Melbourne Sister of Mercy Angela Reed recently completed her appointment as co-ordinator of Mercy Care, a safe house for women and children experiencing family violence. Angela shares some of her insights on how violence affects women. Read her reflection as well as some background information on the topic.

On September 13, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a landmark declaration outlining the rights of the world’s estimated 370 million indigenous people and outlawing discrimination against them – a move that followed more than two decades of debate. However, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States voted against the text. Read the UN statement and a response from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma.

Sister Joan Smith (Local Communications Facilitator, Perth) speaks to two Sisters of Mercy from the Perth and West Perth Congregations who recently retired from their role as congregation archivists. Joan discovers that for these two women, keeping the story of their congregations was one of deep love.

The Rocky Mercies who attended the Mercy anniversary celebrations in Wewak, Papua New Guinea earlier this year met Sebastian, a three year old boy who has a cleft lip and palate. The sisters’ immediate response on meeting him was “What can we do to help him?” From this question the ‘Sebastian Mercy Day Project’ began.

Congratulations to our sisters in Papua New Guinea who have just completed their first Chapter as an autonomous region. The Chapter dealt with many issues important to their integrity of life as Sisters of Mercy and elected their new leadership. Hilda Yangele, one of the novices, reports on this important event.

As part of World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney next year, the five Sydney Mercy schools are extending an invitation to 16 and 17 year old current students from Mercy schools to attend a conference to be held at Monte Sant' Angelo North Sydney on Monday July 14, 2008.

Sister Josephine McMahon (Rockhampton) celebrated her platinum jubilee on August 18, beginning with Mass in Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, the Range Rockhampton, presided over by Bishop Brian Heenan. The celebrations continued at the League’s Club with sisters and many family members who travelled from afar to be with Sister Josephine.

Mercy M@tters publishes Sister Veronica Lawson's (Ballarat East Congregation Leader) regular reflection on the Sunday Gospel.