Today is Foundation Day - marking both the foundation of the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin in 1831 and the Institute of Sisters of Australia and Papua New Guinea in 2011. Berneice Loch rsm, Institute Leader reflects on the recent Opening of the Institute Offices in Stanmore, NSW which was a fitting conclusion to the first two years of the Institute.

“Mi makim yu bilong mi yet” - 'I have called you by your name, you are mine' Is.43:1 was the theme chosen for the First Profession of Vows of Sr. Janet Andrew rsm (centre of middle row) in Goroka on November 29, 2013.

For a number of years now, Mercy Associates in Ballarat gather at the Cemetery to remember the deceased Sisters of Mercy, family and friends.

'Building Bridges: A Journey from Isolation to Connection' was the theme for the Gathering of Mercy sisters involved in various pastoral ministries across Australia. The sisters met for two days at Canisius College in Sydney and were representative of both the rural and regional areas of the Institute.

Associates of the Sisters of Mercy are women and men inspired by the life and work of Catherine McAuley who seek to share in an explicit way the mission of God’s mercy. There are many groups of Associates around Australia and the Institute is now exploring the concept of Mercy Associates in the context of the new Institute.

On November 26 - 28, a number of Sisters and Institute staff with communication-related responsibilities met in Ballarat for the First Institute Communications Gathering.

When Sr Loretta Corrigan rsm finished studies in Melbourne and sought to return to and work within the Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn,  a maximum security correctional centre wasn’t necessarily the pastoral care work she had envisaged.

'Stories of Hope' is a moving collection of personal stories shared by members of the Exodus Community in Melbourne. The origin of the book was the Mercy Justice Conference 'Embrace the Other and Welcome Difference' held in 2009.

This is the final issue of ' just Mercy' for 2013. Thank you for your interest in our online Newsletter and for your support of Mercy ministries and endeavours this year. We wish you and your family and friends a blessed Christmas and a peaceful and safe New Year. The first issue of 'just Mercy' for 2014 will be published in the last week of February.

Mercy Works supports the local and overseas relief and development activities that are part of the vision and mission of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Recent events give and insight into this work.

McAuley Community Services for Women (McAuley) provides much needed services for women and their children who are escaping family violence, and for women who are homeless, helping them rebuild their lives.

Mother Catherine's grand niece, Frances McAuley became a Sister of Mercy when she was received into the Sisters of Mercy in 1892. Here is a unique Mercy profile.

Still working among the poor in her Diamond Jubilee year, Sr. M. Assumpta Kent shares some of her Mercy story with us.

On Sunday 17 November Mercy Sisters joined an estimated 60,000 people gathered at various venues in Australia for “GetUp!” the National Day of Climate Action.

Carmel Heagerty rsm, Institute Justice Coordinator, places before us four issues to which we can make a difference.

Pauline Masters rsm shares a Christmas poem-reflection.

The tragedy of the cyclone in the Philippines and the squawking of hungry birds called Mary Caldwell rsm to a poetic reflection which she shares here.

In May 2014, a Workshop on the Correspondence of Catherine McAuley is being offered by Michael O’Sullivan.

From Fraynework Multimedia comes news of two exciting approaches to prayer through technology.