Mercy Works Inc. believes that education has the potential to transform people and communities. Creating opportunities where people can listen and dialogue about issues of concern is another strongly held belief of the agency. Mercy Works is proud to support initiatives that foster these ideals. The Yarnup project is one such initiative.

On September 28, the Catholic Church in Australia celebrates Social Justice Sunday. This year’s statement considers the affluence of our nation and the circumstances of vulnerable Australians who have been denied a fair share of the prosperity flowing from 15 years economic growth. Find out how to order your copy.

During August three important events acknowledge the often tragic experiences of people on the move either by force or by choice – the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition (August 23), the rescue of 433 asylum seekers in 2001 by the MV Tampa (August 26), and Refugee and Migrant Sunday (August 31).

Congratulations to Sister Cathy Solano RSM (Melbourne) on being selected to participate in the first ten-week Mercy Global Concern (MGC) internship at the United Nations in New York. A series of internships are being offered from 2008 until 2010 under the leadership of MGC's Director, Sister Deirdre Mullan RSM. Cathy is soon to commence her time at the UN. We wish her many blessings! Find out about the work of Mercy Global Concern, the body which represents the Sisters of Mercy at the UN.

For the last ten years, North Sydney Sister of Mercy, Anne Drover has been corresponding with Elkie Taylor, an African-American man on death row in Texas, USA. Several years ago, Elkie told Anne that his name and date of execution had “gone up”. “I lived out the next weeks and months overcome by this knowledge,” says Anne. “A reprieve did come about, but I fear that there will be no more such, and soon he will be another ‘dead man walking’.”

“The Wild and the Sacred” is the title of a reflective gathering to be held at Mulgoa (NSW) from December 14 to 20 this year. The main presenter will be Mary Southard CSJ, a painter and sculptor, who is perhaps best known for her creation of the Earth calendar. Mary is also an experienced retreat giver and educator in earth literacy and cosmology.

Elizabeth Young, a 23-year-old circus arts performer and theology student from Kalangadoo in South Australia, is in the early stages of becoming a Sister of Mercy. Meet Elizabeth in an article and video published online at Adelaide Now.

In a recent edition of the Jesuit e-magazine, Eureka Street, Adelaide Sister of Mercy, Patricia Pak Poy reviews Song for Night, the story of a West African boy soldier’s lyrical, terrifying, yet beautiful journey through the nightmare landscape of a brutal war in search of his lost platoon.

Sister Veronica Lawson RSM (Ballarat East) offers a reflection on the Gospel for the twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A (Matthew 16:13-19). 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.