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Come Join Mercy Leaders from around the World!

From 10-12 August 2011, students from Mercy-sponsored schools will travel to Mercy International Centre in Dublin, Ireland. These Mercy pilgrims will undertake their journey in the light of the story of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. Through presentation, discussion, reflection and prayer, students will engage the history and charism of Mercy, returning to ordinary life better equipped to be Mercy leaders in our schools and in our world.

Our desired outcome is that the students who participate in this pilgrimage will emerge with a deeper appreciation of our Mercy tradition: past, present, and future.

Past: As they explore Mercy International Centre, pilgrims will hear the story of Catherine McAuley anew in the House of Mercy which she founded, learn about her spirituality, and grow in understanding of the rich heritage of the Sisters of Mercy.

Present: As they encounter diverse embodiments of the Mercy charism in delegations from around the world, and as they are challenged by engaging speakers and discussions, pilgrims will gain a profound sense of the Mercy spirit alive today.

Future: As they reflect on their experiences in Dublin, pilgrims will come to know themselves as Mercy leaders and return home emboldened to strive for justice and mercy with the courage that Catherine demonstrated.

For more information on this pilgrimage and how you or young Mercy leaders with whom you are associated can participate, contact Mary Kay Dobrovolny rsm at heritage@mercyinternational.ie or + 353 1 661 8061.

Mercy International Association is an organization of Sisters of Mercy throughout the world. Its purpose is to inspire men and women of Mercy to embody the spirit of Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, in ways which are creative and appropriate to the needs of our time. MIA offers a variety of programmes which seek (a) to deepen people’s experience of God's gracious and compassionate Mercy as the wellspring for their lives, and (b) to discover collective responses to issues of global poverty demonstrated in the massive displacement of persons worldwide.

A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken in light of a story. A great event has happened; the pilgrim hears the reports and goes in search of the evidence, aspiring to be an eyewitness. The pilgrim seeks not only to confirm the experiences of others firsthand, but to be changed by the experience. Pilgrims often make the journey in company, but each must be changed individually; they must see for themselves, each with his or her own eyes. And as they return to ordinary life, the pilgrims must tell others what they saw, recasting the story in their own terms. – Paul Elie, The Life You Save May Be Your Own

Mercy International Association
64a Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, Ireland