Sisters of Mercy Drogheda 150th Anniversary (1854-2004)

The people of Drogheda expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Sisters of Mercy for 150 years of faithful dedication to them in a programme of events which started on Sunday 7th November, and was brought to a very joyful conclusion on Friday 12th November. The week of events was organised by a Parish Committee spearheaded by the Parish, Priest Fr. Nulty and his Curates.

Mass in Parish Church

Hundreds of people flocked to a concelebrated Mass in the Parish Church presided over by Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath. Fr. Denis Nulty had this to say in his opening address:

"Today's celebration and the action packed week that follows is our way of saying thanks for:

• the Mercy hands that healed us
• the Mercy minds that educated us
• the Mercy feet that walked into our homes
• the Mercy eyes that stayed with and continue to stay with the people of
• Drogheda and beyond in our days of poverty, emptiness and brokeness"

Exhibition, Fr. Martin

Scoil Mhuire Fatima Primary School and Sacred Heart Post Primary School provided the singing and music for this special occasion.

Scoil Mhuire Fatima Choir

Following the Mass, refreshments for the Congregation were available in Scoil Mhuire Fatima. This venue was also the Launch of an Exhibition of an 1854 classroom and also an exhibition of memorabilia of the history of the Sisters of Mercy. This was the the creative presentation of Fr. Martin Carley and a very generous and willing team of workers.

3.00pm Sisters of Mercy from Drogheda and all the Sisters who served there as well as Priests, and teachers from the various Mercy Schools in Drogheda and Laytown were treated to a sumptuous Lunch in the Boyne Valley Hotel and all this was a gift from the Parish. Present at the entire Sunday event were two members from the Provincial Team, Sr. Anne Marie McQuaid, Provincial and Sr. Paula McGonigal.

Sr. Carmel, Past Pupil and Bishop Smith

Monday Night 8th November, Local Parish Priest Fr. Denis led a town walk to retrace the footsteps of the four young nuns who set up home at no 2 Dublin Rd. in 1854 where they founded their first school. There were 8 stations covered in this walk with input first and concluding with a Prayer before moving to the next station. The walk ended in the new Convent garden where an oak sapling was planted to commemorate the event. The walk took two hours and concluded with refreshments in the Convent provided by Parishioners.

Parishioners

On Wednesday 9th the Drogheda Historical Society sponsored an historical evening in Millmount Museum. Large numbers attended this event at which Sisters and Teachers gave short interesting talks and the Mercy Video "Circle of Mercy" was shown, and the people were moved emotionally by this presentation of the life of Catherine McAuley.

Sr. Dominic and Sr. Anne Marie at Lunch

On Friday 12th November, a Gala Parish Social was held in the Boyne Valley Hotel. Almost 400 attended this wonderful night of celebration, including the Mayor of Drogheda who on behalf of the thousands of citizens of the town and environs and members of the Borough Council, presented a Civic Honour and Award to the Sisters to mark the 150th Anniversary of their arrival in Drogheda. The Sisters were also presented with a large Waterford Vase on a plinth inscribed "in recognition of the contribution of the Sisters of Mercy to St. Mary's Parish Drogheda, 1854 - 2004." Fr. Denis commissioned a local artist, Richard Moore, ( a neighbour) to do a sketching of the Convent, and this was presented in a beautiful frame from the parishioners.

Sr. Dominic McCarthy, a Sister who has given 73 years of Mercy Ministry to the people of Drogheda, thanked the parish and the priests of the parish who made the whole week such a wonderful celebration.

Civic Award

Messages to Sr. Assumpta rsm