Shapers of a Dream Mary Reynolds, rsm Executive Director, Mercy International Association September 2014 Shapers of a Dream

His mercies are new every morning Lamentations 3:23

Charism Gift given by the Spirit for the renewal and building of the Church The meeting of the deep story with the needs of the age

“to make some lasting efforts for the relief of the suffering and the instruction of the ignorant, and she thought of establishing a society of pious secular ladies who would devote themselves to their service, with liberty to return to their worldly life when they no longer felt inclined to discharge such duties”

Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy Founded by Catherine McAuley

˜ Foundation Period: ( years) Ireland 1831, England 1839, Newfoundland 1842, United States 1843, Australia 1846, New Zealand 1850, Argentine 1856 ˜ Expansion Period (2/3 generations +) Original foundations in each country set up new foundations ˜ Stabilization Period (century or more) High reputation of Mercy schools & hospitals ˜ Breakdown (loss of identity and purpose) Post Vatican II ˜ Critical period: Extinction, Minimal Survival or Revitalization Characteristics of Each Age Of Mercy

Revitalisation Revitalisation is a transforming response to the signs of the times The deep story emerges as charism when it is able to rise to the occasion- which is the contemporary world in all its concreteness Charism

Vatican II The understanding of Religious Life was of a privileged state of perfection, a higher calling Vatican II not only turned that understanding on its head but it completely changed the worldview of the entire church While respecting the unique vocation of each, the emphasis was on complimentarity and collaboration

Vatican II Called religious to reinterpret their charism by a return to the core call of the gospel and the vision of their founder in the context of the signs of the time. It called the laity to exercise their vocation and to participate more fully in the mission of the Church.

Charism ˜ The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well Vita Consereta ˜ A new chapter rich in hope, has begun in the history of religious between consecrated persons and the laity

For the Lay Mercy Minister, it is a call to recognise the vocation aspect of the ministry in which they are involved, to nurture the charism in their own spirituality, to proclaim it in their mission and value statements and most especially to embody it in their service of people to whom they minister Challenge for Lay Partners in Ministry

“The great temptation for those in Religious Life to-day is to turn inward, to focus on their self- preservation and to put all their energies into maintenance rather than on the mission of God which continues to call as urgently now as it did at the time when our Congregation was founded.” Diarmaid O'Murchú Challenge for Religious

“The future of Mercy is not for us to invent - that is a divine prerogative- but one we can anticipate co-creatively. We do so by embracing with deeper wisdom the new world order struggling to unfold all around us.”

8000 Sisters 5000 Associates 250, Partners in Ministry

Mercy Associates by Congregation Newfoundland 110 Congregation/ Ireland 575 GB Youth 45 Australia (Brisbane) 40 GB Adult 375 Australia & PNG Institute 420 Companions in Mercy – Americas 8 Americas 3162

Partners in Ministry 250, 000 – 500, 000

Programme Participants by Relationship to MercyTour Participants by Congregational Affiliation May 2012 – May 2013: Programmes Held at MIC & Online MIC Programmes Partners in Ministry – % Students – 90 16% Friends of Mercy – 5 1% Associates – 16 3% Non -Mercy Women Religious – 8 2% RSMs – % Institute of the Americas % Congregation/ Ireland – % Australia/ PNG – 73 13% Aotearoa/ New Zealand – 78 14% New Foundland – 10 2% Great Britain – 6 1%

“I believe we have been inspired to return to our ministries with renewed vigour and determination to seek opportunities to spread the word and encourage others to walk in the footsteps of these early women of Mercy. We have indeed been challenged with a great responsibility to continue their work.” Mercy Pilgrim Participant Inspiration to carry out the work of Mercy

School/ University Groups – % Associate/ Circle of Mercy Groups – 48 7% Parish/ Diocesan Groups – % Tour Company Groups % USA % Ireland – % Australia – % Tour Participant by Group TypeTour Participant by Country MIC – Group Tours: May 2012 – May 2013

Young Mercy Leadership Pilgrimage

"Fundraising is, first and foremost, a ministry. It's a way of announcing our vision and inviting other people into our mission.“ Henri Nouwen

Enlarge the place of you tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations; spare not, lengthen your cords... Isaiah 54:2

As we explore the Future of Mercy What can we do better together than any of us can do apart?