True education is born of a conviction of the value and worth of all - Archbishop Dermot Farrell

Speaking on Mercy Day 2026 to mark the Centenary of Mercyhurst University, Erie, Pennsylvania, Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin said: “The good educator has to find the balance between patience and kindness, on one side, and discipline and rigour on another.  True education is born of a conviction of the value and worth of every person, that in the end we are all brothers and sisters, children of the one God. It was that same conviction, those same values that brought Catherine McAuley to open, on this day 199 years ago, what she called “a House of Mercy” (on 24 September, 1827).  The Dublin of 1827 was a different world, but Catherine McAuley was a forward-looking woman.  She was a woman of courage who used the fortune she inherited to bring dignity to the poor.”

Light Through Mercy

This is a reflection on the stained glass of Catherine McAuley’s First House of Mercy at 64a Lower Baggot Street, Dublin:

Morning light finds its way through coloured glass, not to dazzle, but to soften.

Each pane holds a story - of faith made visible, of hope carried quietly, of Mercy lived one person at a time.

The colours change with the hour, as every life changes with grace.

Yet the light remains the same, passing through, never kept for itself.

Paying attention in age of clickbait - Theme announced for World Communications Day 2027

The Dicastery for Communication released the theme for the 61st World Communications Day which will take place on 9th May 2027 in many parts of the world. The 2027 theme will be “A New Gaze: Paying Attention in the Age of Clickbait." People are inundated every moment of every day with expectations of rapid reactions and superficial relationships, resulting in a lack of genuine attention fuelled by digital culture. Yet attention is a precious form of generosity. Christian communication can rediscover attention as both a gift and a way of seeing - the gaze of Jesus, who saw and allowed Himself to be touched.

Schools across the Mercy Education network celebrate Mercy Day 2026

As the Mercy family looks ahead to the 200th anniversary of Catherine McAuley's first House of Mercy, we are reminded that the seeds she planted nearly two centuries ago continue to bear fruit in every Mercy school and community.

Inspired by this year's Mercy Day theme, Rooted in Mercy, schools across the Mercy Education network celebrated the roots that ground them in faith, compassion, and service while responding to the needs they witness in their communities.

These stories and photos are more than snapshots of Mercy Day celebrations. They are signs of a living legacy, revealing how Catherine's vision continues to blossom through new generations who are carrying Mercy forward with courage, creativity, and love!

Homily of Father Christopher Nkole OFM Cap for Mercy Day 2026 Mass in Baggot Street

We invite you to read the Homily by Father Christopher Nkole OFM Cap for Mercy Day and the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy on Thursday 24th September 2026, which he delivered in the Chapel of Catherine McAuley’s First House of Mercy, Baggot Street, Dublin. In his homily Fr Christopher said: "There are some places where history is remembered. And there are other places where history is almost tangible. This is one of those places. We gather today in the Chapel of the House of Mercy on Baggot Street - a place where, almost two hundred years ago, Catherine McAuley dared to believe that the Gospel could take concrete shape in the heart of Dublin."

Justice Webinar One - From Sparks to Fire

What does it mean to turn our concern for justice into meaningful action? This is one of the many questions we will be reflecting on as part of Mercy International Association’s new Justice Webinar Series.

Cecilie Kern, Global Policy Officer with Mercy Global Action hosted our first webinar and introduced the Mercy Justice Advocacy Approach, exploring how we can move from recognising injustice to understanding its root causes, amplifying the voices and experiences of those most affected, and identifying opportunities for action and systemic change.

Sisters Silvana Arévalo and Erin Walsh received as novices

Sisters Silvana Arévalo and Erin Walsh were received as novices on Saturday 29 August 2026, in the chapel of McAuley Convent in Merion, Pennsylvania. Erin entered the Sisters of Mercy on September 15, 2024, with a celebration in Philadelphia, and Silvana entered the following week, on September 22, with a celebration in Savannah, Georgia. Sister Mary Kay Dobrovolny, the coordinator for New Membership, welcomed those assembled, including Silvana’s and Erin’s parents and siblings, Erin’s grandparents, Silvana’s nieces, and close relatives and friends. “We call this ceremony the novitiate ‘reception;’ Erin and Silvana are received more deeply into the life of the Community,” Mary Kay said. “It is at this time that Erin and Silvana receive the title ‘Sister,’ and they also receive the Mercy cross, the outward symbols of a public identity as Sisters of Mercy and women religious in the Catholic Church.”

Celebrating Mercy Day 2026 at Monte Sant' Angelo College Sydney

We are delighted to share this video of the highlights of the celebrations for Mercy Day 2026 at Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College, Sydney, Australia. Alice Priest, Coordinator of the Mercy Day events reflected, "Mercy Day always reminds us of who we are and who we are called to be. Saying goodbye to Year 12 makes Mercy Day incredibly emotional and special. Seeing how much those students have grown and built a sense of community during their time at the college, leading by example as young Mercy women set to take on the world beyond Monte, inspires the rest of us to carry that legacy forward."