Month: March 2024

If you cut across the diameter of an apple you will see a five- pointed star at its centre. Many of the blossoms that turn into the vegetables and fruits that we eat are also shaped like five pointed stars. To the Mercy Centre for Ecology & Justice, the five pointed star is a symbol that we are all connected in a reciprocal relationship with nature and the universe.

The mission of the  Mercy Centre for Ecology & Justice is to promote the interconnectedness and interrelatedness of all creation and to live in a spirituality flowing out of the sacredness of all creation.

From its beginnings in 2003, the Mercy Centre quickly identified a need to connect low-income families in the St. John’s area with fresh, healthy locally grown produce. Organizers also saw the opportunity to engage youth in growing food. The result has been a six year community gardening initiative that is still thriving today. Mercy Centre organizers see physical connection with the land as a practical expression of their mission.

“The first purpose was to engage youth in organic gardening so that they could learn the skills of gardening; skills that were traditionally known to their elders but were being lost”, reflects Sister Mary Tee, coordinator of the Mercy Centre for Ecology & Justice. “The second purpose then was to engage youth so that they could experience what it means to be a contributing member of the larger community and help feed those in need. The third purpose was to offer a healthy respect and appreciation for the land so that youth could see themselves as part of all creation and all creation as part of them; and then with such awareness of the mysteries and miracle of life in a tiny seed, a greater wisdom and consciousness could be found.”

Over the years thousands of pounds of fresh food have been donated to food banks and meal programs by the Mercy Centre’s gardeners. This was made possible by the generous support of several farmers in the area who shared their acreage and contributed their expertise.  From 2003 – 2009, prior to the Mercy Centre establishing its current home on Mount Scio Road, garden land was donated by farmers Colin Lester, Hector Williams, Robert Walsh, and the Searl Family.

Starting in 2006 the Mercy Centre began partnering with the Association for New Canadians (ANC) to provide access to land to participants in the Association’s language training program, many of whom were new residents to Canada who brought with them a wealth of knowledge on food production. That relationship continues today and ANC participants often visit to tend their plants, harvest fresh food for their families, and participate in events like presentations and workshops on food security and food skills given by the Food Security Network(FSN). In 2012 a new initiative was started called Growing Health, a partnership with Nature NL to connect consumers of mental health services with gardening at the Mercy Centre, based on the belief that working in and with nature does wonders for the mind, body, and soul. Through the project dozens of new visitors have experienced what the Mercy Centre has to offer.  A new greenhouse and composting toilet were added in 2012.

The Mercy Centre for Ecology & Justice offers other impactful programs beyond the garden, including public education on the New Universe Story, a three-week nature-based summer camp for children, an annual fair trade Ten Thousand Villages Sale, and a youth choir that addresses social justice issues called Music and Song to Right the Wrongs. To support all of that amazing work, the Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice formed its first Board of Directors in 2012.

Article courtesy of the Food Sharing Network

In 1922 the House of Commons designated March as Irish Heritage Month.  The intent of this designation is to celebrate Irish Canadians’ contributions to Canada’s story and to provide an opportunity to learn more about Irish Canadian history. If you’re Irish, this is your month to celebrate!

In her message marking Irish Heritage Month Minister Khera said ” This month, let’s reflect on the resilience, creativity and spirit of the Irish diaspora.”

On our website we tell the stories of  60 Sisters of Mercy who left Ireland  between 1842  and 1907 , all aged between sixteen and twenty years, to minister with the people of Newfoundland and of the works of mercy carried out by the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland celebrating their
continued contributions to our country.

Watch Minister Khera’s message

En 1922, la Cámara de los Comunes designó marzo Mes de la Herencia Irlandesa. El objetivo de esta designación es celebrar la contribución de los irlandeses canadienses a la historia de Canadá y ofrecer la oportunidad de aprender más sobre la historia irlandesa canadiense. Si eres irlandés, ¡este es tu mes para celebrarlo!

En su mensaje con motivo del Mes de la Herencia Irlandesa, la ministra Khera dijo: “Este mes, reflexionemos sobre la resistencia, la creatividad y el espíritu de la diáspora irlandesa”.

En nuestra página web contamos las historias de 60 Hermanas de la Misericordia que dejaron Irlanda entre 1842 y 1907 , todas con edades comprendidas entre los dieciséis y los veinte años, para ejercer su ministerio con la gente de Terranova y de las obras de misericordia llevadas a cabo por las Hermanas de la Misericordia de Terranova celebrando sus continuas contribuciones a nuestro país.

Traducción realizada con la versión gratuita del traductor DeepL.com

March 8, International Women’s Day, is a global day celebrating the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women.  It also issues a call to action for the acceleration of greater parity in our world.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Inspire Inclusion.  This is very much in sync with the thrust of our second Chapter direction, “welcoming diversity and inclusion in creation, and in community and ministry.”

Let us be open to carry forward the theme and intent of this day.

 

 

El 8 de marzo, Día Internacional de la Mujer, es una jornada mundial que celebra los logros sociales, culturales, económicos y políticos de las mujeres. También hace un llamamiento a la acción para acelerar una mayor paridad en nuestro mundo.

El tema del Día Internacional de la Mujer de este año es Inspirar inclusión. Esto está muy en sintonía con el impulso de la dirección de nuestro segundo Capítulo, “acoger la diversidad y la inclusión en la creación, y en la comunidad y el ministerio”.

Estemos abiertos a llevar adelante el tema y la intención de este día.

 

The Latin America and Caribbean Conference (Sisters of Mercy) was held virtually on February 23 and 24 with participation by  over thirty five sisters from  various Central and South American communities.  The Leadership Team of the Sisters of Mercy from St. John’s, Newfoundland also participated.

The thrust of the group was centered in the theme of the Synodal of Walking together as Mercy: Listening and discerning in the Holy Spirit.  Emphasis was on inclusion and openness – the Synodal journey is for the whole people of God.  “Through Baptism we are all responsible for the mission of the Church.  There is space for all and each has a part of the truth.  In the past a synod was seen as an antidote for when life in the church grew static and  needed to be shaken up.  In the third millennium synod  the Church is being called to conversion- conversion of mind, heart and attitude which can lead to change in political, social and religious structures.”  Understandings of “ power” also have influence and cause change in  how one behaves in relationship to the other: power against, power within, power without, power over, power with, power for, power to . . . to care, to support, to accompany.

Participants were invited to reflect and to share in a small group on their experience of a situation in Church that was not synodal and also on a situation in the Church that was synodal.  Participants also shared their experience and the situation in their country or area.  The sessions had time of prayer, reflection and sharing as well as artistic expression and body movement that energized.

Congratulations to the organizing committee of LACC 2024.  The next conference will be in 2027 in Peru.

La Conferencia de América Latina y el Caribe (Hermanas de la Misericordia) se celebró virtualmente los días 23 y 24 de febrero con la participación de más de treinta y cinco hermanas de varias comunidades de América Central y del Sur.  También participó el Equipo de Liderazgo de las Hermanas de la Misericordia de St. John’s, Terranova.

El impulso del grupo se centró en el tema del Sínodo de Caminar juntas como Misericordia: Escuchar y discernir en el Espíritu Santo.  Se hizo hincapié en la inclusión y la apertura: el camino sinodal es para todo el pueblo de Dios.  “Por el Bautismo todos somos responsables de la misión de la Iglesia.  Hay espacio para todos y cada uno tiene una parte de la verdad.  En el pasado, un sínodo era visto como un antídoto para cuando la vida en la Iglesia se volvía estática y necesitaba ser sacudida.  En el sínodo del tercer milenio, la Iglesia está llamada a la conversión – conversión de mente, corazón y actitud que puede llevar al cambio de las estructuras políticas, sociales y religiosas”.  La comprensión del “poder” también influye y provoca cambios en la forma de comportarse en relación con los demás: poder contra, poder dentro, poder fuera, poder sobre, poder con, poder para, poder para… cuidar, apoyar, acompañar.

Se invitó a los participantes a reflexionar y compartir en un pequeño grupo su experiencia sobre una situación en la Iglesia que no era sinodal y también sobre una situación en la Iglesia que sí lo era.  Los participantes también compartieron su experiencia y la situación en su país o zona.  Las sesiones tuvieron tiempo para la oración, la reflexión y el intercambio, así como para la expresión artística y el movimiento corporal que energizaron.

Felicitaciones al comité organizador de LACC 2024.  La próxima conferencia será en 2027 en Perú.