Feltham Associates "Walking in Catherine's Footsteps".
Sr Mary O'Malley,
Sr Katherine O'Reilly,
Fr Chris Vipers (our Parish Priest),
Bridget Brinkley,
Arlene Juriansz,
Rose-Marie Calmiano
and Keith Calmiano
participated in the walk with Catherine.

Everyone was full of excitement and could not wait for the moment when we would get to experience the House of Mercy for ourselves. We arrived at Baggot Street at around 12 noon and the first thing that greeted us when the taxi stopped outside Baggot Street was the statue of Catherine outside the front door welcoming us to her home. We were warmly welcomed by Madeleine, who gave us our room keys, and Sr Mary Kay who would be our guide and mentor for the entire trip.

Our programme commenced at 12:30 with lunch where we met some of the other sisters and staff who worked at Baggot Street. After lunch we went to the Doyle Room on the 1st floor, where we were shown a video of Catherine's life and works. We started our tour in Catherine's room. This is the room where Catherine died on the 11th November 1841. The room contains a large crucifix and a kneeler on which Catherine spent many hours praying and often when the Sisters were obliged to interrupt her they often found her in tears. We felt that the atmosphere in this room was very peaceful and we could almost imagine Catherine's presence with us. The floorboards in the room are the only original ones in the house. The room contained the table, writing desk and chairs that Catherine brought from Coolock House. There are also two paintings one of Our Lady of Divine Grace and one of Catherine. We then went next door to the International Room where there are cupboards filled with artefacts, such as pottery and art works, sent from all corners of the world.

Next we went down to the ground floor where we visited Catherine's Chapel. This was constructed in 1824 and designed by John B. Keane. The tabernacle door was beautifully decorated with the jewels that early sisters brought as part of their dowry. There was a lovely stained glass window of Our Lady that was installed in 1931 in honour of the centenary of the Sisters of Mercy. The beautiful Telford Pipe Organ was installed in 1844 and the artistically carved oak choir stalls were installed in 1858. In an alcove to the right of the chapel hangs an oil painting of Our Lady of Mercy that was sent by Pope Leo XIII in 1890. Below this painting is the communion rail from the Presentation Convent in Georges Hill where Catherine pronounced her Vows. From the chapel we moved on to the Callaghan Room. In 1827 this room was used as a sitting room for the ladies who assisted Catherine in her social service programme. In 1831 when the House of Mercy became a Convent of Mercy, it became a reception parlour. During the renovations in 1992, efforts were made to make it into a real Georgian room to honour the man whose fortune made this building possible. The room contains a heavy mahogany table and the cupboard, chaise lounge, small side table, black-buttoned chairs and sets of green pattern china that were all brought by Catherine from Coolock House. She also brought an oil painting of William Callaghan from Coolock House. Next we visited the room next door which is a library where there are various publications and reference books relating to the life and works of Catherine McAuley and her various organisations around the world.

Next we went outside into the garden where Catherine was buried. Her tomb has a little memorial chapel-like structure built over her tomb. The beautiful interior had a sense of calm and restfulness about it. Forty nine sisters who died at Baggot Street after Catherine are buried in this garden. Finally we went to the lower ground floor of the house where we visited the Heritage Room. Here are displayed various works of art that describe the religious atmosphere during the lifetime of Catherine and tell the story of other men and women who made efforts to minister directly to the poor. The tour of the house touched a lot of people and in particular the visit to Catherine's room. Finally we had our Eucharist Liturgy followed by our evening meal and later we had time to reflect and pray in Catherine's Sacred Spaces.

Our second day started with breakfast after which Sr Mary Reynolds gave an input on Catherine. She discussed Catherine's life in some detail, looking at the various aspects of her life and the effect it had on the people she helped. She encouraged us as associates to take some time to be in touch with our own sources of concern and imagine that Catherine sits by our side and engage in a conversation with her.

After lunch we then went to visit Coolock House where Catherine lived with the Callaghans. We were then taken on a Heritage Tour of the house. Later we had afternoon tea with the sisters.

We then went to the Presentation Convent in Georges Hill where Catherine took her final vows. Here we shared stories of our Commitment and then went through a beautiful ceremony where we all participated in a Renewal of Commitment. The visits to Coolock House and Georges Hill gave us the opportunity to use our imagination and try to think and feel how Catherine must have felt like all those years ago. On our return to Baggot Street we had our evening meal followed by our Eucharistic Liturgy.

The final day began with breakfast and then we heard about the role of the Carmelites in Catherine's life. Later we departed for Clarendon Street where we had our morning prayer and Eucharistic Liturgy. We then went to visit the Crypt where some of the early Sisters of Mercy were buried. After lunch we shared our reflections of the past few days and then we were told that our taxi had arrived to take us to Dublin airport for our trip back home.