Category: Important Dates

UN Dates

COP27-part 2

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The waning days of COP27 saw a first draft of a deal being worked on at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt. The draft keeps the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.  However, many of the most contentious issues are still unresolved, and the summit is due to end on Friday.

For the first time in COP history, there were discussions on launching a Loss and Damage fund for countries most affected by the impacts of climatechange. However, some of these countries have pointed out that although thedraft deal mentions loss and damage, it does not include any details for launching a fund. Another unresolved issue relates to a specific plan to ratchet up targets for cutting climate-warming emissions.

COP27 officially ends on Friday, November 18, but consultation and the final draft of what has been agreed upon by the delegates will be released.

En los últimos días de la COP27 se ha presentado un primer borrador del acuerdo que se está elaborando en la cumbre del clima de Egipto. El borrador mantiene el objetivo de limitar el calentamiento global a 1,5 grados centígrados.  Sin embargo, muchas de las cuestiones más polémicas siguen sin resolverse, y la cumbre finalizará el viernes.

Por primera vez en la historia de la COP, se debatió la creación de un fondo de pérdidas y daños para los países más afectados por los efectos del cambio climático. Sin embargo, algunos de estos países han señalado que, aunque el proyecto de acuerdo menciona las pérdidas y los daños, no incluye ningún detalle para la puesta en marcha de un fondo. Otra cuestión sin resolver es la relativa a un plan específico para aumentar los objetivos de reducción de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero.

La COP27 termina oficialmente el viernes 18 de noviembre, pero las consultas y el borrador final de lo acordado por los delegados se harán públicos.

 

COP27 – part 1

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The Big Objectives of COP27 Being Held in Egypt, November 6-18.

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, or COP27, is being held as the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference, and occurs from 6 November until 18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

There are three key objectives:

  1. Mitigation: how are countries reducing their emissions?

Climate Change Mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases through using new technologies and renewable energy sources, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behaviour. Countries will review and present more ambitious 2030 emissions targets since current plans are still not enough to avoid catastrophic warming.

  1. Adaptation: how are countries going to adapt and help others do the same?

Climate change is here. Beyond doing everything we can to cut emissions and slow the pace of global warming, countries must also adapt to climate consequences to protect their citizens from more fires or floods, droughts, hotter or colder days or sea-level rise for a more climate-resilient future especially for the most vulnerable communities. Developed countries agreed to at least double finance for adaptation. Players must come on board – governments, financial institutions, and the private sector.

  1. Climate Finance: the elephant that never leaves the negotiation room

Developing countries are making a loud call for developed countries to reassure sufficient and adequate financial support, particularly to the most vulnerable. The yearly $100 billion promise by developed nations isn’t being delivered.  Experts expect COP27 to actually make this pledge and other commitments a reality finally, in 2023.

You may wish to keep the participants & aims of COP27 in your prayers and are invited to post your prayer in our prayer room.

 

La mitigación del cambio climático se refiere a los esfuerzos para reducir o prevenir la emisión de gases de efecto invernadero mediante el uso de nuevas tecnologías y fuentes de energía renovables, haciendo que los equipos más antiguos sean más eficientes energéticamente, o cambiando las prácticas de gestión o el comportamiento de los consumidores. Los países revisarán y presentarán objetivos de emisiones más ambiciosos para 2030, ya que los planes actuales siguen siendo insuficientes para evitar un calentamiento catastrófico.

 2. Adaptación: ¿cómo van a adaptarse los países y ayudar a otros a hacer lo mismo?

El cambio climático ya está aquí. Más allá de hacer todo lo posible para reducir las emisiones y ralentizar el ritmo del calentamiento global, los países también deben adaptarse a las consecuencias climáticas para proteger a sus ciudadanos de más incendios o inundaciones, sequías, días más calurosos o más fríos o de la subida del nivel del mar para lograr un futuro más resistente al clima, especialmente para las comunidades más vulnerables. Los países desarrollados acordaron al menos duplicar la financiación para la adaptación. Los actores deben subir a bordo: los gobiernos, las instituciones financieras y el sector privado.

3. Financiación climática: el elefante que nunca abandona la sala de negociaciones

Los países en desarrollo están haciendo un llamamiento a los países desarrollados para que garanticen un apoyo financiero suficiente y adecuado, especialmente a los más vulnerables. La promesa anual de 100.000 millones de dólares por parte de las naciones desarrolladas no se está cumpliendo.  Los expertos esperan que la COP27 haga realidad esta promesa y otros compromisos finalmente, en 2023.

Si lo desea, puede tener presentes en sus oraciones a los participantes y los objetivos de la COP27, e invitarles a colgar su oración en nuestra sala de oración.

 

 

World Mental Health Day, 10 October

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The overall objective of this day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.

The Covid-19 pandemic has created a global crisis for mental health. In addition to the isolation and anxiety which undermined the mental health of millions, there was a severe disruption of mental health services and a widening of the treatment gap for mental health conditions.

Furthermore, huge social and economic inequalities, the escalation of wars and other forms of violence, public health emergencies, natural disasters, the uprooting and migration of peoples at unprecedented levels all affect the mental health of individuals and communities, locally and globally.

This year the World Health Organization is partnering with other organizations to launch a campaign around the theme: Making Mental Health and Well-Being for all a Global Reality. This initiative aims to bring together people with mental health conditions, advocates, governments, employers and other stakeholders to increase awareness about which preventive mental health interventions work and what needs to be done to ensure that everyone has equal access to the mental health care they need.

El objetivo general de este día es concienciar sobre los problemas de salud mental en todo el mundo y movilizar esfuerzos en apoyo de la salud mental.

La pandemia de Covid-19 ha creado una crisis mundial para la salud mental. Además del aislamiento y la ansiedad que minaron la salud mental de millones de personas, se produjo una grave alteración de los servicios de salud mental y un aumento de las diferencias en el tratamiento de las afecciones mentales.

Por otra parte, las enormes desigualdades sociales y económicas, la escalada de guerras y otras formas de violencia, las emergencias de salud pública, las catástrofes naturales, el desarraigo y la migración de los pueblos a niveles sin precedentes afectan a la salud mental de las personas y las comunidades, a escala local y mundial.

Este año, la Organización Mundial de la Salud se asocia con otras organizaciones para lanzar una campaña en torno al tema: Hacer de la salud mental y el bienestar para todos una realidad mundial. Esta iniciativa pretende reunir a personas con problemas de salud mental, defensores, gobiernos, empleadores y otras partes interesadas para aumentar la concienciación sobre qué intervenciones preventivas de salud mental funcionan y qué hay que hacer para garantizar que todo el mundo tenga igual acceso a la atención de salud mental que necesita.

St. Clare’s Celebrates 100 Years

Posted on by Diane Smyth

In May of this year St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of its founding.

In this special year of celebration, the Congregational Leadership Team and the members of St. Clare’s Advisory Council made plans to celebrate Mercy Day at the hospital.

On September 27 we met for a special morning prayer in St. Clare’s chapel, along with a number of managers from the hospital. Following the prayer, members of both groups went through every unit and work- place in St. Clare’s, distributing the specially-designed anniversary pins, along with a package of Lindt chocolates for each staff member, a total of nearly 1300.

Managers and staff were most appreciative of the gesture, and were especially delighted to have the opportunity of meeting members of the Advisory Council and seeing the sisters around the units.

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation – September 30

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation has been set aside to provide the people of Canada an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the intergenerational harm that residential schools have caused to Indigenous families and communities and to honor those who have been affected by these injustices.  The annual observance of this day was one of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

In a news release from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on September 14, 2022, the Honorable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, wrote as follows:

We share a collective responsibility to learn and understa
how residential schooling in Canada had a traumatic and
 profound effect on survivors, families and communities …
 More than just reflecting and remembering, we must commit
and strive to do better.

Further information is attached here which includes links to videos and a prayer for Tolerance, Forgiveness and Reconciliation.

World Humanitarian Day, 19 August

Posted on by Diane Smyth

This day honors humanitarian aid workers all over the world. 

Established in 2009, World Humanitarian Daycommemorates the bombing of the UN headquarters in Iraq with great loss of life. Humanitarian aid workers provide life-saving assistance to suffering people in conflict zones and areas devastated by natural disasters. Thousands gave their lives and suffered injuries in providing support and protection to people in need. At one point in 2021, 235 million people in 26 countries required humanitarian assistance.
We honour them.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, 9 August

Posted on by Diane Smyth

In 1994 the United Nations decided that the International Day of Indigenous Peoples be celebrated each year on August 9. 
On this day people around the world are encouraged to spread the UN’s message on the protection and preservation of the rights of indigenous peoples. This year’s theme is The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge.

Indigenous women are the backbone of their communities and play a crucial role in preserving and passing on traditional ancestral knowledge. However, they face many major issues in their everyday life, some of which are high levels of poverty, low levels of education, limitations in access to health, basic sanitation and employment, and the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence.

To learn more about this special observance, go to the following link:
https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples.html

Fiestas Patrias Peru

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Las “Fiestas Patrias”, celebradas el 28 de julio, conmemoran la declaración de independencia de Perú de España en 1821.

Fiestas Patrias’, celebrated on 28th July  marks Peru’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1821.

Congratulations to our sisters and the people of Peru as they celebrate the feast of Peru.
May God bless them all!

Felicidades a nuestras hermanas y al pueblo del Perú en la celebración de la fiesta del Perú.
¡Que Dios los bendiga a todos!

Papal Visit to Canada, July 24 – 29

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Pope Francis is scheduled to travel to Edmonton, Quebec City and Iqaluit next week to meet members of Canadian indigenous groups, residential school abuse survivors and Catholics.

Logo of Pope Francis’ penitential pilgrimage

In an address at Vatican City on Sunday, July 17, Pope Francis said that he sees this visit as a “penitential pilgrimage” which he hopes will contribute to the journey of healing and reconciliation that has already begun.

This is a very significant moment in our history.

Join us in prayer for Pope Francis and for all the individuals and groups with whom he will be meeting during these days.

Ways to view the papal events include the following:

Salt & Light Catholic Media Foundation has a dedicated site for information and broadcast details for the papal visit –
https://slmedia.org/popeincanada (English) or https://slmedia.org/fr/papeaucanada (French). The network will air all public events.

Livestream links– papalvisit.ca and www.visitepapale.ca will provide links to a number of livestreams for papal events, broadcast in more than 10 languages, including many Indigenous languages, as well as sign languages. Visitors will also be able to access feeds from Vatican TV that include commentary in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and German.

Novalis has produced a digital resource that includes texts for all the liturgies presided by Pope Francis, prayers as well as reflections on the significance of the Papal Visit. To download the resource, visit: ca (English) or prionseneglise.ca (French)

Remembering Our Newfoundland Mercy Story 3:

Anniversary of the Founding of Mercy on West Coast of Newfoundland

Posted on by Diane Smyth

On July 28, 1893, Sisters M. Antonio Egan, M. Corsini Dempsey, M. Veronica Payne and M. Sylvester Carver, former members of the Sisters of Mercy of Providence, Rhode Island, left Boston, bound for Sandy Point on the west coast of Newfoundland. Mrs. Henrietta Brownell, a friend of Sister M. Antonio and a benefactor of the mission, along with Bishop Michael Howley, Vicar Apostolic of Western Newfoundland, accompanied the band of missionaries to their new home.

Upon arrival at Sandy Point, the sisters received an enthusiastic welcome from the people of Sandy point. The Evening Telegram of August 12, 1893 reported as follows:

As the steamer neared the wharf, a great crowd gathered and salvos
of guns were heard on every side. The line of procession from the wharf to the
Bishop’s house (where the nuns are to be temporarily located) was spanned
by several arches of evergreens … and decorated with wreaths, mottoes and
flags, among which the tri-color of France was particularly conspicuous.

From the Annals of St. Michael’s Convent, St. George’s we learn that once the festivities were over, “the sisters found themselves face to face with the stern difficulties of mission life in a new and poor country.” The annalist went on to say that “the contrast between the school environment of Sandy Point and that of Providence, Rhode Island can be better imagined than described …”

Although plagued with many difficulties and struggles in both community and ministry,the sisters remained steadfast in their dedication to the ideals of the mission they had undertaken so eagerly. In 1899 with the construction of the railway line in St. George’s, the sisters moved from Sandy Point to the new St. Michael’s Convent and school in St. George’s, where they were able to enjoy better accommodations and easier access to resources. The first two boarding students – Sarah Blanchard and Sarah Doyle from Codroy Valley – arrived at St. Michael’s Academy in 1900 to avail of the educational opportunities of the new school. Sarah Doyle entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1906, taking the religious name of Sister Mary Dominic. She was a great-aunt of Sister Sylvia Doyle.

Foundation of Sisters of Mercy, Sandy Point from Diane on Vimeo.

More stories documenting our Newfoundland Mercy Story can be read in “Archival Moments“

El 28 de julio de 1893, las Hermanas M. Antonio Egan, M. Corsini Dempsey, M. Veronica Payne y M. Sylvester Carver, antiguas miembros de las Hermanas de la Misericordia de Providence, Rhode Island, salieron de Boston con destino a Sandy Point, en la costa occidental de Terranova. La Sra. Henrietta Brownell, amiga de la Hermana M. Antonio y benefactora de la misión, junto con el Obispo Michael Howley, Vicario Apostólico de Terranova Occidental, acompañaron al grupo de misioneras a su nuevo hogar.

A su llegada a Sandy Point, las hermanas recibieron una entusiasta bienvenida por parte de los habitantes de Sandy Point. El Evening Telegram del 12 de agosto de 1893 informaba de lo siguiente:

Cuando el vapor se acercó al muelle, una gran multitud se reunió y salvas
de armas se oian por todas partes. La linea de la procesion desde el muelle hasta la
de la ciudad, y de la ciudad, y de la ciudad, y de la ciudad, y de la ciudad, y de la ciudad.
y decorada con coronas, lemas y banderas, entre las que destacaba la tricolor.
banderas, entre las que destacaba la tricolor de Francia.

En los Anales del Convento de San Miguel, St. George’s, nos enteramos de que, una vez terminadas las festividades, “las hermanas se encontraron cara a cara con las duras dificultades de la vida de misión en un país nuevo y pobre”. El annalista continuó diciendo que “el contraste entre el ambiente escolar de Sandy Point y el de Providence, Rhode Island puede ser mejor imaginado que descrito…”

Aunque plagadas de muchas dificultades y luchas tanto en la comunidad como en el ministerio,
las hermanas se mantuvieron firmes en su dedicación a los ideales de la misión que habían emprendido con tanto entusiasmo. En 1899, con la construcción de la línea de ferrocarril en St. George’s, las hermanas se trasladaron de Sandy Point al nuevo convento y colegio de St. Michael’s en St. George’s, donde pudieron disfrutar de mejores alojamientos y un acceso más fácil a los recursos. Las dos primeras alumnas internas – Sarah Blanchard y Sarah Doyle de Codroy Valley – llegaron a la Academia de San Miguel en 1900 para aprovechar las oportunidades educativas de la nueva escuela. Sarah Doyle ingresó en las Hermanas de la Misericordia en 1906, tomando el nombre religioso de Hermana Mary Dominic. Era tía abuela de la Hermana Sylvia Doyle.