September 24 marks an important milestone in the history of the Religious Sisters of Mercy and St. Peter’s Hospital. The date is observed annually throughout the world in remembrance of Catherine McAuley’s establishment of the first House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland on September 24, 1827.
It is through Catherine’s ministry that the Religious Sisters of Mercy were founded; laying the groundwork for the ongoing ministry of St. Peter’s 189 years later. Mercy Day, observed every year on September 24, celebrates the spirit of Catherine McAuley and the women who later became the Religious Sisters of Mercy. The spirit and values of the Sisters of Mercy remain the driving force and the heart of the Mission of St. Peter’s Hospital and St. Peter’s Health Partners.
Catherine McAuley understood the value and the essential importance of Community. She did not work alone. Instead, she brought people together for the sake of God’s work. Her followers, the Sisters of Mercy, also recognized the importance of Community. It was together that their work would be best accomplished. It was together they found the strength and inspiration to continue their ministry.
The Mission of St. Peter’s Health Partners, founded in community-based legacies of compassionate healing, is to “provide the highest quality comprehensive continuum of integrated health care, supportive housing and community services, especially for the needy and vulnerable.” Community is core to our existence – we celebrate Mercy Day to reaffirm our commitment to Sister Catherine’s values.
