Archived News Item
The Holy See Approves Mercy Ministry Companions
September 30, 2021
Institute Leader, Eveline Crotty RSM said the Decree means the Institute Leadership can now proceed towards passing the ministries to the canonical authority of Mercy Ministry Companions, with a proposed establishment date of December 3.
“One of the Directions to Leadership from the Chapter was to ensure that ‘the governance of the incorporated ministries could flourish into the future’.
“With all the prayer, reflection, interaction across all of our ministries we now have the blessing of Rome and this gives the ministries a guarantee that they can continue to ‘flourish into the future’ with very dedicated lay leadership”.
Sr Eveline acknowledged with heartfelt thanks our sisters, colleagues and advisers who have contributed so diligently and wisely to its development over the past three years.
“Behind the scenes this has been a mammoth task to bring it to this point,” she said.
Mercy Ministry Companions will be responsible for the canonical governance of the Institute’s ministries under three ministry groups – Mercy Education, Mercy Health and Aged Care and a new entity called Mercy Community Services which will encompass the ministries of Mackillop Family Services, McAuley Community Services for Women, Mercy Connect and Mercy Services.
The ministries of Mercy Ministry Companions collectively employ more than 15000 people and minister to more than 250,000 people a year. It will be governed by a Council of Trustee Directors:
• Margaret Bounader (Chair)
• Tony Goad
• Margery Jackman
• Gabrielle McMullen
• Rowena McNally
• Des Powell
• Carmel Ross.
A celebration of this historic event with a Liturgy of Entrusting is planned for December, subject to COVID restrictions.
Click here to view a video with each of the Trustee Directors.
Messages to: communication@ismapng.org.au