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Catherine’s Legacy and the future of Mercy are safe in the hands of our Young Mercy Leaders
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We have had the great pleasure of hosting our annual Young Mercy Leaders Pilgrimage in Catherine’s House this past week. It was wonderful to spend time with Mercy Students from Carlow University, Saint Xavier University, Georgian Court, Salve Regina, Gywnedd Mercy University and St Aloysius College.
Day one of the pilgrimage focused on Catherine’s House and her story. Day Two was devoted to Mercy Justice with guest speaker JP O’Sullivan from MECPATHS. In the afternoon there was a chance for the Young Mercy Leaders to spend time with Sisters of Mercy from Ireland and the US and to listen to their stories.
Day three of the pilgrimage saw the group set off for the day to Glendalough where they were hosted by the Sisters of Mercy and guided through St Kevin’s Monastic Site and surrounds.
The Young Mercy Leaders have been telling the story of the pilgrimage all week in their own words, pictures and videos so do check these out on our website and social media channels.
Marking the 200th anniversary of the First House of Mercy
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Mercy 200 Stories
The Welcome I Will Always Remember in Borroloola Remote Laundry in Australia's Northern Territory
Mercy 200 Stories
The Welcome I Will Always Remember in Borroloola Remote Laundry in Australia's Northern Territory
Sally Bradley rsm is Executive Director of Mercy Works, the development organisation of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and Papua New Guinea. In the latest #Mercy200Stories submission, Sally speaks to how Mercy today is often called to meet the most basic and practical of needs.
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Mercy 200 Stories
The Forgotten Women - Mercy in Action in Queensland, Australia
Mercy 200 Stories
The Forgotten Women - Mercy in Action in Queensland, Australia
Sandra Lupi rsm is a Sister of Mercy from Brisbane, Australia and Chair of the Board of Directors of Mangrove Community Homes. In her #Mercy200Stories submission she highlights mercy in action to the many women over 55 who are the fastest growing homeless population in Australia.
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200th anniversary of First House of Mercy
Celebrating 200 years of Catherine McAuley responding with Mercy
200th anniversary of First House of Mercy
Celebrating 200 years of Catherine McAuley responding with Mercy
In 2027, we will celebrate 200 years since Catherine McAuley founded the first House of Mercy on Baggot Street, Dublin. Our anniversary theme, “Celebrating 200 years of Catherine McAuley responding with Mercy,” invites us to return to the moment when Catherine’s vision became a reality - and to reflect on how her response to the needs of her time continues to inspire us today.
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200th anniversary of First House of Mercy
We want your #Mercy200Stories
200th anniversary of First House of Mercy
We want your #Mercy200Stories
#Mercy200Stories is one of our key projects marking the 200th anniversary of the founding of the first House of Mercy by Catherine McAuley on 24 September 1827. This global storytelling project is an invitation to the Mercy World to gather and share 200 stories that reveal Mercy in action, Mercy in place, and Mercy as lived experience across the world today. Share your stories with us today!
Mercy Matters: Heritage and Spirituality
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Fact
On This Day
28 July 1893
Foundation to Sandy Point, West Newfoundland from Providence, Rhode Island - M Antonio Egan.
6 August 1898
Death of M Baptist Russell, Foundress of San Francisco from Kinsale, Co Cork
8 August 1849
Mother Cecilia Maher and her seven companions left St Leo’s Convent in Carlow, Ireland bound for the USA.
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Heritage
Heritage Corner with Caroline Thompson
From the founding of the Congregation in 1831 until her death in 1941, Catherine McAuley founded ten autonomous convents and a number of branch houses. It was custom in all foundations for Catherine McAuley to stay for four to six weeks and for the community to pray the Thirty Days’ Prayer to Mary asking for God’s guidance for the new community.
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Spirituality
Spiritual Reflection: Catherine McAuley - a relational leader
When you look at how Catherine McAuley approached leadership, you cannot fail to be amazed at how close her approaches are to contemporary leadership theory. She nurtured the unique gifts of those she worked alongside; she trusted even very young sisters to take up leadership; she practised leadership with kindness; she was people-centred, not rule-centred; she encouraged contemplation and prayer; she remined doggedly on mission; she led by example.
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Communications
Catching up with Sister Libby Fernandez on the Mercy Echoes Podcast
On the latest episode of our Mercy Echoes podcast we caught up with Libby Fernandez rsm and asked her all about her life, ministry and especially her outreach to homeless people through Mercy Pedalers.
You can listen on spotify or play an mp3 directly from our website.
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200th anniversary
Heritage Webinar Series: The Path to the First House of Mercy 1827
The Path to the First House of Mercy 1827 is the theme we have chosen for a new Heritage Webinar series from Mercy International Association. Self-registration is open now for the fourth webinar in the series which will focus on Coolock where Catherine spent almost 20 years of her life. This webinar will be offered by Caroline Thompson on Wednesday 12th of August 2026.
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Heritage and Spirituality
Watch our Heritage Webinar on Baggot Street - a history of place
On Wednesday 22 July we hosted the third webinar in our Heritage Series - the Path to the First House of Mercy 1827. We were delighted to welcome attendees from across the Mercy World including Australia, US, Ireland, New Zealand and Canada. If you missed the session, which was delivered by Caroline Thompson, you can now watch it on our YouTube channel.
Mercy Global Action
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Mercy Global Action
Mercy Explores the Future of Migration Advocacy at the Reclaiming Space Forum
Mercy Global Action
Mercy Explores the Future of Migration Advocacy at the Reclaiming Space Forum
From 7th - 9th July, the “Reclaiming Space: Civil Society Strategy and Engagement Forum” took place in Geneva, Switzerland. The Reclaiming Space Forum gathered migration-focused civil society advocates focusing on capacity-building, strategic alignment, alliance-building, and forward-looking coordination across global migration governance processes.
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Mercy Global Action
Improving Access to Safe Water: Innovative Initiatives at the Grassroots
Mercy Global Action
Improving Access to Safe Water: Innovative Initiatives at the Grassroots
During the second week of the High Level Political Forum, Mercy co-sponsored an event run by the NGO Committee of Social Development and the Mining Working Group entitled ‘Improving Access to Safe Water: Innovative Initiatives at the Grassroots’. The event focused on the incredible initiatives happening at local and grassroots levels that ensure water justice in impoverished or disadvantaged communities.
Further Resources
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Worth Reading
Follow our daily #MercyMoment
We invite you to follow our daily #MercyMoment on our website and on our social media (Facebook and Instagram). Our daily pause for reflection is available in English and Spanish and offers an inspiring, thought-provoking quote from the Mercy World and beyond. You can access all our reflections in our FLICKR archive too!
Worth Reading)
Worth Reading
Article: "Debt owed to Sr Consilio and Sisters of Mercy"
An article appeared in one of the regional papers outside of Dublin towards the end of June which had the headline: "Debt owed to Sr Consilio and Sisters of Mercy". The article highlights the work of Cuan Mhuire, Ireland’s largest provider of residential detoxification and treatment services for men and women suffering from addiction. Providing a 24-hour service every day of the year, Cuan Mhuire operates on the principle that everyone in need of help can be helped. It has approximately 600 treatment beds nationwide.
Worth Reading)
Worth Reading
MIA's Annual Report 2025
Our Annual Report is available to access now on our website. The report takes a look back at a busy year and also introduces our new strategy for the coming years. We have also shared a selection of photos and a look back at the year by Sheila Carney rsm and Mary O'Donovan, CEO of MIA.
Worth Reading)
Worth Knowing
Save the date for Culture Night in Catherine's House
We invite you to save the date of Friday 18th September 2026 so you can step into one of Dublin’s most significant historic houses as we open the doors of Catherine’s House at 64a Lower Baggot Street for Culture Night.
We will have tours of the house and the story of Catherine McAuley's life on a night when dozens of cultural and heritage sites will be open right across Dublin and Ireland.
Worth Knowing)
Worth Reading
There is a Mary Magdalene in All of Us - Sister Larretta Rivera-Williams
On the website of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Sister Larretta Rivera-Williams writes "Mary Magdalene knew well the pain of rejection, accusation and character assassination. Through such humiliation, she came to experience the transformative power of God working within her soul. She took nothing for granted as she encountered love, forgiveness, healing, and the restoration of dignity and integrity. There is a Mary Magdalene within each of us — longing to be forgiven, accepted, understood and loved."
Worth Reading)
Worth Watching
Anna Nicholls, RSM: The Iconic Status of Catherine McAuley
The lecture by Sr. Anna Nicholls, “The Iconic Status of Catherine McAuley,” was originally presented at the June 2025 MAST gathering. In the presentation, Nicholls examines the various images of Catherine McAuley that have emerged over time, exploring both their meaning and impact on the Mercy mission. She also asks what those images have done for the Mercy mission.
Worth Watching)
Worth Knowing
Mercy Education Limited appoints Luci Quinn as Chief Executive Officer
Mercy Education Limited has announced the appointment of Ms Luci Quinn as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 5 October 2026. Luci brings extensive experience as a principal and system leader in Catholic education. Since 2019, she has served as Principal of Clonard College, Geelong, and is widely recognised for her leadership in Catholic education, governance, culture building and school renewal.
Worth Knowing)
Worth Reading
‘A global Guide to the Crossroads of AI in the Age of Ecological Crisis’
This article by Adele Howard is well worth reading. She wrote it in response to an invitation to write an article for publication in L’Osservatore Romano (the Vatican daily newspaper), on Pope Leo’s Encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas‘ and the challenge of AI in the light of the ecological crisis and the urgent need to take global action.
Worth Reading)
Mercy eNews
The newsletter of Mercy International Association is published monthly and distributed to subscribers via email. If you have any queries about the newsletter, please contact mercyenews@mercyinternational.ie
For more information on the directors click here
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