Archived News Item
Catherine’s canonisation cause: an update
May 24, 2007
At a recent gathering in
At a recent gathering in
This was a wonderful opportunity to meet personally and to consider strategies for communication and cohesiveness across the Mercy world with regard to this process.
In her preliminary negotiations with
§ Sheila Carney RSM with responsibility for the
§ Mary Duffy RSM with responsibility for
§ Anne Hannon RSM with responsibility for
Their role will be
§ to ensure that the story and spirituality of Catherine continues to be promoted among sisters and lay partners;
§ to defend the interests of the petitioner, namely, Coirle McCarthy RSM, Congregation Leader of the Irish Sisters of Mercy;
§ to seek the truth in all circumstances;
§ to collaborate with ecclesiastical authorities.
TOGETHER IN MERCY – WORLDWIDE INITIATIVES
Most congregations have now received the printed material that has been prepared by MIA and we are encouraged to disseminate this as widely as possible. In particular, we are encouraged to pray the Prayer for the Beatification of Catherine and to seek her intercession for those who are in need.
To this end, we are asked to join in a Mercy World Day of Prayer on December 12. Sisters and lay partners in each country are asked to set aside some time for this prayer between 12 noon and 2:00 pm on that day. In this way, we will ensure that there is a twenty-four hour “˜prayer clock’ sustained around the world to pray for those who have sought Catherine’s intercession and to add our own prayers for her beatification. I am sure that sisters throughout
Another worldwide initiative is the request that, wherever possible, each congregation will plan a Mass for our deceased sisters as near as possible to November 11, the date of Catherine’s death. Some groups already do this but, for others, it may be too late for 2007 to implement this. However, it is hoped that will become a common feature among Mercies worldwide in the coming years.
The final “˜event’ to be recommended worldwide at this meeting, is a Catherine McAuley Lecture or Seminar to be held in 2008. Further information about this will be available later this year.
In the meantime, let us continue to pray earnestly with our Mercy sisters throughout the world that Catherine’s witness to the gospel may soon be celebrated by the whole Church.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or suggestions regarding our ongoing participation in this process.
From: Sister Mary Duffy RSM (Melbourne)
Email: mary-duffy@bigpond.com
Editor’s note: For more information about Catherine’s Canonisation Cause visit Mercy World.