Catherine McAuley knew this from her earliest childhood experiences. Growing up in 18th-century Ireland, Catherine was surrounded by people who were desperately poor. However, her family was one of the few comfortably wealthy Catholic families in Dublin, and Catherine's father, James, regularly invited the poor into his home. This planted the seeds in Catherine's young heart to work for societal change. James McAuley's death in 1783 meant that Catherine would spend the next 20 years searching for ways to fulfill the stirrings inside that urged her to do something permanent for Ireland's poor, uneducated, unskilled, sick, and neglected.

When Catherine inherited the fortune of a couple she had lived with for 20 years, she built the first House of Mercy where women who were poor, abused, and neglected would be welcome. Selecting a site in an upper-class neighborhood, she wanted to bring the plight of poor persons, especially women and children, to the attention of the rich. 

The rapid growth of the group of women who came to assist in her work led local church officials to convince her of the wisdom and value of establishing a religious order. The new community was born when Catherine and two companions took their vows as the first Sisters of Mercy on December 12, 1831.

Catherine's work is continued today by countless Sisters of Mercy, Associates in Mercy, Mercy Volunteers, and co-ministers throughout the world. Continually inspired by Catherine's life and her insistent desire to do something permanent for the poor, uneducated, vulnerable, unskilled, and neglected, the Works of Mercy come to life every day in their hands. The challenge of Catherine McAuley urges us all to "connect the rich to the poor, the healthy to the sick, the educated and the skilled to the uninstructed, the influential to those of no consequence, and the powerful to the weak to do the work of God on earth."

The Institute Direction Statement provides the context for carrying out the Mercy mission in today's society. The priorities include:

• Acting in solidarity with the economically poor of the world, especially women and children;
• Acting in solidarity with women seeking fullness of life and equality in church and society;
• Embracing the congregation's multi-cultural and international character and acting from a multi-cultural, international perspective.

Sisters are also committed to speaking with a corporate voice, working for systemic change, acting in harmony and interdependence with all creation, and calling themselves to continual conversion in their lifestyles and works. The ways that sisters and associates carry out the Mercy mission are diverse, since each situation calls for a response based on the needs of the people, the location, and the available resources.

Taken with permission from http://www.sistersofmercy.org/home.html

The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas have approximately 4900 members - sisters who have taken vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service of persons who are poor, sick and uneducated. They have committed to living their lives animated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Catherine McAuley's passion for persons who experience poverty.  They are an active community in contrast to some communities that are contemplative or monastic.

Sisters of Mercy serve in a broad range of ministries: Sisters are doctors, nurses, healthcare technicians, chaplains, clinical and pastoral ministers, lawyers, paralegals, lobbyists, legal advocates, teachers, professors, librarians, counselors, case managers, social workers, and secretaries. Sisters serve as CEO's, CFO's, COO's; directors, coordinators, supervisors, administrators.

In addition to meeting the needs of people today, Mercy seeks ways to change the social and political systems that create the problems. From grassroots letter-writing campaigns and socially responsible investing, to witnessing for justice and praying for peace, Mercy takes action.

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Institute Leadership Team
Sisters of Mercy are joined in their mission by lay women and men who serve as administrators and staff in Mercy sponsored and co-sponsored facilities, by Mercy Associates, and Mercy Volunteer Corps members.

Around the world there are over 10,000 Sisters of Mercy. They are members of Institutes based in Ireland, Great Britain , Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Newfoundland.