Mercy International Association joins with the universal church in praying for the Cardinal Electors at the Conclave in Rome.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Guímís Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ar Shiúracha na Trócaire ar fud an domhain ar Lá Fhéile Naomh Pádraig. Guímís sonas agus sláinte orthu siúd atá as baile as Éirinn agus orthu siúd ar fad a mhaíonn fréamhacha ceilteacha trénár mbunaitheoir Catherine McAuley.

On this St. Patrick’s Day, we send greetings to Irish Sisters of Mercy, Associates, Partners in Ministry and Friends of Mercy over the world and to all Sisters of Mercy and the extended Mercy Family, who can claim Celtic roots through our foundress Catherine McAuley.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Grant your Spirit of joy to all who are in sorrow: May they find consolation in the depth of your love and presence.
-Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy p463

Prayers with the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley are asked for all whose names are in our hearts and on our prayer list and in particular, whose names are newly added to the list: Michael Waide, Vanessa O'Hare.

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

Registration for the Young Mercy Leaders pilgrimage is due to Mercy International Association by Friday, 29 March (Good Friday).

Up to 150 secondary school students from Mercy schools and ministries around the world are expected to gather in Dublin from 16 - 19 July 2013 for the Dublin Pilgrimage of Young Mercy Leaders.

We look forward to receiving your registration materials and to our time together in July.

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

At last week’s Soup and Substance Fleachta Phelan, the Policy and Research Officer with Comhlámh spoke about Global Trade and its impact on developing countries. Comhlámh is the Irish Association of Development Workers and Volunteers in Ireland.

Access Fleachta’s presentation and the handout with reflections for the meeting.

Watch Comhlámhs video on Trade justice here

Messages to: Mary Purcell - Assistant Director Mercy Global Action

A framework for theological reflection which could inform deliberations about the extraction of coal seam gas (CSG) with particular reference to the situation in Queensland, Australia, has been provided by Mary Tinney rsm and is linked to this item.

It is a relevant piece for all Sisters of Mercy and Associates working on the issue of the extractive industries throughout the world.

Download the framework here (PDF)

Messages to: Mary Purcell rsm - Assistant Director Mercy Global Action
 

"Earlier this week the town of Tuam assembled in huge numbers to pay tribute to the Sisters of Mercy who are leaving the town after 167 distinguished years.

In the early years they cared for the poor and the starving and then went on to provide primary and secondary education to tens of thousands of girls who attended the Mercy Convent.

They were described as being “the heartbeat of the community over the years” as many of the sisters prepared to bid farewell to Tuam and move into accommodation in Taylor’s Hill in Galway city.

The nuns arrived in Tuam while The Great Famine was still raging and as they depart the town, Archbishop Michael Neary wondered if a famine of a more subtle and sinister kind was in existence in society today..."

Source: Galway City Tribune.

Messages to: Ailish O'Brien rsm - Communications Co-ordinator

Editor: As we prepare to celebrate St Patrick's Day on 17 March this article by Thomasina Finn rsm is timely.

The stories of St. Patrick are full of wonder – the fire that was lit on Slane with the Druids looking on in alarm, the crozier going through the foot of the king, the shamrock image with which he taught, his time on the Reek (or Croagh Patrick as it was named for him) bargaining with God, and there are many more. I love to think of a Druid’s remark that Christianity would never be extinguished in Ireland if that fire on Slane were not put out that night – Easter night. That story gave comfort, pride and assurance in our childhood days - and then we heard whispers of hagiography, legends and such-like. Disconcerting. But we go on teaching the stories because we understand the truth of them and well – they are great stories...

Messages to: Thomasina Finn rsm

Photo: Image from the stained glass window of St Patrick, Baggot Street Chapel

"For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the work of your hands I sing for joy"
Psalm 92.4.
This scriptural text accompanies the signatures of hundreds of co-workers and well wishers on the last piece of structural steel which was hoisted into place on 28 February, completing the skeleton of the new seven-storey, 875,000 square foot Mercy Joplin Hospital at the 'topping out' ceremony.

The previous Catholic hospital at Joplin, St. John's Regional Medical Center, was destroyed by the 2011 tornado.

The beam also carried both an evergreen and one of the more than 400 saplings that originally grew on the site of the new hospital...

Messages to: Angella Saporito - Media Contact

After thirty-five years of service to the Diocese of Ballarat, Victoria, Anne McMillan rsm has retired. Over the years Sr Anne has played an important role within the Diocese, in regard to liturgy, communications and pastoral ministry  developing, “Our Diocesan Community” into the quality magazine enjoyed by thousands in the Diocese, the [Diocesan] E News and the Diocesan website...

Messages to: Anne McMillan rsm

Religious Sisters have transformed the lives of generations of Ballarat women through their tireless work in education and social justice, a new book has revealed. The Challenge of Change traces the contribution of the Sisters of Mercy and the Loreto Sisters in Ballarat, Victoria from 1950 to 1980.

In her address, Historian and author Heather O'Connor expressed her "undying admiration for a cohort of women who have undergone more change than perhaps any other sociological group in society. The extent and the nature of the changes since Vatican ll have been unprecedented. As the most educated cohort of women in the city (some would argue, in the world), they have come through with enormous grace and integrity, with a commitment to social justice that they continue to live outhrough their work with the most marginalized people in our society..."

The Challenge of Change was launched on15 February by the Hon Steve Bracks AC, former Premier of Victoria and past pupil and staff member of Sacred Heart Mercy School Ballarat, with Veronica Lawson rsm Master of Ceremonies.

Messages to:Heather O'Connor

Editor: The Challenge of Change is this week's featured resource

No event of particular significance is recorded in the "Mercy Through the Years Calendar" as having taken place on 13 March. We know, however, that the Works of Mercy continued to be carried out and so we remember on this day Catherine and all our sisters, associates and co-workers who have given their lives in service to others.

The Challenge of Change traces the contribution of the Sisters of Mercy and the Loreto Sisters in Ballarat from 1950 to 1980.

Order from the publishers

The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy is a Catholic Religious Women's Congregation. Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland. Her aim at that time was to 'care for the poor, sick and ignorant'. Today, 2,324 members follow in the footsteps of Catherine McAuley, in 9 countries.

The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy is one of a number of Mercy Congregations throughout the world.

'Cheat sheets' for: Microsoft Word,  Excel and Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts

Click on the 'cheat sheet' for the full quality version, print it out on an A4 page and fold along the dotted lines to assemble it into a quick reference card for your desk.

Source: New Horizons Ireland blog