News & Events

As Mercy Works begins to wind down in Goroka and Mt.Hagen in the Papua New Guinea highlands, Sr Maryanne Kolkia, the PNG In-Country Coordinator for Mercy Works, reflects on her experience in the programs and projects she has started there.

Mercy Works has been working tirelessly in the Goroka/Mt.Hagen region for just over fourteen years now.

In that time, Maryanne has become the driving force behind various instruments of change such as the life and skills training programs. In addition to training in practical skills like farming and sewing, Maryanne also identified the need for training in Small to Medium Enterprise (SME). Her experience taught her that this was necessary to enhance the prospects for the trainees to start-up and successfully run their own businesses to sell the goods they produce.

Reflecting on what she has gained from this training program Maryanne says, ‘the training has given me the opportunity to find a way forward’, with plans to now buy shares in LNB Savings and Loans Society. She goes onto say that ‘the team behind her is the reason for the strength and hope she carries every day.’...

Read the complete article here
‘

'We will open our hearts to the cries of the poor…especially for … those suffering hardship because of poverty...' (Chapter Statement)

The National Council of St Vincent de Paul Society released the following statement in response to the Federal Government's decision to slash unemployment benefits to barely more than the old Newstart payment.

"The National Council of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia has condemned the Federal Government’s decision today to slash unemployment benefits to a rate barely more than the old Newstart.
National President, Claire Victory said the Society is dumbfounded by the Government’s continued inability to increase a rate that has been condemned by business leaders, social services groups, union leaders and indeed members of its own government. ‘Twenty-five dollars a week is an inadequate response to the poverty experienced by the people forced survive on unemployment benefits. It’s an afront to human dignity,’ Ms Victory said. ‘Twenty-five dollars a day would have been closer to the mark and would have brought income support in line with other pensions..."

Read the Statement in full here

'We will protect the rights of the natural world and make practical efforts to stem the hurtful effects of climate change, pollution and the ‘throw away’ mentality.' (Chapter Statement)

Once a month, at Flemington NSW, representatives of Religious Congregations meet to discuss issues around Climate Change especially how it affects the Pacific Islands. In the past few years we have been working on developing a monograph, to help tell the story. The monograph written by Johanna Larkin from the Edmund Rice Centre working in solidarity with Pacific Island nations and Congregational representatives addresses the injustice of climate change. It calls on our leaders to pursue ambitious and effective climate action. Other actions the group has taken can be found on their website.

Download the monograph 'Rising Tides Raising Voices'

'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...' (Chapter Statement)

Let us pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded by all.

Today, there continue to be women who suffer violence. Psychological violence, verbal violence, physical violence, sexual violence.
It’s shocking how many women are beaten, insulted, and raped.
The various forms of ill-treatment that many women suffer are acts of cowardice and a degradation of all humanity. Of men and of all humanity.
The testimonies of the victims who dare to break their silence are a cry for help that we cannot ignore. We must not look the other away.
Let us pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded by all.

—Pope Francis, February 2021

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