On Saturday 22nd April, the Stechford and Handsworth Mercy Associates met for a day’s Retreat in Catherine’s last foundation. There was a great buzz of meeting and greeting on arrivals. The Associates had asked to learn more about Catherine, so the theme of the day was “Walking where Catherine walked”. Sr. Kathleen introduced the day and informed the group that she had received a message that morning for another Mercy woman to attend and was that ok? To the groups surprise ……

The month of May is traditionally devoted to Our Lady, Mary the Mother of God and it is well to follow her story as a meditation. Many of us will remember our school days when we had a May Procession and sang the hymn …….flowers of the fairest. From scripture we are not aware that Mary had any siblings so we will take for granted that she was an only child. We picture her as a young girl growing up in a simple homestead with Anne and Joachim helping with the daily routine in

Maryland Mercy Associates, St.Albans On the 29th March we were privileged to have Sister Maura with us once again for our meeting. Nine of our Associates attended and also welcomed a new member, Christina. We started our session with refreshments – plenty of ‘good cups of tea’ and some hot cross buns. Sister Maura then produced a stunning birthday cake for our secretary (me) as I celebrated my 70th birthday the previous week! We renewed our commitments as Mercy Associates and

MARY RECEIVES THE BODY OF JESUS "Joseph of Arimathea, who was the disciple of Jesus, though in secret asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission and he came and moved the Body". (John 19:38) All the people who stood at a distance to watch Jesus being crucified had gone away. It was nearly evening by the time Joseph got permission to move the body of Jesus. Mary waited and waited by the Cross not wanting to leave her Son without being able to e

On the 13th of March I had an enjoyable visit with the Mercy Associates in Whitstable. These Associates have been and are very generous in helping the home and overseas mission. They generously supported and are willing to support the mission where I worked - the Mercy Community Centre Kiptere Kenya. The group raised funds previously by having a Lunch Club which they managed for many years but due to age and infirmity this had to be discontinued. Then they came up with the br

Stechford Mercy Associates And Sisters’ Annual Renewal Of Commitment 12th March 2023 On Sunday 12th March 2023, the Stechford Mercy Sisters and Associates, joined by Sister Teresa Paschal O.Carm, held their annual renewal of Religious Vows and Lay Commitment in the newly-decorated Parish Room of Corpus Christi Church. The meeting began with the lighting of our Mercy candles, the singing of the Suscipe and the prayerful naming of our absent and deceased members. Next we refle

The group met on Ash Wednesday, 22nd February. 33 were able to come. 10 were absent through illness. The theme of the prayer was Lent. Sr Betty prepared the focus which was a large wooden cross with a drape of purple material at the base. Radiating out from the base of the cross were 5 scrolls on which were written names for Christ. Merciful Redeemer, Heart of my heart, You O Beloved, O comforter, Loving Companion Presence. 2 baskets of small stones were also placed at the ba

ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE SEASON OF LENT 2023 " We do not go into the desert to escape people, but to learn how to find them; we do not leave them in order to have nothing more to do with them, but how to find out how to do them the most good" (THOMAS MERTON) If we research the word Lent we will find that it means SPRINGTIME and a deeper meaning is the SPRINGTIME of our souls . The word also means lente ..slow or go slowly... slow down ...take deep breaths. The three great spirit

Though I pass through a gloomy valley I fear no harm, Beside me your rod and your staff Are there to hearten me. Psalm 25 February is a month of Feasts related to the heart like Valentine's Day with many "I LOVE YOU" messages marked and symbolised by little red hearts. It is also a month of COURAGE. The winter is gradually disappearing, and one wakes up to more light in the sky. Courage is a wonderful gift of the human spirit, and we are all aware of people known to us who di

In late October, West Croyden Mercy Associates, led by Florence Baptist, held a Fundraising event for the Aid to the Church in Need for which they received these kind words... Dear Mercy Associates, West Croydon On behalf of everyone at Aid to the Church in Need and our suffering brothers and sisters, we want to offer our heartfelt thanks to you for your generous donation of £114.45 for Nigeria, Pakistan and Iraq. Please can you confirm whehter this donaton was in response to

"I Would Rather Be Cold And Hungry Than That God's Poor Be Deprived Of Any Consolation In My Power To Help Them" C. McAuley The above words of our Venerable Foundress, Catherine McAuley, is a challenge to us to reflect on how we can reach out to those in need as we face uncertain times in our current political situation at home and abroad. In November and December, we celebrate important events in the life of the Mercy World, therefore I thought it a good opportunity to remem

STECHFORD ASSOCIATES’ CELEBRATION OF SISTER MAURA HALPIN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE OF RELIGIOUS PROFESSION Sunday 30 October 2022 It was a joy for us to honour Sister Maura Halpin who marked her Diamond Jubilee of Religious Profession on 17 September this year. 20 Associates gathered at Corpus Christi Parish, Stechford with Sister Maura, Sister Maureen Murphy, Sister Teresa Paschal, our Carmelite honorary member and Chris Worrall, husband of Associate Alison. From 1pm that day, unbe

The 29th of June was a truly wonderful day in Coolock as no less than 8 new Associates were received into the Group. We welcome... Christine Jamieson-Harvey Regina Gibson Sue Sammons Irene Dodd Mavis Anne Dodds Jean Elsby Jonathan Fair Brian Barnett

Here we take a look back at some of the things the Mercy Associates were getting up to in March 2003...

Maryland, St Albans, Mercy Associates May 2022 Nine of our group met on Wednesday 18th May and we were privileged to have both Sister Maura and Sister Maureen with us. Three of our Associates were not able to join us but we kept them, and all other Associates now in care homes or too unwell to attend, in our thoughts and prayers. This was our third meeting since Covid restrictions were eased. In October 2021 Sr. Maura helped us to reflect on what the pandemic had meant for ea

One of my favourite Gospel readings during the Easter Season is to be found in St Luke Chapter 24 which relates the story of the Disciples on the road to Emmaus. On reading that story I imagine that I am at the scene and that, I too, encounter Jesus. I imagine that there are two men walking ahead of me and they are talking very excitedly giving the impression that they are agitated. I follow at a distance and eves-drop on their conversation. They are sharing about Jesus and

Today, the Mercy Associates in Coolock, Newcastle under Lyme met for their regular monthly meeting, this time with the emphasis centred on a prayer for peace and an end to the war in Ukraine. A moving and thoughful time was had by all finishing off, as tradition dictates, with a cup of tea and to celebrate the birthday of long standing Mercy Associate, Dave Hammersley, a slice of cake too. A Prayer for Ukraine Loving God, We pray for the people of Ukraine, for all those suff

On the 20th April Ann Mottershead visited Coolock with plans to start the Oldham Associates meeting again. During Covid restrictions the group kept in contact by telephone and when their church opened many of them got together having missed their regular prayer meetings and with the grace of God, they now have a date to start meeting again - Monday 6th June. Sister Betty and Sister Bridie have been invited to attend the meeting and they hope to have some new members as the gr

Mary Receives the Body of Jesus The death of Jesus was horrendous and beyond anything imaginable. In the PIETA we have a picture of Jesus at the foot of the Cross laid in the arms of His mother. Thirty three years earlier, Mary held a beautiful warm baby boy in her arms albeit in a rough stable with an ox and ass as companions. Little did Mary think then, that one day the same beautiful baby, would, as an adult with a torn and mangled body need to be cradled in the same ar

Things are not like they used to be, of course they are not, when we had Sister Bridget and all the sisters in the convent. How we miss them! We are still Mercy Associates in Alnwick and even though we have no hall to meet in we do meet up every Sunday at Mass and continue our mercy work in the parish. Catherine Mc Auley is our guiding light in our work. We have a wonderful Parish Priest; Fr. Stephen and he keeps us all spiritually fed by his beautiful reflections on the Go