The 50th International Eucharistic Congress begins on Sunday June 10th and continues until June 17th at the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin. 

In the early 1800s, our Foundress Catherine McAuley was beginning her special ministry to the poor, sick and uneducated of Dublin in a location at the corner of Baggot Street and Herbert St. – a fashionable area of the city, about 15 minutes walk away from Ballsbridge. There she built the House of Mercy with the inheritance she received from Mr. Callaghan - a Quaker man who left her everything, after Catherine had taken care of his wife for 20 years, in Coolock House. 

Since the opening of the House of Mercy in Baggot Street, Catherine McAuley went on to found the Sisters of Mercy, a congregation of Catholic women which today, has some nine thousand members living and working in 44 countries worldwide. 

In 1990 Pope John Paul II recognised the profound charity of Catherine McAuley and declared her Venerable. 

It is with great joy that we take part in the Eucharistic Congress and have an Exhibition Stand (no. 141) in the Congress Exhibition Centre called ‘Venerable Catherine McAuley’. Sisters of Mercy will be present at the stand for the duration of the Congress and we hope to make Catherine McAuley more widely known and loved, through our presence at the Congress. 

If you know someone who is sick and in need of prayer, please come along and we will promise to pray for them through the intercession of Catherine McAuley. 

If you are coming to the Congress and know Sisters of Mercy in your own area, we would be delighted to meet with you and chat with you. 

You might also be interested in viewing a film on Catherine McAuley entitled ‘Kitty’s Folly’. This will be shown at a workshop on Thursday June 14th at 7pm and you are welcome to book in for that. 

Srs. Brenda Dolphin, Consilio Fitzgerald and Sheila O'Gorman will be presenting at workshops - please check out the Eucharistic Congress timetable for full details.
www.iec2012.ie

Mercy International Centre, the original House of Mercy opened by Catherine McAuley in 1827 is offering free tours for the duration of the Eucharistic Congress and you are most welcome to go there and see the house and pray at Catherine McAuley’s grave. 

We greatly look forward to meeting you at the Eucharistic Congress.

The Canonisation Committee