Year of Mercy Resources Produced by Sisters of Mercy and partners-in-Mercy

November 28, 2016

The proclamation of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy beginning 8 December 2015 provides Sisters of Mercy and our partners-in-Mercy with a profound call to explore Mercy anew.

© Mercy International Association 2015

'It is my burning desire that, during this Jubilee, the Christian people may reflect on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.' (Pope Francis, 11 April 2015)

A number of Resources have been produced by Sisters of Mercy and partners-in-Mercy to aid our prayer and reflection in the Year of Mercy. These are listed below.

Please let us know of any additional Mercy resources, newly published (or previously published and suitable for use this year), so we can include them here and highlight them in an issue of Mercy eNews.
Recommendations of other useful resources for the Year of Mercy are welcome and will be added in a separate section of the list.
Messages to: Anne Walsh

PRAYER RESOURCES

Mercy Partners (Australia) has developed two series of reflections on aspects of Mercy designed to be part of ministry prayer during the Year of Mercy. These are:

'Mercy Moments', for prayer or reflection, published each fortnight and posted online here. Next update: 29 February

'Board Prayer' resources for the commencement of a Board meeting.
The complete resource package can be downloaded here (26 pps; PDF). Individual resources can be downloaded here

BOOKS

'The Blessing of Mercy'
Author: Veronica Lawson rsm (ISMAPNG)
Sr Veronica combines deep scholarship to uncover the richness of the ‘mercy texts’ that abound in the books of Old and New Testaments; and she invites us to re-read the biblical texts in light of the Pope’s encyclical Laudate Si' with its appeal for us to listen to the cry of the Earth and the Earth’s poor.

Paperback: 86pages and eBook formats
ISBN-13:9781925208931
Published in Australia by Morning Star Publishing (paperback orders from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand)
Published in United States by Wipf and Stock (paperback orders from Europe, USA and the rest of the world; ebook version available to global market)
Order from Amazon (Kindle and paperback versions)

More information about ordering the paperback can be found here
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'The Mercy GPS'
Author: Deirdre Mullan rsm (The Congregation)
'Cultivate these six travel habits on the road of life, and you and the world will be well -served,' writes Sr Deirdre in 'The Mercy GPS' booklet:
* Pay attention * Move it forward * Become a global citizen * Live with gratitude * Move with courage and integrity * Be merciful.
$1 each/ 1 Euro or UK. 0.50.
Minimum Order: 10 booklets plus cost of postage
Read an interview with Sr Deirdre
Download the flyer here (PDF)
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‘Boots, Cracked Pots and a Place at the Table: Mercy in a World Becoming’
Author: Madeline Duckett rsm (ISMAPNG)
'This book is designed to be a homely series of reflections for the ordinary person who loves God, loves mercy and wants simple nourishment and stimulus for mercy living and acting in a world which at times can seem overwhelming in its demand for us to adapt to the new. The focus is on exploring facets of the Catherine McAuley story, the scriptural story and the story of the universe, and reflecting on them through the eyes of evolutionary consciousness and mercy's place in that...'
Read an explanation by Sr Madeline of how the book came to be written
Download the order form here (PDF)

Paperback: 154 pages
Published by McAuley Ministries Ltd (ISMAPNG)
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'The Quality of Mercy'
Author: Anna Burke rsm (The Congregation)
To celebrate Pope Francis’ declaration of 2016 as the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Sr Anna ponders the nature and quality of mercy in this considered book of reflections. By exploring a series of pertinent Gospel questions, 'The Quality of Mercy' highlights how, in practising forgiveness and charity, we are living out Christ's teachings in the most fundamental way...'
Purchase online from Veritas Publications or Amazon

Paperback: 60 pages
Published by Veritas
ISBN-10: 1847306365
ISBN-13: 978-1847306364
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'Life's Delicate Balance'
Author: Nellie McLaughlin rsm (The Congregation)
Following her reflection upon the text of Laudato Si', Sr Nellie exhorts people everywhere to pay heed to the Pope's call to save our planet from destruction. With core questions included for reflection and action, this clear and concise book is an urgent and timely wake-up call in its own right.

Purchase online from Veritas Publications or Amazon

Paperback: 80 pages
Published by Veritas
ISBN-13: 9781847305985

Sr Nellie is the author of the widely read 'Out of Wonder:The Evolving Story of the Universe' (2004)

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'Meeting the God of Mercy'
Jude Groden rsm (GB Institute)
Jude Groden rsm (RE Advisor, Diocese of Brentwood, UK) and Fr Christopher O’Donnell, O.Carm.who have previously collaborated on 8 books, have produced this resource for schools and parishes.

Contents:
Part 1 Penance, Confession, Reconciliation.
Part 2 Reconciliation Services (10 complete services)
Part 3 Frequently Asked Questions.
Part 4 Further Resources.

Purchase online

VIDEOS

Elizabeth Davis rsm (Newfoundland) presents a series of talks entitled Mercy, Journey through Scripture, produced by the Redemptorists Edmonton-Toronto Province and Villagers Media Canada for the Year of Mercy. The series can be watched on Roman Catholic TV via the website or on YouTube. Titles, timings and links to each of the seven videos are listed below:

God is Mercy and Justice (07:16)
God as Mercy (06:58)
God as Justice (07:32)
Doing Mercy (07:40)
Doing Justice (07:57)
Mercy and Justice Together (08:09)
Radical Inclusion (07:29)

POETRY

'The Door of Mercy'
Author: Mary Wickham rsm (ISMAPNG)
Sr Mary writes: 'The poem suggests many ways the metaphor can draw us in to the mystery of Mercy. It celebrates the red door of Catherine’s house, but also invites consideration of every door of every place of Mercy. It reminds us of the literal doorways we go through and how Mercy is found there: ordinary doors as well as the special occasion places...'

Read the poem

ART

In anticipation of the Church’s celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania commissioned a painting for their newly renovated University Commons. While Our Lady of Mercy was the working title for the painting, she emerged from the canvas as Mary, Mother of Mercy – loving, welcoming, familiar.

The artist chosen for the work was Janet McKenzie

View the painting and read the reflection on its creation by Janet McKenzie

© Janet McKenzie. Image used in this article with permission

REFLECTIONS

Biblical God of Mercy: Reading Walter Kasper
Author: JO O'Donovan rsm (The Congregation)

In a series of reflections first published on The Congregation's website over a number of months in 2015, Sr Jo offers us an introduction to Walter Kasper's 'Mercy', the book Pope Francis said has done him 'so much good'.

Download the individual reflections here

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Every Second Tuesday throughout the Year of Mercy, short reflections in PDF connected with the themes of the Year of Mercy are being posted online here on the Parramatta Congregation website.

The most recent reflection, posted on 16 February, is 'Lent: the Challenge to Conversion'.

The next reflection will be posted on 1 March.

Messages to: Anne Ferguson - Coordinator, Office of Mission Animation, Sisters of Mercy Parramatta

APPS

'Mercy-ing'
The Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea, Sisters of Mercy Parramatta and Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand have together released a new free app for the Year of Mercy to assist with daily reflection and prayer practice.