Australia is intertwined with the McAuley family history as some Mercy sisters recently discovered on a visit to Parkes, NSW. Anne MGuire rsm reflects on the event.

70 years in any profession is an amazing achievement and recently Sister Florence Kinsela celebrated 70 years of religious profession as a Sister of Mercy. It was her calling from God and something she knew she wanted to do from a very young age.

Mercy Secondary School Yarapos in Wewak, East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea, celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 11th – 13th September. Founded in 1963, this girls’ school has educated thousands of young women under the leadership of nine Sisters and two lay principals whose names adorn the buildings.

Sister Beryl Amedee rsm was recently farewelled after many years of ministry in Queensland and was recognised for her contribution by the civic community of Gladstone.

On September 24th, in an Institute first, approximately one hundred Institute staff and Sisters of Mercy from Rockhampton, Melbourne, Sydney, Ballarat, Perth and Newcastle gathered in their local areas to participate in a common program with the theme “We Are All in This Together”.

On Sunday 22 September, Mercy Associates along with many Sisters of Mercy gathered at St Alipius' Church, Ballarat East for the celebration of Mass to mark 25 years of the Mercy Associates of the former Congregation of Sisters of Mercy, Ballarat East (1987—2011) and of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia of Papua New Guinea from 2011-2013.

Recently, the West Australian Government Heritage Minister Albert Jacob announced that the St Brigid’s Catholic Church Group in Perth had been entered in the State Register of Heritage Places. The history of the Sisters of Mercy is strongly entwined with this group of buildings.

Collaboration between the Sisters of Mercy and a Newcastle parish has resulted in a ministry very much in the spirit of Catherine. Sister Patricia Whitten rsm has been at the heart of this initiative.

Over 150 years ago the Sisters of Mercy, the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of St Joseph commenced their work in Victoria. Inspired by the charism of their founders, Catherine McAuley, Edmund Rice and Mary MacKillop, the three Congregations established homes for children who were orphaned, destitute or neglected and for mothers who were in need of care and support. Today, these services continue as MacKillop Family Services.

Meet Margaret Smith rsm, who shares some of her life story with us.

The ministry of Mary Geason rsm, has spanned two continents and she shares some of this with us here.

Mercy Associate Anne O'Connell, recently returned from time as a volunteer at Mercy
International Centre, shares a reflection on this special time.

St Joseph’s Cowper, formerly known as St Joseph’s Orphanage, Cowper, NSW, has given one hundred years of continuous service to the families of the North Coast and beyond. Sue McKimm, present CEO of St. Joseph's, shares the history of those hundred years.

In the gathering space under St Mary’s Cathedral recently, the singing of “In the Lord I’ll be ever Thankful” concluded a meaningful ‘farewell’ to Sr. Dolores Coffey rsm the founding Director of Daydawn, the Archdiocesan Ministry of Advocacy.

On Sunday 13th October on a freezing cold and rainy day Jessie Llewellyn, a member of the Institute Archives staff, took part in the Melbourne Marathon. Proudly wearing her Run4Refugees t-shirt Jess participated in the 5.7km run. Here she shares the reason why.

Across the country individuals and communities continue voicing their concerns about the impact of unconventional gas mining. Community groups want independent and transparent research into the impact of coal seam gas mining. Carmel Heagerty rsm, calls us to reflect on this important issue.

Mary Tinney rsm shares her reflections of a recent Conference where people committed to the future of the Earth community, many of whom are working in ecological economics and in environmental law came together in regard to Australian Earth Laws.