While the Leader Members were gathered in Dublin for the Annual General Meeting of the Members and Board of Mercy International Association, they took the opportunity to meet with Mary Sullivan rsm to express appreciation for her research and publishing of The Path of Mercy – The life of Catherine McAuley.

The Leaders presented Mary with an engraved Irish crystal plaque to acknowledge the gift to Mercy World of 'The Path of Mercy'.

The vote of thanks, given by Patricia Bell rsm, Chair Member MIA, is linked to this item.

Messages to:
Mary Sullivan rsm - Author
Patricia Bell rsm - Chairmember MIA

Editor: The Path of Mercy – The life of Catherine McAuley can be purchased online from the following:
Catholic University of America Press (Publisher North America)
Four Courts Press Dublin (Publisher Ireland)
Veritas (online and in person)
Mercy International Centre Giftshop (online and in person)
Amazon

World Environment Day (WED) which began in 1972, has grown to become one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.

The 2012 theme for World Environment Day is Green Economy: Does it include you?

The RIO+20 Conference which will take places two weeks after WED will focus on two themes: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and the institutional framework for sustainable development.

In preparation for WED, members of the USG/UISG Commission for Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in Rome have developed a prayer which you are invited to use on June 5. "The dream of the members of JPIC is that all consecrated religious throughout the world will not only be aware of this day, but join in prayer with our brothers and sisters, friends and collaborators everywhere on this day. And so we encourage the adaptation and use of this prayer in any ministry setting where you are". (JPIC)

The prayer is available in 13 languages and is linked to this item.
Further information about World Environment Day can be found here.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Places are still available for non-residential participants for the Eucharist retreat "Source and Summit: Eucharistic Themes" led by Anthony Gittins CSSp (June 17-22) and non-residential participants for Watering the Roots at the Wellspring of Mercy, (July 1-28),  but the residential places for both of these programmes are fully booked.

Both the June and the August Come Home to Catherine programmes are completely booked.

Places and accomodation are available for the following programmes:

• To Act Justly, To Love Tenderly, To Walk Humbly with God – A Framework for Christian Mercy Ministry (August 7-13)
  
• From Time to Eternity: A Time of Blessing As We Ponder Catherine's Life and Death (November 9-11)

Flyers have been prepared by MIC to assist congregations in promoting these programmes through their internal networks.

Download: To Act Justly. Download: From Time to Eternity.

Messages to: Mary Kay Dobrovolny rsm - Assistant Director Heritage & Spirituality

During these final countdown days until the 20 June opening of the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, preparations are gaining momentum for what observers hope will be breakthrough moments for the future of Earth and all creation.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued the challenge for Rio+20 in his 22 April message for International Mother Earth Day reports Aine O'Connor rsm, Mercy Global Action Coordinator at the UN.

'In the next 20 years', said Ban Ki-moon,' the world will need at least 50 per cent more food, 45 per cent more energy, 30 per cent more water, and many millions of new jobs.

Our challenge at Rio+20 and beyond is to take a holistic, integrated approach to these linked challenges...'

Ban Ki-moon's message and reports from Mother Earth Day are linked to this item.

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

Prayers through the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley are asked for all those on the MIA Prayer List and, in particular, Pauline Hannon, Ann Farrell, Raymunde (Rae) Majella Geaney.

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

The People's Summit for Social and Environmental Justice in defense of the commons, scheduled to take place alongside Rio+20, is gaining momentum, focus and passion as the two events draw near.

Standing in opposition to the "green economy," a concept both ubiquitous and ill-defined in the present version of the Zero Draft negotiating document, the People's Summit warns against the commodification of Nature and the continuation of unsustainable patterns of production and consumption that accelerate the deadly cycle of climate change, global poverty, and ecosystem degradation.

Understanding that Human Rights cannot exist at the expense of the health and vitality of the natural world, 20,000 people are expected to come together to advocate for the Rights of Nature, and the protection of the global commons (water, air, soil, biodiversity, etc.) from private sector manipulation and control.

Aine O'Connor rsm and Mary Bilderback rsm, representing Mercy International Association at Rio+20, will participate in specific events at the People's Summit.

To read more about The People's Summit, click here
To find out the schedule of events at The People's Summit, click here

Messages to:
Mary Bilderback rsm - representing MIA at Rio+20, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Aine O' Connor rsm - Mercy Global Action Coordinator at the UN

Editor: The following are additional resources for reflection in preparation for Rio+20: an interactive Global climate talks timeline created by The Guardian can be accessed here. 21 unforgettable examples of land art using natural materials and often designed for a particular location can be accessed here on My Modern Met.
The Hard Rain Project "Aligning human systems and natural systems" provides, among other resources, a gallery of images with commentary and an illustrated video clip.

 

A final reminder to those considering applying for the Volunteer Live In/General Duties Position at MIC that applications close on June 8, 2012.

The position is available from Mid August to November/December 2012 (dates are flexible).
Open to Sisters, Associates and Friends of Mercy.
Single person or couple welcome.

Further details about the position are linked to this item.

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

On May 22 the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services, rose in the House of Assembly to celebrate the 90th anniversary of St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

In acknowledging the contributions of the Sisters of Mercy to the delivery of health care and health education in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Minister commended the education and training health professionals received at St. Clare’s and committed the government to continuing to invest in the facility to ensure that it will benefit residents into the future. Access the Minister's Statement here.

Today St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital falls within the jurisdiction of Eastern Health.

A report on the celebrations is linked to this item.

Messages to Diane Smyth rsm - Manager Pastoral Care and Ethics, Eastern Health.

Misericordia University awarded 392 undergraduate and graduate degrees at the 86th annual Commencement ceremony Saturday, May 19, and also offered one last life lesson to students about how to “make this world better, not worse’’ by offering six pieces of wisdom that transcend time...

Kerry Robinson, M.A.R., executive director of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management (NLRCM), said during her keynote speech "A defining characteristic of Mercy Sisters is a radical commitment to service, to being a beneficial presence, to caring for those in greatest need.’’

Ms Robinson offered somewhat simple principles to live by for the more than 1,600 people in attendance at the Anderson Sports and Health Center. It is important, she said, to nurture loving relationships, be grateful, be a beneficial presence as a global citizen, live with joyful intention, value the virtues of courage, tenacity and integrity, and be merciful...

Messages to: Kerry Robinson -  executive director NLRCM

' Whenever my friends tell me what is bad about the Catholic Church – and there are a few things – ' said Kevin Lyons in his eulogy for his aunt Margaret (Meg) , ' I always tell them about my “Aunt the Nun” as an example of all that is good about the Catholic Church. Because she has dedicated her life to the service of others as a result of her love of God. And because she undertook all she did with love, care, grace and respect - and without fuss.

For over 50 years, Meg was a teacher and principal of a number of schools in Victoria and Tasmania. I laugh when people speak of the working woman as a some sort of modern invention...'

Until her death at 84 three weeks ago,  Meg continued to share her great capacity to love, particularly with the poor, the needy and refugees.

Messages to: Carmel McCormick rsm - Community Leader, Convent of Mercy Fitzroy

Joplin, MO – The shattered towers of St. John’s Regional Medical Center that became an iconic image of last May’s tornado are giving way to demolition, clearing land that will become part of Joplin’s rebirth into a brighter future. Mercy announced today conceptual plans for the hospital’s nearly 50-acre campus, property that will be given as a gift to the people of Joplin. St. John’s – recently renamed Mercy Hospital Joplin – is part of Mercy.

The former hospital site is expected to become a multi-purpose center of reverence, learning and art. Residents and Mercy co-workers are discussing plans for a cultural complex that Joplin can treasure for decades.

Messages to Nancy Corbett - Director, Media Relations, Mercy Marketing and Communications

Sandy Pond, once a pristine, beautiful lake on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada, now lies within the boundaries of one of Newfoundland and Labrador's largest industrial sites...

The Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice is part of the Sandy Pond Alliance, a coalition of concerned citizens fighting to protect Sandy Pond. The Alliance includes the Council of Canadians, Mining Watch, Nature Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador Natural History Society, Sierra Club Atlantic, and scientists and activists in Newfoundland who are concerned with the imminent destruction of Sandy Pond.

A report on the efforts to save Sandy Pond is linked to this item. The report includes a radio interview (27 minutes).

Messages to Mary Tee rsm

In an article published today on the Institute website and linked to this item, Lyndsay Spendelow rsm reports on what has been happening in the UK in preparation for Rio + 20.

Her reports makes for an excellent "checklist" of activities.

"I wanted to emphasise that, ‘every little helps’ - enormously - and I wanted to encourage those who have not heard about this important event, and those who have heard of it but not yet engaged with any aspect of it, “to take a bit of time to get in touch with what this earth Summit is about, who will be most affected, why this is so, and then reflect on what they might be able to do to support the final stages of the Summit”...'

Messages to: Lyndsay Spendelow rsm

When Mollie Wright rsm, former Principal of Mercedes College, Western Australia (1978-1996) was on an overseas visit in 1997, she became aware that the Crispin Street Convent Chapel was being sold as part of the development to transfer the Night Shelter to a different location. Having noticed the Mercy Crest in the chapel window (see image accompanying this item), she wondered if it might be possible to procure those windows for a new building proposed for the Mercedes site sometime in the future...

Those windows now grace a new building at Mercedes College -  the recently opened Serisier Learning Centre.

A report on the "handover" of the windows is linked to this item.

Mollie Wright's Address for the opening of the new buildings can be accessed here.

Messages to:
Sheila Burke rsm - Congregation Leader, Mercy Union
Sheena Barber - Principal Mercedes College

Editor: We welcome other stories of transfer of stained glass windows or other heritage items from Mercy convents to new locations.

Mercedes College is this week's featured website.

St. John’s Hospitals in Camarillo and Oxnard, comprise the largest acute healthcare organization in Ventura County, California. This private, not-for-profit healthcare system was founded more than 100 years ago and treats more than 187,000 patients annually.

In September 2011, St John's celebrated the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy to Oxnard to start a hospital. On May 19,  2012, St John's recognized another major milestone in the hospital's history, marking the centennial of St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard.

On June 2 St John's Healthcare Foundation will present the Catherine McAuley Lifetime Achievement Award at its "A Legacy of Healing" Black-Tie Gala to two members of its community, Gloria Friedrich Reed on behalf of the Joseph I. Friedrich Foundation,  and Eugene Fussell, MD, for their longtime history of outstanding philanthropy and community service. Ms Reed's late husband Joseph I. Friedrich was the grandson of Rancher John Borchard who in 1912 donated nine acres of land for the hospital and $20,000 to perpetually endow two beds for the poor.

"100 Years: A Legacy of Healing" timeline can be accessed here.

Messages to: St John's Hospitals

1825: Fr Nugent, Catherine McAuley's friend and adviser, died of typhus; nursed by Catherine, buried at Kells.

The Network for Peace through Dialogue, one of MGA's network of contacts, is working to distribute their new educational resource kit on human trafficking:  Modern Slavery - The Secret World of Trafficking. This resource kit includes a DVD of the passionate anti-trafficking activist Sr. Eugenia Bonetti, background information on trafficking, resources and an outline session for discussion.

Further information about the resource kit and how to order it (US$15) is linked to this item.

Messages to Kathleen Kanet RSHM - Network for Peace through Dialogue

Editor: The global economic crisis has increased the danger that migrant women and children will fall prey to traffickers as they flee violence and poverty, seeking a better life for themselves and their families, said the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, at the “Building Bridges of Opportunity: Women and Migration” event sponsored by the US Embassy on May 24. An overview of  the event can be found here. For the full text of the intervention by Cardinal Antonio Maria Vegliò, click here.

Mercedes College traces its origins back to 1846, the early days of the Swan River Colony, when a community of six Sisters of Mercy, under the leadership of Ursula Frayne, arrived from Ireland on the barque Elizabeth. The Congregation of Sisters of Mercy had been founded barely fifteen years earlier in 1831 by Catherine McAuley.

Mercedes is the first school in Australia to be founded by a religious congregation and Western Australia's first permanent school.

Where ever you are in the world, these apps are your companion to keep you in touch with your family and friends. There is no roaming charge to call your family while you are traveling away from them.

Source: Mashtips