Our Story

Welcome to the Sisters of Mercy, South Central Province, Ireland.

A big welcome to the Mercy South Central Province pages. We hope you will find something which interests you, and more especially which moves you to be concerned about some of the things which engage Sisters round the province.

Mercy is about mobilising the energy of our love and compassion to reach out to people in difficulty, to society in trouble and to our earth in its diminishment. The witness and presence of Jesus in the power of His Spirit enables us to give what talent and resources we can to this task. Perhaps, you have a talent which you would feel drawn to put in to that Mercy endeavour too?

Provincial Leadership Team

From L to R Srs. Breda Coman, Anne Doyle, Therese Barry, Peggy Collins (Provincial Leader),
Thomasina Finn, Patricia O'Meara

About Us

We are called to belong to the Mercy Family of the South Central Province of Ireland (an area stretching across the country from Dublin to Kilrush).

Catherine McAuley, our Foundress, asked only two "qualifications" from women who wished to join her Mercy Family "a desire to be united with God and a profound love for the poor and a particular interest for the sick and dying" .

To-day not to-morrow

The early Sisters of Mercy were often called "the walking nuns" - they literally "had their feet on the ground" - they were in touch with the urgent needs of poor people of their time. "Direct and practical in her response, she went out into gutter and garret to teach, to soothe and to shelter" (Office Book 900)

Catherine believed that "the poor need help TODAY, not next week".

As Mercy Sisters at the start of the 21st century, we too try to have open eyes, open hearts and "an ear to the ground" for the crying needs of our times

Remembering that we receive from others far more than we are able to give, we try to offer our services with courtesy and compassion.

South Central Province

The South Central Province of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy came into being at the first congregational chapter in 1994. It comprised five former independent congregations - Dublin, Kildare and Leighlin, Cashel and Emly, Limerick and Killaloe. The first provincial chapter was held in 1995. 740 Sisters live in 130 communities/ units in urban and rural settings. The N7 national roadway runs through the province like a spine, so from east to west the expanse is more than Rush to Kilrush. South Central has a mission community in Brazil and was closely linked to Kenya which was a vice-province until 2000. Also, during the first six years as a province we had sisters working in Pakistan, in Iceland, in Rome and in Jersey.

South Central has four new members at initial formation stage. It has also recently witnessed the canonical transfer of twenty five Mercy sisters from Auckland, New Zealand.

Many of the earliest Mercy houses are in this province - Baggot St, Coolock, Booterstown, Carlow, Naas, - Limerick, Birr - and a great sense of a vibrant continuity with the early sisters still prevails.

Our Story

Baggot St was where it all began.

Catherine McAuley's vision and mission of doing what she could to better the lot of the poor when she opened Baggot St in 1827 spread rapidly, far more rapidly than she had anticipated. Seven of the first foundations made within her lifetime are located in South Central Province.

History | Catherine McAuley | Locations | Commemorations | Meeting