Sisters of Mercy

Sisters of Mercy
"After the Battle of Gravelotte. Sisters of Mercy arriving on the battle field to succor the wounded." Unsigned lithograph, 1870 or 1871.

The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy (RSM) is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. As of 2003, the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations.

Contents

Vows and activities

Sisters of Mercy are an international community of Roman Catholic women religious vowed to serve people who suffer from poverty, sickness and lack of education with a special concern for women and children. Members take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the evangelical counsels commonly vowed in religious life, and, in addition, vows of service. They continue to participate in the life of the surrounding community. In keeping with their mission of serving the poor and needy, many sisters engage in teaching, medical care, and community programs. The organization is active in lobbying and politics.

History

The order began when McAuley used an inherited fortune to build a "House of Mercy" in Dublin that provided educational, religious, and social services for poor women and children. The House aroused local opposition, however, it being traditional for nuns rather than lay women to engage in this sort of activity. Eventually the church hierarchy agreed to the formation of a non-cloistered order, and the sisters became known informally as the "walking nuns" for their ability to care for the poor outside a convent. The house still sits today, as the Mercy International Centre.

In the year of 1992, the leaders of the various congregations created the Mercy International Association to foster collaboration and cooperation. The purpose of the Association is to provide support and foster collaboration, organisation and inspiration for the ministries of Sisters of Mercy and their associates.[1]

Constitution

The Sisters of Mercy are constituted as religious and charitable organizations in a number of countries. Mercy International Association is a registered charity in the Republic of Ireland.[2] In the United Kingdom, The Union of the Sisters of Mercy of Great Britain is a registered charity, and in 2006–7 had a gross income of £5.5million.[3]

Controversies

The Order was condemned in an Irish government report on May 20, 2009 entitled the Ryan Report of "The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse." The Irish Sisters of Mercy, in company with the Irish Christian Brothers, were two of the principal religious orders named in the report as being the most abusive. The Report described the Mercy order's tolerating physical and sexual abuse of girls in its care in Ireland. Not only that, Mercy Sisters were accused in the report of physically, verbally and emotionally, and perhaps even sexually abusing, or allowing lay personnel to sexually abuse children under the care of the order.[4]

Schools founded or run by Sisters of Mercy

Australia

Belize

Ireland

Convent of Mercy, Templemore, April 2010.JPG

Jamaica

New Zealand

United Kingdom

United States of America

Secondary schools

Colleges and universities

See also

References

External links


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  • Sisters of Mercy —     Sisters of Mercy     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Sisters of Mercy     A congregation of women founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1827, by Catherine Elizabeth McAuley, born 29 September, 1787, at Stormanstown House, County Dublin. Descended from an… …   Catholic encyclopedia

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  • Sisters of Mercy — Mercy Mer cy (m[ e]r s[y^]), n.; pl. {Mercies}. [OE. merci, F. merci, L. merces, mercedis, hire, pay, reward, LL., equiv. to misericordia pity, mercy. L. merces is probably akin to merere to deserve, acquire. See {Merit}, and cf. {Amerce}.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sisters Of Mercy — nennen sich katholische Schwesterngemeinschaften, die im Schuldienst oder der Krankenpflege tätig sind. In Deutschland und Österreich für gewöhnlich als Barmherzige Schwestern bezeichnet, gibt es zahlreiche Kongregationen von ihnen. Oftmals leben …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • sisters of mercy — Members of female religious communities who tend the sick, etc • • • Main Entry: ↑mercy …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sisters of Mercy — The Sisters of Mercy во время выступления (2005) Годы 1980–1993 1996– нынешнее время …   Википедия

  • Sisters Of Mercy — The Sisters of Mercy во время выступления (2005) Годы 1980–1993 1996– нынешнее время …   Википедия

  • Sisters of mercy — The Sisters of Mercy во время выступления (2005) Годы 1980–1993 1996– нынешнее время …   Википедия

  • Sisters of Mercy — Mit Sisters of Mercy (engl.: Barmherzige Schwestern) werden bezeichnet: The Sisters of Mercy, eine britische Rockband Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy, katholischer Frauenorden Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zu …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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