MIA joins with Pope Francis in calling for an immediate end to the violence in the Central African Republic.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

When the Church declares that a person is a saint she is saying in effect that this person is with God, that his or her life is worth imitating and that she or he has the power to intercede with God on our behalf.
- Brenda Dolphin rsm - Postulator

Prayers with the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley are asked for all whose names are in our hearts and on our prayer list.

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

“Pray for your portion of Easter grace, before the extra treasury is closed.”

Catherine encourages us at this special time to ‘pray for your portion of Easter grace, before the extra Treasury is closed.’ Having just experienced the grief and glory of Holy Week followed by the celebration of Resurrection, we are in the right place to understand just what Catherine means.

For a deeper insight, and in the context of Eastertide, we remind ourselves of the Emmaus story. We remember that the two companions were leaving the community, walking away from Jerusalem. Whether or not this walking away meant that they were abandoning all that they had learnt from their time with Jesus and the others is not clear...

Messages to: Kathleen Gooch rsm - Communications Contact Leadership Team

The Sisters of Mercy, who stand in solidarity with immigrants seeking fullness of life, have been consistent supporters of compassionate immigration reform that reunites families and creates a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Congress is now seriously considering immigration reform legislation, and our voices are more important than ever in the public debate...

Messages to: Institute Justice Team

Ilia Delio O.S.F., a senior fellow at Woodstock Theological Centre Georgetown University, will visit Aotearoa New Zealand in December 2013 at the invitation of Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.

She will give a series of public lectures in her field of Science and Theology in Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington.

Details of lectures, venues and registration will be posted on the Mercy ANZ website and in Mercy e-news once available. Registrations will be available from May.

Messages to: Katrina Fabish rsm - Communications Contact Leadership Team

Editor: The topic of Elio's talk was incorrectly reported last week as Science and Technology. Apologies for the confusion. Her topic is Science and Theology.

...Strengthened and reinvigorated by the experiences of Holy Week and Easter,  our Congregation now moves into its Seventh General Chapter. With Faith, Hope and Love we send forth our delegates, assuring them of our prayerful support in these twelve days of deliberation and decision making. May the graces and joys of the Easter Season fill their hearts and minds...

We invite you to accompany us in prayer.

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

Editor: The Australian, Australia's national daily newspaper, reported on Monday that "The number of Catholic nuns in Australia has dropped to its lowest level since 1901, with few taking their vows and the average age of those serving the church for life in their 70s."

While religious women may be a "vanishing breed" in the words of that newspaper, and in the story repeated in the Catholic press,  the interview published yesterday in the Central Western Daily (Orange, NSW), in celebration of the diamond jubilee of Mary Trainor rsm, puts flesh on the statistics of those living religious life:

“One of the things I learnt was that being there was more important than doing. Being superceded the doing. I call it the sacrament of presence.”...

The interview is linked to this item.

Messages to: Mary Trainor rsm

1880: Foundation to Maryborough, Queensland from Brisbane - M Borgia Byrne
1902: Foundation to Casterton from Yarrawonga - M of Sacred Heart Kelly
1987: Opening of Aged Care Facility, Cronulla from Parramatta - M C Coyle
1994: Profession of Carmen Rosa Ccallomamani, first Aymaran Sister, Peru

There are 11 tracks on the CD which features excerpts from the letters of Catherine McAuley plus reflections, historical background and music.

The CD is available directly from The Congregation (Ireland) Communications Office or from the Mercy International Centre Gift Shop, either in person or online.

A nonprofit, independent, coeducational Albany college Maria College was founded and is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. As a Sisters of Mercy institution, Maria College carries forth a long-standing tradition of caring, and of cultivating awareness of and sensitivity toward all persons. With programs in health sciences, liberal arts and business, the Maria curriculum offers opportunities for students to pursue numerous career interests, with an emphasis on those that serve others.

On Saturday, March 23, iconic landmarks and skylines were plunged into darkness as people and businesses around the world participated in Earth Hour 2013, turning off their lights at 8:30 p.m. local time.

How did that look? The Atlantic online shows us.

The images linked to this item  (starting with photo number two) are interactive -- click on each image to "turn off the lights." [25 photo pairs]

On 22 April  more than one billion people are expected to take part in Earth Day.
This year's theme: The Face of Climate Change. Find out more information and become involved here