Mercy Matters

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Thursday, June 26 2008

June edition of LISTEN out now

The June 2008 edition of LISTEN, the journal of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia, is out now. To give readers an overview of what's covered in this edition, we are publishing Sister Caroline Ryan’s editorial.


	Australian Indigenous celebrations in July July 6 marks Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday - a day to celebrate the gifts that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people bring to the Catholic Church in Australia. July 6-13 also marks NAIDOC Week. The Institute's Specific Issues Committee, Indigenous Concerns encourages readers to support these events.
	New magazine for Mercy Works Inc. Mercy Works Inc. has a new magazine! In the first edition of The Bilum, you can read about Sister Helen Nolen's work in Fohorem, a remote and mountainous community in the south west of Timor Leste, near the West Timor border.
	Inspiring film about refugees Hope is an inspiring film that works on many levels. It is a universal tale of family, migration and the search for “a better life”. Hope is screening at a number of cinemas across Australia from June 19. Find out more.
	How healthy are our oceans? The Institute’s Specific Issues Committee, Eco-Justice has prepared a backgrounder which highlights the health of our oceans and the impact of rising sea levels on our world. The Committee believes that those people who are suffering the significant consequences of rising sea levels are contributing least to the causes of the disasters they face.

	Golden jubilee celebration for Perth sister Congratulations to Sister Joan Kelleher RSM (Perth) who celebrated the golden jubilee of her profession on May 24. What follows is an excerpt from a reflection delivered by Sister Marcella Blake RSM (Perth) at the celebration.
	NSW Mercy gathering with Indigenous women A number of NSW Sisters of Mercy, associates and Aboriginal women met at Mulgoa Retreat Centre, Sydney on June 13 and 14. Sister Shirley Garland reports: "As always it was great to be together and to share our experiences as we endeavour to build up partnerships and relationships with our Aboriginal friends."
	Reflecting on the Gospel Sister Veronica Lawson RSM (Ballarat East) offers a reflection on the Gospel for the Vigil of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (John 21:15-19). To access this reflection, click on "MORE" and then click on the picture of the Bible where you can read the Scripture as well as the reflection.
	Overseas sisters visit Catherine McAuley Westmead Students and staff at Catherine McAuley Westmead had the opportunity to hear about the overseas experiences of two Sisters of Mercy this month. Jacqui Hamilton, School Development Officer at Catherine McAuley Westmead, reports.
	A place to call home: Refugee Week in Bathurst Members of Bathurst Refugee Support Group and Rahamim Ecological Learning Community linked arms with the wider Bathurst community for two significant celebrations during Refugee Week (June 15-21).


	120 year celebrations for Cairns in full swing. This year, Cairns Sisters of Mercy are celebrating 120 years since five of Catherine McAuley’s community ventured from Dungarvan in Ireland to Cooktown in Queensland as the founding sisters of the Cairns Congregation. In recent weeks, the congregation has hosted a number of special events to mark this significant milestone. Mercy M@tters has received some exciting reports from the Cooktown celebration, where almost all members were able to participate, including 98 year old Sister Mary Oliver. The celebrations, which involve the whole Church and the broader community, are continuing. More detailed news will be published as it comes to hand. Messages of support can be emailed to: Sister Faye Kelly RSM, Congregation Leader. Website bytes. The Prayer Room on the Mercy website is a place where many have recorded their special needs and asked for prayer. We are all encouraged to visit the site and include those intentions in our individual and communal prayer. We are also encouraged to add a prayer and intention of our own. From: Shirley Garland RSM. Mercy M@tters welcomes news items for publication each fortnight. Please send any story ideas, articles or photos to your congregation's Local Communications Facilitator (LCF) who will then email material to us (click on this link for the email). The deadline for our next edition is Monday July 7, 2008. Have you invited your friends and colleagues to subscribe to Mercy M@tters? Follow this link.

Mercy Matters is a fortnightly newsletter which aims to enliven and expand our Mercy connections.

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