'We will protect the rights of the natural world...We will open our hearts to the cries of the poor' ( Chapter Statement)
20 February is World Day of Social Justice, a day specifically designated by the United Nations for member states and territories and their citizens as an occasion for awareness and action on issues requiring our attention and response.
For Sisters of Mercy Parramatta Congregation, there are many social justice issues requiring attention and action, but we have identified the needs of Earth, Indigenous communities, refugees and asylum seekers, homelessness, the impact of poverty on women and those affected by injustice within the Church as among the most urgent.
We have identified these needs and our commitment to addressing these 'at personal, local and systemic levels through friendship, direct assistance, advocacy and research and by joining networks or partnerships with groups that have similar values and goals' in our Chapter Statement and in our participation in the Mercy International Reflection Process (MIRP). Together with Sisters of Mercy globally we have committed to action under
two key themes that emerged from MIRP: (i) displacement of persons, and (ii) degradation of Earth.
'The Mercy world
has heard “the cry of Earth and the cry of the Poor” in a new way. It will
respond by seeing Mercy in a new way and by daring Mercy in a new way' (MIRP Report p19)