MERCY ASSOCIATES
As ever, we received the. warmest of welcomes, comfortable cups of tea and coffee were duly dispensed, and after an introduction and video, Sister Marian, the Archivist, gave a presentation on Catherine's life. We knew, of course, the historical fact of the Order she founded, but Sister Marian gave us a real insight into the life and many trials of Catherine and of the great sadness she experienced - the death of her parents, the early deaths of her brother and sister, both of whom left small children for whom Catherine was responsible - and most of all of her estrangement from her younger brother 'Wild Willy", with whom she had lost touch. Unknown to her, Willy was in London during the time she was at Bermondsey and he actually sailed to Australia from St. Catherine's Dock, just a stone's throw away from the Convent. Sister Catherine, thinking he had died, grieved for him all her life, but he flourished in the New World and reared a large family which she never knew of.
After lunch, Sister Imelda, another member of the community and of age 80 years, joined us ona tour of the neighbourhood and to St. Catherine's Dock. She is so sprightly, we had our work cut out to keep up with her! Her knowledge of the area is simply amazing.
On our return, Sister Marian told us that in 1839 Bermondsey was the poorest part of London (Dickens based 'Oliver Twist" on the area) and Catherine was asked to start a Convent there and care for the people who lived in dire poverty and sickness. She was also asked to send sisters to the Crimean War where they worked with Florence Nightingale and the archives contain many letters from Florence, who visited the Convent on her return from the Crimea.
During the second world war the Convent suffered bomb damage and all these precious letters, photos, and many other artefacts were discovered and are now available for us to enjoy and marvel over.
Our truly wonderful day ended with evening prayer and a departing cup of tea, and as always, we felt how privileged we are to share, if only in a small way, in the work of the Sisters of Mercy for there can be so surer way of serving our Divine Lord and His Blessed Mother.
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