Catherine McAuley asks Teresa Carton to "tell the Sisters to get a good cup of tea - I think the Community Room would be a good place - when I am gone, and to comfort one another, but God will comfort them."
Catherine McAuley died on November 11, 1841. All are invited to say the attached prayer on or about the anniversary of her death November 11th. |
|
| Mercy Secondary Education Conference | |
The Mercy Secondary Education Conference held in Chicago October 14-15, planned by the Mercy Secondary Education Conference Committee, and
hosted by Mother McAuley High School was a witness
to the commitment and shared mission of so many.
Please read the attached article for a fuller description of the conference. |
| Sisters of Mercy New Membership Office | |
Sister Cynthia Serjak, RSM from the Institute New membership Office attended the Mercy Secondary Conference in Chicago. In a brief presentation utilizing the "human microphone," Sister Cynthia told attendees that there are currently 30 new members preparing to be Sisters of Mercy, and urged young women who were present to consider whether God might be calling them to be a Sister. She also spoke about Mercy Association, Companions in Mercy and Mercy Volunteer Corps, three ways to be "Together in Mercy."
Cynthia encouraged all present to invite sisters to their schools, to provide opportunities for young people to get to know sisters, and to teach young people about religious life.
Contact Sister Cynthia to get more information about joining Mercy and to find out who the vocation minister is for your area. |
|
Administrator Meeting
| The Network wishes to thank all who attended the annual meeting of the Mercy secondary and elementary administrators on October 13, 2011. Over 55 administrators gathered for input, an opportunity to share insights into common issues and to support one another.
A very special part of the meeting was the presentation "Always Being Called to the More" by Avis Clendenen, D.Min.,Ph.d., and Professor Sister Irene Dugan, r.c. Scholar in Spirituality, Department of Religious Studies, Saint Xavier University. Avis' presentation and the closing prayer and ritual she prepared were key to this gathering, one designed to include appreciation and support for the work of Mercy leaders. The materials from Avis' presentation are being made ready for sharing and the Network expresses its gratitude to Avis for this generosity.
A summary of the ideas discussed at the tables is also being prepared and will be distributed to all who attended. It will be very valuable in further planning. Finally, the words of wisdom shared by the groups of Mercy leaders with and for each other were a witness to care and support for all who serve in the vital role of school leadership.
As we look to the 2012 meeting, the Network will review the ideas discussed and seek a group of Mercy administrators to help plan the next administrator meeting.
|
|
Media Project for Mercy Impact
in Sudan and Haiti
| |
Marilyn Lacey, RSM, staffed the Mercy Beyond Borders display at the Mercy Secondary Education Conference, encouraging Mercy secondary schools to participate in MBB's annual Video Contest, to be held in March 2012. All schools are more than welcome! You need only 2 things to get started:
1) a contact person for your campus (contest liaison to receive posters and instructions)
2) a promise that the school will conduct a fundraiser for MBB during the academic year
MBB will send the 2012 theme, materials and instructions in February for students to use in creating their 2-min video during March. The faculty person just needs to "get the word out" among the students. This year's winners of the best video $1,000 cash prize are students at McAuley High in Chicago! Next year, maybe your students?
The contest is an easy way for your students to learn about women and girls in extreme poverty, to use their research skills and creativity to make the video, and perhaps to rake in some cash for college! It's also wonderful for the women and girls of Haiti and Sudan: the videos go onto YouTube, raising the profile of Mercy Beyond Borders among viewers, and the funds raised by the participating schools go straight to our projects in Sudan and Haiti. A win-win for all!
Questions or to register, email Sister Marilyn at:
mercybeyondborders@yahoo.com
Learn more about Mercy Beyond Borders at:
www.mercybeyondborders.org
|
| A Seat At the Table | |
As shared at the administrator meeting on October 13th, sponsorship materials under the title "A Seat At the Table" can now be accessed at www.mercyed.org. A single user name and password provides access. This access can be shared by Mercy administrators with board members and persons seeking to learn more about the ministry of sponsorship.
Need access? Contact the Network. The materials posted include the topics: Gospel call, the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Education, Canonical Relationships, Stewardship, and Governance. There is also information on a glossary of terms, the mentor program and the Sponsorship Seminar.
The Blackboard site will continue to be used for those who are formal members of the mentor program. Each person has her or his own user name and password for this program. The program moves into its third year and the Network thanks all who are participating.
|
| Dead Man Walking | The Network thanks Mercy High School, San Francisco for sharing this information and resource for Mercy schools.
Mercy High School, San Francisco is featured in this link for the Dead Man Walking play project. The new office for the project is now located at the school. We will be working with other Catholic schools and Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ to initiate a student letter writing campaign to end the death penalty in California. Dead Man Walking is a wonderful theater arts opportunity for all Mercy secondary schools and the added curriculum strategies featured on the website allow for study of this important social justice issue across all subject areas. If you would like further information about the play and how to produce it at your school, contact - Greg Callaghan, National Coordinator Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project; 3250 19th Avenue San Francisco, CA 94132; 415-469-9149. Make Theatre. Take Action. Mercy is in our first "Spotlight on Schools' feature! How Mercy worked to incorporate Dead Man Walking into the curriculum." Read Testimonials. Further questions, please contact Dotty McCrea, Principal.
|
| Mercy Day - Excerpts from Notes | |
So many exchanges took place on Mercy Day. Good wishes, care for the ministries, care for those who serve, a common mission. Hope you enjoy just a few of the many received.
Happy Mercy Day to you! We had a good mass yesterday and the priest forgot the name of Mother McAuley and all the kids yelled "Catherine."
You would have been so delighted with the student presentation of Catherine's life and of Frances Wards's United States expansion, Mercy around the world and the Sisters working here in Omaha. It was outstanding. Their last line was something to the effect that the telling of the story in the future is up to every Mercy Girl who is committed to becoming a Woman of Mercy. It was very touching. Peace and Joy to you on this Blessed Weekend - 180 glorious years - we are so blessed.
We just had a wonderful Eucharistic Liturgy within which we commissioned administration, faculty, staff, student government and pinned the seniors.
Happy Mercy Day!!! Our service was terrific!
We had Liturgy this morning and two prayer services this afternoon to pray for our Mercy Family throughout the world. May God bless us all!
Happy Mercy Day! We just finished our Mercy Day Prayer Service and awarded the "Who Will Tell the Story?" medals to three of our alum who spoke about the Mercy values and how they were influenced by our school. They were so honored, our students so inspired, and we are so grateful for the idea, the medals, and the opportunity to celebrate.
We had our prayer and tea and cookies already this morning and you were in our prayers.
We just had a beautiful liturgy reminding us of our Mercy legacy.
We just completed our assembly and it was lovely.
And so much more....
|
| A Helpful Resource |
Mercy E-News is the Online Newsletter of the Mercy International Association and is available to anyone affiliated with the Sisters of Mercy who has an e-mail account, simply by filling in the online registration form. |
|
|
_______________________________________________
Thank you for reading this newsletter. Please send a note if you see any errors or send ideas for future issues. Sincerely,
Sister Corinne Raven, RSM
Network for Mercy Education |
|
|
|
Who Will Tell the Story
| |
Heritage - Featured Schools
Learn more about these featured schools
Mercy schools founded from 1970-1985
| |
Mercy schools founded from 1992-2005
|
| Network News | |
Network News is a publication of the Network for Mercy Education distributed approximately every six weeks to Sister of Mercy Leadership, Mercy secondary and elementary presidents and principals, the Network Board, persons in sponsorship roles, Mercy friends and more.
For information or resources, contact the Network
| |
|
Who Will Tell the Story.... | | |
Schools are invited to continue participation in the variety of activities and opportunities for sharing between now and the 180th Anniversary of the Founding of the Sisters of Mercy December 12, 2011.
Access the
Who will Tell the Story Initiatives.
This is a special time - commemorating the journey to founding the Sisters of Mercy and focusing on how Mercy lives on in those who live and tell the story now and into the future, especially in Mercy education. |
| Awakening the Dreamer | |
At the MSEC conference, Sister Judith Niemet, RSM, shared information and distributed materials to those gathered on the "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium."
The purpose of the Awakening the Dreamer program as described at its website: "To Bring Forth An Environmentally Sustainable, Spiritually Fulfilling, Socially Just Human Presence On This Planet."
Reference was made to the Pachamama Alliance and the information read, "Many Sisters of Mercy, Associates, Co-Workers and friends have been trained as facilitators for the Pachamama Alliance..." For more information
e-mail the Institute Justice Office. |
|
| Network Board Meets | The Board of Directors for the Network for Mercy Education met on October 12-13, 2011 in Chicago. Board members engaged in an extra day of meeting to reflect and engage in planning. Among the agenda items for the business portion were a financial report including operations and investments, Network board membership, review of the annual report and more. Helpful dialogue and feedback continues to help set direction for Network programs.
The board welcomes Sister Martha Mulligan as the Sponsor Representative of the Northeast Community. It gives thanks for the valuable service given in this role by retiring member Sister Laura Della Santa.
The board also expressed its gratitude to Sister Patricia McDermott, newly elected Institute President, who so generously gave of her time to the Network Board in the role of ILT liaison and welcomed Sister Deborah Troillett as the new ILT liaison.
The Network is grateful to the members of the board for their dedication to Mercy education and their service to the Network. |
|
|
|
