participate in Earth Day 2012 and help Mobilize the Earth™. People of all nationalities and backgrounds will voice their appreciation for the planet and demand its protection.

Consider joining in one of the Earth Day campaigns as we collect A Billion Acts of Green® and elevate the importance of environmental issues around the world.

Messages to Mary Purcell - Assistant Director Mercy Global Action

Editor: A reflection prepared for Earth Day 2012 can be accessed here.

One of the major themes for MIA is Cosmology and Eco Justice and MIA realizes that many Sisters and Associates in different parts of the world are concerned about the abuses of the extractive industries.

Over the last few weeks we have looked at concerns in USA, Australia and Ireland. Last week in E- news Nora Burke from Ireland wrote about the dangers posed by fracking in Ireland especially to water supply and the environment. Nora received two responses from New Zealand indicating that they also are concerned and may take up campaigning in their country. Through our Global Action Network and our Cosmology and Eco Justice working groups we hope to support the different Congregations to co-ordinate their activities on this important issue.

Messages to Mary Purcell - Assistant Director Mercy Global Action

In a ceremony filled with tradition harkening back to the year of the University’s founding in 1877, Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. was inaugurated as the 25th president of University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) on Friday, April 13 in Calihan Hall on the McNichols Campus. Delegates from more than 65 colleges and universities around the country, civic officials, business leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends were on campus to mark the special occasion when he is formally installed as president.

Unlike U.S. presidential inaugurations, which typically occur on the first day in office, college and universities often wait until the president has been in office for several months before holding their ceremonies — giving the new president time to become more familiar with the university and its many constituencies and to develop a vision for the institution.

The inauguration ceremony provides an opportunity to reflect on University of Detroit Mercy’s strong history and affirm UDM’s commitment to academic excellence and social justice in our community.

Messages to: Gary D. Lichtman - Director of Media Relations—Marketing & Public Affairs

Editor: University of Detroit Mercy is this week's featured website

In preparation for Chapter in 2013, the members of the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy will be coming together in two Gatherings, one in the south of England and one in the north, on April 19-22 and  April  27-30.

We ask you to keep us in your prayers.

Messages to: Patricia Bell rsm - Institute Leader

The New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community (NyPPaW) are currently gathering (April 17-22) in Buffalo, New York for their second Assembly.

Let us remember them in prayer.

Messages to: NyPPaW Regional Community c/- Pat Kenny rsm - Institute Communications

In keeping with our public stance on immigration, the Sisters of Mercy signed on to an amicus brief submitted by more than 50 civil rights, faith and community organizations in support of the federal government's suit against the Arizona immigration law, “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” (SB 1070).

Messages to: Institute Justice Team

Editor: Immigration is one of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas six 'Critical Concerns'. The image used by the Institute to illustrate this concern is shown here - the path and travelling feet depict the migrant journey. Further details about the Institute's stance on Justice Issues and the Critical Concerns (poverty, the Earth, immigration, nonviolence, racism, and women’s issues) can be found on the Institute's website.

The Academy of Mary Immaculate is the oldest girls’ secondary College in Victoria, Australia and is still conducted on the original site of its foundation.

In March, 1857 Mother Ursula Frayne came to Melbourne with her two companions, Mother Mary Xavier Dillon and Mother Mary Joseph Sherlock.

The Bishop vacated for the Sisters his residence in Nicholson Street; thus Mother Ursula had the distinction of being the foundress of the first religious house in Victoria.

The first task of the Sisters was to provide a school. It was the desire of the Sisters to begin with the children of the poorer class, but it was pointed out by the Bishop that provision was already made for these in what was termed the common schools and that, in fact, the great work of charity at that time was education of the "poor rich". Thus a school for young ladies, The Academy of Mary Immaculate, was opened on April 20th 1857.

This Friday, April 20, the Academy community will celebrate 155 years of girls' education through gathering together, reflecting on the story of the past, pausing in prayer and enjoying morning tea. The original college register in which the names of all Academy students are written once enrolled, will be displayed.

The story of the development of the Academy can be found here.

Messages to: Mary Moloney rsm - Principal

For 150 years, Mercy Home Brooklyn, New York, has nurtured persons in need. Today, Mercy Home supports persons with developmental disabilities in living full and interesting lives.

WPIX-TV (Channel 11) New York visited Mercy Home recently to feature their work and began by telling the story of how this Mercy ministry was established -"  [it] started as an orphanage for children who lost their parents to illness, poverty, or the Civil War. The first children to take refuge with the Sisters were five boys.

"The five boys, they came from the local community, and apparently there was a fire," said Sister Caroline Tweedy, Chief Development Officer for the Sisters of Mercy--and unofficial historian. "They stumbled onto the doorstep, the sisters opened it, and little did they know those five boys would turn into Mercy Home for Children..."

The video and news report are linked to this item.

Source: WPIX-TV (Channel 11) New York

Messages to: Mercy Home NY

The Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA) Executive warmly invites staff and two students from Mercy secondary schools to the 12th Biennial AMSSA Conference "Mercy Alive"; July 13-16, 2013, Auckland New Zealand

• to honor the beginnings of our Mercy story,
• to celebrate our growth and unity, and
• be challenged to revitalise Mercy for the future.

Messages to: Frances Fitzpatrick rsm - AMSSA Executive Officer

" A jubilee is a time to celebrate; a time to recall the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of life; and above all a time to give thanks for the seeds planted many years earlier as they continue to grow and bear fruit,  " writes Mary Cudden rsm, one of the three pioneering Mercy Sisters who set out for Africa in 1971, " with a mixture of excitement and apprehension ...[and] no idea of what [we] would find.. [but with] the desire to serve the people of Monze Diocese with God’s compassion and mercy."

In this article published last week on The Congregation's website, Mary shares her reflections as well as details of the celebrations.

Messages to Mary Cudden rsm

Editor: Further details about the Mercy mission in Zambia can be found here.

1898: House opened in Mornington, Victoria from Fitzroy - M Bernard Whyte
1906: St Mary's Hospital, San Francisco destroyed in earthquake and fire

Pendants for US$5 and Keyrings for US$7 are now available with a Catherine McAuley image on the front and information on the reverse. Text available in English or Spanish on reverse side. These make an excellent gift, award, or blessing for the sick or those who ask our prayers.

Details of how to order these are linked to this item.

University of Detroit Mercy's religious sponsors - the Society of Jesus and Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - West Midwest Community - continue an active commitment to the University in a variety of functions. The Jesuits and Sisters of Mercy serve as faculty and staff members, administrators, Board trustees and engaged alumni. In their specific roles, they each ensure that UDM reflects its mission "to integrate the intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social development of students."

Definitions: To find out the meaning of a word using Google, type "definition [word]". Google searches various online dictionaries and returns the definition, as well as providing synonyms for your chosen word.

Calculations: Type your required conversion into the search bar to find out the latest rates eg:" 25 US dollars into English pounds"