In the beginning, the Foundress, Catherine McAuley, envisaged each new Mercy convent being autonomous, making decisions locally so that they could respond more appropriately to the needs of a particular area. In the last quarter of the twentieth century, however, the Sisters began to form and operate as Diocesan Units as they realised that they could carry out the works of Mercy more effectively by collaborating in larger groups.
Our diagrams show the origin and growth of foundations of the Sisters of Mercy in the Southern Province. They are based on the Diocesan Units which existed in the pre-province era 1975 – 1995. Please check the colour-coded key with each diagram which shows the origin and growth of foundations of the Sisters of Mercy in the Southern Province.
Diocese of Cloyne Diocese of Cork and Ross Diocese of Ferns Diocese of Kerry Diocese of Waterford and Lismore Diocese of Ossory
Southern Province 