1. Spirit and Vision of the Sisters of Mercy February 7, 2008

2. Catherine McAuley’s Legacy Spirituality – sight-feeling-prayer – ACTION Spirituality – sight-feeling-prayer – ACTION “our hearts should always be in the same place centered in God” “our hearts should always be in the same place centered in God” Ministry – corporal and spiritual works of Mercy Ministry – corporal and spiritual works of Mercy “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” “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” “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 Bridging the Gap – linking the poor with those of means

3. Mission of the Sisters of Mercy - 1831 “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) “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 www.mercyinternational.ie www.mercyinternational.ie

4. Works of Mercy Feed the hungry Feed the hungry Give drink to the thirsty Give drink to the thirsty Clothe the naked Clothe the naked Visit the imprisoned Visit the imprisoned Shelter the homeless Shelter the homeless Visit the sick Visit the sick Bury the dead Bury the dead 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

5. 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 the economically poor of the world, especially the economically poor of the world, especially women and children women and children women seeking fullness of life and women seeking fullness of life and equality in church and society equality in church and society one another as we embrace our one another as we embrace our multicultural and international reality multicultural and international reality

6. CRITICAL CONCERNS Earth Earth Immigration/Migration Immigration/Migration Non-violence/Peacemaking Non-violence/Peacemaking Poverty Poverty Racism Racism Women Women

7. Mercy Meeting Today’s Needs Education Education Mercy Education Project Mercy Education Project www.mercyed.net www.mercyed.net www.mercyed.net Readiness Center – Benton Harbor Readiness Center – Benton Harbor Higher Education – 19 colleges & universities Higher Education – 19 colleges & universities Healthcare Healthcare Trinity Health – one of 6 health systems in U.S. Trinity Health – one of 6 health systems in U.S. St. Joseph Mercy Oakland St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Mercy Place Mercy Place Clinica Santa Teresa Clinica Santa Teresa Faith Community Nursing Faith Community Nursing

8. Mercy Meeting Today’s Needs Social Services Social Services Immigration Immigration Domestic Violence shelters Domestic Violence shelters Alternatives for Girls Alternatives for Girls www.alternativesforgirls.org www.alternativesforgirls.org www.alternativesforgirls.org Housing Housing Mercy Housing http://www.mercyhousing.org/about_history.aspx Mercy Housing http://www.mercyhousing.org/about_history.aspx http://www.mercyhousing.org/about_history.aspx

9. Mercy Meeting s Today’s Needs Justice Justice Mercy Global Concern Mercy Global Concern Bridging the Gap Bridging the Gap Socially Responsible Investment Socially Responsible Investment Mercy Partnership Fund Mercy Partnership Fund Education for Justice Education for Justice SOA SOA CLASA CLASA

10. Mercy Meeting Today’s Needs Linking those of means and affluence with those who have less Linking those of means and affluence with those who have less Cabrini Clinic - Corktown Cabrini Clinic - Corktown Collaboration with others Collaboration with others Mercy Associates Mercy Associates Mercy Corps Mercy Corps http://www.mercyvolunteers.org/volunteer/usprogram.html http://www.mercyvolunteers.org/volunteer/usprogram.html http://www.mercyvolunteers.org/volunteer/usprogram.html Co-workers in ministry Co-workers in ministry

11. Meeting New Needs the Mercy Way Mothers Living & Learning Mothers Living & Learning Residential program for single mothers with children at St. Mary College Omaha Residential program for single mothers with children at St. Mary College Omaha http://www.csm.edu/Student_Life_and_Services/Residence_Life/Mothers__L iving/ http://www.csm.edu/Student_Life_and_Services/Residence_Life/Mothers__L iving/ http://www.csm.edu/Student_Life_and_Services/Residence_Life/Mothers__L iving/ http://www.csm.edu/Student_Life_and_Services/Residence_Life/Mothers__L iving/ Sister to Sister Sister to Sister Educational program for religious women in Africa to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic Educational program for religious women in Africa to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic http://allafrica-sistertosister.org/index_files/History.html http://allafrica-sistertosister.org/index_files/History.html http://allafrica-sistertosister.org/index_files/History.html

12. Questions How does our work here at UDM resonate with the Mercy Mission Statement? How does our work here at UDM resonate with the Mercy Mission Statement? Which of the Critical Concerns seem/s to be similar to UDM’s mission? Which of the Critical Concerns seem/s to be similar to UDM’s mission?