This document outlines the mission of the Church of Mercy according to biblical passages and statements from Pope Francis. It discusses how the Church should respond to material, moral, and spiritual poverty through immediate aid, advocacy, presence of support, and forgiveness. The Church should make everyone feel welcomed, loved, and encouraged to live according to the Gospel. It poses the question of what kind of Church we belong to and what changes are needed to make it truly a Church of mercy and compassion.

1. THE CHURCH OF MERCY

2. –2 Cor. 8:9
“The Lord Jesus Christ,
though he was rich,
yet for your sake he became poor,
so that by his poverty
you might become rich.”

3. –Pope Francis
“confront the poverty of
our brothers and sisters,
touch it, make it our own
and take practical steps
to alleviate it”
Solidarity with the Poor

4. MATERIAL DESTITUTION
• immediate response
to persons in need
• advocacy against
violations of
discrimination and
abuse

5. MORAL POVERTY
• presence of
support
• agents of
opportunities
and hope

6. SPIRITUAL DESOLATION
• forgiveness of
offences
• understanding and
guidance for those
in darkness and
helplessness

8. THE CHURCH IS …
the place of God’s mercy and love,
… where everyone can feel themselves
welcomed, loved, forgiven
and encouraged to live
according to the good life of the Gospel

9. THE CHURCH IS …
the house of the Father, with doors
always wide open.
… where there is place for everyone
with all their problems.
We must reach out to everyone
without exception,
… but first: the poor, the sick, the
despised and the overlooked.

10. WHICH KIND OF CHURCH
DO WE BELONG TO?

17. INSTITUTIONAL WORKS OF CHARITY

21. The mission of the Church is
mercy

27. –Joy of the Gospel, 3
“God never tires of forgiving us;
we are the ones who tire of
seeking his mercy.”

29. –Joy of the Gospel, 53
“How can it be that it is
not a news item when an
elderly homeless person
dies of exposure,
but it is news when the
stock market loses two
points?”

32. –John 17,11
“Father,
protect them in your
name that you have
given me,
so that they may be one
as we are one.”

33. –John 17,14
“I have given them your word
and the world has hated them
because they do not belong to
the world. …
I am not asking you to take
them out of the world,
but I ask you to protect them
from the evil one.”

34. –John 17,17
“Sanctify them in the truth,
your word is truth.
As you have sent me into
the world, so I have sent
them into the world.”

36. FOR GROUP SHARING AND
REFLECTION:
What changes must there be in the
Church for it to be a Church of mercy
and compassion?
What can you as a Catholic do to
make that happen?

37. Sharing with you resources from the
TALKS during the Saint Martha
Lenten Retreat 2014.
Please offer a prayer for all our priests.
PRAY the rosary for the intentions of
our Pope and for world peace.
Thank you and God bless us all.