Recently, I had the profound privilege of joining four fellow Sisters of Mercy on a journey to Dublin, Ireland. Our purpose was to witness the first profession of vows of Irish Sister of Mercy Máire Hearty. The ceremony took place at the Parish of the Assumption in Booterstown on October 13th. Máire had spent her canonical year at the U.S. Novitiate in St. Louis, Missouri, alongside Sister Kelly Williams and myself during my apostolic year. During those weeks together in residence, Máire quickly became an integral part of the St. Louis Mercy Community.
Our Dublin experience, encompassing Máire’s vows, commenced with a stay at the Mercy International Center and concluded with the warm hospitality of the Sisters of the Beaumont Community. However, it was my arrival at Baggot Street that resonated most deeply. Stepping towards the front door, I was overcome by an undeniable sense of homecoming. Despite my relatively short time with Mercy, the stories, letters, and books I had encountered were suddenly imbued with a tangible reality. I wasn’t just experiencing the spirit of Catherine McAuley; I was crossing the very threshold where the Sisters of Mercy order began at Mercy Baggot Street!
Booterstown is conveniently located approximately 14 kilometers from Dublin’s city center. A swift train ride brought us there; ascending the hill from the station, across from Gleeson’s Pub, stood the Parish of the Assumption Church, adjacent to the Sisters of Mercy Booterstown Convent. The church exuded a simple yet beautiful charm—unpretentious, warm, and inviting. As the Irish Sisters greeted us, that familiar feeling of being home enveloped me once more.
Sisters of Mercy Visit Trinity College Dublin during Baggot Street Pilgrimage: Mary Cleary, Patti Baca, Máire Hearty, Marilyn Gottemoeller, Beth Dempsey, and Kelly Williams.
During the Mass, a powerful sense of connection permeated the gathering of Sisters. As a global and intercultural community, we are prompted to consider: why not further embrace inclusivity, uniting our sisters across the world even more fully?
Sisters of Mercy at Máire Hearty's Vow Profession in Dublin: Patti Baca, Beth Dempsey, Mary Cleary, Marilyn Gottemoeller, Máire Hearty, and Kelly Williams, highlighting Baggot Street heritage.
As religious life evolves, these intentional relationships, spanning time zones and continents, will become increasingly vital in nurturing emerging connections. Máire’s profession of vows at Parish of the Assumption may well have initiated a renewed approach to these interconnected relationships. For me, it began with the simple act of being present. Throughout my time in Dublin, I witnessed the joyful expressions of the Irish Sisters, deeply touched that five of us had journeyed from the United States to be with Máire. Both in the U.S. and in Ireland, the response to our presence at such a significant occasion was consistently one of delighted surprise. My immediate and heartfelt reply was always, “Yes, Sister, it is indeed a pure gift.”
It was undeniably a pure gift, not only for Máire, demonstrating the enduring nature of relationships forged across continents, but also for me personally, in granting me the opportunity to travel to Dublin and experience Mercy Baggot Street. Though we may belong to different Institutes, we are united as Sisters of Mercy, bound by a shared heritage and mission that began at Baggot Street.
