By Mercy Associate Alexis Stephens
September 24 is an important day in Mercy. It is a time to reflect deeply on the life and work of Catherine McAuley and to commemorate the opening of the first House of Mercy in 1827 in Dublin, Ireland. This year, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, associates, companions, and partners will use the opportunity of Mercy Day to reflect on the Critical Concerns of nonviolence, earth, women, racism and immigration.
I have been asked to focus on the Critical Concern of racism, and I want to locate my reflection within the context of Catherine’s work of serving those who existed on the margins of society. As a young girl and later as an adult, she witnessed firsthand the poverty and hardship endured by many in her community. Catherine herself was saved from a life of suffering thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Callaghan, a wealthy childless couple who invited her to live with them at their large estate in Coolock. Catherine spent approximately 20 years managing the Callaghan’s home. Upon their deaths, she inherited their estate
It is a well-documented fact that Catherine gained valuable insights and experience from the Callaghans about caring for and ministering to the poor and marginalized. She also credits her father, James McAuley, a man of deep faith, for modeling love and compassion to all those who came to him. It’s not surprising that Catherine used her large inheritance from the Callaghans to build the House of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin. She intended it be a place where she could provide for the education, religious and social needs of women and girls from poor circumstances.
On a recent visit to Catherine’s house in Coolock, I couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that I was walking into history. I tried to imagine Catherine in the large sitting room with those huge windows that allow sunlight to bathe everything in a warm glow. As I walked into her bedroom, I tried to imagine her using that space to pray at the end of the day. What did she pray for? What thoughts troubled her mind? From all accounts, Catherine lived a good life and was well provided for. She must have felt an awesome responsibility to use the privilege of her good fortune to help others because, in so many ways, that could have been her fate.
The House of Mercy on Baggot Street was a dream realized and a vision manifested. Driven by her Catholic faith and a deep desire to help all who needed it, Catherine felt called by God to live her life in service to the poor. Notwithstanding the misogyny she faced, the challenges of constructing the house and the demands of caring for her sick and dying relatives, Catherine was firm in her belief that she had an obligation to care for those who were discriminated against and oppressed by the unjust social system of her time. It was Catherine’s charism of mercy; her deep compassion, understanding and willingness to help those in need, particularly the poor and marginalized; and her belief in the inherent dignity of every human being that continue to animate the Mercy World today.
The Critical Concerns, while relatively recent, are deeply grounded in the Mercy charism. And although Catherine’s language and experience differed from ours, it’s clear to see how her profound belief in the inherent dignity of all people provides a powerful foundation for addressing racism in our 21st-century world. The Mercy charism is inherently anti-racist, as it recognizes the interconnectedness of all human beings and rejects any form of discrimination or prejudice. This idea is carefully captured in the Critical Concern of racism which espouses the belief that we all are affected by the evil of racism and therefore must “work together to recognize and dismantle institutional racism in order to become an anti-racist multicultural community.”
The imperative of recognizing and dismantling institutional racism is paramount in creating a just and equitable community and by extension a just society. Institutional racism is deeply embedded within the structures and systems of our respective societies, and it perpetuates inequality and discrimination. By acknowledging its existence, we can begin to address its root causes and implement systemic changes to dismantle it. This requires courage and a willingness to challenge biases, promote diversity and inclusion, and ensure that all individuals have equal opportunities regardless of race.
However, despite societal advancements and legal protections, the intersection of racial hostilities with various forms of discrimination continue to create a compounding effect of oppression and marginalization for certain groups of people around the world. For these people, systemic inequalities and injustices are still affecting various aspects of their lives including fair access to housing, employment, education, healthcare and criminal justice.
More than ever, the life and work of Catherine calls to us in this age as we wrestle with “the persistent sin of racism which rejects the full humanity of some of God’s children” (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). I call to mind Catherine’s words that “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” In the context of this reflection, this speaks to our collective responsibility for challenging and dismantling systemic racism.
The Critical Concern of racism is an important manifestation of how this work is being done. The Institute began with an introspection of its own complicity in perpetuating racism and courageously named what it was and how it wanted to reimagine its future as an “anti-racist multicultural community.” The actions that flowed from that included many anti-racism and social justice initiatives such as the former Institute Anti-Racism Transformation and Training Team (IARTT) which provided anti-racism training across the Institute for almost 10 years. This was followed by an anti-racism commission working exclusively in CCASA, and the establishment of the Office of Anti-Racism and Racial Equity. Training on multiculturality is also ongoing as well as advocacy for systemic change to address the root causes of poverty and injustice. These initiatives connect the Critical Concern of racism to the charism of Mercy and to the powerful legacy and inspiration of Catherine McAuley. Her work reminds us of the inherent dignity of all people and the imperative to strive for a world where justice and compassion prevail. Happy Mercy Day!
Alexis Stephens is a Mercy Associate living in Georgetown, Guyana.