)
)
)
)
From the founding of the congregation in 1831 until her death in 1941, Catherine McAuley founded ten autonomous convents and a number of branch houses.
It was custom in all foundations for Catherine McAuley to stay for four to six weeks and for the community to pray the Thirty Days’ Prayer to Mary asking for God’s guidance for the new community. Catherine McAuley resolved to simplify governance structures by placing the new communities under the direction of the Diocesan Bishop. Catherine’s contribution would be … affection, often-expressed solicitude and prayer, frequent letters and visits … (Sullivan rsm. 2012. 192).
This first autonomous Convent of Mercy outside of Dublin was in Tullamore in 1836.
Parish Priest James O’Rafferty invited the Sisters of Mercy after the Sisters of Charity turned him down.
Tullamore’s poverty was particularly dire. The house, donated by Elizabeth Pentony was tiny, Catherine joked that ‘… two cats could scarcely dance in them’.
)
Later, Michael Molloy, a whiskey distiller, donated funds to build a convent. The first Superior: was Mary Anne Doyle and her postulant companion was Teresa Purcell. It is said that Catherine McAuley grieved losing Mary Anne Doyle from Baggot Street as she had been with her from the beginning – one of the first three Sisters of Mercy, who made their vows in Georges Hill in 1831.
Dr John Cantwell, Bishop of Meath, welcomed the community and confirmed Mary Ann Doyle as Superior on May 26th, 1836.
Catherine wrote a poem to Ursula Frayne about the opening ceremony in Tullamore:
About thirty priests, and ladies by dozens
Some of whom had got cards of admission
But their nieces, their aunts, and their cousins
Came with them without our permission…
There is commemorative information on each of these early foundations in the House of Mercy, Baggot Street. You can see them when you book a tour.
Caroline Thompson, Head of Heritage and Spirituality
ENDS