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We are all invited to join with Pope Francis and his worldwide prayer network in praying this month's intention: Artificial Intelligence



Artificial intelligence is at the heart of the epochal change we are experiencing.
Robotics can make a better world possible if it is joined to the common good.
Indeed, if technological progress increases inequalities, it is not true progress.
Future advances should be oriented towards respecting the dignity of the person and of Creation.
Let us pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence may always serve humankind… we could say, may it “be human.”

 —Pope Francis, November 2020

We invite you to post a prayer or reflection in our prayer space

'We will open our hearts to the cries of the poor using our energies, gifts and resources to address violence and discrimination especially for women and children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples...' (Chapter Statement)

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. NAIDOC Week is usually held in the first full week of July but was postponed this year in the interests of the safety of Indigenous communities as a result of COVID-19.

This year's theme Always Was, Always Will Be recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.

NAIDOC Week 2020 acknowledges and celebrates that our nation’s story didn’t begin with documented European contact whether in 1770 or 1606 - with the arrival of the Dutch on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula. The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples. 

More about the theme and the invitation to all Australians 'to embrace the true history of this country' can be read here

Sisters of Mercy Parramatta Congregation recognises the importance of NAIDOC Week in celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture, talent and resilience and the opportunity this week offers us all to grow in knowledge and build relationships.

Resources to celebrate the week can be found here. Ways to be involved can be found here

Hi! My name is Alphonse Gende and I would like to share with you my life story and the environment Mercy Works Mt Hagen had created for me to cultivate. Honestly, I am emotional. When I write this story, I write with tears. But don’t worry. I am not asking you to cry. Let’s start the story!

I had been through difficult times in my life. I lost my previous job with Triniti FM Catholic radio as an announcer and producer, then, two of my kids had been taken away by nature, my second boy, Joe Gende, was covered by landslide in the settlement where we live on a rainy day in 2014 and in the following year, 2015, my first daughter, Rita Gende, was drowned in the Whagi river. In that same year, my wife, Regina Paias, in her third month of pregnancy, was taken away from me by her family. All that was left for me was not even a sunset, but, emptiness.

It was hard for me to think of hope because I was embraced with total darkness. The world became unfriendly and bitter. My friends did not come around to chat with me. I was left alone with my dad in our house. Everyday asked myself, “Why do terrible things happen to me?”

One day I decided to travel up to Mt Hagen from Simbu to get my books. I thought books would help me. Actually, I went back to the settlement where my son was buried. Also I was hoping to see my wife but her family did not want me to see her. When I left, I could see her from afar. I experienced hot tears but I had no choice. Slowly I walked away.

It was already afternoon and I walked down, aiming for the main bus stop, passing through the middle street of Mt Hagen city. I never knew that I would meet Mercy Works. However, right in front of Ross Manga building, at the main entrance to the street, I met Sr Mariska Kua rsm. We shook hands and she mentioned, “I heard about your problem.” I said, “that’s true. Is there anything I can help with, like driving or the media program?” Sister said, “Give me your papers.”

In October 2015, I began working with Mercy Works Mt Hagen and I met the lovely team under the leadership of Sr Mariska Kua, RSM, then the team in Goroka and finally the team in Australia. It has been a great opportunity for me to meet the entire team when we come together for report writing. I learned a lot from the report writing workshop especially the development of the application, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) methods and the compilation of the entire report.

I love the team and I always thought to myself how can I contribute effectively to the program of Mercy Works.

Sometimes I tried to use my imaginative skills to do things, but, then I started learning smaller things effectively. Daily morning prayer, discussing ideas at the table, putting things in the right place, reporting immediately if things go wrong in your possession, tell the truth, respect others, flexibility amongst the team are all very important basics. I am grateful that MWs has given me the opportunity to grow as a person and become better and meaningful in a life of service.

This year in September, I changed jobs. I am now the Family Life Coordinator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mt Hagen. I am already using some of the skills I learned from Mercy Works to design program activity for the Catholic Family Life in the Diocese.

On behalf of my family, I especially want to say thank you to Mercy Works, Mt Hagen, Mercy Works, Goroka and the Board of Directors in Australia, not forgetting Sr Ailsa Mackinnon RSM and her successor, Sr Sally Bradley RSM and Mercy Works PNG & Australia Program Coordinators, Sr Gaye Lennon RSM and her successor, Sr Anne Foale RSM.

Thank you so much for your support. May God richly bless you all and give you renewed health.

We are all invited to join with Pope Francis and his worldwide prayer network in praying this month's intention: Women in Leadership Roles in the Church.

 

No one has been baptized a priest or a bishop. We have all been baptized as lay people.
Lay people are protagonists of the Church.
Today, it is especially necessary to create broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church.
 And we must emphasize the feminine lay presence because women tend to be left aside.
We must promote the integration of women, especially where important decisions are made.
 We pray that by the virtue of baptism, the laity, especially women, may participate more in areas of responsibility in the Church, without falling into forms of clericalism that diminish the lay charism.

 —Pope Francis, October 2020

We invite you to post a prayer or reflection in our prayer space