Every year on September 24th, the global Mercy family—sisters, associates, companions, donors, staff, students, and more—comes together to celebrate Mercy Day, marking the 1827 opening of the first House of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland.

This year’s Mercy Day theme, Rooted in Mercy, invites us to reflect on the deep roots that nourish and sustain the Mercy tradition across generations. 

Just as a rose blooms thanks to the strength drawn from its roots, Mercy has blossomed from the vision and courage bequeathed to us by Catherine McAuley.  Rooted deeply in faith and compassion, Catherine’s own life was shaped by diverse experiences and relationships that deepened her trust in God and widened her compassion for others. From these roots, she formed a community of women who would go forth to educate, serve, heal, and advocate with courage and tenderness.

As we celebrate Mercy Day this year, we are invited to reflect on the roots that ground us.

May the blessing of mercy carry us through each day. May mercy be tattooed on our hearts

and minds to speak the truth in love as we go about the ministry of our life. May mercy be

sown deeply in our souls, core to our identity, who we are in mercy. May Mercy invite mercy

to be the prophetic voice in this moment of time.

May the word of God that is in our hearts spill mercy over Earth to light the way toward

peace. May mercy be seeded in our hearts sown and cultivated by the work of our lives. May

we know we are the body of Christ one mercy ... women open to respond to the needs of our

time ... “My God, I am yours for time and eternity.”

May God use our hands to feed the hungry, to build community; Our eyes to see the needs

of others, to hear the cries that are carried in the wind across oceans and desert lands and in

our cities, to speak tenderness and love, to be mercy here and now. May we bless the other in

mercy over and over and over again.

Amen.

(Mercy Day Blessing by Sisters of Mercy)

We thank you God for the gift of this day.