On September 24, 2026, Mercy ministries around the globe celebrated the 199th anniversary of the opening of the original House of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland. On this day in 1827, Catherine McAuley opened this house as a shelter for vulnerable women and girls. From there, the mission spread and became a global movement of which we, here in Jamaica, are blessed to be a part. This year, we celebrated under the theme “Rooted in Mercy,” in acknowledgement of the fact that all we do must be rooted in the Mercy mission established by Catherine all those years ago.
On this special day, Alpha Primary School celebrated a Mercy Day Mass at the Holy Trinity Cathedral which was also attended by young students from Alpha Infant School. This was followed by another Mass which was attended by students and staff from the Convent of Mercy Academy, Alpha (i.e. Alpha Academy). The young ladies at Alpha Academy also used their creative skills to craft artistic replicas of the yellow Mercy rose. This rose, named after Catherine McAuley, symbolizes Catherine and the devoted sisters who she sent out to help those in need. Additionally, students planted trees on campus to symbolize the roots of Mercy while honouring the Sisters of Mercy’s Critical Concern for the Earth.
St. John Bosco Vocational Training Centre took a slightly different approach by having their students watch the ‘In God Alone’ film about the life and ministry of Catherine McAuley. Later, the students wrote and attached their reflections about Catherine’s life of service to a tree on the campus. Meanwhile, back in Kingston, the Alpha Vocational Training Centre (AVTC) students visited a nearby nursing home to donate toiletries which were purchased using funds collected from the student body. In a heartwarming gesture, students wrote encouraging messages for the elderly residents on yellow postcards marked with the emblem of Catherine’s rose. Furthermore, each of these young men was pinned with a yellow badge on which was written “Compelled by Mercy” – i.e. one of the Mercy Core Values.
At the Alpha School of Music (ASOM), members of the public gathered to watch the school’s popular “Jazz in the Lobby” lunch-hour concert. Now in its third season, the concert featured the musical stylings of Orville Hammond (piano), Leon “Mandela” Duncan (bass) and Clayon Samuels (drums), with a spectacular special guest performance by ASOM student, Erica Lumsden (vocalist and guitarist). The concert opened with an address from Ms. Margaret Little Wilson (Administrator, ASOM), who spoke about the theme and purpose of Mercy Day and highlighted the school’s efforts to pass on the Mercy mission to its students.
Mt. St. Joseph (MSJ) Prep held a special assembly on Mercy Day which involved uniformed groups (such as Brownies and Cub Scouts), marching around the Mercy Hall where the student body was gathered. Later that day, students had the opportunity to further reflect on the day’s theme by drawing colourful depictions of the Mercy Rose. Finally, at Jessie Ripoll Primary School, students performed a wonderful re-enactment of the story of Catherine McAuley and planted yellow plants in her honour. The Jessie Ripoll Primary students were also engaged in a special tea-time activity as a nod to Catherine’s tendency to display hospitality by inviting others to share a cup of tea.
Through this year’s Mercy Day activities, our students had the chance to connect with the Mercy mission and the story of Catherine in exciting and impactful ways. Rooted in Mercy and a shared faith in God, we are confident that our students are now even inspired to go out into the world to continue Catherine’s God-given mission to serve others.
