This year we have commenced a four-part ongoing formation program within MMC “Mercy Leadership: Empowering Middle Leaders.” On 26 May, the first cohort of 16 participants from across our Community Services, Education and Health and Aged Care ministries gathered for Part 1 of the program, a two-day residential at Santa Casa Retreat Centre in Queenscliff, Victoria. Parts 2 and 3 will be Zoom seminars, and Part 4 will provide an opportunity for participants to come together in person for a day at the MMC office at Dawson Street in Brunswick.
Next month, a further 22 participants will gather for their two-day residential at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney, from 21-23 July.
Read more about the MMC formation program.
Mercy Alliance Formation Seminar
In mid-June, Trustees and Senior Ministry Leaders from across the four Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (MPJPs) within the Mercy Alliance (MercyCare, Mercy Partners, Mercy Ministry Companions and Whanau Mercy Ministries), gathered for a 90-minute Zoom seminar. This was the first of two seminars for 2024, part of an initiative to bring people together from across the four Mercy-heritage MPJPs in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Sr Elizabeth Davis RSM led a presentation on the exploration of Synodality: the Mercy Way in which she drew on her experience as an educator, hospital administrator and system leader, Congregation Leader of the Sisters of Mercy in Newfoundland, theologian and delegate to the Synod on Synodality in Rome during October 2023.
In her presentation, Elizabeth gave a snapshot of the process of the Synod and the areas on which it focused. She also shared some insights into the material generated and the themes going forward. Elizabeth then gave some examples of synodality in action within the Mercy world, mentioning the 2007 gathering of Mercy theologians, the 2016 Mercy International Reflection Process and the 2019-2021 exploration of Mercy Global Presence.
Elizabeth noted the richness of the Mercy Global Presence ongoing formation resources available on the mercyworld website.
Following the session, participants were invited into small groups to identify significant issues that they wanted Elizabeth to take with her on her journey to Rome later this year, where she will join delegates to continue their prayerful reflection and consideration of the issues facing the Church at this time in history.