Please remember in your prayers the Leaders of all nine Mercy Congregations who together constitute the Mercy International Association and the MIA Board Members who meet in Dublin from May 18 - 22.

Messages to Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA
 

Mercy Global Action has decided to undertake an action research project into the extractive mining industry and the devastation that it is wreaking on communities and ecosystems. to see how we can work on this issue more effectively.

This research will be undertaken by MGA’s researcher Betty Lacey who will be contacting experts in the field, members of the Global Action Network and the Cosmology/Eco Justice working group to ascertain their views on the issue.

An overview of the importance of Mercy's involvement with extractive industries and the Terms of Reference are linked to this item.

Messages to Betty Lacey - MGA Intern

Editor: Sisters of Mercy of the Americas have been active for more than 20 years in a group called ROW-Religious on Water. This group is comprised of religious congregations who own property along the New Jersey Coast and along the waterways in New York State. The group has been active in many areas of legislation, including hydrofracking.

Members of the group recently had published in the National Catholic Reporter a viewpoint article on concerns about the support of hydrofracking by the presidential candidates. Mary Bilderback rsm signed the article for the Sisters of Mercy's Mid-Atlantic Community. The viewpoint article can be accessed here.

Prayers through the intercession of Venerable Catherine are requested for the intentions of all those on the MIA Prayer list: and in particular, those whose names are newly added: Gretchen Hermanny rsm.

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

Readers of Mercy E-news are reminded of the invitation to all members of civil society to participate in an online sustainable development platform conversation in preparation for Rio+ 20. This initiative, known as the Rio Dialogues, is being organized by the UN and the Brazilian government.

Further details on this initiative are linked to this item.

Messages to Aine O'Connor rsm - Mercy Global Action Coordinator at the UN.

Editor: Additional resources which may be of interest:
State of the Planet Declaration (in English) from a Conference held in London in March.
State of the World 2012: Moving towards Sustainable Prosperity: Summaries of the 17 Chapters (in English)  For Comments by Michael Renner, Co-Director of the report, click here.

Mercy International Association invites applications for the Volunteer Live In/General Duties Position
Mid August to November/December 2012 (dates are flexible).
Open to Sisters, Associates and Friends of Mercy.
Single person or couple welcome.

Full details of the position are linked to this item.

Applications close on June 8, 2012.

Messages to Sylvia Williams rsm - Assistant Director - Administration & Finance

Editor: women@thewell is described as " an innovative women-only charity, which provides services to vulnerable women trapped in multiple cycles of abuse and social exclusion. Women, caught up in the many facets of pavement culture (homelessness, prostitution, drugs, alcohol, violence, physical and mental ill health), are often kept locked into chaos by the complexity of services. Services are provided for women by women in a supportive environment with the goals of diverting them from the criminal justice system and working towards meaningful and rewarding social participation." Further information about women@thewell can be found here

Lynda Dearlove rsm who works with women@thewell was recently interviewed for the column 'Personal Practice' in the Third Way magazine. In the interview, reprinted in full on the Institute website and linked to this item, Lynda explains how the work she does is " part of a dynamic movement of women across the world (the Sisters of Mercy) that has the most needy as a focus and develops a response to that need based on gospel values."

A current video interview with Lynda about the work of women@thewell with women engaged in street-based prostitution and women who are trafficked, can be accessed here. (5:57")

Messages to: Lynda Dearlove rsm MBE

The Mercy Spirituality Series was originally developed as an online resource for Mercy groups to use in faith-sharing or group reflection. It can be helpful as an introduction series for those interested in Mercy life, e.g., inquirers, associates, MVC, ministry co-workers—or as an opportunity to deepen one’s own immersion in Mercy spirituality.

In the fall of 2011, the South Central Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas printed for its members, associates and ministry staff, as well as the leadership teams of the Mercy Communities, the 52-page 8½" x 11" booklet. Since the booklet was distributed, we have received very positive feedback from across the Institute and have received numerous requests for copies.

Barbara Wheeley rsm (South Central Community) is offering to coordinate another printing in order to fill requests. The cost will be $3.00 per copy plus shipping, with a minimum order of 20 copies. Additionally, to offer this very low price, we will need orders totaling at least 2,500 copies.

Full details, including the Order form and flyer are linked to this item.

Messages to: Barbara Wheeley rsm

On Earth Day 22 April, the Sisters of Mercy in New Zealand Launched their RIO + 20 flag at an Earth day Ritual at Papatuanuku Ki Taurangi Earth Promise Centre. This flag is being taken around to groups and ministries over the next weeks to draw attention to and raise consciousness of the issues being discussed in Rio. Flyers that were prepared are also being distributed.

A full report is linked to this item.

Messages to: Katrina Fabish rsm - Institute Leadership Team

Deirdre Mullan rsm (Ireland) has been appointed to serve as the new Executive Director of the Partnership for Global Education at the United Nations - which is a network of 125 religious congregations. Deirdre is no stranger to the United Nations having served there for the past ten years as the Director of Mercy Global Concern.

The Partnership works for equitable global systems by promoting earth literacy and ecological sustainablity, education for global citizenship, and fostering understanding and communion among cultures and traditions.

Messages to: Deirdre Mullan rsm

Editor: In recent issues of Mercy E-News (Issues 455, 461) we have reported on the sharing of ministry experiences between Sisters of Mercy and school and college students. This week we report on the outcome event of  a week of study and fundraising that was focused on a major challenge in the Republic of Uganda.

"In order to cap a week of study and fundraising that was focused on a major challenge in the Republic of Uganda, the students at Mercy High School in Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.A., invited the Directors of All-Africa Conference: Sister to Sister (Sisters Margaret Farley, Eileen Hogan and Mayon Sylvain) to spend a morning with them. The broad focus was the complex realities of poverty, violence, and HIV and AIDS. Moving stories about the suffering and hope of individuals striving to rebuild a community focused specifically upon the work of women religious ministering in northern Uganda with people ravaged by civil war..."

The full report, including a slideshow of images, is linked to this item.

Messages to:
Eileen Hogan rsm - Director, All Africa Conference: Sister to Sister (AACSS)
Mary McCarthy rsm - Principal, Mercy High Connecticut

Editor: All-Africa Conference: Sister to Sister is this week's featured Mercy website

On Tuesday, May 1st a number of sisters from the Southern Province, together with a group of Transition year students from St. Mary’s Secondary School, Mallow gathered to attend a presentation on Human Trafficking. This excellent presentation was given by Srs. Sheila O’ Gorman and Mary Ryan. They are active members of APT, Act to Prevent Trafficking, a faith – based group working to address the global problem of Trafficking in Persons...

As I listened to the presentation I was reminded of Catherine Mc Auley opening Mercy House in Baggot Street as a response to the situation in Dublin in the 19th Century where vulnerable young women were exploited. I felt Catherine’s founding vision was in many ways very similar to what I was listening to in this presentation. For me, this posed the challenge as to how I / we, as Mercy Sisters, can respond in justice and compassion to this obvious need of our time where vulnerable women are trafficked and exploited. Our Chapter Statement 2006 calls and commits us to this challenge when it states: ‘How will we engage with others around the questions and struggles of our time?’

Messages to: Patricia O'Donovan rsm

Editor: On May 8 an international meeting in Rome hosted by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace discussed the tragic reality human trafficking represents for the world.The goal of the one day conference was to highlight the scale of the problem – defined by the UN as the second most profitable worldwide criminal enterprise after the arms trade – and promote closer collaboration between churches, national authorities and international organisations.

Among the growing number of lay and religious organizations combating these forms of human trafficking, is the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) which in 2009 instituted the Talitha Kum network to train religious and lay persons in methods of prevention and to provide assistance for victims of trafficking.

An interview was recorded with Salesian Sr. Estrella Castalone of Talitha Kum. Click here for audio

Among the dramatic stories presented to participants was the harrowing tale of how one English girl was lured by her Albanian boyfriend for a holiday in Italy and forced to sell her body on the streets for six months until she was able to escape back home. Click here for audio

We are two senior Sisters of Mercy living in a housing estate in Bow, East London, ten minutes walk from the Olympic stadium. The area is predominately Asian with 40% Muslim and there is also a mix of Caribbean, English,  African and Irish, but fortunately little conflict, as most are busy trying to keep a roof over their head.

Although I have yet to meet anyone who has a ticket to attend the Olympics from this part of London, our parish priest is keen to provide hospitality and possibly a little evangelisation to those who do have tickets and that's where we Sisters fit in - in keeping with our Charism of Mercy...

The full report is linked to this item.

Messages to: Bernadette McCaffrey rsm

Every two weeks Camille D’Arienzo rsm interviews a member of the Catholic Church about how his/her faith has affected them. These interviews with persons from all walks of life, religious and lay, are published fortnightly, on a Tuesday, in the National Catholic Reporter. This week's interviewee is Rosanna Scotto, co-anchor of Fox 5's "Good Day New York".

The 15  interviews to date are linked to this item.

Messages to: Camille D’Arienzo rsm

NEW YORK – May 8, 2012 – Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), a leader in socially responsible investing, and a coalition of U.S. and U.K. investors including Mercy Investment Services and NGOs have united to call on corporations to strengthen their focus against human trafficking and modern slavery in advance of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games taking place in London from July 27 to August 12.

The initiative focuses on the London tourism industry and key sponsors of the Olympic Games that may be at a higher risk for on-premise child and labor trafficking and that have the potential to help raise public awareness of these crimes...

The Press release is linked to this item.

Messages to Pat Zerega - Director of Shareholder Advocacy, Mercy Investment Services

In coming together and forming the new Institute, a key hope of the Sisters has been to respond together with greater strength to the signs of the times and the needs of the world, both local and global. In our coming together “we the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea find ourselves in a new moment, yearning to relate with a new heart to God, and to each other and to all creation.” (2010 Institute Chapter).

In order to begin this process the Institute Leadership Team has established a Committee of Sisters to explore the concept of Mission Centres. The Mission Centres are seen as one way of responding to this "new moment". The Committee will expand the understanding of the vision and purpose of the Mission Centres. In doing so, they will call on the enthusiasm and gifts of Sisters and all those involved in Mercy mission.

We hope that our Mission Centres will become powerhouses for inspiration and challenge in seeking out new responses.

Messages to:
Theresia  Tina rsm - Institute Councillor or
Sally Bradley rsm - Institute Councillor
 

1841: Frances Gibson entered at Baggot Street for foundation to Liverpool, England
1889: Sisters from Tralee requested to work in Poor Law Workhouse, Dingle, Co Kerry
 

The Many Faces of Mercy is a newly published booklet about the Mercy Community – women who minister to bring about a better world. The booklet complements an earlier work, Where in the World Are My Sisters? by addressing from where in the world do my Sisters come?

The cost is $3 plus postage and the proceeds from the sale of the booklet will go towards providing scholarships for children in the developing world.

The flyer is linked to this item.

For further information or to order copies contact Deirdre Mullan rsm

All-Africa Conference: Sister to Sister (AACSS) offers a process to empower African women to more effectively address HIV and AIDS issues and to bring new information and hope to every village and hut in the sub-Sahara.

On Saturday, May 6 skywatchers around the world were treated to views of the so-called "supermoon," the largest full moon of the year.. Photographers across the globe set out to capture the event, and collected here are 24 of the most super images of this year's supermoon.

Source: The Atlantic