Celebrating 180 Years in Australia

February 18, 2026

One hundred and eighty years to the day since the arrival of the first Sisters of Mercy in Australia, around 500 people gathered in St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth on January 8 to celebrate and give thanks.

Those who joined the celebration included current and former sisters, religious, past and present mercy school students and staff members, current and former mercy ministry staff members, residents and others who for various reasons have a connection with the Mercy charism. The Most Reverend Timothy Costelloe SDB was the Principal Celebrant; with Emeritus Archbishop Barry Hickey; Bishop of Geraldton, Michael Morrissey; and, several priests concelebrating.

In what was a lovely surprise, a Sister of Mercy from Ireland and another from America were also able to join us. The latter sister was in Australia on holiday and saw a post on the Institute Facebook page the day prior.

There were also representatives of Servite and Benedictine communities, who have a special connection with the Sisters of Mercy, with their forebears being on the same boat from Ireland to Fremantle in 1845/46.

Glorious singing was led by a choir of alumni from Mercedes College. They were accompanied by two didgeridoo players, Tryse and Sheldon Rioli, and the Cathedral’s organist, Domenic Perissinotto. Robyn Collard provided a Welcome to Country.

Speaking after communion, Institute Leader, Sister Karon Donnellon said while the journey over the past 180 years has at times been imperfect, there is much for which we can be grateful.

“We commemorate and give thanks to God for the arrival of our particular charism of Mercy in Australia 180 years ago, and the remarkable journey that began with the faith and courage of Ursula, Catherine, Anne Xavier, Baptist, Aloysius, Ignacia and Evangelista.

“Millions of people across Australia have been educated, nursed, housed, accompanied in their hour of need, kept full and fed through these primary acts of mercy.”

Sister Karon said that in Catherine McAuley’s Suscipe she reminds us to trust in God’s providence which is not always easy in a world that centres on self.

“The Suscipe reveals that Catherine suffered from anxiety and we find it in her letters –  yet – her faith led her to an unlimited confidence in God’s compassionate, tender pity. Today we would name tender pity as unconditional love. In fact, a common element of the past 180 years is a deep love and faith in God that has led to courageous acts in the name of Mercy.

“And so today my prayer for each of us is that we practise holiness in our time in the way that Catherine did in her time, that we take inspiration from the past 180 years of lived Mercy and that we seek a future lived with courage, hope and joy.”

In his homily, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB said the Sisters of Mercy were called to be living images of God’s mercy as it is made known to us in the life, teaching and ministry of Jesus.

“Ever since their arrival in 1846, the Sisters of Mercy have sought to live among us as signs and bearers of God’s compassionate love and mercy, reminding us by their example and witness that this is the vocation given to us all.

“In ways known only to God, they have touched and transformed the lives of countless people, allowing God to work through them to bring light to those in darkness, hope to those who despair, faith to those who have lost faith and freedom to those oppressed by poverty, by isolation, by rejection and by abandonment.”

The celebrations continued after Mass with a morning tea at a nearby hotel which was an enjoyable time for reminiscing and catching up.

Special thanks to Sister Kerry Willison and her committee for preparing the liturgy and to Sister Helen Nolen, Christie Ainsworth and Frances Mullen from the Northbridge office for their organisation of this special day.

Photos courtesy of the Archdiocese of Perth.
To view more photos – https://archdioceseofperth.pic-time.com/jK64RY225esb2

Click below to view a recording of the Mass: 

Click below to view the memento video:

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