Spirit and Vision of the Sisters of Mercy
February 7, 2008
Catherine McAuley’s Legacy
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Spirituality – sight-feeling-prayer – ACTION
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Ministry – corporal and spiritual works of Mercy
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“our hearts should always be in the same place centered in God”
“there are things the poor prize more highly than gold though they
cost the donor nothing:...the kind word, compassionate look, and
patient hearing of their sorrows”
“it is better to relieve a hundred imposters than to allow one really
distressed person to be sent away empty”
Bridging the Gap – linking the poor with those of
means
Mission of the Sisters of Mercy 1831
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“Principle aim of this Congregation is to
educate poor girls, to lodge and maintain
poor young women who are in danger… to
visit the sick poor” (correspondence to
clergy)
www.mercyinternational.ie
Works of Mercy
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Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Visit the imprisoned
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Bury the dead
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Forgive all injuries
Convert the sinner
Instruct the ignorant
Comfort the sorrowful
Counsel the doubtful
Bear wrongs patiently
Pray for the Living and
the dead
Mission of Sisters of Mercy of the
Americas - 1995
Animated by the Gospel and Catherine McAuley’s passion for the poor, we
are impelled to commit our lives and resources to act in solidarity with
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the economically poor of the world, especially
women and children
women seeking fullness of life and
equality in church and society
one another as we embrace our
multicultural and international reality
CRITICAL CONCERNS
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Earth
Immigration/Migration
Non-violence/Peacemaking
Poverty
Racism
Women
Mercy Meeting Today’s Needs
 Education
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Mercy Education Project
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www.mercyed.net
Readiness Center – Benton Harbor
Higher Education – 19 colleges & universities
 Healthcare
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Trinity Health – one of 6 health systems in U.S.
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St. Joseph Mercy Oakland
 Mercy Place
 Clinica Santa Teresa
 Faith Community Nursing
Mercy Meeting Today’s Needs
 Social
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Services
Immigration
Domestic Violence shelters
Alternatives for Girls
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www.alternativesforgirls.org
 Housing
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Mercy Housing
http://www.mercyhousing.org/about_history.aspx
Mercy Meeting s Today’s Needs
 Justice
 Mercy
Global Concern
 Bridging
 Socially
the Gap
Responsible Investment
 Mercy Partnership Fund
 Education for Justice
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SOA
CLASA
Mercy Meeting Today’s Needs
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Linking those of means and affluence with
those who have less
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Cabrini Clinic - Corktown
Collaboration with others
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Mercy Associates
Mercy Corps
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http://www.mercyvolunteers.org/volunteer/usprogram.html
Co-workers in ministry
Meeting New Needs the Mercy Way
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Mothers Living & Learning
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Residential program for single mothers with
children at St. Mary College Omaha
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http://www.csm.edu/Student_Life_and_Services/Residence_Life/Mothers__L
iving/
Sister to Sister
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Educational program for religious women in
Africa to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic
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http://allafrica-sistertosister.org/index_files/History.html
Questions
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How does our work here at UDM resonate
with the Mercy Mission Statement?
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Which of the Critical Concerns seem/s to
be similar to UDM’s mission?