In 1988 Cairns Congregation celebrated the centenary of their foundation from Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland. As part of the celebrations, the congregation completed an oral history project, gathering the stories of sisters and residents about the early days in Cooktown, Herberton, Cairns and other locations. The interviews are now held in the ISMAPNG Archives

  In the present situation with the number of virus cases spiralling each day it is almost unbelievable that there have been illegal, unlawful and unjustifiable demonstrations both in Sydney, up north, and in Melbourne protesting against the lockdowns that have been decreed as a precaution to help prevent further infection.   Yes, we do

  Recently, for the Australian Catholic Women’s Consultation, I was privileged to be asked to share my experience of ministry as a woman and what has made that possible. To start with a broad statement, I would like to say that I feel the Holy Spirit has been urging me forward and supporting me from

  There are not too many people who get to say that they joined a novitiate and then soon after they arrived it closed, but this is exactly what happened to Carolyn Nolan RSM, nearly six months after she entered the novitiate for the Sisters of Mercy of Wilcannia – Forbes in 1965.   Carolyn,

  On Thursday 15th July, Seville Mercy Conference Centre, Earlville (a suburb of Cairns) welcomed the staff of Our Lady Help of Christians School Earlville to a Mercy Immersion Day.  The aim was to introduce the Catherine McAuley story including watching the movie ‘In God Alone’ then connect it to the local Mercy story and

  The ISMAPNG archives and heritage collection consists of many dolls of various sizes in an assortment of garments and made from different materials.   Our Grafton collection holds a series of fourteen dolls that are a part of a compilation previously titled ‘The Progression of Adaptions of the Religious Habit’. These dolls are dressed

  Sister Wendy Flannery’s recent election as the Australian Vice-President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), is just another milestone in her long history of advocating for justice and peace both locally and internationally.   Wendy, who lives in Brisbane, has been a member of WILPF, the first International Women’s peace

  Given how challenging the past twelve months have been for our regions, Mercy Connect was very pleased to receive two Albury Wo­donga Business Awards for the categories of Excellence in Health, Education and Disability and Outstanding Not for Profit Community Organisation.   “These awards provided clear affirmation of how Mercy Connect respond to local

  Sr Mary Lewis RSM is at the frontline helping refugees and asylum seeker students settle into the Australian education system. At the end of each month, all our Mercy Connect volunteers submit a report to their respective Coordinators giving them an update of how they are going.  Recently, Sr Mary received one moving report

  On the weekend of 24 and 25 July, Mackillop Family Services will be offering a virtual tour of an interactive map of MacKillop Family Services’ head office in South Melbourne which is one of the oldest orphanage buildings in Australia.   Originally opened as the St Vincent de Paul Orphanage in 1857, the building

  The Ballarat East heritage and archives collection moved to Sydney in November 2019. As the Institute Archives and Heritage Team have been processing the collection they have discovered many wonderful objects that illustrate the rich religious and social history of the sisters in Ballarat East.   Music Stand This elegant music stand belonged to

    (Aboriginal peoples should be aware that this article may contain images of people who have died).   “For all of us in Mercy” is how Adele Howard RSM describes her Order of Australia Medal that was conferred as part of the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours.   While she admits she had some initial