Ngā Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa
Whakaminenga Chapter Vision
August 2019

“We are called… into a new way of living God’s mercy
in a courageous response to the needs of the times.”
Constitutions #2

Co-creating Our Future

Care of Our Common Home

Manaakitanga

Mercy Global Presence

Social Justice

Nga Takahinga Kia Kotahi Our Bi-cultural Journey

Through baptism we are called to share in the mission of Jesus.

As Sisters of Mercy we are called to live our charism in response to the Mercy of God in a particular expression of justice and compassion.

It is in living out the mission of our baptism and the charism of Mercy in Aotearoa New Zealand that we commit ourselves to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The statement above reflects the bi-cultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand, a country uniquely founded in 1840 by Treaty between indigenous Māori Chiefs and the British Crown. Te Tiriti o Waitangi Treaty of Waitangi recognises Māori as Tangata Whenua, first people of the land. In applying the Treaty the key principles of partnership, protection and participation interpret Te Tiriti as a whole – its intention and spirit.

As religious women called to Mercy, Te Tiriti o Waitangi invites us to consider who we are as individuals and as a community of women committed to gospel values and the discipleship of equals. As individuals and as a congregation committed to being a merciful presence in the world, we continue the justice-seeking tradition which promotes the beauty and richness of human diversity as a gift from God.

United in Mercy, grounded in prayer, shaped by the witness of Jesus and the example of our founders, we are called to cross the boundaries of our day, embracing our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Tiriti invites us to establish a firm grounding in who we are individually and congregationally so that we may come to partnership with Māori strengthened by the knowledge of our individual family and cultural identity, an informed history of our country, and the story of the origins, development and charism of our congregation.