God of the immense universe,
God of each human heart,
We thank You and we praise You.
We are people from many parts of the world-
diverse of tongue, talent and place-
who pray together as
friends of mercy and
friends for mercy.
We are united by a spirit and a story
born in a house in Dublin,
now spread to the outer reaches of the earth
and the inner recesses of the heart.
As friends in mercy,
united in that spirit and story,
we commit ourselves to
preserving the best of the past,
fostering the best of the present,
and shaping the best for the future.
We pray in the name of Jesus,
with the help of Our Lady of Mercy,
and inspired by the life of Catherine McAuley.
Amen.
