Catherine McAuley -- Sisters of Mercy Foundress Catherine McAuley was born into a wealthy family in Ireland. Her father brought poor children to their home on weekends for instruction in the Catholic faith. After the death of her parents, Catherine went to live with the Callaghans. She inherited the Callaghan’s fortune and used the money to build the House of Mercy on Baggott Street in Dublin, a home for working girls and orphans, and a school for poor children. She also attended the sick and dying in their homes. Other women joined her and in 1831 Catherine founded the Sisters of Mercy. Soon they were invited to other parts of Ireland and England. Two years after Catherine’s death, Sister Frances Warde led the Sisters of Mercy to the United States. Her life inspires the foundress of the House of Mercy in Nashville, Tennessee.
Suscipe of Catherine McAuley, Foundress: My God, I am yours for all time and eternity. Teach me to cast myself entirely into the arms of your loving providence, with most lively, unlimited confidence in your compassionate, tender pity. Grant me, o most merciful Redeemer, that whatever you ordain or permit may be acceptable to me. Take from my heart all painful anxiety; suffer nothing to sadden me but sin, nothing to delight me but the hope of coming to the possession of you, my God and my all, in your everlasting kingdom. AMEN.
Sister Eileen Pistor – House of Mercy Foundress On October 13, 1996, the idea of the House of Mercy was first conceived by Sister Eileen as she reflected on her work in counseling with a client. "This single mother was struggling with an addiction, had a minimum wage position, and was in despair as to where she could get help. There was no such place...." With a lot of prayers and hope, Sister Eileen began working to provide a ministry for such women in need. The Sisters of Mercy agreed to sponsor the program and Catholic Healthcare Partners provided the seed money by mid 1997. With a broad base of community support, the assistance and collaboration of other agencies, and a working Board of Directors, House of Mercy became a "place of promise and hope" with its first residents on November 23, 1998. House of Mercy has moved from it's original location on Tennessee Avenue, to a location on Kentucky Avenue, just across the alley. "Catherine's House", as it's known, is a fully renovated home for four families.
