A HISTORY

Catherine McAuley was born in late 18th Century Ireland. At that time the majority of the population was poor, and Catholics, in particular, were denied education and freedom of worship.

Catherine was born into a wealthy Catholic family in Dublin. Her father, James, had great compassion for the poor and often brought them home. He died when Catherine was five years old but his Catholic faith and deep compassion influenced her all her life. Catherine's mother, Elinor, unfortunately died prematurely when Catherine was around twenty. Catherine, however learnt poise, charm and independence. Catherine had to live with relatives until they too were reduced to poverty. Together with her siblings, she then had to move to another household of distant relatives of her mother.

Her father's deep compassion influenced her all her life

They were not Catholic and divisions between Catholics and Protestants in those days made life very difficult. Around this time Catherine was invited to be a live-in companion to Mr. and Mrs. Callaghan, a wealthy couple who had recently returned from India and were charmed by Catherine. She cared for them and their estate for the next twenty years. Throughout these years, Catherine grew in her own faith and performed many acts of kindness and charity to the poor who tugged at her heart. She had a dream that she would find a place where the poor, especially girls who were particularly at risk, could learn skills so that they could gain employment.

When the Callaghans died, they left their entire fortune to Catherine and this gave her the opportunity to build her dream. She used the money to construct a large house in Baggott Street, Dublin, in the heart of a wealthy part of the city. She wanted the rich to rub shoulders with the poor, and the poor to touch the hearts of the rich. It was to be a home for working girls and orphans as well as a school for poor children. She called it the House of Mercy.

She wanted the rich to rub shoulders with the poor, and the poor to touch the hearts of the rich