Counting down to the arrival of the Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellows for their Dublin immersion programme

We are counting the days until the Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellows of Cohort Five arrive to Catherine’s House for their final immersion experience which includes the presentation of their justice projects and their formal graduation.

Cohort Five are:

Angela Howard-McParland and Tatiana Díaz (USA); Sr. Aura Matalines rsm and Floravel Ambas (Philippines); Josie Ruawhare and Kilisitina (Tina) Vaeatangitua rsm (New Zealand); Sr. Mary Kanyi rsm (Kenya); Pamela McLoughlin (Ireland); and Saska Sertimer (Guyana).

They have already completed two immersions as part of their year-long leadership programme - one to Siem Reap in Cambodia and one to New York City which included participation at the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN.

We are looking forward to welcoming them to Catherine’s House - for many of them it will be their first time.

Their Dublin Immersion Programme includes the formal presentations of their Justice Projects on 26th and 27th August. These will be live-streamed on the MIA Facebook Page for those wishing to tune in and they will also be available afterwards on the MIA website and YouTube pages. An event note will be made available on Facebook closer to the date.

The Fellows will spend time soaking up the heritage and spirituality of the first House of Mercy and will have guided sessions with both Caroline Thompson, Head of Heritage and Spirituality and Sr Anne Lyng RSM, Head of Opening Doors.

They will hear from JP O’Sulllivan, Project Manager with MECPATHS - an organisation founded by two Sisters of Mercy which today works to raise awareness on Child Trafficking and educate frontline and emerging professionals on how to recognise indicators and report their concerns to the authorities.

Catherine McAuley's Dublin

The Fellows will have time to explore Catherine McAuley’s Walking Tour of Dublin and they will also make a visit to Coolock House.

They also will be hosted for a meeting by the Mission Team in the Mater Hospital in Dublin City Centre.

They will be steeped in Irish history during a visit to the EPIC museum - an interactive, fully digital museum in Dublin’s Docklands that tells the dramatic story of 10 million Irish people who left Ireland and how they shaped the world.

They will walk in the footsteps of Saint Kevin in the Monastic City of Glendalough Co, Wicklow.

In a first for the MELF immersions, the Fellows from Cohort Five will also spend a morning at Newgrange in Co Meath. Newgrange is a Stone Age (Neolithic) monument in the Boyne Valley, Ireland’s Ancient East, and one of the most important prehistoric sites in Ireland. Constructed around 5,200 years ago (3,200 B.C.), it predates both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza.

The Fellows will have a Q and A with MIA’s CEO Mary O’Donovan and will also take part in a communications workshop.

Graduation Day

On Thursday 3rd September, the Fellows will have their formal graduation ceremony in the International Room at Baggot Street.

This will be live-streamed on the MIA Facebook Page and highlights will be available afterwards on the MIA website and YouTube pages. This will be advertised in advance on Facebook where it will be possible to sign up to attend.

The Fellows will depart for home on Friday 4th September.

Keep an eye on our social channels for lots of updates during their immersion experience in Dublin.

Queries on the live streams and recordings should come to brendadrumm@mercyinternational.ie

ENDS

14 August 2026