REFLECTION

What started with the vision of one young lady, Catherine McAuley, has grown into a life for a quarter of a million women and men today. 

As I sit on my flight home to Australia I am reflecting on the past four weeks in Ireland. Ireland’s beautiful scenic drives, rich culture and dramatic history has been a wonderful experience. I could not have had a warmer welcome home to the first House of Mercy at Baggot Street than the one I received.  From the moment I entered, I was engulfed with the true Mercy spirit of Hospitality from the sisters and volunteers alike.  ‘A good cup of tea’ was waiting for me with a friendly smile, to spend some time in chatter before the week’s work was to begin.

I experienced many ‘thin places’ at the Mercy International Centre, Coolock House, and the streets of Dublin where Catherine and her sisters ventured. At the end of the first day, I was in awe of Catherine’s vision and tenacity. To see that vision come to fruition with the help of a few young lay women, Catherine was able to raise her adopted children and help those in need whom she encountered. Her vision to give a hand up, rather than a hand out, enable women and young girls to have a better future.

Catherine was a trailblazer of the 1800s. Through her early years as an adult and life at Baggot Street, her faith shone through. Her trust in God’s plan and support was always at the forefront of her vision.  Even before the decision to become a sister and start a religious order, she had faith in ‘God Alone’. 

It amazed me how the first Sisters of Mercy were able to work and live in such a tumultuous period with limited resources and still be able to reach out and care for so many women and children in need. Each sister had her own gifts to ensure that the Spirit of Mercy spread. From visiting the sick, listening to their worries, skilling young women to get jobs, clothing and feeding young children whilst also teaching people about God’s love. The walking sisters were resilient, tough and dedicated to the Spirit of Mercy, against all the odds.

Coming up to 200 years since her death, Catherine’s vision of a lay led ministry has come full circle.  In 1827 Catherine and a few lay women started helping those in need from Baggot Street.  In 1831 three sisters of Mercy began the Mercy Order which soon began to grow, reaching thirty-two countries today. By 1994 some 23,000 sisters were working in Mercy ministries around the world and now today there are 6,000 sisters and 250,000 women and men in a variety of lay ministries of caring for those in need. 

Over the next 12 months I will endeavour to organise the production of a film that tells our Mercy Story at St Joseph’s College from the perspective of past and current Sisters of Mercy, staff and students.  In addition to this project I aim to develop Catholic and Mercy Imagery to be displayed around our three campuses.

Miss Paula Cox

Director of Catholic Identity