Twenty Facts about Catherine Mcauley and the Mercy Sisters
1. Catherine McAuley was most likely born on the 29th of September, 1778. We can't be completely sure of this because it was a long time ago and the records kept back then were not as good as they are today.
2. Given that the date of birth above is correct, Catherine McAuley's father died in 1783, when Catherine was almost 5.
3. Catherine's mother died when Catherine was nearly 20, around 1798.
4. Catherine lived in the Coolock house, a few miles north east from Dublin, for the next twenty years. She was the house manager.
5. When the owners of Coolock house died, Catherine inherited the house and sold it so she could build the House of Mercy on Baggot Street.
6. The House of Mercy was a house for homeless women and poor or abused servants.
7. The foundation stone at the House of mercy was laid in 1824.
8. Catherine's sister, Mary, died in 1827.
9. Mary's husband, Dr William McAuley, died in 1829, leaving Catherine as the legal guardian of nine children.
10. Catherine McAuley permanently moved into the House of Mercy in 1829.
11. When Catherine moved into the House of Mercy, she brought her nieces with her and sent her nephews to boarding school.
12. In 1831, Catherine and two of her companions formed the Sisters of Mercy.
13. In 1836, the Sisters of Mercy started setting up convents across Great Britain, including one being founded in London in 1839.
14. Catherine made difficult journeys to be with founding convents by canal boat, stage coach and railway.
15. The Sisters of Mercy were officially confirmed as a convent in 1841 by Pope Gregory XVI.
16. Later in 1841, Catherine McAuley died of tuberculosis that she got from a trip to Birmingham.
17. Catherine died at about age 63.
18. Catherine McAuley was declared venerable in 1990 by Pope John Paul II.
19. In 1902 the Sisters of Mercy started Sacred Heart College in Shepparton.
20. In 2002 the Mercy Centennial Stadium was built at Notre Dame College to recognize one hundred years of the Sisters of Mercy in Shepparton.
2. Given that the date of birth above is correct, Catherine McAuley's father died in 1783, when Catherine was almost 5.
3. Catherine's mother died when Catherine was nearly 20, around 1798.
4. Catherine lived in the Coolock house, a few miles north east from Dublin, for the next twenty years. She was the house manager.
5. When the owners of Coolock house died, Catherine inherited the house and sold it so she could build the House of Mercy on Baggot Street.
6. The House of Mercy was a house for homeless women and poor or abused servants.
7. The foundation stone at the House of mercy was laid in 1824.
8. Catherine's sister, Mary, died in 1827.
9. Mary's husband, Dr William McAuley, died in 1829, leaving Catherine as the legal guardian of nine children.
10. Catherine McAuley permanently moved into the House of Mercy in 1829.
11. When Catherine moved into the House of Mercy, she brought her nieces with her and sent her nephews to boarding school.
12. In 1831, Catherine and two of her companions formed the Sisters of Mercy.
13. In 1836, the Sisters of Mercy started setting up convents across Great Britain, including one being founded in London in 1839.
14. Catherine made difficult journeys to be with founding convents by canal boat, stage coach and railway.
15. The Sisters of Mercy were officially confirmed as a convent in 1841 by Pope Gregory XVI.
16. Later in 1841, Catherine McAuley died of tuberculosis that she got from a trip to Birmingham.
17. Catherine died at about age 63.
18. Catherine McAuley was declared venerable in 1990 by Pope John Paul II.
19. In 1902 the Sisters of Mercy started Sacred Heart College in Shepparton.
20. In 2002 the Mercy Centennial Stadium was built at Notre Dame College to recognize one hundred years of the Sisters of Mercy in Shepparton.