Catherine McAuley was born in 1778 into a loving, wealthy, Catholic family in Dublin, Ireland.

Her father was a very kind and devoted man who brought poor children to their house on weekends for instruction in the Catholic Faith. He died when Catherine was very young, but his compassion influenced her entire life.

Over the coming years Catherine’s mother taught her independence, dignity and charm.

When Catherine was almost twenty her mother died and so Catherine went to live with William and Catherine Callaghan an elderly, wealthy, protestant couple.

For twenty years she cared for the Callaghan’s and their Coolock house Estate. During her time there she grew closer to God through prayers and performed many works of charity reaching out to the poor and neglected.

Catherine felt a strong call to devote her life to the service of the poor and the sick and the uneducated.

When Catherine inherited the Callaghan’s fortune she used the money to build the house of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin.

This became a home for working girls and orphans and a school for poor children. Catherine also attended the sick and dying in their homes and walked the streets helping those in need.

Other women such as Elizabeth Harley joined Catherine and helped her work. In 1831 Catherine founded the sisters of Mercy.

The assembly grew rapidly and the sisters were soon set up in other parts of Ireland and England. On November 11th 1841 Catherine passed away having established 14 houses.

The sisters of Mercy came to South Australia in 1880 lead by Mother Evangelista and in 1957 brought catholic education to the township of Elizabeth.

Catherine McAuley also showed great courage in her work which embraced the poorest of the poor and those shunned by society. Catherine gave all that she had, like the widow in the Temple, to help others and to follow in the footsteps of our Lord.

Catherine’s fidelity to the Gospels in all of her work and life inspires people today to live out Catherine’s mission of Mercy in action, in healing the sick and ministering to the poor, the abandoned and the oppressed.

Catherine’s life could be summed up in many ways through her inspirational sayings.

The one below demonstrates the persistence that Catherine brought to her own life and the lives of her followers and those of us who embrace Mercy today.

“The simplest and most practical lesson I know . . .
is to resolve to be good today,
but better tomorrow”.
Catherine McAuley

We pray for God’s blessing in Faith, Growth and Unity,