Bermondsey, London marks 185th anniversary

On Monday 25th November last a very special celebration was held in Bermondsey, London to commemorate the 185th anniversary of the first Mercy foundation outside of Ireland.

In November 1839 Catherine McAuley led a group of Sisters including Sr. Clare Moore and two English novices to establish a community in The Tree of Foundations. The ritual heralding all the subsequent foundations made from that one foundation established on 21st November 1839 recalled the saying “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow”

It was a most joyful occasion. Sisters of Mercy came from all over the United Kingdom to celebrate with the Bermondsey community. It was truly a parish celebration with parishioners, pupil representatives from the local schools and even members of the local fire brigade attending. Sr Patrica O’ Donovan rsm, CEO of Mercy International Association and Sr. Margaret Daly rsm, Head of Heritage and Spirituality at MIA, travelled to London to join the celebrations.

Following Mass everyone in the church was invited to the convent to enjoy the Sisters’ generous hospitality. There was plenty of ‘meeting and greeting’, a ‘good cup of tea’, and songs and stories shared while memories of times past surfaced.

You can check out all the photos from the anniversary Mass and celebration here.

ENDS