110 HRES 175 IH: Honoring the Institute of the Sisters of U.S. House of Representatives 2007-02-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 175 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 16, 2007 Ms. Bordallo (for herself, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Faleomavaega, and Mr. Oberstar) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Honoring the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy for 175 years of ministry, service, and efforts toward helping individuals, especially women and children, overcome challenges that keep them from living full and dignified lives.

Whereas December 12, 2006, marked the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Mercy by Catherine McAuley of Dublin, Ireland, and the beginning of its 176th year of service; 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, and 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

That the House of Representatives— (1)honors and recognizes the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy on its 175 years of service; (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.