A month has passed since the terrible disaster in the Philippines. The generosity of the Mercy Global family has been outstanding and financial support continues to arrive into the Support Fund daily. With the money come many messages of appreciation, good wishes and prayers. It is heartening to hear stories of Sisters’ kindness to many of the donors who now wish to return a kind deed in appreciation of the kindness they have experienced from Mercy. Others express their faith and trust in what Mercy does and feel that whatever they contribute will be put to very good use in the service of those in need.

Some say things are getting back to normal, but normal in the Philippines is still a long way off. The road to recovery is long and hard and it will take years before this Typhoon is history. Communication is still a challenge but these few snippets and photographs linked to this item will convey something of the disaster...

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Tomorrow is Foundation Day. As we gather at Baggot Street to celebrate this day, we will remember in prayer all those who are engaged in the works of Mercy conducted by our global Mercy family across the Mercy world; ministries well established, those that are fledgling ventures and those yet to come to fruition, all responses to the needs of our world.

Together with Catherine we will say 'Hurra for Foundations' (Letter to Cecilia Marmion January 4, 1841).

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Mercy International Association joins with the Sisters of Mercy in South Africa and the people of South Africa in giving thanks for the life and witness of Nelson Mandela.
May the witness and example Mr Mandela showed remain a beacon for us all so that we may continue to reject racism and embrace reconciliation.

Messages to: Kathy Rule rsm - Provincial Leader

The sound of beautiful music filled Baggot Street on Thursday, 5 December when three students from the Royal Irish Academy of Music performed a lunchtime concert in the Chapel.

On Foundation Day, 12 December, visitors to Baggot Street will have the opportunity to hear more beautiful music from the Royal Irish Academy of Music when Tetyana Vlasuik plays Bach’s ‘Goldberg Variations, Part I'.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

'Ever faithful God, you have never abandoned us. As we anticipate the feast of Christ's holy birth, keep us faithful to you in thought, word and deed. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who will bring to light what is hidden in darkness. Amen'

Advent Prayer from the Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA

Editor: Each year the Christmas greetings not only impart good wishes and hopes for us all, but they also hold out to us something of the stories of Mercy lived, loved and experienced in ministries across the Mercy world.

As we bring this year of sharing our global Mercy story to its conclusion, we invite you to tell us all how it has been for you in your ministry - through an anecdote, a greeting, a prayer, a wish, a dream you have or a plan for 2014.

Post your Christmas greeting online on the mercyworld.org site. Send these in by 23 December.

Messages to: the Editor

In a world first that has the potential to transform the management of complicated pregnancies and births, Mercy Health researchers [in Australia] have discovered a way to accurately measure a baby's oxygen levels inside the womb.

This has long troubled clinicians who say it can be difficult to diagnose and measure the extent of oxygen and nutrition deprivation in foetuses, a condition that leads to about half of the 2000 stillbirths in Australia each year.

Messages to: Mercy Health Support Services

Mercy's Institute Leadership Team, along with 12 other religious congregations, have called upon Pope Francis to start a new era of justice with a public declaration that formally rescinds papal “bulls,” or decrees, of the 1490s that dehumanize indigenous peoples and justify the taking of indigenous land. The request seeks to make amends for 15th-century decrees that comprise the Doctrine of Discovery, which made possible the promotion of European conquest, colonization and exploitation of non-Christian lands and peoples...

Messages to: Pat McDermott rsm - Institute President

Editor: The Institute of Sisters of Mercy of the Americas new website is this week's featured Mercy site

Te Kete Atawhai (Mercy Basket) is a newsletter produced three times a year by the mission staff of Tiaki Manatu Mercy Ministries Trust, for Ngä Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.
In the latest issue you will find:

-Holiday houses a haven for homeless
-Baggot Street visit 'a light-bulb moment'
-Hikoi of faith for Mercy students
-Spotlight on Mercy in Samoa

Messages to: Karina Fabish rsm - Congregation Leadership Team

"What do the Mercies leave behind?” This was the very sobering question posed by Maria Douglas to the twenty-two participants at the three-day monitoring and evaluation workshop held at the Good Shepherd Retreat Centre, Hartbeespoort Dam.

The directors, managers and other members of staff of eleven Mercy projects in Gauteng, South Africa, gathered on the 22nd October to learn about the Missionary Approach to Development. Holding in trust, the core values of justice, commitment, respect, compassion and integrity, the participants realized the wisdom of shifting the focus in projects from the Sisters “doing” to helping others to carry on what the Sisters have started...

Messages to: Colleen Wilkinson rsm

The children of St. Patrick’s Primary in Glasgow are renowned for their generosity towards people who are in need. The recent situation in the Philippines presented them with another opportunity to show how generous they are. After consultation with pupils and staff, the pupil council opted for a non- uniform day plus a sponsored Danceathon.

Messages to: Annette McCartan rsm

Sister Ann Louise Willman, a resident at the St. Bernardine Home, will celebrate her 102nd birthday Dec. 17.

She is formerly known as Sister Mary Josepha Willman.

Ann Louise was born to Frank and Lillian Willman on Dec. 17, 1911.

She attended St. Joseph School, Tiffin, and graduated from Calvert High School and entered the Sisters of Mercy at Our Lady of the Pines. She celebrated her 80th year of religious life on Sept. 24...

Messages to Sr Ann Louise c/- Pat Kenny rsm- Institute Communications

Source: The News Messenger

1988:Opening of Spiritual Life Centre, Auckland - Patricia Hook
1994:Rededication of Motherhouse after destruction by fire - Albany

Intercessions of Mercy, is a prayer book based on Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy, is designed to encourage and assist Christians in developing a compassionate perspective on life.

Purchase online from Amazon

The Sisters of Mercy are women of faith who commit our lives to God and our resources to serve, advocate and pray for those in need around the world.

3 apps thought to reduce the amount of paper used and the use of scanners, printers and photocopiers.

Source: The Age