Mercy Day 2011 at Baggot Street

On Friday, September 23rd, over 80 Mercy sisters, associates, colleagues and friends gathered in the Baggot street Chapel for Mass celebrated by Fr Michael Milners from the Avila Carmelite Centre.

The gathering was truly international with representatives of the global Mercy family from America, Australia, Ireland, England and Kenya amongst the congregation. That internationality was reinforced by the accents of those who had special roles in the Eucharistic celebration such as readers and Eucharistic ministers.

The music was supplied by representatives of the Irish congregation: Catherine Dooley rsm ( singer), Eithne Doyle rsm (organist) and Ailish O'Brien rsm (violinist) and included "Circle of Mercy" by Jeannette Goglia rsm and " Suscipe of Catherine McAuley" by Elaine Deasy rsm.

Mary Reynolds rsm, Executive Director of MIA, welcomed all those who had gathered.home to Catherine's House on this special Mercy Day in the 180th year of the foundation of the Sisters of Mercy.

The first reading was an excerpt from the "Derry Large Manuscript", probably composed by Mary Ann Doyle (1801-1866). It was read by Mary C Sullivan rsm (Americas)

The second reading from Colossians 1:24-2:6 was read by Phyllis Moynihan rsm (The Congregation)

The Gospel : John 2:1-11

Mary C Sullivan gave the Reflection on the readings

The Eucharistic Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy was used

Following the Eucharist all present gathered for a celebratory lunch in the Dining Room.

A pre launch of the forthcoming biography of Catherine McAuley by Mary C Sullivan, "The Path of Mercy: The Life of Catherine McAuley" gave us all an opportunity to hear some of the details from this intimate and fascinating narrative of the life of Catherine which uses extensive primary sources to illumine Catherine's personality and details of her life.

Information about how to order advance copies of this biography at a special price will be available on this site shortly and will be featured in Mercy E-news on Wednesday, 5th October.

Messages to Mary Reynolds rsm - Executive Director MIA