Mercy Day Greeting from Mary O'Donovan, CEO of Mercy International Association

A Mercy Day Greeting from Mary O’Donovan, CEO of Mercy International

As we celebrate Mercy Day 2026, I extend my warmest greetings and every good wish to the Mercy Family across the world.

Mercy Day is always a special moment in our year. It is a time to pause, to remember the vision and courage of Catherine McAuley, and to give thanks for the countless women and men who, across generations and continents, have continued to make God’s mercy visible in our world.

This year, however, our celebration carries an added significance as we look towards a remarkable milestone in our shared Mercy story as we mark 200 years since Catherine McAuley founded the House of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin.

In 1827, Catherine responded to the needs of the people around her with practical compassion, courage and an unwavering belief in the dignity of every person. What began as a house on Baggot Street became the beginning of a movement that would reach far beyond Dublin and, ultimately, across the world.

Two hundred years later, we are invited not simply to look back, but to look forward.

The bi-centenary gives us an opportunity to remember where we have come from, to honour those who have carried the Mercy story before us, and to ask what Mercy calls us to be and do in the years ahead.

As a global Mercy community, we have much to celebrate. We also recognise the realities of our world – poverty and inequality, displacement and conflict, climate injustice and the many forces that diminish human dignity. Catherine’s response to the needs of her time reminds us that Mercy is never passive. It moves us to encounter, to accompany, to act and to create change.

As we prepare for this year of celebration and remembrance, I hope that the bicentenary will be a time of gratitude, connection, renewal and hope. May it strengthen our sense of belonging to a living Mercy tradition and inspire us to imagine together what the next 200 years might hold.

Join us for the journey

This is a celebration for the whole Mercy family, and I warmly invite you to join us in person and online throughout the year as we mark this extraordinary milestone together.

There will be opportunities to gather, to learn, to remember, to celebrate and to reflect on the continuing relevance of Catherine McAuley’s vision in our world today. Whether you are able to join us in Dublin, participate in one of the many events around the world, or connect with us online, we hope that you will find a place within this shared celebration.

The official calendar of Mercy 2027 bicentenary events will go live on 29 September – Catherine McAuley’s birthday. We look forward to sharing the programme with you then and beginning this special year of celebration together.

On this Mercy Day, may we remember Catherine’s words and example, but above all, may we continue to embody the spirit that animated her life: a spirit of compassion, courage, hospitality and deep respect for the dignity of every person.

Happy Mercy Day 2026 to all our Mercy Sisters, associates, partners, colleagues, friends and companions around the world.

May this Mercy Day mark the beginning of a year of joyful remembrance, meaningful celebration and renewed commitment to the call of Mercy.

With every good wish,

Mary O’Donovan
CEO
Mercy International

Join us for Mass on Mercy Day live on our website and on our Facebook Page.

Read the Mercy Day Messages from our President Peta Goldburg rsm and Board Chair Maria Lawton rsm.