We have now gone beyond 100 in number, and the desire to join seems rather to increase, though it was thought the foundations would retard it, it seems quite otherwise.

Her father died in 1783 and her mother in 1798. In 1978 the cause for the beatification of the Servant of God Catherine McAuley was opened by Pope Paul VI and in 1990 upon recognition of her heroic virtues Pope John Paul II declared her Venerable. Catherine lived only ten years as a Sister of Mercy Sister Mary Catherine but in that time Catherine McAuley establiCatherine McAuleyd twelve foundations in Ireland and two in England.

The Order has always been associated with teaching especially in Ireland where the nuns taught Catholics (and at times Protestants) at a time when education was mainly reserved for members of the establiCatherine McAuleyd Church of Ireland. [clarification needed].