At the recent MIA Board meeting in Mercy International Centre, the leaders of the nine Mercy Congregations viewed a presentation on how our participation in Mercy Global Action Network can impact what we do as Mercies together around the world.
In June a meeting was held in the Congregational office in Clondalkin to celebrate what has been started since this time last year with our Sisters who form the MGAN (Mercy Global Action Network). Carmel Bracken and Kathleen Glennon focus on eco/justice/cosmology and Sheila O’Gorman and Mary Ryan concentrate on the Anti-Human Trafficking initiatives. All four Sisters carried a breath of perspective as they recognized that one area influences another. When we engage with these subjects, we do so out of the belief that all is interconnected.
(Back row) Kathleen Glennon, Sheila O’Gorman, and Mary Ryan
(Front) Carmel Bracken and Susan DeGuide
Sisters shared how they felt the power/influence for good that we hold as MIA at the UN through our presence in Aine O’Connor. Their own insights have broadened so much as they have come to learn of what Mercy women are doing in our seven provinces and around the world to combat poverty on the ground and to change mind sets. They said that it made them feel proud to be a Sister of Mercy and were awed at how Catherine and her life has inspired so many around the world.
Here you can read the reports from each of the focus groups.
Mercy Global Action Network: A Report to the Congregation from the working group on Cosmology/Eco-Justice
Carmel Bracken and Kathleen Glennon
This year Mercy International Association, and Aine 0’ Connor, our representative at the UN, is focusing on human trafficking and Cosmology/Eco-Justice.
We are part of a worldwide Network of Mercy sisters and associates that offers support to Aine in her work with Cosmology/Eco-Justice. To date we have been focusing on two main areas:
1. Coming to a common understanding of the story of the unfolding universe and its implications for our spirituality.
2. Preparing for the Rio conference on Climate Change.
Conscious that we cannot fix our failed institutions, e.g. economic, political, religious, with the same consciousness that created these institutions in the first place we are challenged to move into a new awareness, a new paradigm. We are inspired by our own Congregational Ecology Policy.
As a congregation we foster among us a contemplative stance towards the mystery of God as revealed in the on-going story of the universe. A spirituality rooted in this contemplative stance influences our way of being in the world and informs all our actions and choices.
Centred in the unfolding story of the universe we work towards creating the conditions where all species can thrive and flourish. We feel part of a growing movement working towards a global shift of consciousness away from a patriarchal, hierarchical model to an inclusive model that is based on compassion and respect.
We see the Rio 20 Conference on Climate Change as a unique opportunity to affirm a vision of a sustainable, just and peaceful future for all life forms on Mother Earth, our home. Consequently we are advocating that Rio draws up a common ethical framework which embodies our vision. This ethical framework requires a radical shift in perspective away from economic growth and short term gain to sustainable development where the rights of all species are protected and cherished.
We would love to hear your ideas and reflections on our congregational ecological policy, and how we might support one another in moving into a new consciousness. Thomas Berry says that the work of all religious people at the present time is to tell the Story of the Universe and to actively participate in the unfolding of the next stage of evolution: the age of living consciously in compassion and love.
Anti-Human Trafficking Report
Mary Ryan rsm and Sheila O’Gorman rsm
Did you know that more people – children, women and men – have been trafficked, bought and sold, in the past decade than in the 400 years of the Slave Trade? This shocking truth is so contrary to our ‘Gospel/Mercy values of human dignity, justice, compassion, service and the alleviation of extreme poverty…’* that it is no surprise that Mercy International Association have chosen to address the issue.
*Congregational Policy for Pastoral Ministry.
Trafficking, the buying and selling of human beings by criminals to make money, is happening across the globe. In recent times we have become aware of cases here in Ireland, in our villages and towns. Television programmes have brought the full horror into our consciousness. Many of you have made us very welcome when we presented workshops or talks in your province, and have asked: “What can we do?”
Over the past year we have linked with Sisters of Mercy worldwide and with Aine O’Connor in the UN, sharing our experience as members of APT (Act to Prevent Trafficking), and learning of best practice from the various countries.
One initiative which was developed by Mercy Investment Services in the US is a campaign to keep trafficking out of hotels in countries where Sisters of Mercy live and work. This involves inviting hotels to sign a Code of practice which has been developed by ECPAT (End Child Prostitution/Child Pornography and Trafficking). The Code has been adopted in many countries. Unfortunately Ireland is not one of these. It is time to act!
Over the next twelve months, we will develop a strategy for bringing the Code into effect in Ireland. This involves a number of steps.
-Researching the Code
-Forming alliances with other NGOs eg; APT (Act to Prevent Trafficking), Ruhama, Barnados, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Children’s’ Rights Alliance
– Linking with AHTU (Anti Human Trafficking Unit) in the Dept of Justice
-Linking with the Irish Hotels Federation
-Identifying hotel chains which have already signed in other countries, or are well disposed towards the spirit of the Code (i.e. building on success)
-Writing regular reports
– Keeping you aware through regular updates in mercy@live
Any and all interested sisters will be invited to join in the campaign. To help in the work a process of training will be provided. A sample letter for hotel managers will be made available, and you will be given the background information necessary to deal with any questions which may arise.
In the shorter term the immediate goal is to have the Code signed by two hotel chains and six independent hotels.
Ultimately it is proposed that it becomes the policy of Sisters of Mercy to hold Mercy events – Chapters, Assemblies, workshops, talks etc. in hotels which have signed up to the Code, and to make that policy known when booking venues.
Congregation
