In January 1854, Mother M. Philomene Maguire was appointed to lead the mission from Baggot Street to Belfast. Later on, her story primarily focuses on her journeys of building foundations.

On June 21, 1855, she founded a branch house in Downpatrick, which would become an autonomous house in 1860. Philomene continued as superior of St. Paul's Convent Belfast until 1862, when she resigned to make a foundation in Worcester, England.

The foundation in Worcester struggled due to anti-Catholic sentiment, and in 1869, Mother Philomene accepted an invitation from the Belturbet Mercy community to take over the Mercy convent in Ballyjamesduff.

While visiting Baggot Street, Mother Philomene met Bishop Goold, an Augustinian friar from Victoria, and was compelled to help him with his urgent need for Sisters to assist Irish immigrants living in the Western District under his jurisdiction.

Mother Philomene and her community left Ballyjamesduff approximately eight months after they arrived to find a foundation in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.

From Warrnambool, she sent a founding party to Ballarat East in 1881. In 1855, Ballarat East became an autonomous foundation.

Mother M. Philomene Maguire, together with her three sisters, who went on to become Sisters of Mercy, made significant contributions to the expansion of the Order.

Annie Maguire was one of four daughters of Richard and Margaret Maguire, who would later all become Sisters of Mercy. Richard Maguire was a wealthy farmer from Newgrange, County Meath. Annie entered Baggot Street with her older sister Elizabeth in 1843, and their two younger sisters, Maria and Henrietta, would subsequently follow. Growing up during the famine, Annie was aware of the hardships faced by many Irish Catholics who lived in poverty. She was professed in 1845.

Mother Philomene's main focus was on educating young adults, especially women, who were in need of an education.

Following in Catherine McAuley's footsteps, she also established numerous projects based on the Works of Mercy. Moreover, it seems she shared Catherine’s love of foundations.

In several of the locations where she worked as a Mercy pioneer, Philomene had to deal with anti-Catholic sentiment. In addition, when building Mercy foundations, she bravely endured the hardships of lengthy travel and a degree of isolation without complaining.

Mercy life and ministry took root in several locations in Ireland and Australia due to the leadership of Philomene Maguire. In Ireland, the communities she founded became part of the Congregation, and in Australia, these communities became part of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

“Sisters of Mercy, Downpatrick”, Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, 03/08/2012, modified 21/07/2022, accessed 6 May 2024. https://sistersofmercy.ie/2012/sisters-of-mercy-downpatrick/