[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1097 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1097

 Honoring the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy on the occasion of its 
   175th anniversary, and commending its ministry and its efforts in 
helping individuals, especially women and children, overcome challenges 
          that keep them from living full and dignified lives.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 6, 2006

 Ms. Bordallo (for herself, Ms. Hart, Mr. Oberstar, Mr. Faleomavaega, 
 Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Jones of North Carolina, Mrs. Christensen, 
  Mr. McGovern, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, and Mr. 
McCotter) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION



 Honoring the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy on the occasion of its 
   175th anniversary, and commending its ministry and its efforts in 
helping individuals, especially women and children, overcome challenges 
          that keep them from living full and dignified lives.

Whereas December 12, 2006, marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of the 
        Sisters of Mercy by Catherine McAuley of Dublin, Ireland;
Whereas Catherine McAuley notably began her service in the virtue of mercy in 
        1824, when she used her inheritance to build a facility, known as the 
        ``House of Mercy'', to provide educational, religious, and social 
        services for women and children who were poor, homeless, and in need;
Whereas the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy was established on December 12, 
        1831, after Catherine McAuley pronounced her perpetual vows and became 
        the first Sister of Mercy;
Whereas the Sisters of Mercy is a congregation of Roman Catholic women dedicated 
        to serving the vulnerable and the disadvantaged in communities 
        throughout the world, whose members take vows of poverty, chastity, 
        obedience, and service to persons who are poor, sick, and otherwise 
        unable to access and afford education;
Whereas, in 1843, the first Sisters of Mercy arrived in the United States, and 
        by 1854, the Sisters of Mercy had settled in the States of Pennsylvania 
        and New York and in the city of San Francisco, California;
Whereas the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy has continued its service to the 
        public since its inception in the United States by establishing schools 
        and hospitals throughout the United States;
Whereas, during the Civil War, the Sisters of Mercy cared for injured and dying 
        Union and Confederate soldiers, and as a result, the Sisters of Mercy 
        received a commendation from President Abraham Lincoln, who also 
        instructed Union generals to support the Sisters of Mercy;
Whereas, by 1928, the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, dedicated to education, 
        healthcare, ministry, and social justice, had established 140 convents 
        throughout the United States and steadily continued to grow in 
        membership in the years that followed;
Whereas, currently, there are approximately 4,500 Sisters of Mercy and 2,800 
        Mercy associates serving in the United States, and over 10,000 Sisters 
        of Mercy serving throughout the world;
Whereas the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy sponsors 18 colleges and 
        universities, and serves over 26,000 students in the United States;
Whereas, for nearly two centuries, the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy has 
        continually and selflessly dedicated itself to the mission of assisting 
        the most vulnerable members of society;
Whereas the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy continues to aid victims of 
        diseases and natural disasters, minister to the underserved, support the 
        struggling, and feed the hungry; and
Whereas the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy serves in communities in Ireland 
        and Great Britain; North, Central, and South America; the Caribbean; and 
        Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, the Philippines, Chuuk, and Guam: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors and recognizes the Institute of the Sisters of 
        Mercy on the occasion of its 175th anniversary;
            (2) commends the Sisters of Mercy for their selfless 
        devotion to assisting communities in need through sponsorship 
        of educational, social, and spiritual programs in the United 
        States and throughout the world;
            (3) commemorates the past and present Sisters of Mercy 
        whose dedication and compassion have transcended borders and 
        improved and inspired the lives of others in need; and
            (4) supports the continued service of the Sisters of Mercy 
        in alleviating suffering, advocating for the needy, and 
        ministering to communities in the United States and throughout 
        the world.
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