Catherine McAuley

Founder of the Sisters of Mercy

Early life

Catherine McAuley was born on September 29, 1778 in Dublin, Ireland. As both her parents died while she was young, Catherine, her brother and her sister went to live with relatives, (the Armstrongs) and though they were not Catholic, Catherine remained committed to her Catholic faith.

Who looked after Catherine McAuley? Why?
When she was 25 years old, Catherine became a live in companion to Mr and Mrs Callaghan, friends of the Armstrongs. Although they, too, did not approve of Catherine's Catholicity, they were willing to financially support her charitable work. For 20 years she gave catechetical instruction to the household servants and the poor village children from Coolock House, the Callaghan's home. She also taught needlework to young women and ran a small shop to sell their goods. Upon his death, William Callaghan appointed Catherine his sole heir, which enabled her to provide social services for poor women and children and educate young girls.

What did Catherine McAuley want to achieve? How was she successful?

In 1824 Catherine leased a property in Baggot Street, Dublin. As it was being refurbished, she studied current educational methods in preparation for her new endeavour. Soon after the House opened on September 24, 1827 hundreds of girls were enrolled in the school and it was also being used as a home for young servant girls. Catherine had a group of women who helped her at the house and together with them, she visited the sick in their homes, an extremely rare undertaking at the time.

In the early years, a group of 12 women lived and worked at Baggot Street, adopting a common timetable and dressing simply. This lifestyle and dedication to the poor led Catherine to consider establishing a religious congregation and on September 8, 1830, aged 52 years, Catherine joined the novitiate of the Presentation Convent in Dublin with two companions from Baggot Street. They were professed on December 12, 1831 and the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy was established.

Catherine's dream was now reality. She encouraged her Sisters to "educate poor girls, to lodge and maintain poor young women who are in danger and to visit the sick poor". Within 10 years Catherine founded nine Convents of Mercy in Ireland and England . Each new foundation was independent of the mother-house in Baggot Street but they were all linked to Catherine and each other by her frequent visits and letters.

Catherine died on November 11, 1841 after a short illness.

Catherine’s deep faith in God who is Mercy, and her experience of the pain of poverty, shaped her prayer and, in turn, her prayer shaped her ministry. Mercy spirituality is based on this life long journey of discovery of the Mercy of God, which is so often found in the lives and struggles of the suffering and the poor.

What are the features of the Mercy cross? What does the Mercy cross symbolise? MERCY CROSS

Catherine McAuley designed the original Mercy Cross herself

 -a dark background with a white cross in the middle.

The Mercy Cross that we see today still has a white cross in 

the middle of a dark coloured cross. Catherine chose the 

cross to be the symbol of the Sisters of Mercy because of her

 deep love for the crucified Jesus.

You may have notice that the Cross does not actually have

 the crucified Jesus on the Cross. This is because Catherine

 believed that each Sister of Mercy places herself on the 

Cross to be like Jesus.

Sisters of Mercy all around the world wear this cross so we

 can recognise who they are.

YOU ARE TO CREATE A GOOGLE SLIDE ABOUT:

1) Early life. When was Catherine born? Where was Catherine born?

2) Who looked after Catherine McAuley? Why?

3) What did Catherine McAuley want to achieve? How was she successful?

4) What are the features of the Mercy cross? What does the Mercy cross symbolise?