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 Gospels. A lot of decoration and development is going on in the Church and parish hall, but Fr. Stephen never complains and gets on with his work on a trestle table.!! We could all learn a lot from him. Sandra celebrates a special birthday on Friday and PG, her family and friends will celebrate with her. Happy Birthday Sandra from all your friends.

On Sunday 13th February 2022, the Stechford Sisters and Associates were delighted to meet for the second time since the restrictions of the pandemic, for our annual Renewal of Commitment, celebrated with prayer and a shared table. Most of our Associates were able to attend and as always, we named and prayed for those who could not be with us and for our deceased members. Following our reflective prayer with the February leaflet from Sr. Annette, we Associates renewed our commitment. Sisters Maura and Maureen then renewed their Vows and Sister Teresa Paschal O.Carm did so too using the formula of her own Congregation. The Sisters and Associates were very pleased to welcome Angela Power as a new Associate on that day. As always the ceremony was very moving, with our lighted candles reminding us of the day of our first commitment and all was enhanced by the singing which we all delivered with gusto! This was a very special occasion, for as well as welcoming Angela, we were also saying goodbye to one of our earliest Associates, Jim McEvilly, who is leaving Stechford for the lure of the sea at Burnham, Somerset. Jim was presented with a TV for his new home. We shall certainly miss his cheery nature and banter. This year also marks 25 years since I, along with Marie Gray and three other ladies first made our commitment as Mercy Associates at Stechford on 28 January 1997. Of the 5, one has moved away, one has died and another was not able to attend but Marie and I were delighted to be present for the renewal celebration and wondered where all the years had gone. Indeed it was a lovely afternoon full of prayer and love for our Mercy Family. Jan Keegan 19th February 2022

“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 to find out what to do for them for their good”. (Thomas Merton) The word LENT comes from the ANGLO-SAXON meaning “Springtime” and to be more precise it means the SPRINGTIME OF OUR SOULS. The word also meant lente – slow or go slowly ...slow down - breathe deeply etc. At the beginning of Lent we face seven weeks before we reach the culmination of our lives in the Feast of the Resurrection. The season of Lent draws us into the desert which gives us an opportunity to stop, to reflect, to refrain from persistent habits, from ways of thinking and behaving that we have unconsciously picked up from others or from what the media might throw at us through our TV screens. The adversary is always waiting to trip us up and could be found in any group, institution, structure or circumstance which hinders us from being the children of God with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. We enter the desert with Jesus, not in fear or guilt but in the company of the angels who wait with us and protect us. Yes, we will be put to the test as the strong resolutions made on Ash Wednesday might be forgotten or deemed unrealistic by the following Friday. God does not judge us by our failures and weaknesses as long as we strive to be the best we can be in our struggles and in the challenges that cross our paths as we live out each day. As I have grown older and the spectacular missions of teaching, ministry in Italy and more recently with the poor in the Mukuru slums have been relegated to history, I set myself few challenges for Lent or indeed at any other time, but I try to live each day being conscious of the presence of God in my life and I live what I call the ‘Ministry of the Bus Stop’ being conscious of the people waiting with me. In the supermarket I acknowledge the person at the cash desk by saying ‘THANK YOU HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY DAY’. Such encounters always draw a huge smile from the person distanced from me by the pandemic regulations of protective Perspex Have a wonderful Lent when it comes and take each day as a gift from God by walking in the Divine Presence knowing that no matter what happens you are loved by Him. A little ADD ON... In September 2021 Pope Francis announced the Synod to be held in Rome in October 2023. The theme of the Synod is Communion, Participation and Mission. You might or might not wonder what this is about and what it means for you. Here I quote from Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin when he launched the idea to the Archdiocese. The Liturgical space he was speaking from was in the shape of a boat in the Pro Cathedral. This is what he said …. ‘The invitation to embark on this journey is to all the baptized because all the baptized are in the boat together’ Welcome to this boat and do what you can do to be as good as you can be in your own particular circumstances. As your contribution to the Synod, you might just say one Hail Mary every morning and night for the success of this amazing opportunity for all of us. May God be praised! Sr Assumpta Walsh 18.02.2022

Of your charity please pray for the repose of the soul of Graham Jeffries, aged 82, of Alsagers Bank who passed away at St Quentin Care Home, Newcastle surrounded by his loving family on 2nd February 2022 following a long illness fought with courage and dignity. Fortified with the rites of the Holy Catholic Church on whose soul sweet Jesus have mercy R.I.P. Devoted husband of Jean and a long standing member of the Mercy Associates in Newcastle under Lyme. Evening Reception into Holy Trinity RC Church, Newcastle under Lyme on Thursday 24th February 2022 at 5.00pm. Requiem Mass at Holy Trinity RC Church on Friday 25th February 2022 at 10.00am followed by Burial in Newcastle Cemetery.

A Reflection on the Public Beginning of the Life of Jesus Water is a very important element in our lives it makes up 70% of our brain and 80% of our blood. We can go almost a month without food but less than a week without water. The same amount of water that was available for drinking a million years ago is the same amount available today. But NOW less than 1 % of fresh water is available for drinking - out of 3% that is mostly ice. Water connects us to the other elements air, earth and fire as well as all human beings and other creatures who share this earth with us. We often forget that water, along with all else GOD created and is sacred, so it is our responsibility to care for it and treat it with honour. Living in the developing world, where women walked for miles to carry, often unclean water, on their heads for family use, challenged me NEVER to leave taps running and to use the minimum for a shower. Being such a precious gift, it is no surprise that Jesus chose to be Baptized in the River Jordan by John giving us an example that water is cleansing, life giving and sacred. Water when blessed keeps danger away because the prayer that is said over it is very powerful… ‘Wherever this water is sprinkled may all that is evil be driven away’ The Baptism of Jesus was the first step in the public beginning of the life of Jesus. On reflecting on this event, one is moved to be amazed at the humility of Jesus, the Son of God without sin, giving us an example as to what it means to begin the Mission for which He was sent by the Father. We rarely think of Jesus as a beginner, just as we never think of Jesus needing help, but His Baptism celebrates these two things... the beginning of His Ministry with help through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Up to this point Jesus was known as the son of the carpenter, who lived in the small town of Nazareth. After His Baptism with John, He became known as the wandering preacher with a unique and prophetic mission. John was a very important person in the life of Jesus who according to Peter, Jesus said of him…. ‘Of all the children born of women none is greater than John’ Jesus set out on a difficult road which eventually led to an appointment with a cruel death. Along that road He fulfilled an amazing ministry of preaching, healing the sick and reaching out in compassion to people in trouble without judgement. As we celebrate the public beginning in the life of Jesus, we look for a moment at the many beginnings in our own lives. We may have mixed feelings when we look at some of them and for sure there may not be voices from heaven and doves flying around! But as Gospel people, we make our own beginnings which are new every day so let us take courage and face the unmarked road. God is always at our side, and we have the example of our ancestors, who walked in faith meeting all the challenges on the way with complete confidence in the providence of God. I remember a challenging remark from my mother as she lay dying of cancer… ‘why do you bother your head about small things don’t you know god always provides?’ Having lived in the developing world for over ten years I can affirm that God always provides. But those stories are for another time! During the drought of two years having had to wait almost all day for the lorry to come with far from clean water so we could buy some, I have a huge respect for this great gift and maybe it is something we can do together in preparation for the SYNOD. Sr Assumpta Walsh 22.1.22

CELEBRATION OF FOUNDATION DAY 2021 On the third Sunday of Advent – ‘Gaudete Sunday’, 12th December 2021 - the 190th Anniversary of her religious Profession and establishment of the Sisters of Mercy by Venerable Catherine McAuley and her two helpers, Mary Elizabeth Harley and Mary Ann Doyle, Sisters Maura and Maureen, the Stechford Mercy Associates with Sister Teresa Paschal O. Carm got together in the Parish Room at Corpus Christi, Stechford to celebrate Foundation Day. My mother, Margaret Ward, was also warmly welcomed among us. This was an especially joyful occasion since, apart from some of us meeting to plan a contribution to the Parish Summer Sale, Covid restrictions meant we had not been together in person for over 12 months. After apologies and prayer for our Associates who had died, were currently poorly or unable to join us for other reasons, we began our afternoon by singing the Suscipe together. It felt great to hear the beautiful melody and words “Loving Lord”. Sr. Maureen shared some Foundation Day reflections from MIA and Sr. Maura read from the historical account by Mary Ann Doyle of the Profession event at George’s Hill Presentation Convent on 12th December 1831. We heard how Catherine had a vision of the religious life that was apostolic rather than enclosed. Her hands-on approach to helping the sick poor of Dublin was critical to her vocation and once the Church accepted her mission, she and her helpers agreed to commit their lives to God through the Church for the establishment of the Congregation. Sr. Maura explained that the wearing of the white church cloak was a blessed action on Sundays and some Feastdays in the past and Sister Teresa Paschal remembered this in her Congregation. These cloaks were illustrated in the painting by Sister Mary Clare Augustine Moore on the Advent Prayer leaflet sent by Sister Annette McCartan. We heard that from the early days of the Order, a Sister’s Act of Profession would be similarly illustrated with, for example, a biblical scene or beautiful flowers like the Lily. Each Sister of Mercy has her formula of Vows, signed by herself and the Superior General of her day, displayed in her room. We completed our prayer with the Advent leaflet, singing ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ and reflecting on the Nativity/Mercy painting mentioned above. Some silent reflection and sharing of prayer followed and this was a blessed moment for us all. The Intercessory and final prayers concluded a truly beautiful, prayerful time followed by our ‘shared table’ of Christmas food and drinks with carols playing in the background. We wished each other a peaceful and holy Christmas season and assured prayers for all. Thank you, Sisters, for inviting us and allowing us to share love and fellowship. Happy Christmas to Mercy Sisters and Associates everywhere. Angela Powers, pre-Associate.

Kay Richards from Whitstable Mercy Associates writes... "Our group of Mercy Associates here in Whitstable would like to offer our condolences on the death of Eileen. We will pray for her at our meeting on Monday afternoon. Marian Ahern, our previous 'link person' remembers the magazine and found it always interesting." With love and prayers for you all Kay Richards from Whitstable Mercy Associates ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Sister Kathleen Gooch rsm writes... THE PICTURE ON THE WALL THAT BECAME REAL I once attended a talk given by Eileen Malone and her first words were “I want to tell you about the picture on the wall that has become real.” Whose picture? The picture that hangs in every Mercy Convent of the image of Venerable Catherine sitting at her desk in Baggot Street. Eileen continued to recall that in her earlier years as a Sister of Mercy there was very little devotion to the Foundress of the Order. However, when she left the Congregation and eventually married a widower with four children to whom she was devoted and was then approached to become a Mercy Associate in the 1990s she really became familiar with the life of Catherine and saw her as a friend and no longer a picture on a wall. It was at the first meeting of the National Commission set up on 28th Oct 2000 where Associates and Sisters from the Federation, Institute and Union came together to see how Venerable Catherine McAuley could be made more well known, that I met Eileen. We were asked to get into pairs and tell our stories of Mercy, I was paired with Eileen, and I am convinced that it was Catherine that brought us together. We shared on how Catherine had touched our lives. That first meeting led to more meetings where it was decided that it should be an Associate who would Chair the Commission, not a Sister. Yes, Eileen was chosen to be the Chairperson. Eileen had great experience of chairing Meetings and was very professional in her approach. She could have great fun and was a bit of a prankster but once the meeting began, she was in role and was not afraid to tackle difficult issues within the group. She had been asked to do a job and she took it to heart. Her main vision was to build up the Associate groups and spread the Charism. She expected outcomes to be reached at each meeting and those attending to take on certain jobs. She herself was not afraid of work. At times she was a force to be reckoned with! Letters were sent to the Associates to ask what would be helpful for their growth. I was with Eileen when the replies came flooding in and the two requests were for a magazine and a day of prayer. The first step was to get Information on each group and the Associate Map was created and circulated. Eileen being the professional took on the role of editing the magazine, her first attempt was on her own PC spending hours putting it together. That was soon stopped as she found a friend in Newcastle who did it professionally for her. She could get quite frustrated when the articles did not come in on time, but the Lord and Catherine always provided. Associate gatherings were planned and organised and both Sisters and Associates led these. They were great social and prayerful meetings. Many associates would ring Eileen regularly and she knew many by name. Associate symbols, prayer book, packs of ideas for meetings etc were created. She was thirsty to find out more about Catherine and her influence, so she travelled to the States to an Associate Gathering there. On her return she was bubbling with enthusiasm, especially the talk of the Canonisation of Catherine. asked Sister Brenda Dolphin if she would facilitate a day in Birmingham on the Canonisation. It was a wonderful day. A commitment was made that day to spread the Charism of Catherine. Eileen then came up with the idea of gathering the thoughts of the Associates on what Catherine meant to them. It was like an industry in her house, making up boxes for the groups to return their findings. Then the thought came she would write to the bishops to ask for their reflections on Sisters of Mercy and Associates. To her surprise the replies came back, and two Bishops rang her. All the returns became a large tome and was sent to Brenda in Rome. After 10 years Eileen stepped down as Chair but remained faithful to her local Associate meetings and annual organised Area gatherings, until the last two years of her life when her health began to deteriorate. Mercy was at the centre of her life and Catherine was her daily companion. She would talk to her daily. Eileen’s image of God was depicted in the story of the Prodigal Son, the unconditional love of the Father, (she chose this Gospel for her Requiem) and that is why the Suscipe meant so much to her. Her God of love and tenderness. She said it daily. Eileen died peacefully on the 13th November and I went to see her a few days before to say my goodbye. We spoke of her life as a Sister, her happy marriage with Eamonn, the learning curve of being a stepmother and her Associate life. I thanked her for her life of Mercy, for being such a good Mercy Companion and friend to me and we said the Suscipe together. As Catherine said: “Each day is a step we make towards eternity, and we shall continue thus to step from day to day until we take the last step, which will bring us into the presence of God.” Sister Kathleen Gooch rsm

A few days ago we heard the sad news that dear Eileen Malone, a stalwart of the Mercy Associates and Editor for many years of the Mercy Associates magazine had died on the 13th of November in hospital, in Newcastle upon Tyne. Eileen was 93 years old. Here are a few memories of Eileen's involvement in the Mercy Associates and a few kind words sent in by other Groups around the country... "We are all very sad of Eileen's death. May she rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all". Florence and Croydon Mercy Associates. "We are all so sad to hear the news of Eileen's passing, we will remember her and the Heaton Mercy Associates in our prayers🙏" North Shields Mercy Associates "So sad to hear this, my husband Dave Ham was co founder with me Valerie Ham of CANVEY ISLAND Mercy Associates with Sr. Agnes Gleason. Dave died on 7th Sept 2021 after a long battle with cancer . May they R.I.P Canvey Island Mercy Associates

Barbara Jeffery writes to inform all Mercy Associates of the sad news that dear Eileen Malone, a stalwart of the Mercy Associates and Editor for many years of the Mercy Associates magazine had died on the 13th of November in hospital, in Newcastle upon Tyne. Eileen was 93 years old and had been in hospital for a number months. Sr. Kathleen Gooch from the Union Sisters had been with her most recently and the last prayer they said together before Sr. Kathleen left the hospital was Catherine’s own Suscipe. May Eileen now rest in the Mercy and Peace she deserved. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen

Coolock Associates meet on the feast of Padre Pio - 23rd September 2021 The theme was The Open Door. In the focus was a model of Baggot Street Door, Christ the Light of the world, a painting of Saint Padre Pio and Our Lady of Mercy Statue. In the foreground were 3 baskets containing keys. The focus was used in the reflection. What does the door of our heart look like ? Is it transparent ? Can people look through it and find authenticity there ? The door might be heavy wood keeping someone out who needs a welcome, or it could signify strength to live the courage of one’s convictions. The door might be flexible allowing plenty of space to welcome new growth. It could be an opaque door. No one can see inside. The door of another heart might be a thin glass one needing to be carefully opened. The door might be locked in case someone might enter and be shocked by what they found or may be not found. Meditation After we reflected on what kind of door most symbolises the door of our heart, we took some time to meditate. We invited Jesus to come and open the door of our heart we welcomed Him inside and spent some quiet time in conversation with Him. We remained in silent prayer. To conclude everyone was given a key to symbolise the Open Door of our hearts. The Suscipe was sung and we all made our way to the dining room where we enjoyed a good cup of tea and cakes. It was the diamond jubilee of 2 of our Associates John and Anne Bengry and they had a special celebration cake which they shared with everyone.

A Reflection for the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy When we look at the Ministry of Jesus during His earthly journey, we see the sign of the Christian Church in all its centrality. The signs Jesus worked in the face of sinners, the poor, the marginalized, the sick together with all those on the margins of society. 'Everything in the life of Jesus spoke of Mercy' (Pope Francis). We see all this very clearly in the miracles Jesus worked in His dealing with the people who came to Him The healing of the leper Matthew 8 1-13 The healing of the paralytic Matthew 9 1-8 The healing of the man with the withered hand Matthew 12 9-14 The raising of the widow’s son Luke 7 11-17 Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan Woman shows us so much about being non-judgemental of others. Our Lady too, teaches us about the quality of Mercy by her understanding for the young couple at the Marriage Feast when the wine ran out, her simple words 'do whatever he tells you'. The situations in the world around us give us opportunity for reflection when we continually see the absence of Mercy and we are daily left with unanswered questions. Statistics tell us about the fragmented lives of young people who adhere to social media for solace which often leaves them rejected and tempted to take their own lives. Sadly, in our Western Culture there is a deep inner spiritual hunger which can only be addressed by questions such as who am I? what is my purpose in life? and who is the other in my life? Loneliness, according to the Mental Health Foundation, is a huge reality in the lives of young people and Covid 19 has isolated many of the elderly in our community with the media constantly telling us to ‘stay indoors’, ‘keep distancing’ and ‘do not let anyone into your home’. Just think of all the grandparents who did not see their grandchildren for months on end. The youth are continually troubled by feelings of stress, anxiety and many are on regular medication to enable them to cope with just everyday pressures and tension within the home. Young people have a need to present an idealized version of themselves on social media and to have “online” friends and to present numerous social engagements, but the truth is that such happenings do not always lead to inner peace and happiness. While having the privilege of walking with the poorest people in the world during my ministry in Nairobi slums where people lived in shacks without running water, electricity and any kind of privacy I never met a lonely person. People were always around talking and laughing. If a child went home from school and his/her shack was locked up for whatever reason another mother took the child in and was able to satisfy the child with information such as ‘your mum has gone up country because your grandmother is ill’. People in the slums know each other and each other’s families and there is always food for one other person. As people called to a life dedicated to Mercy in the journey marked out by Catherine McAuley, the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy gives us an opportunity to reflect on her life and charism. She was a Leader in the way of Mercy. We know her story so well. She saw a need and did something about it. In her early days in Baggot Street, she and her followers targeted women and children who were the forgotten in society because they were poor, sick or educationally disadvantaged. One of her favourite maxims to the Sisters was ‘need is your cloister’. She built her house in Baggot Street so that the poor were visible to the rich. If Catherine came today whom would she target? I think the answer is easy. Possibly it would be: - Women and children who are trafficked refugees. Workers who are not paid a fair wage. The families from Afghanistan who were turned back in the English Channel last week. People who are marginalized because of race, colour or religion. As Sisters of Mercy, worldwide, we try to answer the call of MERCY in an evolving manner. In order to embrace the mercy at the heart of our charism we pledge ourselves to ask uncomfortable questions. How might we respond anew to the compassionate presence of god in our different realities? What is the understanding of diversity among us? Do we allow ourselves to be interconnected with the community around us and learn from their culture and giftedness? The call to keep Mercy at the centre of our lives is never easy, but attentiveness to the Word of God in scripture and fidelity to our inner voice helps us to be the merciful compassionate presence of God to all whom we meet each day. Some of Catherine’s maxims The poor need help today not next week Remember if there were a thousand regulations to be observed the most important is charity We can never say it is enough The sisters of mercy should be particularly kind; the kindest people on earth with the tenderest pity and compassion for the poor. This is god’s work not mine; it will do just as well without me. Sr. Assumpta Walsh 18/9/2021