Critical Concerns 2023

This year’s critical concern is Women. The Sisters of Mercy remain committed to improving the situation of women around the world.

“We believe that women’s education, health and spirituality need special attention. We continue this mission in our schools, colleges, health-care institutions and spirituality centers. We advocate for equal pay, for services for domestic violence victims, and for the rights of girls and women in especially repressive societies.”

Schedule of Events

Monday, March 20, 2023

9:30 a.m.: Welcome and Opening Prayer Reflection: The Divine Spark

Welcome and preview

Paul DaPonte, Ph.D.
Office of Mission Integration

Opening prayer and reflection

Jeff Schaffer, MPS
Campus Ministry

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Virtual Event

Join Zoom Meeting

Faculty/staff retreat: “Leaning into Mercy: the Inner, Contemplative Dimension”

Mary-Paula Cancienne, RSM, Ph.D.

For those who would like to gather with fellow retreatants, please gather in Mercy Hall Lounge.

7:00 – 8:15 p.m.: Virtual Event

Join Zoom Meeting

Panel discussion: “Joanne Sheehan: Nonviolent Activist for Peace and Justice”

in conversation with Scott H. Bennett, Ph.D.

Mercy Peace Forum

Mulcahy Institute for Social Justice

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Prayer reflection

Spirit Creates Matter

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.: This is an in-person event

Service opportunity: Providence House, Whiting, NJ

Providence House offers a wide range of services to women experiencing domestic violence and their children.

Transportation provided.

Registration: jshaffer@georgian.edu

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: This is an in-person event (Dorothy Marron University Community Chapel)

Presentation: “Women as Agents of Change”

Marianne Comfort

Justice Coordinator for Earth, anti-racism, and women

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Sponsored by Mercy Associates

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Virtual Event

Panel discussion: “Celebrating Women in Business and Digital Media”

Hosted by Jennifer Edmonds, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business & Digital Media. The event panelists will be:

Tasha Youngblood-Brown, Ernst & Young
Marilee Pettit, Press Communications, Inc.
Debra Rizzo, Rizco
Theodora Sergio, Georgian Court University
Vanessa Coppes, BELLA Magazine

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Prayer reflection

Women of Faith

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

On-campus service opportunity

Drop by to prepare care packages for clients of Providence House (Ballroom, Casino)

4:00 – 6:30 p.m.: This is an in-person event (Little Theater, Jeffries Hall)

Film screening and panel discussion: “9 to 5: The Story of a Movement”

Marci Mazzarotto, MFA, Ph.D., moderator

Professors Pari Murthy, Ellen Bernhard, Kristen Park Wedlock, panelists

7:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Virtual Event

Join Zoom Meeting

Presentation: “The Recovery of Women’s Voices in Catholic Tradition: A Conversation”

Elissa Cutter, Ph.D. and Mary Kate Holman, Ph.D.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.: This is an in-person event (Casino)

GCU graphic design students share a special Class project for the 2023 critical concerns week

Graphic design students from the class Graphic Design 1 & 3 for Spring 2023 have created visual demonstrations for the theme of Critical Concerns 2023 as one of the course projects, taught by Dr. Jinsook Kim.

Each poster (a poster example) manifests a particular issue related to the theme Women utilizing some components of visual language system such as Metaphor, Referent and Synecdoche. The issues that have been visualized include equal dignity, sexual violence, and child marriage.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: This is an in-person event (Casino)

Ecumenical prayer service

Campus Ministry

Refreshments

Dance performance: “Perpetual Interlock”

Juliette Margolies, choreographer

Marissa Rutigliano and Cadence Marciano, performers

3:00 – 4:00 p.m.: This is an in-person event (Casino)

Keynote event: “Women on the Move: The Changing Face of Migration to the U.S.”

Sonia Nazario

Pulitzer prize-winning journalist

Author, Enrique’s Journey: The Story of a Boy’s Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with his Mother