Foundation Day celebrations at Mercy International Centre offered a number of ways to celebrate. On this historic 12-12-12 date, the 181st anniversary of the Founding of the Sisters of Mercy, and Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (patron of the Americas), over 90 sisters, associates, partners in ministry and friends of Mercy gathered for liturgy, lunch and an icon exhibition.

First on the agenda was a noon liturgy. In the midst of this liturgy, two women from Tipperary - Mary Casey and Margaret Fahey - made their first covenant commitment as Mercy associates. They were to be joined by a third person who has prepared to become an associate, Chrissie Harney, but a member of Chrissie's family for whom she is the caregiver became ill. These women have been accompanied on their journey by Mairead Ryan rsm. All Sisters of Mercy present renewed their vows, and associates, Circle of Mercy members and partners in ministry were invited to renew their commitment to a Mercy way of life.

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

Editor: Reports from other Foundation Day celebrations have been posted online. View illustrated reports from Addo (South Africa) and Wanstead (Gt Britain).

In a clear demonstration of global Mercy action, Sisters and colleagues worldwide have in the past several months taken action on three key concerns of Mercy Global Action at the UN: 1) addressing injustices related to oil, gas and mining industries; 2) following up on Rio +20 implementation, including the process for the development of Sustainable Development Goals; and, 3) formal interventions on mining injustices and human trafficking...

The complete article is linked to this item.

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

'Catherine's conviction that "comfort comes soon after a well-received trial" enabled her to accept suffering with serenity (p.118). Her experience taught her that God would soon come "both hands filled with favors and blessings" (Letters,p.204).' Praying with Catherine McAuley: Helen Marie Burns rsm and Sheila Carney rsm

Prayers with the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley are asked for all those whose names are on the MIA prayer list.

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

Mercy International Association was instrumental with the Presentation Sisters in developing a group in Ireland to follow up on implementation of the plan committed at the Rio Conference.

Presently, Sisters of Mercy, Presentation Sisters, Franciscans and a representative of UNANIMA (which links many smaller religious Congregations at the United Nations) are represented on the group. We have had interest from other Congregations in being involved in the process and hope to expand the membership of the group after Christmas...

Messages to: Mary Purcell - Assistant Director Mercy Global Action

Mercy International Association joins with our Sisters, Associates and Co-workers in the United States in prayers and heartfelt sympathy for the families of the children and adults who lost their lives in an act of senseless violence at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
We hold in our hearts all the families, friends and citizens of Newtown Connecticut whose lives are changed forever by this tragic event.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Director MIA

Mary Purcell, MIA Assistant Director Global Action and Aine O Connor rsm, MIA Representative at the United Nations attended a conference entitled Forum on Business and Human Rights organised by the Human Rights Council from 4-5th December.

The Forum was organised to examine how the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (to protect individuals, communities and indigenous peoples from human rights abuses) endorsed by the Human Rights Council in 2011 were being implemented. The forum was mandated to look at the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework and “to promote dialogue and cooperation on issues linked to business and human rights, including challenges faced in particular sectors, operational environments or in relation to specific rights or groups, as well as to identify good practices”...

Messages to: Mary Purcell - Assistant Director Mercy Global Action

December 17, 2012 - The Sisters of Mercy are shocked and saddened by the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Our prayers and heartfelt sympathy go out to the families of the children and adults who lost their lives to this senseless violence and to all the families, friends and citizens of Newtown whose lives are changed forever. May they be supported in their grieving by all those who know and care for them. We will continue to work toward a culture of nonviolence including addressing the root causes of gun violence and addressing the needs of those suffering with mental illness. May our God of Mercy enfold us all with comfort, peace and healing.

The Institute Justice Team welcomes Associates, Companions, co-workers, volunteers, students and friends of Mercy to join us in  advocacy to support meaningful gun control legislation that, at a minimum, bans assault rifles and high-capacity magazines for ordinary citizens.

A sample letter  (editable text) is on the Institute website and linked to this item. Simply change the opening line to indicate your relationship to the Sisters of Mercy and then follow the instructions to email it directly to your legislator from the site

Messages to: Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team

Doris Gottemoeller rsm, vice president, Catholic Health Partners and former president, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, was one of five panellists (Maria Theotokos Adams, S.S.V.M., Miriam Ukeritis, C.S.J., Mary Johnson, S.N.D.deN., Maria Cimperman, R.S.C.J.) at 'Call and Response: How American Catholic Sisters Shaped the Church since Vatican II' held at Fordham University on 11 December 2012, co-sponsored by the Curran Center for American Catholic Studies. The Moderator was Christine Firer Hinze Ph.D., professor of theology.

A report of the evening by Fordham University, can be accessed here.

The event was filmed and is linked to this item. To play the video full screen, click on the square icon next to the timecode in the bar at the bottom of the video screen.

Program:
Welcome and Introduction : Jim McCartan, Director of Fordham Centre on Religion and Culture: 00.00
Introduction: Christine Firer Hinze : 5'58
Speakers: 11'15"
Discussion amongst panellists: 72'30"
Questions from the audience: 91':00 - 110'18"

Messages to: Doris Gottemoeller rsm

Cyclone Evan that hit Samoa on 13-14 December has caused enormous damage in the capital of Apia and nearby villages. Thousands of people are homeless. Our sisters in Samoa work in schools at Leulumoega on the island of Upolo and at Fusi on Savaii. The school year has concluded and schools are currently closed for the holidays. We can communicate briefly with the sisters from New Zealand by cell phone and are glad to report that all are safe. They tell us the cyclone was a frightening experience but compared with other places, they have not sustained too much damage. There are some fallen trees and unfortunately with the heavy rain, water got into the classrooms, library and computer rooms at St Joan of Arc primary school and Paul VI College. We are unsure about the state of the computers.

There is still no electricity nor running water but the sisters can siphon off water from the tanks with a hose. They shared the contents of the deep freeze with families before it went bad in the heat! We are still awaiting news about the convent and St Theresa’s school in Fusi, but believe they have not sustained any significant damage. Mass at the Basilica in Leulumoega is at 5.30 am each day and at the moment is celebrated in the dark by candlelight. Today as they came out of Mass, they said they were greeted with a beautiful sunrise! As this is the beginning of the cyclone season in the Pacific, we pray there will be many more beautiful sunrises and no more cyclones.

Messages to: Katrina Fabish rsm - Institute Leadership Team

Since reopening our newly renovated main building in June, we have been adding the touches that make it feel like home. But the most essential element of home is the presence of our "old" and new friends and the spirit, prayers and longings that you bring with you into this sacred space.

Our 2013 Schedule of Directed & Themed Retreats, Summer Sabbatical, Intensive Workshop for Spiritual Directors and our Annual Native American Immersion Experience offered by the Catherine McAuley Institute of Spiritual Formation at Mercy Center is linked to this item.

Consider spending time by the sea at Mercy Center, Madison, Connecticut in 2013. Come experience our programs, events, waterfront, wooded grounds, and hospitality.

Messages to: Angela Gaffney - Director of Communications, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas -- Northeast Community
 
Editor: Mercy Centre Madison is this week's featured site

On Monday 3 December 2012, during the celebrations for International Day of People with Disability, there was a special Turning of the Sod ceremony at 31 Guardhouse Road Banyo, the site of the new Holy Cross Laundry.

This new laundry is a joint project made possible through a spirit of cooperation established by the Sisters of Mercy in partnership with Mater Health Services and Holy Cross Laundry. Construction will commence shortly and it is expected to be commissioned in late 2013. The new laundry will be built to world class standards and will be equipped with the most up to date equipment available. The building has been designed with environmental sustainability considerations in mind and will incorporate modern energy and water saving technologies. The capacity of the new laundry will be significantly higher than currently achievable at our current site at Wooloowin, and is purpose built to meet the future supply and demand of the Health Care Industry.

Messages to: Mary Lawson rsm

The Western Province has just signed a new partnership agreement with the charity Vita. This will last for two years and continues a mutual relationship, for the good of many. Both sides of the Partnership were happy to sign the official papers. Mercy values overlap with those of Vita. The shared goal is: To build sustainable livelihoods for people, especially women, living in Cencha Woreda, Southern Ethiopia.

Messages to: Suzanne Ryder rsm

In honor of Saint Joseph’s College located in Standish, Maine, USA celebrating its 100th anniversary a statue of Catherine McAuley was blessed and dedicated on September 24th Mercy Day. The college commissioned  Marie Henderson rsm last year to begin a sculpture of Catherine. Working closely for several months with  Kathleen Sullivan rsm, Vice President for Sponsorship and Mission Integration, the reality of Catherine coming to Saint Joseph’s College came to fruition on Mercy Day this year.

The purchase of the statue was made possible through a restricted gift given from
the Sisters of Mercy of Portland to the college prior to their becoming the Northeast community.

A full report, including a photo of the sculpture in place, is linked to this item.

Messages to: Kathleen Sullivan rsm, Vice President for Sponsorship and Mission Integration

1914: Death of M Liguori Keenan at Carysford, which she had purchased, Co Dublin

With Christmas Day less than a week away, Ilsa Neicinieks rsm (ISMAPNG) looks at the origins of the feast and how it has developed over time...

'In summary, “Christmas is larger than a baby in a manger… It is meant to take us to the level of spiritual maturity where we are capable of seeing in a manger the meaning of an empty tomb. It is meant to enable us to see through the dark days of life to the stars beyond them. “ (Joan Chittister OSB) '

Messages to:Ilsa Neicinieks rsm

Mercy Center is a leading spirituality center offering personal, professional and spiritual growth and renewal programs for people of all ages and faiths.

'2012 was an eventful year, from big events like the London Summer Olympics and the U.S. presidential race, to regional conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, to smaller issues closer to home. Reverberations from last year's transformative Arab Spring still heavily affect Syria and Egypt; and the slow recovery from the recent global economic crisis brought bitter austerity measures to parts of Europe, leading to widespread protests. Collected here is Part 3 of a three-part photo summary of the last year, covering its last few months. Be sure to also see Part 1 and Part 2. The series totals 135 images in all. [45 photos]'

Source: The Atlantic