World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5 since 1973, has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach.
#WorldEnvironmentDay 2026 focuses on climate change—on the urgent signals the Earth is sending – rising seas, raging wildfires, heatwaves, melting glaciers – and the signals we choose to send back.
We said 1.5°C was the limit. We are crossing it.
UNEP’s global campaign calls on all of us to step in #NowForClimate, and steer a world already in motion.
El Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente, que se celebra anualmente el 5 de junio desde 1973, se ha convertido en la mayor plataforma mundial de divulgación medioambiental.
El #DíaMundialDelMedioAmbiente 2026 se centra en el cambio climático—en las señales urgentes que nos envía la Tierra (el aumento del nivel del mar, los incendios forestales devastadores, las olas de calor, el deshielo de los glaciares)— y en las señales que decidimos enviarle a nuestra vez.
Dijimos que 1,5 °C era el límite. Lo estamos superando.
La campaña mundial del PNUMA nos exhorta a todos a actuar #AhoraPorElClima y a enderezar el rumbo de un mundo que ya está en movimiento.
World Bee Day 2026 is celebrated on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, focusing on raising awareness about the vital role of bees and pollinators in ecosystem health, food security, and biodiversity.
The 2026 theme is: “Bee together for people and the planet. A partnership that sustains us all“
World Bee Day was designated by the United Nations in 2018 and celebrated annually on May 20. Its purpose is to draw attention to the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy. The month of May was chosen for World Bee Day because in the northern hemisphere the need for pollination is greatest at that time, while in the southern hemisphere it is a time for harvesting honey and other bee products.
The NL Beekeeping Association encourages a NO MOW MAY campaign, asking residents of the province not to mow their lawns for the whole month of May. This will help to provide essential food for bees and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
El Día Mundial de las Abejas de 2026 se celebra el miércoles 20 de mayo de 2026, con el objetivo de concienciar sobre el papel fundamental que desempeñan las abejas y los polinizadores en la salud de los ecosistemas, la seguridad alimentaria y la biodiversidad.
El lema de 2026 es: «Unidos por las personas y el planeta. Una alianza que nos sustenta a todos»
El Día Mundial de las Abejas fue designado por las Naciones Unidas en 2018 y se celebra anualmente el 20 de mayo. Su objetivo es llamar la atención sobre el papel esencial que desempeñan las abejas y otros polinizadores para mantener la salud de las personas y del planeta. Se eligió el mes de mayo para el Día Mundial de las Abejas porque en el hemisferio norte la necesidad de polinización es mayor en esa época, mientras que en el hemisferio sur es el momento de la recolección de miel y otros productos apícolas.
La Asociación de Apicultores de Terranova y Labrador promueve la campaña «NO MOW MAY» (No segues en mayo), en la que se pide a los residentes de la provincia que no seguen el césped durante todo el mes de mayo. Esto ayudará a proporcionar alimento esencial a las abejas y un hábitat para los polinizadores y otros animales silvestres.
Every year most of the world takes time to honor mothers.
We extend our thoughts and prayers to mothers to celebrate their generosity and self-giving in living out their role as life-giver, nurturer, teacher, friend and more.
We pray for all mothers, living and dead, especially our own and those who have been mother figures to us.
We hope that mothers and mother figures will always be honored and not just once a year.
Cada año, en casi todo el mundo se dedica un tiempo a rendir homenaje a las madres.
Dirigimos nuestros pensamientos y oraciones a las madres para celebrar su generosidad y su entrega al desempeñar su papel como dadoras de vida, cuidadoras, maestras, amigas y mucho más.
Rezamos por todas las madres, vivas y fallecidas, especialmente por nuestras propias madres y por aquellas que han sido para nosotros figuras maternas.
Esperamos que las madres y las figuras maternas sean siempre honradas, y no solo una vez al año.
Appreciation and Gratitude to Nurses and Nursing Personnel.
The theme of Nurses Week is: “The Power of Nurses to Transform Health” focusing on the leadership, expertise, and lasting impact nurses have on the Canadian healthcare system.
We honor all those women and men who have and who are giving their lives in the nursing care of so many men women and children. We remember our many deceased sisters who have been in the nursing ministry as infirmarians, nurses, nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, medical service aides, nursing educators, health care administrators. We celebrate our sisters among us who are currently in the nursing profession or retired. We acknowledge the nurses who currently work at Littledale Residence and especially those in nursing care of our sisters at The Mount.
May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, pioneer, and founder of professional and dedicated nursing care. International Nurses Day (IND) is celebrated globally every year on this date
We celebrate Florence Nightingale for her leadership and recognition of the need for order, cleanliness, hygiene and disciplined care of the sick and dying. We delight in her great love and respect for our ancestors in Mercy, the many Sisters of Mercy from England and Ireland who went with Florence to care for the soldiers in Turkey during the Crimean War. Stories of how the sisters influenced and supported her are found in her many writings.
There is a large painting, Mission of Mercy: Florence Nightingale Receiving the Wounded at Scutari (Jerry Barrett) where we see a Sister of Mercy standing near Florence amidst the soldiers and wounded.
Watch a video about Florence: (2:45 Minutes)
Reconocimiento y agradecimiento a las enfermeras y al personal de enfermería.
El lema de la Semana de las Enfermeras es: «El poder de las enfermeras para transformar la salud», y se centra en el liderazgo, la experiencia y el impacto duradero que las enfermeras tienen en el sistema sanitario canadiense.
Rendimos homenaje a todas aquellas mujeres y hombres que han dedicado y siguen dedicando su vida al cuidado de tantos hombres, mujeres y niños. Recordamos a nuestras numerosas hermanas fallecidas que han ejercido el ministerio de la enfermería como enfermeras, auxiliares de enfermería, enfermeras prácticas tituladas, auxiliares de servicios médicos, formadoras de enfermería y administradoras sanitarias. Celebramos a nuestras hermanas que están entre nosotros y que actualmente ejercen la profesión de enfermería o están jubiladas. Reconocemos a las enfermeras que trabajan actualmente en la Residencia Littledale y, especialmente, a aquellas que atienden a nuestras hermanas en The Mount.
El 12 de mayo es el cumpleaños de Florence Nightingale, pionera y fundadora de la atención de enfermería profesional y dedicada. El Día Internacional de la Enfermería (IND) se celebra en todo el mundo cada año en esta fecha.
Rendimos homenaje a Florence Nightingale por su liderazgo y por haber reconocido la necesidad de orden, limpieza, higiene y una atención disciplinada a los enfermos y moribundos. Nos llena de alegría su gran amor y respeto por nuestras antepasadas de la Congregación de la Misericordia, las numerosas Hermanas de la Misericordia procedentes de Inglaterra e Irlanda que acompañaron a Florence para atender a los soldados en Turquía durante la Guerra de Crimea. En sus numerosos escritos se recogen relatos sobre cómo las hermanas la influyeron y la apoyaron.
Hay un gran cuadro, Misión de la Misericordia: Florence Nightingale recibiendo a los heridos en Scutari (Jerry Barrett), en el que vemos a una Hermana de la Misericordia de pie junto a Florence, entre los soldados y los heridos.
In Canada indigenous women and girls are targeted for violence more than any other group. More than 4000 indigenous women and girls have gone missing or been
murdered in the last 30 years – an appalling statistic!
Canada’s National Inquiry into this tragic history called upon all governments – national, provincial, territorial and indigenous – to work together to build an effective and accountable National Action Plan to address this crisis. Indeed, there is an urgent need for all Canadians to make efforts to raise awareness of this Canada-wide tragedy and to do whatever we can to make Canada a country for all Canadians.
Today let us remember in prayer all the victims of gender-based violence, as well as all their families and communities whose lives have been forever altered by the loss of loved ones.
El lunes 5 de mayo es el Día Nacional de Luto por las Mujeres y Niñas Indígenas Desaparecidas y Asesinadas (MMIWG), conocido a menudo como el «Día del Vestido Rojo».
En Canadá, las mujeres y niñas indígenas son el grupo más afectado por la violencia. Más de 4000 mujeres y niñas indígenas han desaparecido o han sido
asesinadas en los últimos 30 años: ¡una estadística espantosa!
La Investigación Nacional de Canadá sobre esta trágica historia hizo un llamamiento a todos los gobiernos —nacional, provinciales, territoriales e indígenas— para que trabajen juntos en la elaboración de un Plan de Acción Nacional eficaz y responsable que aborde esta crisis. De hecho, existe una necesidad urgente de que todos los canadienses se esfuercen por crear conciencia sobre esta tragedia que afecta a todo el país y hagamos todo lo posible para que Canadá sea un país para todos los canadienses.
Hoy recordemos en nuestras oraciones a todas las víctimas de la violencia de género, así como a todas sus familias y comunidades, cuyas vidas han quedado marcadas para siempre por la pérdida de sus seres queridos.
St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital has a rich history dating back to May 21, 1922 when the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland opened a hospital in a small dwelling, the “White House” to care for 23 patients. From these small beginnings has grown a Tertiary, adult acute care hospital serving the people of Newfoundland and Labrador for over 100 years.
1913: “White House” purchased from the Honorable E. M. Jackman to be operated by the Sisters of Mercy as a home for working girls
St Clare’s 1916
1921: The “White House” was renovated to serve as a hospital. Archbishop E.P. Roche laid plans for the improvement whish included sending a Sister of Mercy to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg to train as a nurse
1922:May 21 St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital was officially opened to care for 23 patients Sister Mary Bernard Gladney, graduate nurse, was appointed Superintendent. The following year Sister Mary Aloysius Rawlins took on the position of superintendant
1939: New modern 100 bed building opened west of the “White House” on LeMarchant Road
St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital School of Nursing was opened with accommodations for the students in a duplex house next to the hospital
1941: First Graduation of St. Clare’s Nursing School- five graduates
1950: Opening of a large chapel and additional facilities for pediatric, obstetric and dietary services
– Our Lady of Lourdes window installed on chapel corridor in memory of Sister Mary Aloysius Rawlins who had been administrator of St. Clare’s for over twenty years.
1956: Board of Governors and Medical Advisory Committee established
1958: Our Lady of Lourdes Hall opened to accommodate 100 nursing students
1959: St. Clare’s granted its first full accreditation by Canadian Council on Hospital Accreditation
1960: St. Clare’s was incorporated
1962:Opening of New wing on St. Clare Avenue to provide accommodation for 100 additional patients
1967: St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital Auxiliary set up. Mrs. Joan Parker Crosbie was first President
1963: Planning begun for another extension of hospital. 1968 Recognition as teaching hospital affiliated with Memorial University
1972: Golden Anniversary of the opening of St. Clare’s. New wing officially opened. Hospital population now increased to 300 patients
1975: Department of Pastoral Care established. Sister M. Carmelita Power appointed as Director
1978: Talbot House, a Residential Detoxification Center was opened on Deanery Avenue
“For Mercy has a Human Heart” – sculpture by Gerald Squires
1979: First Palliative Care Unit east of Montreal opened. The unit was transferred to the Leonard A. Miller Centre in 2002
1984: St. Clare’s was selected as one of ten test sites for a national computerized information management project
1985: Establishment of St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital Foundation
– Computers were introduced- Meditech system for patient information
1994:St. Clare’s sold to provincial government and incorporated into Health Care Corporation of St. John’s, 1995
– Opening of LeMarchant House, a mental health day program/centre
1995:St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital Advisory Council was established to foster Mission, Values and Ethics
2004: Sisters of Mercy donated a ceramic mural “For Mercy Has a Human Heart” placed in the front entrance. Artist – Gerald Squires
2005: Eastern Health, Regional Authority established for administration of all health care services in Avalon, Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas, including St. Clare’s
Care of the sick is integral to the charism and tradition of all Sisters of Mercy as well noted in the founding history of the congregation. Visitation of the sick in their homes and in institutions has been adapted to circumstances of time and place, yet remains a strong witness of the Mercy ministry.
St Clare’s Mercy Hospital, Lemarchant Road
On May 21, 1922, the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland opened a hospital in a small dwelling, the “White House” to care for 23 patients. From these small beginnings has grown a Tertiary, adult acute care hospital serving the people of Newfoundland and Labrador for over 100 years.
Having celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022, St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital’s standard of excellence is recognized by all. It was sold to government in 1995 yet the influence of the Sisters of Mercy is obvious with its Advisory Council continuing to play a key role. The presence of the Sisters in Pastoral Care and its Mercy symbols in strategic locations continue to give the hospital its unique atmosphere. Indeed, “God’s mercy is from generation to generation’ (Luke 1:50)
Established by the Sisters of Mercy, today Eastern Health continues our legacy of providing compassionate and caring healthcare services to the people of the province, delivered and supported by almost 500 dedicated staff and health-care professionals at St Clare’s.
“It is a privilege for me to give thanks on behalf of all Sisters of Mercy and our associates as we mark the 100th anniversary of St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital,” said Congregational Leader, Sister Diane Smyth. “I speak with gratitude for all those who shared their gifts, talents, time, expertise and love to ensure that every aspect of human life was cared for – body, mind and spirit. For 100 years St. Clare’s has stood proud of its history and heritage and its standards of excellence.”
During the 100th anniversary celebrations greetings were expressed by Dr. Andrew Furey – Premier of Newfoundland, Doctor John Haggie- Minister of Health, Archbishop Peter Hundt – Archbishop of St. John’s, Mr. David Diamond – CEO of Eastern Health and Sister Diane Smyth – Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Mercy. All echoed the great contribution of St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital to the field of health care and the influence of the Sisters of Mercy.
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of symbols brought forward by key members of the St. Clare’s community. The Symbols included:
A photo of St. Clare’s showing the growth of the hospital over the years
A Values Poster highlighting the heart of their mission and ministry
Oil of Anointing as a symbol of healing and comfort
Crest of St. Clare’s with its motto “Mercy Above All”, representing healing and hope centered in Mercy
Nightingale Lamp representing Florence Nightingale, the mother of the nursing profession
Clare’s Community – a collage representing the different departments and services which provide ministry at St. Clare’s
Photo of a ceramic Sculpture by Newfoundland artist Gerry Squires which depicts the history of St. Clare’s. This sculpture adorns the lobby of the hospital.
To mark the centenary, Eastern Health produced this video of the ritual of gratitude and thanksgiving held 22 May, 2022 (54.23).
On 23 October 2017 more than one hundred guests gathered at Government House in St. John’s, NL to mark the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital Auxiliary.
Their Honours Mr. Frank and Patricia Fagan were hosts in the beautiful and historic residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Former Presidents of the Auxiliary, past and currents members as well as a number of Sisters of Mercy and other friends were in attendance. Refreshments were graciously served by Government House staff. Guests and Governor Fagan and his wife mingled about the grand reception rooms.
Lt. Governor Frank and Mrs. Patricia Fagan
The Governor spoke for a few minutes to commend the group on reaching this milestone and to thank them for the wonderful work that the Auxiliary members have done and continue to do on behalf of those who seek health and healing at St. Clare’s. With grace and hospitality he welcomed everyone to Government House and invited them to explore the rooms and enjoy the beauty and history of the building.
Sister Elizabeth Davis, Leader of the Sisters of Mercy, spoke a few words of greeting to the auxiliary and thanked them for their dedicated and generous service to St. Clare’s and to the patients and families who come there.
Then an address was given by Mrs. Joan Parker Crosbie, First President of the Auxiliary:
Your Honours, Mr. and Mrs. Fagan, Sisters of St. Clare’s, President of the St. Clare’s Auxiliary, Auxiliary Past Presidents of the Auxiliary and friends:
Mrs. Joan Parker Crosbie
It is hard to believe that it was fifty years since the beginning of the auxiliary. It was a very humble beginning but the enthusiasm of all the members was great. I would be amiss if I didn’t mention all the encouragement we received from Sister Mary Aidan, Sister Fabian and all the Sisters. The auxiliary reminds me of the proud oak tree that grows from a tiny acorn.
We had a great time starting the auxiliary and many new friendships were formed. We had a shower and members brought things to sell in the gift shop. We had a Ball at the Old Colony Club and an auction during the Ball. I only remember one item (to be auctioned) and that was Ray Guy’s salt and pepper cap. The paper from inside the rim was missing as he got short-taken out in the woods. Then there was the Sale of Work. We took our knitting needles, sewing machine and all Sisters joined in. They also made the wonderful fudge, which was the first thing to sell out.
Auxiliary Presidents
I am now at an age that memories are important. I must say that my memories of St. Clare’s Auxiliary are very happy and proud ones. I never could imagine that it would grow to the size that it is today.
Congratulations to all the members over the 50 years that have made the auxiliary what it is today.
Appreciation to Governor Fagan was expressed by Leslie Darraugh, current President of the Auxiliary. Some photos were taken of many of the previous presidents who were in attendance. It was the end of a lovely and memorable event.
The theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet”which serves as a rallying cry to unite for renewable energy, aiming to triple clean energy by 2030.
This theme emphasizes individual and community action, highlighting that environmental progress is driven by daily efforts to reclaim our voice, rights, and future.
El lema del Día de la Tierra 2026 es «Nuestro poder, nuestro planeta», que sirve como llamamiento a la unión en favor de las energías renovables, con el objetivo de triplicar la energía limpia para 2030.
Este lema hace hincapié en la acción individual y comunitaria, y destaca que el progreso medioambiental se basa en los esfuerzos diarios por recuperar nuestra voz, nuestros derechos y nuestro futuro.
World Health Day 2026, observed on April 7th , calls on people everywhere to stand with science, under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science”.
This year’s observance launches a year-long campaign celebrating the power of scientific collaboration to protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the planet. The campaign spotlights both scientific achievements and the multilateral cooperation needed to turn evidence into action – through a strong focus on the One Health approach.
We pray for all mothers, living and dead, especially our own and those who have been mother figures to us.
In Canada indigenous women and girls are targeted for violence more than any other group. More than 4000 indigenous women and girls have gone missing or been
A photo of St. Clare’s showing the growth of the hospital over the years
