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

Sadly, due to illness, the age of our associates and the departure of our leader, Sister M. Bernard to the Sisters of Mercy Care Home in Whitby, our group has held its final meeting. Monica and Tommy Mills are the last two standing ! ! We shall continue our Mercy journey together, Mercy Day will be celebrated in our cathedral here in Newcastle, an important church for the Newcastle Sisters throughout the years. We have had many years of wonderful, prayerful meetings, and fantastic hospitality from Sister M. Bernard and we thank her and all our elderly and sick associates for their commitment to Catherine McAuley over the years in our monthly meetings. We would also like to thank Father Michael Stephens, our chaplain for his valuable input to our group. We are also grateful to Alnwick and North Shields Mercy Associates for our times together celebrating Mercy Day and retreat days. Although we have been a small group, we have always supported local charities. Our biggest fundraiser has been a parish quiz night which was well attended by St. Teresa’s parishioners. We thank them for their support. Catherine McAuley doesn’t disappear with the closure of the convent. She remains in our hearts forever. We pray for the canonisation of Catherine in our lifetime. Monica and Tommy Mills Sister M Bernard, at the door of the now closed High Heaton convent. August 2021

Stechford Sisters of Mercy and Associates met for the first time since lockdown on Tuesday 24th August 2021. It was wonderful to meet again after such a long time and enjoy a good ‘catch-up’. This time we met in the Parish Room rather than in the Sisters House, to allow for ‘elbow room’ (social distancing). We began the evening with a ‘welcome cup of tea’, Sisters led us in a prayer and Sister Maureen read an extract from a letter written by Catherine McAuley to Sister M Francis Warde on the 25th April 1838. “The Bazaar, all summed up after expenses, we will have about forty-five pounds; very unlike past days. Mrs Sullivan has given up, and almost all the Protestants. Mr Maher was the best purchaser – everyone tormented him. Poor Sister Gertrude (Jones) made a carpet five yards square which cost us £10.00; cloth cut in various colours and patterns. One ticket only was sold. I suppose we are done (i.e. finished) with Bazaars.” In the spirit of Catherine McAuley, we discussed the one item on our Agenda this evening: ‘Corpus Christi Church Building Project’. With the help of others, a Parish Fayre is being arranged for Sunday 12th September to raise funds for this important project. Please God the weather will be favourable on the day. It was nice to know that way back in 1838 our Foundress was also busy fundraising.

Kay Richards writes… I have some news from us Whitstable Mercy Associates which we'd like to share with you. Firstly though, thank you so much for sending the monthly Prayer and Sr. Assumpta's encouraging and moving reflections. I have been taking them round to our members without email and forwarding them to those who do. This has given me a good reason for being in contact, mostly by phone, with our group and made me feel connected to people who have become dear to me. Whitstable Mercy Associates met for the first time since February 2020 on Monday 16th August to talk about our future and how we can be useful to the Mercy Missions and to the Sisters. Before lockdown, our Lunch Club was doing well with Lesley managing our kitchen 'staff' and Jennifer organising the guests/lifts/helpers. We were aware though that many helpers and we ourselves were becoming less able and wondered how long we would be able to run our 'work'. Now we find that Covid has brought forward this situation. The Social Centre that we use is due to be demolished at some point in the New Year, so we’re on the lookout another venue. More importantly, we have lost some of our people, including Jennifer, who is now looking after our retired Parish Priest, Fr Kevin, as well as retaining some of her Church duties. Marian and Shirley for health reasons are not able to help physically now, though remaining highly valued members at our MA meetings. Our treasurer, Yvonne and our chairperson, Anna (who is now suffering from a disabling illness) are not going to be involved in the Lunch Club now. The last two were also giving lifts until March 2020. Without Jennifer and Yvonne, it doesn't seem likely that we can take on the responsibility for running the Lunch Club. Sadly, this would mean that we wouldn’t be able to fundraise as much as we have done for the Mercy missions. We are hoping to continue our Mercy Associate meetings, praying for you all and the missions and supporting each other. We would appreciate your prayers very much and any advice you have for us. With love and prayers for you all Kay Richards Link person for Whitstable Mercy Associates.

On Tuesday 3rd August at 2pm Filey Mercy Associates met for their first meeting together since lockdown. It was a mixture of happiness at being able to meet together again but tinged with sadness as the Mercy Convent in Filey is to close. The sisters are due to leave on Tuesday next. After prayers for the Church, an increase in Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life we said a decade of the Rosary of Light. Evening Prayer was said in Chapel then it was tea time . The Raffle and the sale of cards painted by Sr. Zita raised £128 for Aid to the Church in Need. The group hopes to continue to meet from time to time for prayer and to raise awareness of the Mercy way of life. Break time. Sisters Zita Griffin & Anne O ‘ Donavon Sister Helen provided Evening Prayer. Sister Hilary joined us for tea. We thank the Sisters for their work in the Parish and wish them good health in the next part of their journey.

Of your charity, please pray for the soul of Maureen, a Mercy Associate of many years in Blackbrook, whose Requiem Mass takes place on Friday 28th May at 12:30. Sr. Bridie has sought out an article about Blackbrook Associates, which was printed in the booklet “Before and Beyond”. Maureen can be seen in the photograph, on the right of Sr Zita. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her, may she rest in peace.

‘Each day is a step we take towards eternity and we shall continue thus to step from day to day until we take the final step which will bring us into the presence of God.’ Venerable Catherine McAuley Sister Maura and Sister Maureen and the Stechford Mercy Associates ask your prayers for the repose of the souls of their Associates Olwyn Manuel and Bridie Cribbin. Olwyn (Olly) died peacefully on 28th September 2020 and Bridie on 2nd May 2021. They had been in Residential Care in recent years. As our Photograph shows, both ladies made their Associate Commitment on 2nd February 2005. They were a much-loved part of our lives, attending our monthly meetings & Retreats and giving generous practical support to our Annual Fundraising Mercy Garden Party. May they rest in the peace of the Risen Christ. (Olly 3rd from left, Bridie 1st on right)

Lord Take Me Where You Want Me to Go, Let Me Meet Whom You Want Me to Meet. Tell Me What You Want Me to Say, And Keep Me Out of Your Way. Amen (Fr Mychal Judge OFM) Fr Mychal Judge was killed on 9/11 when the World Trade Centre was bombed. He was Chaplain to the New York Fire Department and he was the first certified fatality of that sad event in 2001. There were many others, some of whom were never found and among them were two of my past pupils from Whitstable, Andrew and Tim Gilbert RIP. My own nephew, Brian, had an appointment that morning at the World Trade Centre. He had stayed in a hotel overnight but accidentally slept in and woke up to noise and confusion. I will never forget that evening with Brian’s parents struggling to find out if he was alive or dead as all communication was cut off temporarily. We are not to know the mind of God. Happenings in life challenge us to reflect, to pray and to give thanks and say sorry. I don’t know where I found Fr. Judge’s prayer, but it speaks to me at the beginning of Lent, especially the words “Tell Me What You Want Me to Say and Keep Me Out of Your Way”. It is not an exaggeration to say that we have been through an extraordinary Lent for the past year with penitential restrictions imposed on us by Government decisions in an attempt to curb the Virus. Lent is often referred to as THE DESERT and that is probably a scriptural connection with reference to the time Jesus spent in THE DESERT and the struggles He encountered there. Each one of us will have our own DESERT experience and meet our own demons in different ways during the Pandemic. It might be difficult to pull ourselves out of the current mind set , but the word Lent itself comes from the Angelo-Saxon meaning “springtime” specifically for us Christians , it has come to mean the springtime of our souls. The word also meant LENTE… slow down, go slowly, take time to breathe in and out. When we attempt to make even the slightest change in our behaviour or thinking, we will meet obstacles, which are like the wild beasts in the desert. We must not give up because where there is life there is hope. Jesus did not give up . He was led by the power of the Holy Spirit and He trusted in God His father. We are NEVER on our own. God is right there beside us and His loving energy surrounds us all day long …. All we have to do is open the door ever so slightly and let the light in. Remember Leonard Cohen’s song “There Is A Crack in Everything That’s How the Light Gets In” Lent is not all about us and what we can and cannot do. The Angels looked after Jesus and they will look after us. If Lent puts us among the wild beasts of our fears, worries, frail bodies, our weaknesses and our best made plans which seem to get battered we might give up. Small steps enable us to make slight changes in our attitudes and don’t forget God is always a step ahead of us. A good practise might be to get a sheet of paper and divide it in two and write down all the thing for which you would like to say THANKS BE TO GOD. On the other half write down all the things you might like to improve in your daily life. You will surprise yourself and you will notice that when things were most difficult God sent help much stronger and much deeper than anything you could have mustered up yourself. “Sit with God as You Would Sit at the Ocean. You Bring Nothing to The Ocean, Yet It Changes You” (Sean Caulfield) Have a wonderful Lent and know that you are not forgotten in prayer by us, the Sisters of Mercy, here in Bermondsey. Spring is in the air and there is hope that we will meet here again before the end of the year to pray, to share, to chat and to drink a cup of tea. Catherine McAuley recommended THE OPEN DOOR and THE COMFORTABLE CUP OF TEA to all her Sisters.

Greetings as we begin this New Year with confidence that it will be less restrictive than 2020. By now I had hoped that we could have planned a meeting here in the Convent to pray, to reflect, to share, to chat and to drink tea. Ongoing messages from the Government make it necessary for me to revert to the written word as a means of keeping in touch. I have thought at length on an appropriate reflection and in view of the circumstances I get the impression that there is much fear around. The media present us with daily statistics suggesting that this virus is out of control. Looking at scripture and the lives of the saints I was drawn to think about St Paul’s letter to the Phillippians Ch 4... “I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY, ALWAYS HAPPY IN THE LORD. THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY; BUT IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU NEED PRAY FOR IT ASKING GOD FOR IT WITH PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING” Following on from that we have the prayer of St. Teresa of Avila... LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU LET NOTHING FRIGHTEN YOU ALL THINGS ARE PASSING AWAY GOD NEVER CHANGES PATIENCE OBTAINS ALL THINGS WHOEVER HAS GOD LACKS NOTHING GOD ALONE SUFFICES We have the example in the life of Jesus who was completely at one with the Father that trials and tribulations are part of the human condition. Jesus experienced pain and suffering in His own life. The word “FEAR” is found over 365 times in the Bible and many times we have been encouraged by the word of God with the phrase “DO NOT BE AFRAID”. Our journey in life does not begin with us, it begins in God who initiates it. God is so real in our lives and in the world around us. We do not go to God, we are drawn to Him just as two people who love each other are drawn together. The presence of God is all around and there is no accident in that. God is as real in our lives as are the people who walk down the road ahead of us. Everything changes except the PRESENT MOMENT and that is all we have, as we cannot live in the past and we do not know the future. St Teresa’s Prayer has much with which to comfort us in these uncertain times when we are bombarded with so much negativity when we turn on out TV sets. There is nothing wrong with being anxious, but the only answer is to let it go and not cling to it . Everything in life is made of parts and all things inside parts fall apart. Life can be full of “ifs” and illusions and we can spend time running away. All things pass away except the Providence of God. Faith is a dynamic response to what life throws at us. We are being challenged at this time to pray and to take to heart the words of Scripture “ THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY”. And to help us to place each day in under the Providence of God we might like to repeat the Prayer of St Teresa. LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU... At the end of this reflection I will share a few verses from Leonard Cohen’s Song... THE BIRDS THEY SANG AT THE BREAK OF DAY START AGAIN I HEARD THEM SAY DON’T DWELL ON WHAT HAS PASSED AWAY; OR WHAT IS YET TO BE RING THE BELLS THAT STILL CAN RING FORGET YOUR PERFECT OFFERING THERE IS A CRACK , A CRACK IN EVERYTHING THAT’S HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN THAT’S HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN. For us as Christians THE LIGHT IS GOD. Sr Assumpta Walsh January 2021

Srs. Betty and Bridie have been busy making preparations for Advent in Coolock's Gardens. The pictures shows the Holy Family in the workshop and in the garden. Associates can visit the garden during lockdown restrictions for reflection, in preparation for Christmas. Sr. Betty made both of the settings from scrap from a nearby skip. The first setting will be finally placed in the local school for the childrens prayer garden and the second will remain in Coolock's gardens.

REFLECTION FOR THE FEAST OF CHRIST OUR KING ; “ I know that this life, missing its ripeness in love , is not altogether lost I know that flowers that fade in the dawn, the streams that strayed in the desert, are not altogether lost I know that whatever lags behind in this life laden with slowness, is not altogether lost. I know that my dreams that are still unfilled and my melodies still unsung are clinging to your lute strings, and they are not altogether lost”. (Rabin Tagore) The Liturgical Year of 2020 , with the celebration of the beautiful Feast of Christ Our King comes to an end. This is such a special moment in our year as it gives us an opportunity to gather out thoughts and examine our lives and be grateful for our fulfilled dreams or sorry for lost opportunities as we stand before our Crucified Lord , Our Saviour and Our King of the Universe. It has been a year like no other in living memory and now into our second Lockdown in darker days, maybe we are only just about able to hang on with our finger tips getting up each morning grateful that no one in our household has been stricken down with Covid 19, There is no escaping the world view of things at this time as our living rooms are constantly besieged by statistics from the media. In whatever way Covid restricts us and our families let us put aside some quiet moments to give Christ our King a window into our souls. Reflect that while on earth Jesus was seen as a threat to the establishment , because He healed on the Sabbath Day; because He fed the hungry; because He stood with the outcast and the forgotten; because He talked to a woman who had committed adultery ; because He let a woman of ill repute wash His feet. For all this and more He was executed as a common criminal. If Christ ,Our King physically walked around our locality today He would be seen with those who never make it to the high ranks of our society; He would be with those who depend on Universal Credit to put bread on the table for their children or He would be with the rough sleepers up at London Bridge Station turning their mouldy sandwich into the Bread of Life. Today as we celebrate this Great Feast we look ourselves in the eye and ask whose side are we on and who has claim on us?. Hopefully as individuals struggling to live a morally upright life we stand with Jesus and those who feel safe in His presence . Do others know where to find us when they too are struggling to be acknowledged as human beings and not referred to as illegal immigrants waiting to cross the channel in hope of a better life in a world created by God for all to share and enjoy. I do not know if you are like me and feel tired of the empty promises of our political leaders struggling for power. In our own set up we are grateful that our campaign for free dinners for needy children during holidays or lockdown achieved a U turn . It shows that People Power can still achieve justice for the needy . This should give us courage to keep up the struggle for the reign of God’s Kingdom. Every life is precious. Each news bulletin leaves us in no doubt about the numbers of people who suffer each day from Covid and of the numbers who have died . We never hear about the abortion of an innocent baby every minute. Recently I wrote to my MP about a motion to be debated to increase the weeks when abortion could be carried out legally in this country. He replied that he would support a woman’s right to choose and that was always his stance. He had nothing to say about the baby’s right . Come the next election I will not be on his side . Christ , our King said “EVERYONE WHO BELONGS TO THE TRUTH LISTENS TO MY VOICE” This is the reason why we were born and our place in this world is to testify to the truth. We do this by listening to and obeying the teaching and example of Christ Our King. We stand with Him and live in solidarity with those He stood close to and does so to this day. However bleak the outlook we must never lose heart .We can only live in the present moment as that is all we have , but that should not fill us with fear when Christ Our King is the centre of that moment . Let us virtually link arms with each other and embrace each other in the presence of Christ Our King and live in hope for our next gathering here to pray ,to chat and to drink a good cup of tea. Everything passes and “ALL SHALL BE WELL AND ALL MANNER OF THIBGS SHALL BE WELL” Sr Assumpta 14th November 2020

Sr. Assumpta writes about the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls