MERCY, THE ADELAIDE CONGREGATION OF THE SISTERS OF
(RSM) 1880
Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was born in Stormanstown House, Dublin, the home of her parents, on September 29, 1778. Her parents, James and Elinor McAuley were Catholics in very comfortable circumstances. Catherine’s early years were very happy and secure, in a loving family, with an older sister Mary, and a younger brother James. But the security and happiness and comfortable circumstances changed abruptly when her father died in 1783, for he left a very young widow and three small children, Catherine not yet five years old, and James only a baby.
Elinor had relied on her husband for the management of their considerable property. Extravagant and pleasure loving by nature she very soon ran through her wealth, and was reduced to sharing the house of a Protestant friend. At their Mother’s death in 1798, Mary, Catherine and James were homeless and almost penniless, and only Catherine had remained faithful to their Catholic beliefs. Catherine lived with family friends and relatives for a while, until she was adopted by the Callaghans, who were devout Quakers, in 1803. She lived with them for the next 20 years, as a loving and beloved daughter.
The Callaghans were so impressed by her goodness, especially to the poor, that they left her sole heiress of their considerable fortune. Catherine, now 44 years old, a wealthy heiress, and independent, bought a block of land in the fashionable part of Dublin, where she began her works for the poor and homeless. Very soon a number of young ladies joined her in her work, thus forming the beginnings of the Order of the Sisters of Mercy, which spread into practically all countries of the world.
As Sr. Marie Anselm Gaudry writes in "Mercy from Generation to Generation",1 the South Australian Sisters of Mercy "had a particularly colourful foundation story. In 1856, a band of Mercy missioners led by Mother M. Evangelist Fitzpatrick had been farewelled from Baggot Street by Mother Vincent Whitty (later of Brisbane) and Mother Xavier Maguire (later of Geelong). They were bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they were to serve the Irish settlers, who were reported to be suffering intensely from fever, disease, lack of nursing facilities, and general distress, in the unaccustomed conditions of their new home.
"The community flourished. In 1880, however, the generally turbulent political situation erupted with particular violence. The bitter anti-religious thrust of the revolution made it unsafe for the Sisters to remain.
"Two Sisters returned to Ireland to consult with the Dublin Superiors and the Archbishop, and arrived in time to receive a very cordial invitation from the Bishop of Adelaide to establish themselves in his diocese, where he promised there would be ‘a peaceful home for your community and as vast a field for your zeal as Sisters of Mercy as you would desire.’
"Twenty-four Sisters arrived from the Argentinian mission in May, 1880, and in the rapidly growing colony, so attractive to free-settlers, found, as promised by the Bishop, a huge field in which to labour. Twelve of the initial group moved almost immediately to Mount Gambier, led by Mother Baptist McDonnell. Mount Gambier was an independent group until re-united with Adelaide in 1940. It was Mount Gambier’s privilege and joy to be able to send back to Buenos Aires, in 1890, a group of Sisters of Mercy to re-found the Congregation and to set up an orphanage at Rio Bamba."
In the 118 years that the Sisters of Mercy had lived and worked here in South Australia, they have taught in 22 city and country schools in the following locations:
St. Aloysius College, Adelaide, Parkside, Henley Beach,
Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Millicent,
Brompton, Coolgardie, Elizabeth,
Erindale, Goodwood, Morphett Vale,
Port Augusta, Riverton, Victor Harbour,
Mercedes College, Springfield, Albert Park, Alice Springs,
Balgo/Billiluna, St. Thomas, Siena College,
Kilmara College.
In addition to teaching, the Sisters have also been engaged in the following Apostolates:
Bundeena, NSW, Rehabilitation
Carrington Cottages - accommodation for homeless men.
Catherine House - for homeless women.
Moore Street - Day Centre for homeless men.
Chaplaincy - Hospital, Industrial, University, Prison
Child Care - Goodwood and Cottage Homes.
Companions Volunteer Community - young people donate time to help underprivileged.
Hesed Community - Rehabilitation
Action for Justice - including Banning of Land Mines..
McAuley Lodge - for young unemployed.
Children’s Interest Bureau.
Papua New Guinea - teaching and Missionary Work.
Parish Work.
Basic Ecclesial Communities.
Media Apostolate.
Christian Life Movement.
Diocesan Pastoral Team.
Saigon - in Rosemary Taylor’s Orphanages.
Catholic Institute of Western Australia.
University Lecturer.
Tea and Sugar Train: which runs from Port Augusta to the
Western Australian Border, working with Mothers and young
children.
Yemen - Nursing.
Vietnamese Apostolate.
Pakistan - Training Teachers.
Mercy Refugee Service.
Port Adelaide Central Mission.
Catholic Adult Education Services.
Marriage Tribunal.
Coolock House - Parenting Units, for unmarried Mothers.
The above listing of the different kinds of works that the Sisters have been involved in, shows clearly that the Sisters of Mercy have been carrying out the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.
1 Gaudrey, p20f
Further Suggested Reading:
Gaskell, J.M. ‘The Educational Work of the Religious Sisters of Mercy in South Australia
with Special Reference to the Convent of Mercy Secondary School Adelaide 1881-1931’, thesis
(M.Ed.), University of Adelaide, 1972.
Astbury, Helen Centenary: the Sisters of Mercy, South Australia 1880-1980. Adelaide: RSM, 1980.
Sisters of Mercy Sisters of Mercy in the South-east 1880-1980. Mount Gambier SA: RSM, 1980.
McLay, Anne Women on the Move: Mercy’s Triple Spiral:
A History of the Adelaide Sisters of Mercy, Ireland to Argentina
1856-1880 to South Australia 1850. RSM, Adelaide. 1996.
Ussher, J. The Irish Sisters of Mercy in Argentina: From 1856 to 1947, Buenos Aires 1947.
If further information is required about individual Sisters the following address is given:
The Archivist
Adelaide Congregation Sisters of Mercy
34 Angus Street
ADELAIDE S.A. 5000
In writing to the Archivist, it would be appropriate that a financial contribution be made for the Archivist’s time and expertise.
Religious Orders or Congregations have released the details on their members. It is understood that the copyright of any material (including the listing of the names of the Sisters) relevant to a particular Order or Congregation in this publication remains with the relevant Order or Congregation.