Mercy Associates National Commission Meeting
Saturday 10th March 2018
Coolock, Newcastle under Lyme
BULLETIN NO. 14
‘Let us rejoice when good is done, no matter by whom it may be accomplished.’
(The Little Book of Catherine of Dublin)
NATIONAL COMMISSION
The National Commission is a body of Mercy Associates and Sisters who have responsibility for the Mercy Associate Movement (M.A.M.). They meet twice yearly to review all aspects of the M.A.M. especially its Spiritual Development.
The members of the Commission are:
Miss Marian Kennedy (Chair), Sister Noreen Cullen rsm (Vice-Chair), Mrs May Raughter (Secretary), Canon Alan McLean (Chaplain), Sister Bridie Stephens rsm (Chaplain), Sister Margaret Jones rsm (Chaplain), Mr Maurice Regan (Treasurer), Sister Betty Larkin rsm, Sister Mary Gorman rsm, Sister Annette McCartan rsm, Mrs Maria Overend, Mrs Marie Gray, Mrs Bríd Regan, Mr Mark Lear, Mrs Jeanette Olero, Sister Geraldine Lawlor rsm, (Trustee) Sister Joan Breen rsm (Trustee).
NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS
We welcome Sister Annette McCartan, Mark Lear and Jeanette Olero to the Commission and we look forward to benefitting from their various knowledge and expertise.
PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK, APRIL 2018
Plans for the forthcoming Pilgrimage to Knock are now complete. 40 Sisters and Associates will travel from Gatwick and Birmingham to Dublin on the 15th April to begin their Pilgrimage. The itinerary includes: Visit to Coolock, Baggot Street, Tullamore, Birr, Clonmacnoise Monastery, Ballintubber Abbey and Knock Shrine. There will be a full report in the September Bulletin.
FUTURE PLANNING
Included with this Bulletin is a letter from our Chair, Marian Kennedy inviting any Associate who would be interested in joining the Commission to please inform your link person who will then pass on your details to the Secretary. Details of the Role of Commission Members is also included. A register will be kept and, should a vacancy arise, those who have shown an interest will be notified.
NEWS FOR WEBSITE
Please do visit the website at: www.mercyassociates.org.uk
We invite all groups to share the website with friends and family. I know a number of you are very busy in your parish/community and we would love to hear from you - just a few lines and a photograph if possible, for sharing on the website. By reading your stories may encourage others to send in theirs. So please keep the news coming!
There is also a page for prayer intentions so please inform us of family or friends who are sick or who have recently died.
If you have recently changed any of your details, make sure we have the right contact information for you. (killalamay@hotmail.com)
YOUTH MERCY ASSOCIATES
Groups: Coolock YMA, North Shields YMA, Maghull YMA and St John’s Wood YMA
The YMA continue to meet in their groups and take part in various activities. For further information visit the Youth Website: www.youthmercyassociates.org.uk
OTHER NEWS
The next National Commission meeting will be on Saturday 15th September 2018 at Bermondsey. If you have new members for commissioning please contact Sister Bridie Stephens (bridie.stephens@iolmercy.org.uk) or Sister Margaret Jones
WEBSITES:
www.mercyassociates.org.uk;
www.youthmercyassociates.org.uk;
www.mercyworld.org;
www.sistersofmercyunion.org.uk;
www.ourladyofmercy.org.uk
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF VENERABLE CATHERINE MCAULEY
Loving God, you chose Catherine McAuley
for the service of your people who are poor, sick and uneducated.
You inspired her to found the Sisters of Mercy
so that these good works might endure.
Give to each of us a portion of her compassionate spirit
and an ardent desire to serve your suffering people.
Bless all our undertakings and grant that
union and charity may always thrive among us.
Graciously hear our prayer for Catherine,
and by granting the favours we ask through her intercession,
hasten the day when her sanctity will be celebrated by all the Church.
Amen