September 24, 2018
Mercy Day
The images we have each seen on our screens and in print these last days, of the impact of Super Typhoon Haiyan, have shocked, horrified and appalled us all. And we are just the onlookers...
On Monday the Philippines President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino declared a “state of national calamity”. A calamity is defined as 'an event that brings terrible losses, lasting distress or severe affliction'. The word 'National', when used as an adjective, means 'common to the nation'. So we have a whole country and a whole peoples in mourning for what has befallen them.
We, of the Mercy world, are very much a part of this nation. Sisters of Mercy have been present in the Philippines since 1954 when six Sisters of Mercy arrived in Tacloban City from Cork, Ireland. The Sisters from this foundation became an autonomous congregation, the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Tacloban Philippines, in 1981. They have 47 Phillipino members, all of whom live and minister in the Philippines.
A second foundation was established in the Philippines in 1957 when four Sisters of Mercy from Buffalo, New York, USA, went to Tubod, Lanao del Norte on the island of Mindanao (the southernmost of the three island regions). The Sisters from this foundation belong to the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, NYPPaW Community (New York, Pennsylvania, and Pacific West Community). There are 42 NYPPaW members living and ministering in the Philippines.
As a human tragedy, the scale of the disaster is so enormous that it is almost beyond our comprehension. What makes this tragedy especially compelling for us is that our own Sisters are significantly effected. The new Mother of Mercy hospital at Tacloban is 50% damaged, the Holy Infant school and college 75% damaged, the Convent in Mindanao badly damaged and the food supplies have run out. It is,of course, impossible to make direct contact with our Sisters, but our understanding is that no Sister is hurt, thank God. However, news has filtered through that some of our Sisters' families are harmed or missing. In the midst of this disaster, these Sisters of Mercy continue to bring human and spiritual comfort and support to all in such drastic need around them.
We invite, we encourage, we urge the support of all of us in the global Mercy family for our Philippine Sisters and the people of their country. For we are not onlookers, but family...
How You Can Help:
Thank you to our Mercy Congregations and Institutes who are already responding to the crisis with local plans for action and fundraising and a united effort through Mercy International Association to assist our Sisters in the Philippines.
An example of immediate actionis that of Mercy Health (ISMAPNG) with their staff.
Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA
Image: Aerial view of the damage in Leyte, 10 November 2013. Photo: AFP PHOTO/RYAN LIM/MALACANANG PHOTO BUREAU