Foundation Day at Mercy International Centre

The Mercy family— near and far— gathered in person and online on Sunday, 11 December, for a prayerful experience of Foundation Day at the front door of Baggot Street and in the Chapel. The celebration marked the 185th Anniversary since the founding of the order, the closure of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the official ending of the Mercy International Process and the commitment to 'keep the doors of mercy open for the desperate and the disruptive, the stray and the strange, the wounded wise and the child too soon old ' (Mary Wickham rsm, ‘Ends and Ongoings’)

Front: L-r: Mary Reynolds rsm, Executive Director MIA and Helen Diviney rsm, International MIRP Coordinator
Second row: Jo Kennedy rsm, Teresa Anne Nagle rsm
Third row: Áine Barrins rsm, Áine McGoldrick rsm

Representatives from the four Irish Provinces and Friends of Mercy were physically present at Baggot Street while Sisters, Associates, partners-in-Ministry and partners-in-Mercy from other parts of the mercy world— including New Zealand, Australia, United States, England, Poland, Scotland, Canada, Kenya and Ireland— participated via Livestream and shared a response online.

L-r: Mary Kay Dobrovolny rsm and Denise Boyle fmdm leading the ritual of commitment for (respectively) Sisters of Mercy and the Friends of Mercy	Margaret Scroope rsm reads the Scripture and leads the reflection. In the background are Mercy musicians (l-r) Patricia O'Donovan rsm and Marie Cox rsm

Many of the online participants emphasised their joy in being one on this day, Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, as rejoice we did. Vistors at Baggot Street then enjoyed afternoon tea and the opportunity to view an exhibition of icons.

Enjoying the icon exhibition on display in the International Room

Members of the Mercy family unable to join in the celebrations due to the lateness (or earliness) of the hour can still view the archived stream and post a response.

Messages to: Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA