Sisters of Mercy are members of a Roman Catholic order of nuns. The main mission of the Sisters of Mercy is to care for the poor and sick—especially distressed women—and to educate the young. The order was founded in Dublin in 1827. Its founder and first mother superior was Catherine McAuley (Mother Mary Catherine).
Today, there are communities of these sisters throughout the world. Each convent was at first a separate foundation subject to the local bishop. But now many convents belong to a more centralized organization headed by a superior general.
