At the invitation of Monsignor Canon Pat Browne, Parish Priest of St. Anne's, Alcester Street, Birmingham in late January 2011, Sister Helen Ryan, Handsworth and Sister Maura Halpin, Stechford agreed to form a 'Mercy Group' to be part of a Flower Festival at the Church in mid-March 2011. The Festival Theme was 'People of Influence in the History of the Parish' and the event coincided with the Birmingham St. Patrick's Parade on Sunday 13th March.

Venerable Catherine McAuley's original community in Handsworth in 1841 went on to make a Foundation at St. Anne's and established the first Teacher Training College in England for pupil-teachers there in 1849, thus ensuring the influence of Mercy for many years to follow. The convent was demolished due to bomb damage during World War II.

The 2011 'Mercy Group' along with other religious congregations connected with the Parish and various Parish Groups (Legion of Mary etc) met in February 2011 to allot places in the Church for their displays and to plan the Festival in detail. One meeting took place at St. Mary's, Handsworth and others were 'working lunches' in the homes of various members of the Group.

The Handsworth and Stechford Sisters were privileged to have the expertise (and cheerful willingness!) of their Associates, some 'florist friends' and the Union Archivist Miss Jenny Smith, all of whom worked hard to produce a beautiful, creative display at the Church's Sacred Heart Altar and to take turns in being present during the Festival to answer visitors' questions or hand out Mercy prayer cards and literature.

The photographs give a flavour of the work involved and the finished product. We decided on a symbolic floral expression of 'The Fountain of Knowledge, Compassion and Faith' flowing from Venerable Catherine to the hands of the early Community at St. Anne's and through to the present Sisters and Associates to the young, the sick and the needy.