On Sunday March 30, 2008 the Brisbane Sisters of Mercy celebrated the life and commitment of 18 of their sisters. Sister Elizabeth O’Keefe reports.

The “Circle of Mercy”, the name given to the Mercy Associates linked to the Wilcannia-Forbes Congregation, recently met for their bi-monthly spiritual meeting. Thirty-four of the group gathered at Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Caringbah (Sydney) on May 12 to hear Sister Karon Donnellon RSM speak on the topic “Embracing Difference”. Sister Nance Cale, the group’s mentor, reports.

On the first afternoon of the Living Mercy Conference held recently in Brisbane, the long-awaited Correspondence of Mother Vincent Whitty was launched by Sr Sandra Lupi rsm, leader of the Brisbane Congregation.

The Mercy Leadership Program and Dublin Pilgrimage is designed to provide an opportunity for formation in the founding story of Mercy and inspiration for leadership in Mercy mission today.

Is your knowledge of human trafficking based on myth or fact? You are encouraged to explore this issue through Sister Elizabeth McMillan’s paper “Global Human Trafficking: A Mercy Concern”, and a backgrounder prepared by the Institute’s Specific Issues Commitee, Women and Poverty which contains facts, links to video clips, websites and films.

The Mercy Family Health Service (MFHS) in Cerro Candela, Lima, Peru was officially opened and blessed on Sunday March 30, 2008. About 25 Sisters of Mercy from Ireland, Peru, USA and Australia who are currently working on mission in Peru celebrated the special occasion with several hundred local residents. Special guests included the donors of the construction, representatives of the Australian Consulate in Lima and representatives of other institutions and organisations associated with the health service.

September 30 2011 will be well-remembered by the Grafton Sisters of Mercy. There was almost a full “˜roll call’ of the Congregation for the celebration of seventy years of profession for Sister Marcia Grant (formerly Sr M. John) and Sister Margaret Hogan (formerly Sr M Kostka) and of fifty years of profession for Sister Cecilia Rowe (formerly Sr M Luke). A double PLATINUM Jubilee sets a spectacular standard for the usually remarkable achievement of a GOLDEN Jubilee.

Fraynework Multimedia, a ministry of the Melbourne Sisters of Mercy, has received “Official Honoree” distinction in the Religion and Spirituality section at the twelfth annual Webby Awards for two of their recently developed web projects – the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and RESource, an initiative of the Melbourne Catholic Education Office.

On Friday May 30, 2008 the new Mater Mothers’ Hospitals, Private and Public, were blessed and opened by the Most Reverend John Bathersby, Archbishop of Brisbane, and Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, Governor of Queensland, in the presence of the Honourable Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anna Bligh, Premier of Queensland, Congregation Leader of the Brisbane Sisters of Mercy, Sister Sandra Lupi RSM, and invited guests.

Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, pays tribute to the Sisters of Mercy as the Brisbane Congregation celebrates 150 years of “˜Living Mercy’. Her message was delivered at the Celebratory Dinner on 24 September Feast of Our Lady of Mercy.

Sister Veronica Lawson RSM (Ballarat East) offers a reflection on the Gospel for the fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A (John 14:1-14).

A striking centre piece in the chapel at Singleton was the setting for the liturgy celebrating 510 years of vowed commitment to the Mercy way of life.