The new Ministerial Public Juridic Person (MPJP) - known as Whanau Mercy Ministries - is independent of Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.

The Whanau Mercy Ministries will take up their responsibilities as a charitable trust on 1 April, owning the incorporated ministries the Sisters founded as far back as 173 years ago.

As the number of sisters has diminished, need for change became obvious.

After discernment, preparation and a petition to the Holy See, the Sisters received approval to create this new canonical and civil entity.

"As sisters, we have discerned the need for new levels of energy and expertise to see these works of mercy sustained and carried into the future.

"Led by lay people, the structure provides for long-term stable governance and the continuance of the Catholic identity and the mercy charism of the ministries," they say in a statement.

Established by decree on 27 November 2022, the Sisters say Whanau Mercy Ministries is the first MPJP of Pontifical Right for Aotearoa New Zealand.

With Whanau Mercy Ministries established, the board of Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Tiaki Manatu Sisters of Mercy Ministries Trust will cease.

The initial Whanau Mercy Ministries trustees, left to right, are; Philip Alexander-Crawford (Ngati Hine, Ngati Rehia, Ngapuhi), Charlotte Cummings, Catherine Fyfe, Gerald Scanlan, Judy Whiteman, Michael Quigg, Denise Fox rsm (Chair). They were joined for the photo by Bishop Pat Dunn (Emeritus Bishop of Auckland), Sue France rsm (Congregation Leader, Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand) and Bishop Steve Lowe (Bishop of Auckland).

The Whanau Mercy Ministries trustees applied to and were selected by Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Tiaki Manatu Sisters of Mercy Ministries Trust. The new trustees serve a term of three years.

Currently, it has not been determined where in New Zealand the Whanau Mercy Ministries trust will be based.

The incorporated ministries that will move into the new structure are in healthcare, education, community development and affordable housing for seniors. They are:

• Te Korowai Atawhai Mercy Hospice, Auckland
• Mercy Hospital, Dunedin
• Te Waipuna Puawai Mercy Oasis, Auckland
• Mercy Villas, Upper Hutt
• Coolock Cottages, Dunedin
• St Mary's College, Auckland
• Carmel College, Auckland
• St Mary's College, Wellington
• St Catherine's College, Wellington
• Villa Maria College, Christchurch

"For us as a Congregation, this is a profound moment of change. A seminal moment in our history and it has been a very important decision.

"The decision marks a shift in our journey as vowed mercy women in Aotearoa.

"In many ways, the shift has been made over time and now this is the final step, and we know it is the right one," said Sr Sue France rsm, the Congregation Leader of Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.

Source

• Supplied: Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand

Mercy Parklands in Auckland announced the facility's closure last month. It is owned by the Sisters of Mercy.

In a 1News interview, the trust said the decision to close came because of a shortage of nurses; too few nurses meant the facility could not run at full capacity.

As reported in CathNews, Mercy Parklands is losing $100,000 a month.

The Trust gave families three months to relocate their loved ones.

Now, one family is looking at legal options to extend that period.

Calling for a nine-month relocation extension, the family wrote to Mercy Parklands, pointing to its constitution.

This says "the activities of the company are to be carried out exclusively for charitable purposes, not for profit."

In their second letter, the family says it may resort to legal action. This could include "applying to the High Court for an interim injunction restraining the unconscionable closure on such short notice".

Another family says it has had medical advice saying it would be a risk to move their father because of his fragile health.

Trying to find a new home for her 93-year-old mother has been horrendous, says another. This is particularly hard with Christmas and New Year not far away. "They're all full."

Mercy Parklands staff are struggling to understand the decision to close.

"Because we are a not-for-profit organisation, and we work with Mercy values, everything we do is around our values and mission, which is mercy in our heads, our hearts and our hands," says one.

"If anything could be done, it would be a miracle."

Board chair Arthur Morris says he has replied to concerned families, "giving them reassurance that we will continue to care for residents who have not been relocated by the end of the notice period.

"We understand family concerns about the well-being and future care of all residents," he said in a statement.

"No resident will have to move until alternative accommodation has been arranged."

So far, spaces have been found for half the 97 residents.

1News also approached "the Catholic Church" (Auckland Catholic Diocese) - to ask whether it could step in with financial assistance.

A diocesan spokesperson clarified the facility is owned by the Sisters of Mercy and the matter was for them to comment on.

1News approached the Sisters of Mercy to ask that same question.

In a statement, congregation leader Sister Sue France explained the Sisters of Mercy have provided support to Mercy Parklands for many years.

"We have worked closely with the board... as they have considered its future and looked at every possible solution. The decision to close was a very difficult one and distressing for everyone involved."

Source

• 1News

But nothing is decided about the Ellerslie property founded by the Mercy order of nuns as a not-for-profit aged care facility.

Arthur Morris, chairman of Waiatarua Mercy Parklands, said the board would meet this coming week "but we have to seriously look at closure if we can't find another way for sustainability".

Around 100 staff work at the red brick rest home, developed in a circular layout. Read more

Even as a toddler the young Terry Kennedy knew what he wanted and how to get it.

His determination, persistence and stubbornness made Kennedy the man who was always helping others, his daughter Carmel Kennedy says.

His persistence saw a couple visiting Wellington take him home with them from the Home of Compassion orphanage instead of the infant they'd come for.

"My Nana always said that Terry picked them."

Her father's stubbornness and strong moral code for helping people saw him push hard when he saw the need, Kennedy says. He'd go out of his way to help them.

Those same characteristics saw him refuse to have anything to do with others until they toed the line. Like the young man who accidentally hit his sister at a dance. Terry Kennedy - who was a muso at the dance, refused to play until the man apologised.

He apologised eventually - but not for a week or two. During that time there were no dances. For anybody.

"Once he had decided he was right about something, he wouldn't let go, unless he finally agreed, he was wrong," his daughter says.

He was a strong supporter of the Catholic church, and the local Mercy sisters were never far from his thoughts.

He had a lot of ‘'time and respect'' for the Sisters of Mercy, his daughter says.

"Sister Diana advised us that Dad would often arrive with a huge pile of fish and chips and a movie for them to watch.

"And the police would often ring Dad, when someone needed help. Dad would help organise a place to live, a job and just be someone to talk to."

Former Timaru mayor Ray Bennett, who sat by Kennedy in many council meetings, described him as a man who was "almost an icon of South Canterbury in so many ways.

"He was a champion of anyone who was disadvantaged.

"He was a really good campaigner, a hell of a nice guy and one of the characters the council's had in the past."

South Canterbury District Health Board chairman Ron Luxton said Kennedy's contribution to the board had been valued.

"He was always one to promote for the people of South Canterbury and worked diligently.

"We were very sorry to lose him [from the board] and he made his mark on the board, and we were very happy to have had him during that time."

Terry Kennedy's parting gift to the community is money to start raising funds for a ‘Magic Table' - like the one pictured - for the local dementia unit, where he spent his last days.

St Vianney's Timaru Trust chairman Dale Walden says the trust will contribute $5,000 toward the fundraiser. The cost of the table will be around $10,000.

The Magic Table helps with increased physical activity, social interaction and cognitive reasoning.

Source

• Stuff
• Stuff'
• CathNews
• Image: Nursing Times

This year, the religious congregation is extending the Lenten tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays to add Mondays in what they're calling Mercy Meatless Mondays.

The program is a continuation of one they began during the 2019 Season of Creation (Sept. 1-Oct. 4) and builds on the wider Meatless Mondays movement to address climate change with more plant-based diets.

"It fits in really nicely with our commitment to care for Earth," said Mercy Sr. Suzanne Gallagher, justice coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Community.

"Just think, three times a day you can choose to care for Earth. I think that's amazing."

Roughly one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activity come from agriculture, forestry and other land use, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — or about double the emissions from all cars on the planet.

The global food system, including pre- and post-production activities, accounts for as much as 37% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Producing meat for consumption, and in particular beef, requires huge amounts of water and land.

As forests are cleared for pastures, carbon dioxide stored in the trees is released, and fewer trees remain to absorb the planet-heating emissions from the atmosphere.

While many parts of the world don't have meat-based diets, global meat consumption has grown 20% in the past decade.

Studies have shown that reducing meat consumption is one of the critical steps to curb climate change, and to meet the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global temperature rise as low at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

An August report from the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that dietary changes, including featuring more plant-based foods, could eliminate annually by 2050 up to 8 gigatons of carbon emissions, or the equivalent emissions from 1.7 billion cars.

Initially, a U.S. government effort during World War I to reduce consumption of staple meal items, Meatless Mondays was revitalized in the early 2000s as a campaign to benefit both human health and the environment.

Part of the climate impact from meat is tied to deforestation to clear land for cattle grazing.

The massive fires that consumed large swaths of the Amazon rainforest last summer were in part triggered by ranchers and farmers setting fire to sections of the land to prepare for planting or to create pasture for cattle herds.

At the Vatican's special synod for the Amazon, held in October, Bishop Karel Marinus Choennie of Paramaribo, Suriname, critiqued calls from the Western world for South American nations to save the rainforest without examining the role that Western nations' own lifestyles, including diets, play in fueling its destruction.

"Even if we implement all the measures against deforestation or against the polluting of the rivers, it would still not have an effect if [people in] the Western world — Europe, America, Japan and China — don't change their lifestyles," he said at an Oct. 22 press briefing.

The Amazon bishop singled out meat consumption specifically, saying, "The forest is disappearing because Europe and China and the rest of the rich world want to eat meat."

The idea of Meatless Mondays came onto the radar of the Sisters of Mercy justice team from the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in Monroe, Michigan, who last year integrated the practice into their Lenten observance. Continue reading

At the time Queensland's premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson, thought it was a punishment from God.

Mike Ahern, who succeeded Bjelke-Peterson as premier in 1987, claims health officials warned Bjelke-Peterson HIV/AIDS could wipe out entire Queensland communities unless action was taken.

Nonetheless, Bjelke-Peterson refused to allow indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders from being screened for the virus.

A Brisbane Sister of Mercy, Angela Mary Doyle, decided to defy his wishes.

She was the administrator of Mater Hospital and decided to help the Queensland AIDS Council.

This involved creating a link between the Council, the Sisters of Mercy and the hospital so she could channel federal funds without Bjelke-Peterson's knowledge.

The hospital also provided the Council office space and three houses where AIDS patients could stay rent-free.

"It seems to me that if we are to stand up and be counted, we need a great deal of love in our hearts.

"There's a whole world out there desperately in need to impact through empathy," she says.

"We [the Sisters] waited, as did many others, for the medical profession, the churches (or) anyone to speak out against this stance of the government ... but nothing happened."

There was a lot of ignorance about how the virus was spread. Many thought it could be contracted simply by touch.

"At the outset, I could foresee some serious problems.

"I knew nothing of the virus, nothing of how it was or wasn't transmitted and I wondered how I could be of assistance to people whom I had never met and about whose lifestyle and needs I knew nothing.

"However, what I perceived as problems became moments of learning for us all."

As a result of their secret funding arrangement, the federal health minister at the time, Dr Neal Blewett, later described the Sisters of Mercy as "the most altruistic of money launderers".

Angela also discovered how to help AIDS sufferers while comforting the partner of a man who had just died from HIV.

The man threw himself across the bed where his dead partner lay moments after he had died and she put her arms around the man and held him.

"I realised that here were two men loved by God, as much as others and I are loved," she said.

"At that moment, all my fear of not knowing how to help these men left me. I realised it was all a matter of love."

She worked with and helped AIDS sufferers for seven years, until a change of government allowed sufferers to deal with the government and community directly.

Source

• Stuff
• SBS
• Image: ABC

A vigil of remembrance was held at Carmel College Hall in Milford on Sunday, November 19th. Her Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Joseph's Church the next day.

Engel was a teacher at Carmel College from 1965 to 1983. She taught history, English, geography and religious studies.

She was principal of the College from 1983 until 1991.

After retiring as principal, Engel served for some years as Auckland's Bishop Patrick Dunn's vicar for education, with a particular interest in seeing that Catholic schools, integrated into the State system, remained committed to their special character.

In 1995, she was made a Dame for her services to education.

In her time as principal, she had a sticker above her door which said: "Girls can do anything".

"Pauline was passionate about the education of girls and young women, with a commitment that earned public recognition in honours conferred by the State," said Denis Horton.

"She rejoiced to see former pupils progressing in their careers, especially when they made a difference to other people's lives.

She believed in mercy and its care for the poor and for the environment."

Engel worked with Horton when he was was the editor of Auckland's diocesan weekly, Zealandia.

Current Carmel College principal Chris Allen, who has been involved with the school as a student, parent and teacher, said Engel had been a part of every step.

"She taught me here, she was the one who offered me a job and appointed me as a teacher and then was very good at making me believe I could become the principal here," Allen said.

"She mentored me into this position."

Allen has fond memories of Engel, who she described as feisty and determined.

"She was very passionate about the education of women and was a very learned women herself."

Source

• Stuff
• The Sisters of Mercy
• New Zealand Herald
• Image: Stuff

Regis University in Denver presented Lacey the Opus Prize. The prize includes a cash award of one million dollars.

Lacey's organisation, called "Mercy Beyond Borders," provides educational and economic help as well as job training to over 1,400 displaced women and girls every year. Read more

The hikoi was organised by the Catholic institute Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy, and used the rallying cry "shelter for all".

Sisters from the institute also met with Cabinet ministers Paula Bennett and Michael Woodhouse and urged them to bring an end to people living on the street, in cars, and in poor and inadequate housing.

A student from St Mary's College in Wellington, Alice Tinawi, was among those who spoke at the hikoi. Continue reading

The reconciliation means that the sisters will resume their programs inside the jail.

They were stopped earlier in the year after an attack on the sisters' residence.

In April, 12 armed men drove into the Sisters of Mercys' compound in Goroka. They brutally assaulted three sisters and stole personal items like laptops, mobile phones and cash money.

One of the attackers had been caught after a police road block while the others are still on the run.

Sister Maryanne Kolkia, pictured above, was beaten up during the burglary.

At the reconciliation meeting in the prison she told the prisoners that they should appreciate the work the sisters do and make use of what they have to offer.

"We the Sisters of Mercy and other churches and non-governmental organisations are doing these work for you the prisoners to benefit from," she said.

"We do not expect anything from you in return but the way several criminals are targeting us is a concern that needs to be addressed."

The reconciliation was organised by the jail commander Superintendent Simon Lakeng at the jail.

Lakeng thanked the Sisters for their faithfulness in assisting prisoners.

Source

postcourier.com.pg

tokstret.com

Image: cathnews.com

Mercy Hospital chief executive Richard Whitney said the new Manaaki by Mercy day-stay facility would provide 1400 endoscopy and opthalmology procedures in the next year.

The facility included two theatres, recovery areas, patient consult rooms and cancer treatment facilities, Mr Whitney said. Continue reading

This follows an apostolic visitation of women's religious orders in the US several years ago.

The Sisters of Mercy's US communications director confirmed the request to visit Rome, but said there would be no further comment at this point.

The Vatican's congregation for religious life is contacting about 15 orders of Catholic women in the US to clarify "some points".

The congregation's prefect said the conversations involve "listening to what they say in a transparent way, without fear, without judging".

Continue reading

The incident happened on Sunday May 8 between 9pm and 10pm in Bihute, several kilometres outside of Goroka town where the Catholic Sisters from the institute of PNG and Australia Sisters of Mercy Works reside.

They were in their house watching television when 12 armed men in police uniforms entered their premises after badly bashing up the two security guards at the gate.

Sister Maryanne Kolkia, the country program coordinator for Sisters of Mercy, said this was the fourth time criminals have attacked them.

Sister Maryanne, who received heavy blows to her nose, lips and other parts of her face said the criminals were after a safe, which the sisters had no idea of.

"There was a knock on the door and I opened the door and saw several policemen so I thought they were regular policemen".

Sister Maryanne opened the door and they came in and "demanded that I tell them where the safe for keeping the money was," Sister Maryanne said.

"I told them we are a non profiting NGO and we do not have any money or safe in our house but that explanation provoked them to really beat us up very badly."

"The two security guards, were beaten up and tied to a tree.

They wer taken to at the intensive care unit at the Goroka Hospital

Source

• tokstret.com
• Image: 3.bp.blogspot.com

Sister Mary Winefride Blake was a teacher at St Mary's College in Wellington New Zealand for many years.

She says a highlight of her long career was founding St Mary's Schola, which became a major source of entry for young singers into church choirs and other regional choirs.

From 1953 until 1992 this group of 24 college girls, aged 14 to 17, were taught skilfully to sing in beautiful harmonies.

She also trained individual singers, some of whom went on to become notable performers in New Zealand and Internationally. They included Andrea Creighton, Suzanne Green, Val Sinclair and Rosaleen Hickmott. Even now she has one or two students.

From 1944 till 1964, she organised concerts in the Wellington Town Hall. She conducted the students from behind a black screen because it was not considered appropriate for nuns to be seen in public at night.

Sister Winefride was born in Kelburn on March 14, 1914, grew up in a musical house.

"My grandmother was very, very musical and my aunts. My father used to sing duets," she said.

She was trained as a singer before she entered St Mary's Convent on her 19th birthday in 1933 . She became a Sister of Mercy in 1936.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

It is difficult to find Samoa on a map of the world because it is small. However to the people who live there it could have been "the Garden of Eden". Things grow easily and no one needs to be hungry but ready cash is scarce. It was governed by New Zealand for some years so Samoans speak English and Samoan.

One hundred and fifty-four years ago the French Marist priests arrived in the very important village of Leulumoega. There they established the Catholic Church and built up the parishes with the help of the catechists. To mark the Jubilee of the Church its status was changed to that of a Minor Basilica and the buildings were upgraded. Now it is beautiful with new stained glass windows some done by local artists. Read more

Sources

• Sisters of Mercy
• Image: prtteamsolutions

Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), insists neither he, nor the Vatican is picking on the nuns.

"We're sad if people somehow think that these guys in Rome are trying to bring the hammer down on our nuns, or don't appreciate them. The assessment is actually effusive in its praise of the work nuns have done over the years," Levada told NCR's John Allen.

In an open and frank conversation, Levada, tried to set the record straight.

"I could say that some of my best friends are nuns," he said.

It's "not about the sisters in the United States. It's about the Leadership Conference of Women Religious".

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is a co-ordinating body for about 80% of the religious women in the United States.

According to Levada, the basic issue is LCWR exists because of a Church law that provides the Holy Father to invite them to do this co-ordinating work, and because their position exists at the invitation of the Pope, what they say has to be in sync with Church teachings.

Rejecting criticism of Bishop Blair's investigative assessment Levada said he did not accept the accusations of a lack of transparency or 'unsubstantiated accusations' in the process.

"This is not about people accusing LCWR of anything, it's about observing what happens in their assemblies, what's on their website, what they do or don't do," he said.

Levada said he is concerned that this process has been going on for four years and during that time not much has changed.

"It seems to me like a dialogue of the deaf," he said.

"Sometimes people have different images of dialogue. For some, dialogue is an end in itself, while for some of us it's a means to an end."

"People who have a representative role as spokesperson in and for the church also have a higher responsibility," the said CDF Head.

Calling the Church a "broad umbrella" Levada said its not just a question of different views, but also behaviour.

"It's about keeping faith with Jesus," said Levada.

"Ultimately this is about a group that represents the church doing so in a way that is accountable to the teaching and tradition of the Church."

Sources

• NCR
• Image Idle Speculations

Congregation Leader Anne Campbell set the scene with her reflection on ‘Mercy, the business of our lives.' Keynote presenters included public health executive Dr Lester Levy, on skilled governance, and Dr Philip Hill, currently McAuley Professor of International Health in Dunedin, who spoke on his research in tackling TB and pneumonia in The Gambia and on mentoring young health graduates in developing nations today.

Continue Reading

Sr Chanel Hardiman, who is in her late 70s, was honoured at a farewell function at Marinoto House, in Dunedin, on Wednesday.

She entered the Sister of Mercy's novice training in South Dunedin, aged 20, in 1953.

She told her guests much had changed during her career. Technology altered "everything", in terms of equipment used and the job's demands.