In honouring the memory and legacy of our Foundress, Catherine McAuley, Sisters of Mercy all over the world pause on this their Foundation Day, to give thanks and to sing a song of joy.

On December 12th, 1831 a woman of vision, courage and generosity turned her compass in the direction of the people who were downtrodden, forgotten and left behind. Catherine McAuley put herself and her significant resources on the table of the world and all who gathered shared the bread.

This is the day when the influence of one woman lights up the night sky. Her First Foundation in Baggot Street, Dublin, Ireland, became a Spring of Living Water, crossing boundary walls, easing the global thirst, in Mercy.

Today in a rapidly changing culture where poverty, pollution and prejudice continue to ravage lives and end dreams, the Foundation of Hope and Mercy, rooted in Faith and built on Love, stands gently on the horizon of time, a Compass pointing the direction.

 On Foundation Day 2021 we look again at the big words of our time- words like Sustainability, Connectivity and  Interculturality…. In the life and work of Catherine McAuley  these words take on the dimension of foundation stones, designing the House of Mercy.

Mercy, the principal path pointed out by Jesus Christ to those who are desirous of following Him, has in all ages of the Church excited the faithful in a particular manner to instruct and comfort the sick and dying poor, as in them they regarded the person of our divine Master…  Catherine McAuley

 

Communications