On July 22nd, the group in the photo on the left sat around Mary Aikenhead’s desk and chair praying as the International Vocation/Formation Team.  A sister representing every corner of the Congregation met July 19 – 24, 2009  in Dublin to search together for a new way of forming women with the heart of Mary Aikenhead and Ignatian imagination.

The Religious Sisters of Charity in Australia witnessed an historic day on 1st July 2009 when Mary Aikenhead Ministries became official!
The first Public Juridic Person of Pontifical Right granted to a religious congregation in Australia, Mary Aikenhead Ministries, sets an important precedent for other religious congregations in Australia.

A major exhibition has been mounted on the rich history and contributions of Catholic sisters in the United States. This exhibition was developed by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

From 2nd-7th July 2009, four Australian students, together with Sr. Virginia Wilkinson rsc, visited Ireland to explore and experience the history of the Religious Sisters of Charity. Clare, Megan, Ros and Becc have already spent three months in Zambia working in various ministries with the sisters there.

The British government’s ratification of the European convention against Human Trafficking has been welcomed by the Medaille Trust, a Catholic charity which aims to help women, young men and children who have been freed from sex-trafficking.

The Congress organised by the International Union of Superiors which concluded in Rome on June 18 established a new Global Network embracing regional and national networks of Religious engaged in the work of countering Human Trafficking. The new network is called TALITHA KUM taken from the Hebrew words used by Jesus in Mk. 5:41 when he tells the little girl to rise.

At a time when evaporation of markets, investments and jobs in 2008 have created a harsh new reality for people from across the globe in 2009, 17 agencies and religious congregations will gather at Mount St. Mary's College Doheny Campus on 14 February for a symposium on "The Different Faces of Poverty."

Social justice campaigner Sr Stanislaus Kennedy has warned that swingeing spending cuts in primary schools will have serious repercussions for the most vulnerable children. She said the cuts imposed in October's Budget could mean that children will pay a severe and disproportionate price for the current downturn.