Author: Diane Smyth

St Patrick’s Day, 17 March

Posted on by Diane Smyth

On this St. Patrick’s Day, we send greetings to Irish Sisters of Mercy, Associates, Partners in Ministry and Friends of Mercy all over the world and to all Sisters of Mercyand the extended Mercy Family, who can claim Celtic roots through our foundress, Catherine McAuley.

Guímís Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ar Shiúracha na Trócaire ar fud an domhain ar Lá Fhéile Naomh Pádraig. Guímís sonas agus sláinte orthu siúd atá as baile as Éirinn agus orthu siúd ar fad a mhaíonn fréamhacha ceilteacha trénár mbunaitheoir, Catherine McAuley.

En este Día de San Patricio, enviamos saludos a las Hermanas de la Misericordia irlandesas, Asociados, Colaboradores en el Ministerio y Amigos de la Misericordia en todo el mundo y a todas las Hermanas de la Misericordia y la Familia de la Misericordia ampliada, que pueden reclamar raíces celtas a través de nuestra fundadora, Catalina McAuley.

Learn more about St Patrick, one of the patron saints of the Sisters of Mercy, in this clip from the film Celtic Pilgrimage (10.55)

“As we commemorate Saint Patrick’s legacy, guide and patron, whose life embodied the values of a shared, generous sense of humanity, let us do so by mustering the courage to recover the best instincts of our humanity, have the mettle to face those who resist such instincts, reaffirm and strengthen our commitment to advocating the principles that informed Patrick’s life, calling us as they do to embrace our role as global citizens, extending a hand of support to all those in need with whom we share this planet, respond with hospitality and kindness to those fleeing the ravages of hunger, conflict and climate change, thus bringing into reality our taking responsibility to work with fellow citizens for a more just and inclusive world.”

-Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland
St Patrick’s Day Message 2023

“Al conmemorar el legado de San Patricio, guía y patrón, cuya vida encarnó los valores de un sentido compartido y generoso de la humanidad, hagámoslo reuniendo el valor para recuperar los mejores instintos de nuestra humanidad, tener el temple para enfrentarnos a quienes se resisten a tales instintos, reafirmar y reforzar nuestro compromiso de defender los principios que informaron la vida de Patricio, llamándonos como ellos a abrazar nuestro papel de ciudadanos del mundo, tendiendo una mano de apoyo a todos los necesitados con los que compartimos este planeta, respondiendo con hospitalidad y amabilidad a quienes huyen de los estragos del hambre, los conflictos y el cambio climático, haciendo así realidad nuestra responsabilidad asumida de trabajar con nuestros conciudadanos por un mundo más justo e inclusivo.”

Michael D. Higgins, Presidente de Irlanda
Mensaje del Día de San Patricio 2023

 

Good Reading for Lent

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Each week on our website Elizabeth Davis rsm provides a written reflection on the Sunday readings. These reflections contain insights and images, poetry and prose.

Sister Elizabeth’s reflections are published online in the Spirituality section under the appropriate liturgical season. They can be read online or downloaded.

As you journey through Lent to Easter, you might find these reflections a source of inspiration and nourishment and “a light for your path” (Ps 119).

 

2023 Season of Creation Launch

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The Season of Creation begins on the 1st September, World Day of Prayer for Creation, and finishes on the 4th October, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.

The theme this year is ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow.’

The Prophet Amos cries out: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity.

As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.

In this video Faith leaders invite participation in the Season of Creation.

International Women’s Day, 8 March

Posted on by Diane Smyth

International Women’s Day is  celebrated annually as a focal point in the Women’s Rights Movement to bring attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights and violence and abuse against women.

It is also a time to recognize and celebrate the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women and girls in all parts of the world.

The International Women’s Day campaign theme for this year is Embrace Equity. When we embrace equity, we embrace diversity and we also embrace inclusion. Equity means creating an inclusive world for all.  We all need to challenge gender stereotypes,call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and work for inclusion.

The Government of Canada has chosen Every Woman Counts as Canada’s theme for this year, a reminder that women from all walks of life and all ages have a place in very aspect of Canadian life and society.

El Día Internacional de la Mujer se celebra anualmente como punto central del Movimiento por los Derechos de la Mujer para llamar la atención sobre cuestiones como la igualdad de género, los derechos reproductivos y la violencia y los abusos contra las mujeres.

También es un momento para reconocer y celebrar los logros sociales, culturales, económicos y políticos de mujeres y niñas de todo el mundo.

El lema de la campaña del Día Internacional de la Mujer de este año es Abraza la equidad. Cuando abrazamos la equidad, abrazamos la diversidad y también abrazamos la inclusión. Equidad significa crear un mundo inclusivo para todos.  Todos debemos cuestionar los estereotipos de género, denunciar la discriminación, llamar la atención sobre los prejuicios y trabajar por la inclusión.

El Gobierno de Canadá ha elegido Todas las mujeres cuentan como lema de Canadá para este año, un recordatorio de que las mujeres de todas las profesiones y condiciones sociales y de todas las edades tienen un lugar en todos los aspectos de la vida y la sociedad canadienses.

 

Preserving Biodiversity: Creation Care from Faith to Action

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Join For the Love of Creation and Citizens for Public Justice for a thoughtful conversation on Biodiversity and Creation Care in Canada!

Expert and diverse panelists will talk about our planetary boundaries, the latest updates from COP15 and Indigenous perspectives on biodiversity. The online gathering will conclude with a theological reflection on creation care.

Thursday, March 23 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Register here

Queries here

For the Love of Creation (FLC) is a faith-based initiative for climate justice. Find out more about this initiative here

Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) is an ecumenical, non-profit organization that promotes justice in Canadian public policy through research and analysis focused on poverty reduction, ecological justice, and refugee rights.
Find out more here

Pope Francis’ March Prayer Intention: “For Victims of Abuse”. Intención de oración del Papa Francisco para marzo: “Por las víctimas de abusos”

Posted on by Diane Smyth

“Asking for forgiveness is necessary, but not enough”: in the month of March, Pope Francis reflects on abuse, “especially to those committed by members of the Church” and asks that we pray with him for the victims, “who have to be ‘at the center’ of everything.”

At the same time, the Pope invites the Church itself to be “a model”: whether of transparency to “bring it to light,” of “concrete actions to repair the horrors they have suffered and to prevent them from happening again,” or of offering “safe spaces for victims to be heard, supported psychologically, and protected.”

“Pedir perdón es necesario, pero no suficiente”: en el mes de marzo, el Papa Francisco reflexiona sobre los abusos, “especialmente a los cometidos por miembros de la Iglesia” y pide que recemos con él por las víctimas, “que tienen que estar “en el centro” de todo.”

Al mismo tiempo, el Papa invita a la propia Iglesia a ser “un modelo”: ya sea de transparencia para “sacarlo a la luz”, de “acciones concretas para reparar los horrores sufridos y evitar que se repitan”, o de ofrecer “espacios seguros para que las víctimas sean escuchadas, apoyadas psicológicamente y protegidas.”

Earth Hour: Give an Hour for Earth on 25 March

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Earth Hour this year is on 25 March, at 8:30 pm your local time.

The world is  on course to breach by 2030 the 1.5°C global temperature increase limit set by the Paris Climate Agreement, and nature – the source of our very livelihoods and one of our biggest allies against the climate crisis – is also under severe threat,  facing alarming and unprecedented rates of loss globally.

The next 7 years are therefore crucial to all our futures – we have to stay under the 1.5°C climate threshold to avoid irreversible damage to our planet, and we need to reverse nature loss by 2030, ending the decade with more nature and biodiversity than we started, not less.  To make this happen, individuals, communities, businesses, and governments must all urgently step up their efforts to protect and restore our one home.

With this 2030 goal in mind, we too must step things up. Take your part:

Give an hour for Earth on 25 March by spending 60 minutes doing something – anything – positive for our planet

Great Works of Newfoundland Artist, Gerald Squires, to be sold at Auction

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Gerald Squires, one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most distinguished artists, died October 3, 2015 at the age of 77 after battling cancer.

Since his earliest years Gerald had the mind, heart and soul of an artist. Although not “religious” he was a man moved by the Spirit and who lived with kindness, gentleness, generosity and love. His life and his art are testament to that.

At this date a large collection of Gerald’s art is on the auction block  https://bartlettauctions.com  His large acrylic paintings depicting the Last Supper, death and resurrection of Jesus were commissioned by the parish of Queen of the World in St. John’s, NL and fed the faith of thousands of faithful parishioners and visitors over the years.  Only in the past twenty years were complementary stained glass windows, also designed by Gerald,  installed  in the church.

Today that church has been sold to meet obligations of court ordered payment to victims of sexual abuse at the former Mount Cashel orphanage.  The sale of the church is part of the bankruptcy protection process established for the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation which was found vicariously liable for the abuse.  The paintings among other treasures that are being sold.

Listen to Gerald Squires in this interview where he gives an explanation of his work of art

Gerald Squires was also a sculptor applying his genius to clay, fired in a kiln, then in a pit and covered in sawdust to form a Raku style ceramic.  The Sisters of Mercy commissioned a panel of six units in raku depicting the history of St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital in St. John’s.

“Mercy” was depicted in six different languages to represent the people who live in or frequented the shores of this part of Canada.

In 2014 Gerald created another panel of six pieces to depict the images of giving and receiving for The Gathering Place, a social and health service centre for the most vulnerable population in St. John’s.

In a film produced by award-winning Director Kenneth Harvey, “I Heard the Birch tree Whisper in the Night”Gerald Squires speaks of his own immanent dying.

Speakers’ Forum 2023: “Keeping Hope Alive in Challenging times”

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Hope is being able to see that there is a light despite all the darkness (Desmond Tutu)

We all face challenges- as individuals and as communities. We all experience hardship at one point or another. It’s part of being human.
How can we weather the storms and emerge into sunlight? How do we distinguish between Hope and optimism? What tools are available to us to assist us in becoming resilient?

Research has shown that people who are hopeful often cope more effectively with obstacles and challenges.

On Saturday, March 4 from 10:00 am to noon join Tony Bidgood, CSsR and Anne Walsh as, together, we explore what hope is, and ways that we can become practitioners of hope in daily life. To register, please contact Marilyn Stack at marilynstack@gmail.com

The link for the March 4 session is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87276536555

Ash Wednesday: Lent Begins on 22 February

Posted on by Diane Smyth

“Lent comes providentially to awaken us, to shake us from our lethargy” (Pope Francis).

Pope Francis’ Lenten message to the world for 2023 was presented on Friday, February 17. The theme is Lenten Penance and the Synodal Journey. “We need to listen to Jesus he said, “through the Scriptures and through our brothers and sisters, especially in the faces and the stories of those who are in need…Lent is a time of grace to the extent that we listen to him as he speaks to us.”

The full text of the Pope’s  message can be read here

Mercy International Association is offering a prayer service for Ash Wednesday which includes a poem by Brenda Peddigrew rsm and  online spirituality reflection series during Lent. Details can be found here

“La Cuaresma viene providencialmente a despertarnos, a sacudirnos de nuestro letargo” (Papa Francisco).

El mensaje de Cuaresma del Papa Francisco al mundo para 2023 fue presentado el viernes 17 de febrero. El tema es La penitencia cuaresmal y el camino sinodal. “Tenemos que escuchar a Jesús”, dijo, “a través de las Escrituras y de nuestros hermanos y hermanas, especialmente en los rostros y las historias de los necesitados… La Cuaresma es un tiempo de gracia en la medida en que le escuchamos mientras nos habla”.

El texto completo del mensaje del Papa puede leerse aquí