News & Events
Mercy Works: Sharing Screens & Stories
Monday mornings can be the most mundane part of the new week but sometimes there is a feeling of excitement about something new. On Monday the 14th of September, this particular feeling was swirling around the Mercy Works’ offices as we prepared for a first: delivering a presentation to primary school students via Zoom.
The month of September is an important month in the world of Mercy. This month is where we celebrate the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley, and the reason why Mercy is still at the forefront of schools and organisations around the world.
Mercy Day is celebrated on the 24th of September and the Mercy community comes together to celebrate the beginnings of what we know Mercy to be today. This year, it will look vastly different. With Mercy Day around the corner and restrictions on gatherings still in place, schools have had to become even more creative as they celebrate this important day.
The clock ticked over 9:30am and sure enough, right on time, a room full of cheery year 6 students from St. Anthony’s Girraween, appeared on the screen inside the Board Room. One click of a button and the sharing started. Our pre-recorded video began to play and told the story of Mercy Works.
After a short video, the students jumped right in question mode. What started out as a planned fifteen minute zoom meeting turned into half an hour of many great questions. Our hardest decision wasn't choosing the next question but choosing which would be our last one.
Each year, the year 6 students at St. Anthony’s host a ‘Mercy Market’ day where the students come up with different ideas for stalls to raise money for Mercy Works. Ranging from sideshow games all the way to bake sales, the students come up with the most creative and engaging ways to raise awareness about Mercy Works whilst also have a tonne of fun.
Technology has bridged many gaps in its existence but for the better part of this year it has been keeping all of us connected when we couldn’t physically see each other.
This meeting would not have been possible without the incredible support of the teaching staff at St. Anthony’s and for that, we thank them very much. The community at St. Anthony’s has been supporting Mercy Works for many years and we are incredibly grateful for all the fundraising they do.
Their efforts have helped Mercy Works support and fund projects focused on education and health both here in Australia and overseas in Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.
Check out our Facebook page for more photos!
Mercy Global Presence –Regional Discussions
It has been proposed that we have regional discussions in response to the series of Posters on the themes from Mercy Global presence. Discussions will be online using Zoom.
Regional Group One
We in Australia are part of the Mercy Region that includes Australia, Philippines, Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, PNG, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Vietnam and Guam.
Topics for Discussion
Your responses to the posters- Mercy and Degradation of Earth (Tuesday, August 11)
- Mercy and Degradation of Persons (Tuesday August 25)
- New Foundations in Mercy (Tuesday September 8)
- Flip Book on Posters (Monday September 21)
Time/Duration: 10am-11am (AEST)
Registration
1. Click on this link
2. Scroll down till you see in a blue button (click here to register)
3. It will open in Eventbrite.
4. You will receive a confirmation of registration and zoom link.
5. Download the poster by clicking on the yellow button
If you would like to join any of these discussions and need assistance to register or use zoom, contact Valda (valda.rsm@gmail.com)
Our Families: July 2020 Prayer Intention of Pope Francis
We are all invited to join with Pope Francis and his worldwide prayer network in praying this month's intention: Our Families
Let us pray that today's families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance, and especially, that they may be protected by the State.
The family ought to be protected.
It faces many dangers: the fast pace of life, stress…
Sometimes, parents forget to play with their children.
The Church needs to encourage families and stay at their side, helping them to discover ways that allow them to overcome all of these difficulties.
Let us pray that today’s families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance, and especially, that they may be protected by the State.
—Pope Francis, July 2020
We invite you to post a prayer or reflection in our prayer space
Join in a Discussion about Mercy Global Presence Theme 'Mercy & Displacement of Persons'
Valda Dickinson rsm is hosting online zoom meetings on Friday, 25 July at 9am.
This is an opportunity to discuss the resources made available to us on the current theme of Mercy Global Presence:
Mercy and Displacement of Persons.
To register, email valda.rsm@gmail.com or call 0411 786 549. All are welcome.
To view the resources on this theme.
Go to Mercy Global Presence here: https://www.mercyworld.org/about/our-initiatives/mercy-global-presence/
Click on the yellow button labelled 'Click here for Current Resources'.
Click on the words 'View Resources' on the theme 'Mercy and Displacement of Persons'.
Choose what you would like to view from the resources listed.
Mercy Formation Program for Staff Members Benefits Students
As students returned to schooling on site after their time doing remote learning they were all given a bookmark to remind them both of the Mercy value of ‘Hospitality’ and to follow in Venerable Catherine McAuley’s words to ‘Strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well”.
As part of the project undertaken by Ms Allen and Ms Nakhoul, they also designed tea cups and postcards to be gifted to Year 12 students as a graduation gift and to new staff members.