Nga mihi atawhai - greetings to all in mercy! A one-day gathering of five of us last month, charged with promoting Mercy mission at a national level within our current ministries, soon got to talking about how we affirm and nurture Mercy’s identity, especially among newcomers appointed to lead or manage those ministries.

Nga mihi atawhai - greetings to all in mercy! An invitation last month to a mid-winter theological reflection, topped off with mulled wine, sounded too good to miss. The day in Auckland had been preceded by one in Dunedin, and similar days in Wellington and Christchurch will offer an opportunity to Sisters of Mercy throughout the country to share the experience.

Nga mihi atawhai - greetings to all in mercy! As another Mercy Day looms, many of us in Mercy ministries around the world will be preparing for the anniversary of the date which marks the opening of Catherine McAuley’s House of Mercy in Dublin 185 years ago.

Nga mihi atawhai - greetings to all in mercy! For the 200 and more who gathered to celebrate Mercy Day in Auckland last month, the words of the song were certainly true, ‘the circle of mercy is timeless.’

Nga mihi atawhai - greetings to all in mercy! If Catherine McAuley were alive today, would she be using Skype to keep in touch with the 14 houses she helped to found throughout Ireland and England? And would she be encouraging her young friends and novices to keep in touch with her through Facebook? The answer is almost certainly yes.

Nga mihi atawhai - greetings to all in mercy! In a series of more than 20 short video clips on mission, produced by Catholic Health Australia and featured currently on its website, one pair in particular has a message worth pondering by Mercy people in these weeks leading to Christmas.