Prayer cards promote sainthood cause for Sisters of Mercy foundress

Published: 2006-08-10

ERIE, Pa. (CNS) -- Mercy Sister Teresa Okonski has a special affection for the Mercy foundress, Mother Catherine McAuley. Recently, the Erie sister traveled to Dublin, Ireland, where Mother McAuley (1778-1841) started the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. There, she visited the House of Mercy that Mother McAuley built for poor women and children. Also, reflective moments at her grave provided Sister Teresa with a life-changing experience. "I felt an awesome connection to her," she said. "I learned in a new way the tremendous generosity of this woman." That, she said, included Mother McAuley's use of her inheritance to build the House of Mercy for about $1 million. This July Sister Teresa helped announce an effort by the Mercy Regional Community of Erie to join other Mercy communities worldwide in distributing special prayer cards to promote Mother McAuley's sainthood. The cards are available at any Sisters of Mercy motherhouse or by contacting the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas by phone at (301) 587-0423, or by e-mail to info@sistersofmercy.org.

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