Sunday, June 17th marked the signing ceremony of the Universal Declaration for the Rights of Mother Earth, organized at the Global Alliance a side event in Rio Centro.

The signing was preceded by a panel of extraordinary people who for decades have spoken out about the dependence of human rights on the respect for the rights of nature. Among the panelists were: Leonardo Boff, Vandana Shiva, Pablo Solon and Cormac Cullinan...

On Sunday Áine and I signed the Universal Declaration for the Rights of Mother Earth as representatives of Mercy International Global Action. How proud we felt to be Sisters of Mercy, how humbled to be part of this historic, holy event acknowledging the sacredness and intrinsic glory of all God's creation.

Messages to: Mary Bilderback rsm

We extend an invitation to all our E-News readers and mercyworld.org website visitors to join with us and with each other in praying for this week's intention:

That there be an end to religious violence in Nigeria.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

" Whilst the enduring influence of Catherine's life and work, and the influence of her compassionate and practical concern for the poor are considered by many to be miraculous, what is required for Catherine to be beatified is a miraculous cure; and a further miracle is needed for her canonization. With Catherine McAuley's vision as our shared inheritance MIA is called at this time to promote the vision in ways that are creative, life-giving, appropriate to the times and sufficiently compelling to claim Catherine as a canonised saint." Read the complete article 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: Bishop-Elect Dwight David Irons

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

Over nine days (13 to 22 June), thousands of events were held in the lead-up to and during Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, throughout Rio de Janeiro, including more than 500 official and side events at the Riocentro Convention Center, where the conference was held. Rio+20 was the biggest UN conference ever held, with broad participation of leaders from Government, business and civil society, as well as UN officials, academics, journalists and the general public. Further details are linked to this item.

Over the nine days, Mercy representatives Áine o'Connor and Mary Bilderback provided a series of reports which were posted on the mercyworld.org website and can be accessed at the following links:

Fourth Update -posted 23 June
Third Update - posted 21 June
Second Update - posted 20 June
First Update - posted 14 June

Two important articles on the adoption of the Rio +20 Outcome Document and its mandated follow-up actions can be accessed at the following links:

Rio+20: Summit adopts text, ends with positive speeches by Meena Raman
Rio+20: Mandated follow-up actions are key by Martin Khor

Messages to:
Áine O'Connor rsm - MGA Co=ordinator at the UN
Mary Bilderback rsm

Sisters of Mercy are participating in various ways on the Nuns on the Bus 9 state tour from Iowa to Virginia June 17 - July 2 to speak out against budget cuts included in the House budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)

The tour, sponsored by NETWORK, an organization that educates about and advocates for economic and social justice issues, is stopping at homeless shelters, food pantries, schools and health care facilities run by sisters to highlight their work with the nation’s poor and disenfranchised.

ABC7 News Chicago reported in a video story on Thursday June 21 on the stop in front of Mercy Housing Lakefront's Englewood Apartments for the Homeless. The story is linked to this item (00:2:02)

Messages to: Pat Kenny rsm - Institute Communications

It was the 50th. International Eucharistic Congress and it took place in Dublin. For one whole week, the Catholics of Ireland celebrated their faith supported by and in solidarity with many people from many countries. While welcoming pilgrims from 120 countries at the opening Mass, Archbishop Martin of Dublin said: ‘The Church in Ireland rejoices today in the presence of pilgrims from many parts of the world who witness to the universality of our Catholic faith and who show their faith-filled fellowship and solidarity with the Church in Ireland.’

Messages to: Anne Hannon rsm - Vice postulator Europe and Africa

Sister Marjorie Bosse, director of the outreach program for Catholic Health Partners, has received the Meritorious Service Award from the Ohio Hospital Association. The award recognizes an individual who is a friend of hospitals or health systems and whose support of the health care industry reflects the public interest.

Sister Marjorie’s career in healthcare spans over 50 years of dedicated service. Currently, she serves as Director of the Outreach Program for Catholic Health Partners’ (CHP), parent organization of Mercy Health.

Messages to: Marjorie Bosse rsm

Editor: Catholic Health Partners is this week's featured Mercy website

On Tuesday 5 June, an opening and blessing ceremony was held at Catherine McAuley Westmead New South Wales to officially open the newly constructed $13.4 million general learning areas and specialist facilities for technical and applied studies funded under the Australian Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) Program, the Catholic Block Grant Authority capital works program, and through local contributions from the Parramatta Diocesan school building levy. Further details here.

Messages to: Jacqui Hamilton - School Development Officer ,Catherine McAuley Westmead

Editor: Students, parents and friends gathered on June 13 for the official opening of Catherine McAuley Primary School in Orange, central NSW, formed from the amalgamation of Sacred Heart Infants School and St Joseph’s Primary School . A particular highlight was the blessing and opening of the the former (Mercy) Santa Maria Catholic Convent and chapel in Orange, buildings unused for 25 years, now renovated for school use and offices for Centacare. Further details here.

Messages to: Michael Croke - Principal, Catherine McAuley Primary School Orange

Wendy Flannery was among those recognised in the Peace Women Awards by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), the oldest women’s international peace organisation. In the five-year lead up to its centenary in 2015, WILPF has had an annual awards ceremony, recognising local women who have contributed in a variety of ways to peace building. 2012 was the third such event in the series.

Further details of the award and the citation are linked here.

Messages to: Wendy Flannery rsm

Sisters of Mercy in New Zealand remain firmly committed to honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) and central to this is the task of nurturing our relationship with tangata whenua, the first people of the land. See Statement of Intent - Our Bi-cultural Journey 2004

The June issue of  Imaging Mercy Today considers Aotearoa New Zealand's founding document against the backdrop of recent events and reflects on Treaty-based principles and practices that are integral to Mercy mission.

Messages to Katrina Fabish rsm - Institute Leadership Team

On Saturday, June 23, the new South Central Leadership Team was elected:

President, Jane Hotstream rsm; Vice-President, Paulette Williams rsm; team members: Mary Rose Bumpus rsm, Patricia Coward rsm, Linda Falquette rsm, Deborah Lee Kern rsm.

We ask God’s blessing so that we can continue to act with courage and Catherine’s depth of imagination.

Messages to: South Central Community c/- Myra Joines - Director of Communications

 In this year's eighth annual Innovation Awards, NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) honored a few of the exceptional visionaries who joined in the journey with NetApp to show that IT can be foundational to business success.

Mercy Healthcare System was named 2012 Innovator of the Year - Americas with finalists including Blackboard, Symantec Services Group, Yahoo! Inc.

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

Wednesday, July 20 marks the 21st anniversary of the founding of the Institute. A special prayer service has been created that all sisters, associates and companions and friends of the Institute are invited to use in celebration of the occasion.

Access the prayer service:
-Single page version PDF
-Booklet version PDF

Blessings on your celebrations and prayer and a joyous anniversary to us all on this founding day!

Messages to: Pat Kenny rsm - Institute Communications

1856: Foundation to St Louis from New York - M Magdalen de Pazzi Bentley
1960: Final profession of first Maori Sister, Elizabeth Ihaka

Greeting/Note cards, Bookmarks, Jubilee cards and Remembrance cards, etc.

For more information: jward@mountsaintmary.org;

Catholic Health Partners (CHP) is the largest health system in Ohio and the fourth largest employer in Ohio, and CHP is also one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States.

Five Catholic organizations co-sponsor CHP including: the Sisters of Mercy, South Central Community; the Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community; the Sisters of the Humility of Mary; the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor; and Covenant Health Systems.

6 tricks for shooting photos worth sharing are described in this article with links to other photographic hints and helps.

Source: Tecca Weekly