Dear Eloise
It is not my intention to eulogize Eloise; rather, I propose to give you some insight into this vibrant, committed, passionate Sister of Mercy.
Julia Upton, RSM
January 15, 2026
It is not my intention to eulogize Eloise; rather, I propose to give you some insight into this vibrant, committed, passionate Sister of Mercy.
The Church’s treatment of women contrasts strongly with Catherine McAuley’s understanding and practice of leadership and leadership development.
Growing up in a very small town, my first somewhat official involvement with the clergy and the structure of the Church was when I was
It is this legacy of strength and boldness that propels us forward as Catholic women religious, enabling us to continue meeting the needs of the
The Sisters of Mercy have responded to God’s calling in many ways throughout history. More recently, we have seen a change in the ministerial efforts
One of the marks of a good historical study is its ability to leave the reader wanting more. Paula Diann Marlin, RSM, has done just
This prayer was developed by the Institute Prayer and Ritual Committee in 2021 for communal and individual prayer for the Feast of the Assumption of
Sisters of Mercy and their colleagues and friends around the world owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Sister Mary C. Sullivan, RSM. Our gratitude
In this essay I wish to explore Catherine McAuley’s concepts of comforting and animating, by which I believe she defined both her own unique contribution
Somehow we know, beyond all doubt, that the eager enkindler of our personal and corporate vocation as Sisters of Mercy is, even now, steadily at
The “visitation” of the sick poor was one of the three central elements in Catherine McAuley’s vision of the merciful work to which she and,
The theme for our reflections is “Sowing Hope: Embracing Cultural Diversity,” and I have been asked to focus on Catherine McAuley’s legacy as it relates
The word “prophetic” is often used in relation to religious life: as an exhortation, a complaint, a compliment, an assurance, a definition, a description. In
If we wish to enter deeply into the prayer of Catherine McAuley, as a place where she and Christ may teach us, we may enter
The history of the Sisters of Mercy is a history of radiant public symbols: living persons, objects, events, and actions that by their symbolic character
Spiritual leadership involves at least three efforts on the part of a religious or ecclesial leader.
Mary C. Sullivan, RSM, was a prolific writer about the life and mission of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy. These writings
Sisters of Mercy joined Catholics around the world rejoicing at the news of a new pontiff, and even more so when they learned who it
Catherine McAuley evidently thought the Sisters of Mercy and their companions in merciful action could learn something centrally important from St. Catherine of Siena. In
We live in upheaval. Among the questions we must ask are, what does it mean to be human, how should we act, and what is our
In this paper, I examine the root of the word courage before using Catherine McAuley’s writings to offer a different model for courageous leadership, focusing
Reflecting on more than 70 years of knowing Lorita—as a schoolmate, fellow Sister of Mercy, and friend, I struggled to know what to say today
“Let those whom Jesus Christ has graciously invited to assist Him in His suffering poor, have their hearts animated with gratitude and love.” — Catherine
The current Synod on Synodality is providing us with an unprecedented example of the sensus fidelium, i.e., the Spirit-guided intuition of the faithful. As we