From the Week of Prayer for Syria, Third day: Comfort those who mourn their loved ones.

The Syrian crisis, which began March 15, 2011, has already taken many lives, too many, and the current political situation continues compounding and worsening the situation, unprecedented in this nation. The United Nations reports more than 100,000 dead. Before such a reality, words fall short…
Cities are destroyed and “development plans are in the cemeteries.” They tell us from Syria: “A 6-year-old girl was playing hide-and-seek with her brother. A sniper shot the little boy. … In the cemetery, the girl cried out before the tomb of her brother: Come out from your hiding place! I don’t want to play anymore!”

We pray for the victims of this war. For all of them, and each one of them. They are not numbers, but names, members of a family. They are mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. They are our brothers and sisters, children of God who created them in His image and likeness. We pray that the right to life of every person be respected and defended. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for Syria, pray for us.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

The great feast that unites the Mercy world is Mercy Day, 24 September.

All members and friends of the Mercy network are invited to send in your greetings for posting on mercyworld.org for Mercy Day. Greetings will be posted online as they are received.

Greetings - text only- should be sent to mercyenews@mercyinternational.ie by 23 September to make sure they are published for Mercy Day.

Messages to: the Editor

There was a very good response to our invitation last year to share plans for and stories from Mercy Day celebrations. We invite you to do so again this year!

We welcome stories and images from your Mercy Day celebrations to include in the Wednesday 25 September Mercy E-news (Issue 533) or in the following week's on Wednesday, 2 October (Issue 534).

Thank you to Catherine McAuley School, Westmead, NSW for the first contribution.

We particularly look forward to receiving reports of any Good Cup of Tea events celebrated on Mercy Day.

Messages to: the Editor

On August 7, 2013, a new initiative at the U.S. State Department was launched entitled the Office of the Faith-Based Community Initiatives...

The mission of the initiative is to engage more closely with faith communities around the world, with the belief that we need to partner with them to solve global challenges...

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

Sisters, Associates and Friends of Mercy are invited to celebrate the Eucharist at midday on the feast of Our Lady of Mercy, Tuesday, 24 September, at Mercy International Centre, 64A Lower Baggot Street, Dublin.

Celebrant: Bishop Peter Connors - Emeritus Bishop of Ballarat (Australia)

Breaking Open the Word: Mary Sullivan rsm (Americas)

All are welcome to lunch following the Eucharist

RSVP by/on Friday 20th September to: Madeline O'Hanlon - Receptionist
using the subject line ‘Mercy Mass’, or ring +353 1 661 8061

Prayers with the intercession of Venerable Catherine McAuley are asked for all whose names are in our hearts and on our prayer list, especially those whose names are newly added:a retired Houston Police Officer, Antonella, Gilberta, Fabrizio, Mary, Alexandra, Francis, Jack Burt, John Fruncillo.

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

Designed with community input, the 48-bed Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Springfield opened this week to meet the increasing demand of an aging population.

Some 76 million Americans are tagged as baby boomers – the generation born between 1946 and 1964. They are expected to increase the demand for all health care services, and orthopedics is no exception...

Messages to: Sonya Kullman - Mercy Springfield Communities

McAuley Ministries, the grant-making arm of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, has awarded 19 grants totaling $1.2 million to 17 nonprofit organizations. Announced [Saturday], the majority of the grants will support business development, education, services to persons who are homeless, and capacity-building initiatives in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland communities...

Messages to Sheila Carney rsm - Chair, McAuley Ministries Board of Directors

Editor: Pittsburgh Mercy Health System is this week's featured Mercy website

The new Leadership Team for the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy Great Britain officially took up leadership on Sunday, 1 September. We send our best wishes to: Colette Cronin rsm (Institute Leader), Jean Frances Fitzpatrick rsm (Assistant Institute Leader), Joan Breen rsm, Anne Hewitt rsm, Sue Randall rsm and Barbara Jeffery rsm and assure them of our prayers.

If you would like to ‘virtually’ meet the new team, please visit the linked page on our Institute’s website.

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

1874: Foundation to Hazelton from Buffalo - M Theresa Cantillon
2000: 150 years of Sisters of Mercy service in Aotearoa New Zealand is celebrated. Celebrations are attended by guests from throughout the Mercy world and include gifting of a Sacred Space and bronze sculpture to the city of Auckland.

Endorsed by Nobel Peace Laureate John Hume, this booklet can be used as a catalyst for change in classrooms, church gatherings, and community meetings or for individual quiet reflection as we ponder our shared destiny as human beings.

Cost $3 or €2 per copy. Bulk orders welcomed.

Orders to Deirdre Mullan rsm - Executive Director The Partnership for Global Justice

Download the flyer here

Pittsburgh Mercy Health System stands with the vulnerable in assessing need, collaborating with others, providing services that address the whole person, and advocating for social change.

Reviews of what are considered 'the best' apps for starting - and sticking to - a healthy diet.

Source:The Age