The McAuley Corporation

Writings From Catherine McAuley

 

I don't know why people make such a fuss over what I have done. It seems to me that anyone who cared about other people would do the same. I was born Catherine Theresa on September 29, 1778 to James and Elinor McAuley. I was the oldest of three children; I had a younger sister Mary and a brother James. Even though my I father died when was very young, I never forgot his kindness to the poor children of Dublin. You see, I sued to sit with him when he taught catechism to the children and fed them with food from his own household. His lessons and kindly way with the children stayed with me throughout my entire life. They tell me that from my mother, I learned graciousness, poise, gaiety and hospitality.

My mother died when I was about twenty, and we all went to live with our cousins, the Armstrongs. They were good people, but they certainly didn't like Catholics - to tell the truth, they really looked down upon them . It was then when I was in my early twenties that Mr. and Mrs. Callaghan, recently returned from India and frequent visitors to the Armstrong home, invited me to come to live with them at their estate in Coolock, a little village outside of Dublin. I learned so much from this gentle Quaker couple: I learned the Scriptures and I grasped an understanding of finances; I also had a great deal of practice in nursing and in the managing of a household. Best of all, I was allowed free rein to teach the catechism (as my father had done) to the little children of Coolock Village and to feed them as the need arose. My dear adopted parents died when I was in my forties, and praise God, they both converted to the Catholic faith before they died.

To my utter amazement, Mr. Callaghan left his entire fortune to me. He knew my deepest concern was to help poor women learn skills that would help them earn their own livelihood. With this inheritance, I built the house on Baggot Street in Dublin. (My relatives referred to it as "Kitty's Folly.") Even if I do say so myself, it was a pretty imposing building, and I built it right in the midst of the most fashionable of Dublin homes. I felt that if people saw others in need they would be of a mind to help. This neighborhood would also be wonderful for "job placement."

The exciting thing that happened was that a number of women from Dublin society wanted to work with me in this endeavor. Our house opened on the 24th of September in 1827 on the feast of Our Lady of Mercy, and so we called it the House of Mercy in honor of Mary. We filled the house in no time; in addition to helping women, we began to educate the poor street children. I had spent time in France and also in the famous Kildare Schools in and around Dublin to learn the latest skills in education.

For a time all went well. We had a bulging school; the young women were learning the skills they needed for positions in the neighboring wealthy homes. But some of the clergy were unhappy with what was happening at Baggot Street. They thought we were trying to start a new religious congregation. That was the farthest thing from my mind. I had heard so many uncomplimentary stories about nuns when I lived with the Armstrongs and the Callaghans. Besides, all of the nuns in Dublin were cloistered. I could never go out to work among the poor, and I knew this was my life's work. God had led me in this direction.

Archbishop Murray settled me once and for all. He said I either had to begin a new congregation of religious or I would have to disband. He said he would intercede for me with the Holy Father so that I could continue my work in and around the streets of Dublin. And so, off I went, at the age of 52 (imagine), with Marianne Doyle and Elizabeth Hartley to the Convent of the Presentation to learn to become a nun. Believe it or not, within a few months, I found myself at peace with this new life. On December 12, 1831, we professed our vows and immediately headed back to Baggot Street to continue our work as Sisters of Mercy.

Much to my surprise, the Sisters of Mercy flourished, and all over the world, Sisters of Mercy continue to do what we started in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831 - they educate, they offer health care and provide social services; they reach out with competence and compassion. It is pretty amazing what God has done among us - my sisters have become the largest English-speaking group of women religious in the world.

I still say that anyone who cared about the needs of other people would do the same as I have done.

"Put your whole confidence in God; God will never see you want for means to do the work of God." (Catherine McAuley)