Mercy at Work

Me pēhea te whāngai, te atawhai, me te manaaki i te mahi wairua me te mahi tinana i to tāua wā?
How are we to give expression to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy in our time?

Spiritual Works of Mercy	Corporal Works of Mercy
educate counsel confront wrong doing comfort the sorrowing forgive bear wrongs patiently pray for the living and the dead	feed the hungry give drink to the thirsty shelter the homeless clothe the naked visit the sick visit the imprisoned bury the dead

Show Mercy to our common home

In September 2016 Pope Francis added a new work of mercy to complement the two traditional sets of seven corporal and spiritual works of mercy and invited people to “be united in showing mercy to our earth as our common home and cherishing the world in which we live as a place for sharing and communion.’

As a spiritual work of mercy care for our common home calls us 'to discover in each thing a teaching which God wishes to hand on to us.'

As a corporal work of mercy care for our common home requires 'simple daily gestures which break the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness and makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a better world.'

Our priority is to live faithfully our call to Mercy and to witness the loving kindness of God. Each sister offers herself and her gifts in the service of others. Sisters may be engaged in the incorporated ministries of the congregation, in the works of a diocese or in the wider community.

All sisters are called to share in the mission of the congregation through prayer. In our reflection, prayer and active ministry we are invited to have a focus that reaches beyond our personal and community concerns and reflects an awareness of the poor and vulnerable in both local and global contexts.

Mercy at Work

Aged care

Pastoral Care

Education

Community Development

Earth Partnership

Outreach

Chaplaincy

Pacific Partnerships

A listening ear

Creative Arts

Today most incorporated Mercy ministries in education, healthcare and community development are led by lay people who share a passion for Mercy mission and bring specialised skill and training to senior positions. Fewer sisters are engaged full-time within incorporated ministries. Some may serve as directors or mentors for these ministries or assist in resourcing them for mission.

Sisters seek new horizons for responding to God’s ongoing call for justice, mercy and compassion. Involvement with refugees and new migrants, contribution to adult religious education and spirituality ministries, and engagement of sisters in wider community services illustrate emerging calls. A growing earth consciousness is reflected through engagement in earth focussed ministries and advocacy.

In keeping with our tradition, sisters continue to contribute in a variety of diocesan ministries, particularly in education at all levels, chaplaincy and parishes.

Creative arts remain a vibrant expression of Mercy and many sisters nurture an understanding and love of the arts and foster their use in a variety of religious and social settings.

Click here to read more about how the spiritual and corporal works of mercy are expressed today.

Mercy in Action

Mercy at Work