In his message for the International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on all people to " work even harder for understanding among and within religions and communities and between and within countries."

Sisters of Mercy, our Associates and our co-workers are currently living and ministering in 44 of the world's 195 countries. May our efforts and our prayers help "build a world of nonviolence and lasting peace".

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

The MIA Global Action working group Opposing Trafficking engaged an intern, Siobhan Margolis, to work for 6 weeks over the northern summer to study the ECPAT code to Oppose the Trafficking of children in the hospitality sector. Mercy Investment Services is working to have this code signed by those in the hospitality sector in the USA and the study was to examine how this programme could be brought to other countries where Mercy has a presence. The Mercy Congregation in Ireland is now adopting a similar campaign which has been reported on recently in Mercy E-news.

The study can be accessed here (pdf)

Messages to: Mary Purcell - Assistant Director Mercy Global Action

NEW YORK – September 28, 2012 – Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), a leader in socially responsible investing, together with the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) * and the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR), today released a report, “Corporate Approaches to Address Human Trafficking: Investor Recommendations to London Olympic Sponsors and Hospitality Companies.” (pdf 3.68mb) The report highlights policies and practices of companies that may be at a higher risk of encountering child and labor trafficking and provides guidance to eradicate these egregious human rights violations.

“In addition to the moral argument, as shareholders, we find there are great risks to companies from human trafficking given the complexity of company supply chains,” said Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of Socially Responsible Investing at CBIS. “By adopting the six practices highlighted in our report, corporations can have greater confidence that their systems and processes address these risks.”

* Mercy Investment Services is a member of the ICCR.

Download the media release here (pdf)

Messages to: Mary Purcell - Mercy Global Action

Editor: Remarks by President Obama on Human Trafficking at Clinton Global Initiative on 25 September send a strong message that the U.S. is increasing its focus on prevention, protection and prosecution measures.
On 26 September President Obama signed an Executive Order on Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts, a major step towards eradicating trafficking and slavery.
 

Prayers through the intercession of Venerable Catherine are requested for the intentions of: Lynn Hutchinson and all those who have asked us for prayers.

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

At the recommendation of the Social Responsibility Committee, the Mercy Investment Services Board of Directors has decided to avoid investing in food commodities. This decision closely aligns with the Sisters of Mercy's concern for the economically poor outlined in the Direction Statement and Critical Concerns.

More than 925 million people worldwide live in chronic hunger, and speculative investments in food commodities contribute to this number. Research has identified the increase in speculative investments in food commodities by banks, hedge funds and institutional investors as a driving factor for increases in basic food commodities pricing. The pricing impacts the global availability and affordability of food in both developed and developing countries...

Messages to: Pat Zerega - director of shareholder advocacy

The heavens are telling the glory of God
And all creation is singing for joy
Come dance in the forest, come play in the field
And sing, sing to the glory of the Lord.

The words of this song ringing out with great gusto captured the spirit of joyful praise and gratitude of all who celebrated with Marie Etheridge rsm  her Perpetual Profession of Vows as a Sister of Mercy.

Regular readers of Mercy E-News will recall that Marie was one of the members of the Mercy family who shared her reflections in response to the question:Who is Catherine for me? (Issue 479 | 29 August 2012)

The report of Marie's profession ceremony is linked to this item.

The Reflections at the Eucharistic Liturgy given by Elizabeth Davis rsm, Congregational Leader, can be accessed here (pdf).

Messages to: Marie Etheridge rsm

On Saturday 22nd September 2012 we had a truly marvellous celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the foundation of The Mater Hospital, Nairobi. It was held in the open air in the hospital grounds. We had Mass celebrated by Bishop Kimengich from Turkana, and a big congregation comprising of doctors, nursing staff and other staff as well as a myriad of friends and well wishers.

A slideshow of beautiful photos of the celebrations is included in the article on The Congregation's website and linked to this item.

The event was also reported in CISA News Africa

Messages to: Liz Fletcher rsm - Provincial Superior of the Sisters of Mercy, Kenya

In 1982, Mercy Retirement & Care Center, Oakland, California, launched the Mercy Brown Bag program to distribute wholesome bags of groceries to seniors living on fixed incomes. Volunteers, many of whom are seniors, help coordinate the program by collecting bags, organizing food drives, helping at distribution sites, and delivering bags to seniors.

In the past year alone, program volunteers distributed 44,799 bags or 850,485 pounds of food, feeding approximately 3,687 people at 15 sites throughout Alameda County. More than 400 volunteers donated more than 20,000 volunteer hours of their time to the cause.

On 16 October the Mercy Brown Bag program will celebrate 30 years of ensuring that senior Americans on low incomes in Alameda County have access to nutritious foodstuffs. The first director, Patty Creedon rsm, is currently the program's administrator.

A report on the marvellous work of the program is linked to this item.

A video can be viewed here

Messages to: Patty Creedon rsm - Administrator

Editor: Mercy Retirement & Care Center is this week's featured website

These words - With My Heart Singing and Dancing - spoken by Sister Katrina (Yin Yin) Zhang rsm, echoed in the hearts of all those who joined with her in the celebration of her First Profession of Vows on 21st July in the Convent of Mercy Chapel in Parramatta.

Since the arrival in Parramatta in 1888 of a group of nine pioneer sisters from Ireland, over three hundred and sixty women have professed their vows as Sisters of Mercy of the Parramatta Congregation. Katrina’s celebration continued in this long and beautiful tradition of women ready to devote their lives exclusively to the following of Jesus Christ and to sharing in his mission of Mercy...

A report on Katrina's First Profession can be accessed here (pdf).

Messages to: Margaret Sheppard rsm

Bronx, N.Y. – September 27, 2012 – Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Mercy College School of Education are pleased to announce the opening of the Bronx Parent Center, an innovative program empowering parents to support their children’s education through workshops, resources and leadership development.

“This new program will help empower parents and provide them with the knowledge and the skills to support their children's educational experience. A parent's active role in the education of their child plays an important role in their child's academic achievements and success. Education remains an important focus of my administration and my office will continue to support innovative ways to increase parent engagement so that all Bronx students can succeed,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

The Center will offer parent workshops on such topics as managing problem behaviors, strategies to support special needs children, helping with math, read-aloud strategies, parent leadership and hands-on technology.

Messages to: Kimberly Cline - Mercy College President

For over ten years the East Ham community has supported various projects in Uganda, all developed by people Monica and Margaret knew. After many invitations to “come and see” for ourselves, Monica has just spent two weeks touring these micro activities. I say micro because they are all small in their productivity but huge in the positive effect on the people involved. It all began with our meeting men in London who were here working to raise school fees for their children back home. Their efforts were pretty futile and so we encouraged them to go home and we promised to send them materials which matched their skills and provide the basis for possible self-help projects in their area...

Messages to: Cathy Edge rsm -IT and Website Co-ordinator

A Letter, raising the concerns of the Parramatta Sisters of Mercy, re the Asylum Seekers who arrive in
Australia by boat and who are being sent offshore to Nauru and eventually to Manus Island for processing of their claims for refugee status, was sent yesterday to Julia Gillard (Australian Prime Minister).

The letter, written by Margaret Hinchey rsm and signed by the Congregational Leader, Catherine Ryan rsm, addresses the 22 recommendations made by the Expert Panel's Report.

To read the letter, click here (pdf).

Messages to: Margaret Hinchey rsm

The topic of the event was Global Mercy in the 21st Century. For two days, September 21 and 22, over 80 men and women, Mercy Sisters, Associates, colleagues and friends met at the Corpus Chrsti Parish Hall to pray, listen, reflect and share. For the first day Sr. Mary Reynolds made Catherine McAuley known as "nourishment for our time." She revealed to us her heart, the heart of a mother, the heart of an advocate, the heart of a woman of the Gospel- a heart of love, justice, of mercy and compassion. She highlighted the global presence of Mercy especially through the Mercy International Association. Sr. Elizabeth Davis situated Mercy in Newfoundland and Peru in this larger context as she described who we are...

Messages to: Diane Smyth rsm

The struggle against the mining Project Conga continues in Cajamarca.

We are almost finishing two months of a state of emergency declared by the government in three regions of Cajamarca. We are however entering a new phase. Recently the Government and the Transnational Newmont announced the suspension for three years of the megaproject Conga.

The decision to suspend the project has come from social pressure that is the protests of the people of the area. But there is a lot of confusion and contradictions as to what this means. At the same time that they announce suspension of the projec,t they confirm building two huge reservoirs in the area. The construction of the reservoirs is going to destroy the natural sources of water that feed into the surrounding lakes. Without these natural sources of water the lakes will dry out. Is it we ask a strategic plan on the part of both government and the transnational during these three years to regain the confidence of the people of Cajamarca and convince them of the merits of the project?...

Messages to: Marion Collins rsm

1819: Death of Mrs Catherine Callaghan of Coolock House, Dublin

Commissioned Portrait Sculpture bronze reliefs are available at approximately one-half lifesize. These bronze reliefs can be used in memory or recognition of a CEO, Director, President or Historical figure of great importance to your ministry, organization, educational facility, or church. Visit McAuley Images for details

Contact: Maree Henderson rsm

Welcome to Mercy Retirement & Care Center – one of the Elder Care Alliance senior communities. Our community of seniors and staff is a family -- we care deeply about each other, we support each other, and we laugh together. Please, come visit and you will undoubtably feel very welcome.

• Get a light-colored mouse pad. While your mice may work well on your black granite table or even transparent surfaces like glass, they are best avoided as they cause the tracking sensor in the mouse to use more power.
• Your wireless mouse ships with a nano receiver that is put into the USB port of your computer. Make sure the USB receiver and the mice are close to each other or else use an USB extension cable for the receiver.
• For best results, replace both batteries at the same time and avoid mixing brands. Logitech suggests using alkaline batteries as non-alkaline batteries, such as NiMH or NiCd, operate at a lower voltage and may negatively impact the battery life of your mouse.
• Turn off the mouse manually when you are travelling. While the mice may go to sleep /standby mode when not being used, they’ll wake up when they move around inside your bag and this consumes battery power.
• Source: Logitech