On Wednesday July 31, Mercy sisters and sisters from other religious congregations gathered at the Mercy Hub in Carlton North for the first of three sessions reflecting on the experience of searching for home. 

Dr. Elizabeth Dowling RSM led a reflective and enriching journey through the scriptures and invited those present to consider issues raised today which find their parallels in the biblical text: Who are the vulnerable who fall through the cracks today?  Who or what are crying out in pain in our world today?  How do our leaders use power – as shepherds or as tyrants?  Elizabeth also reminded us that the cry of earth and the cry of the poor are interconnected.  Like Jesus (Matt 8:19-20), the earth’s creatures today do not always have a home.  The environmental crisis is felt by people, by creatures, and by the land, and disproportionately affects the poorest.

The remaining gatherings in the Winter Season explored three different practical expressions of mercy in our world today.  We heard first from Anne Mitchell, Manager of Steps Outreach Service in Melbourne, which supports young people who are homeless by first spending time getting to know them on the steps of Flinders Street station.  In the final gathering, Judith Jackson (Aunty Jacko) shared the story of the Wominjeka BBQ in St. Kilda, which has reached out to indigenous people experiencing homelessness since 2005, and has helped many on the road to stable housing.  Teash Taylor, a volunteer resident at the Indigenous Hospitality House in Carlton North, also spoke about their experience of offering hospitality to indigenous people, and the paradox of doing so while living on stolen land.

For full article:  ​https://institute.mercy.org.au/mercy-hub-offers-a-winter-season-on-searching-for-home/

"The Mercy Mission, Spirituality and Action Hub in North Carlton, Victoria, was the perfect setting on Saturday, 18 May, for an exhibition attended by a large number of Sisters and guests, of the work of four Australian iconographers: Margaret Broadbent rsm, Margaret McHugh rsm, Pauline Pervan lcm and Mrs Alice Vaughan.
Adding to the atmosphere, the afternoon's programme featured the Melbourne Capella Choir, an ensemble of professional choral and operatic singers performing works sung in English, Greek, Georgian and Russian, conducted by Nicholas Cowell."  -  Margaret Broadbent rsm

For full article: www.mercyworld.org/newsroom/a-celebration-of-living-light/

On Sunday March 3, the Young Mercy Links 2019 Orientation was held at the Mercy Mission Spirituality and Action Hub in Carlton North. A few new faces joined in with their deeply committed stalwarts who’ve been around for between 1 and 7 years.

Coordinator, Christie Tran, drew upon the members for their assistance in presenting to everyone the activities that Young Mercy Links are involved with and to speak of the opportunities that members have to deepen their commitment to Mercy and to build their strengths in leadership and action.

The new cohort are passionate about a range of issues, topmost among them equality and justice for women, the poor, refugees and indigenous people, as well as care for our common home. In the coming weeks we will be starting to plan our activities and events for the year but one event will likely relate to indigenous spirituality and increasing our understanding of local indigenous knowledge and lore and another event might relate to women’s equality and issues such as the efficacy and justice of certain types of female incarceration. The group will be meeting regularly throughout the year to organise events and to discuss their growing awareness and understandings of the issues society faces.

“It is an exciting and energising start to the year and I look forward to the gifts each of the members bring with them to our group and the work we will achieve together," says Christie.

For full article: https://institute.mercy.org.au/new-youth-commit-to-mercy/