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A Pilgrimage of Mercy: Walking in Catherine's Boots
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By Sister Lisa Griffith, RSM, Executive Director for Mercy Education
In August 2024, the Mercy Education Board of Directors gathered in Dublin at the House of Mercy for their annual meeting. Through visits to Mercy International Centre, moments of prayer in the chapel, reflection in the garden, time in Catherine’s room and the Heritage Room, as well as visits to Coolock House and a walking tour of Dublin, the board encountered Mercy in a profound and transformative way.
As they reflected on their experience upon returning home, a shared conviction emerged: this sacred journey should not be reserved for board members alone. The opportunity to walk where Catherine walked, pray where she prayed, and experience first hand the roots of the Mercy mission needed to be available to those who carry that mission forward each day in our schools.
Consequently, the Mercy Education Board of Directors established In Catherine’s Boots: A Pilgrimage to Ireland – a fully funded pilgrimage for faculty and staff from Mercy Education member schools. The board committed to funding the program for three years. The application process opened in February. More than 70 educators applied, and a selection committee of Mercy Education board and staff members chose 20 pilgrims representing schools in Argentina, Belize, Jamaica, the Philippines and the United States. They were joined by five Mercy educators from Australia, two interpreters and three members of the Mercy Education staff, including myself.
While our cultures, traditions, and lived experiences differ, we discovered that the mission of Mercy transcends every boundary. Through sharing our stories and reflecting together, we experienced the unifying power of Catherine McAuley’s vision. Our admiration for her legacy and commitment to her mission quickly transformed a group of individuals into a community. The relationships formed during this pilgrimage will continue to nurture and sustain each participant as they return to their schools and ministries.
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As a Sister of Mercy, I have been blessed to visit the House of Mercy several times. Yet this pilgrimage offered something entirely new: the opportunity to experience Catherine’s home through the eyes of those encountering it for the very first time. As we walked together from the hotel to Baggot Street, anticipation filled the air. The moment participants arrived, there was an unmistakable sense of awe. Images long known through books and presentations became reality: Catherine extending her hand in welcome, the iconic red door, the familiar knocker, and the address, 64A Lower Baggot Street. Emotion overflowed as we gathered for a group photograph and were welcomed into the place where Catherine’s work and vision first took root.
Our time in the chapel provided a sacred space for prayer, reflection, and faith sharing. We entered not just a physical space but a place rich with Mercy history and spirituality. The chapel’s thoughtful design, which enabled ailing sisters to participate in liturgy, deepened our appreciation for Catherine’s attentiveness to human dignity. For many, kneeling at the very kneeler where Catherine herself professed her vows as the first Sister of Mercy became a treasured and deeply personal encounter with our Mercy heritage.
As educators, standing in the first Mercy classroom was both humbling and inspiring. We glimpsed into the courage and determination required to educate more than 100 students in a single room. The experience challenged us to imagine Catherine’s educational vision not as a distant historical reality, but as a living tradition. Touching the walls, gazing through the windows, and learning how students entered the classroom brought her story vividly to life. We were reminded that the principles guiding Catholic and Mercy education today were forged in that very place and continue to call us to create learning environments that are empowering, personalized, affirming, socially connected, and countercultural.
Time spent in the room where Catherine chose to spend her final days is an invitation into profound peace, surrender, inspiration, and hope. Within these walls, Catherine met individually with each sister, offering words of wisdom, encouragement, and blessing. It was here that she lovingly remembered every living sister in her will, a testament to the deep care she held for each member of her community. Standing in this sacred space, one cannot help but feel Catherine’s enduring presence and hear her gentle challenge to each of us: to carry forward the mission of Mercy into the world of today with courage, compassion, and faith.
The garden offered a different gift, one of quiet conversation and contemplation. Surrounded by beauty and peace, participants were invited to “sit” with Catherine, to reflect on their own journeys, and to imagine a dialogue with this remarkable woman. Lighting remembrance candles at Catherine’s grave became a powerful symbol of gratitude and hope. Equally moving was the opportunity to mingle waters from our homes with those flowing through the rill, a beautiful reminder that while we come from different places, we are united in one Mercy mission.
Another highlight of the pilgrimage was our visit to Coolock House, where we joined the local Sisters of Mercy and visited Mercy College, a school with historic ties to Coolock. The students’ enthusiasm and joy were contagious. Hearing them speak about their educational experiences affirmed that Catherine’s dream remains alive in today’s young people. Mercy Associate Anne Reid led our tour of Coolock, enriching our understanding of Catherine’s formative years with the Callaghans.
While much of our time focused on Catherine’s life and the call to carry forward the Mercy mission, we were also blessed to experience the culture and history of Ireland itself. Walking the streets of Dublin, we learned about the city Catherine knew and the realities of her time, including the challenges created by the Penal Laws. A visit to the Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College invited us to reflect on the centrality of Scripture in Catherine’s faith journey. At Glendalough Monastery, we encountered the richness and enduring wisdom of Celtic spirituality. Our time at Glendalough concluded beneath one of the most magnificent rainbows imaginable, as though God were offering a final blessing on our journey.
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The full impact of this pilgrimage will unfold over time, both for me and for each participant. Its gifts will extend far beyond those who travelled to Ireland, influencing the countless students, colleagues, and communities touched by each participant upon their return. As stories are shared and lessons are lived out, the spirit of the pilgrimage will continue to ripple outward, strengthening the Mercy mission for years to come. With deep gratitude, we acknowledge the Mercy Education Board of Directors for making this pilgrimage, and future pilgrimages, a reality.
We also express our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff of Mercy International. Their hospitality, wisdom, and passion brought Catherine’s story vividly to life. We are grateful to all who welcomed us so generously, and we extend special thanks to Caroline Thompson, Head of Heritage and Spirituality with Mercy International Association, whose gift for storytelling and deep commitment to Mercy enabled us to encounter Catherine not simply as a historical figure, but as a vibrant presence and inspiration for our world today.
Through this pilgrimage, we did more than visit places connected to Catherine McAuley. We walked in her footsteps, prayed in the spaces she cherished, and renewed our commitment to the mission she began nearly two centuries ago. In doing so, we discovered anew that Mercy is not merely a legacy to remember, but a living call to answer.
When the pilgrimage concluded, each pilgrim was missioned with the following words. Its invitation speaks to all of us today:
You have walked in the spirit of Catherine,
you have encountered Mercy,
and you have been entrusted with this mission.
May your boots be blessed,
your spirit renewed,
and your heart open to God’s call.
We are all sent in Mercy!
ENDS
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