Transcript Horizons of the Charism

Shapers
Shapers
of
a
of a
Dream
Dream
Mary Reynolds, rsm
Executive Director,
Mercy International Association
September 2014
His mercies are new every morning
Lamentations 3:23
Charism
Gift given by the Spirit for the renewal and building of the Church
The meeting of the deep story with the needs of the age
“to make some lasting efforts
for the relief of the suffering
and the instruction of the
ignorant, and she thought of
establishing a society of pious
secular ladies who would
devote themselves to their
service, with liberty to return
to their worldly life when they
no longer felt inclined to
discharge such duties”
Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy
Founded by Catherine McAuley
Characteristics of Each Age Of Mercy
˜ Foundation Period: (10 -20 years)
Ireland 1831, England 1839, Newfoundland 1842, United States 1843,
Australia 1846, New Zealand 1850, Argentine 1856
˜ Expansion Period (2/3 generations +)
Original foundations in each country set up new foundations
˜ Stabilization Period (century or more)
High reputation of Mercy schools & hospitals
˜ Breakdown (loss of identity and purpose)
Post Vatican II
˜ Critical period: Extinction, Minimal Survival or Revitalization
Revitalisation
Revitalisation is a transforming response to the signs of the
times
The deep story emerges as charism when it is able to rise to
the occasion- which is the contemporary world in all its
concreteness
Charism
Vatican II
The understanding of Religious Life was of a privileged state of
perfection, a higher calling
Vatican II not only turned that understanding on its head but it
completely changed the worldview of the entire church
While respecting the unique vocation of each, the emphasis was
on complimentarity and collaboration
Vatican II
Called religious to reinterpret their charism by a return to the
core call of the gospel and the vision of their founder in the
context of the signs of the time.
It called the laity to exercise their vocation and to participate
more fully in the mission of the Church.
Charism
˜ The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the people of
our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any
way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the
followers of Christ as well
Vita Consereta
˜ A new chapter rich in hope, has begun in the history of
religious between consecrated persons and the laity
Challenge for Lay Partners in Ministry
For the Lay Mercy Minister, it is a call to recognise the
vocation aspect of the ministry in which they are involved,
to nurture the charism in their own spirituality, to proclaim
it in their mission and value statements and most especially
to embody it in their service of people to whom they
minister
Challenge for Religious
“The great temptation for those in Religious Life to-day is
to turn inward, to focus on their self- preservation and to
put all their energies into maintenance rather than on the
mission of God which continues to call as urgently now as
it did at the time when our Congregation was founded.”
Diarmaid O'Murchú
“The future of Mercy is not for us to invent - that is a divine prerogative- but
one we can anticipate co-creatively. We do so by embracing with deeper
wisdom the new world order struggling to unfold all around us.”
8000 Sisters
5000 Associates
250, 000 +
Partners in Ministry
Mercy Associates by Congregation
Newfoundland
110
Congregation/
Ireland
575
GB Youth
45
Americas
3162
GB
Adult
375
Australia
(Brisbane)
40
Australia
& PNG
Institute
420
Companions in Mercy
– Americas
8
Partners in Ministry
250, 000 – 500, 000
MIC Programmes
May 2012 – May 2013: Programmes Held at MIC & Online
Programme Participants by Relationship to Mercy
RSMs – 123
22%
Associates – 16
3%
Tour Participants by Congregational Affiliation
Australia/ PNG –
73
13%
New Foundland –
10
2%
Great Britain – 6
1%
Friends of
Mercy – 5
1%
Non -Mercy
Women
Religious – 8
2%
Aotearoa/
New Zealand –
78
14%
Students – 90
16%
Partners in
Ministry – 310
56%
Congregation/
Ireland – 106
19%
Institute of the
Americas 279
51%
Inspiration to carry out the work of Mercy
“I believe we have been inspired to return to our ministries with renewed
vigour and determination to seek opportunities to spread the word and
encourage others to walk in the footsteps of these early women of Mercy.
We have indeed been challenged with a great responsibility to continue
their work.”
Mercy Pilgrim Participant
MIC – Group Tours: May 2012 – May 2013
Tour Participant by Group Type
Parish/ Diocesan
Groups – 143
19%
Associate/
Circle of Mercy
Groups – 48
7%
Tour
Company
Groups - 51
7%
Tour Participant by Country
Australia – 129
18%
School/
University
Groups – 493
67%
Ireland – 221
31%
USA - 360
51%
Young Mercy Leadership Pilgrimage
"Fundraising is, first and
foremost, a ministry. It's a way of
announcing our vision and
inviting other people into our
mission.“
Henri Nouwen
Enlarge the place of you tent, and let them stretch
forth the curtains of your habitations; spare not,
lengthen your cords...
Isaiah 54:2
As we explore the Future of Mercy
What can we do better together than any of us can do apart?