Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in New Zealand - UC Research ...

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1841, that Mother McAuley's failing health disclosed
. alarming symptoms. She died at Baggot Street on November
11th that year.
Though teaching is the chief work of the Order of
Mercy, yet, when opportunity calls, the Sisters pass
from class-room to hospital or sick-bed and, if need be,
even to the battlefield. In 1854-6, in 1861, and again in
1899, the Sisters of Mercy by their devoted service to the
sick and wounded soldiers won the praise and esteem of all
creeds.
(1) On Friday, October 27, 1854 the first of several
bands of Sisters of Mercy embarked on the "Vectis 11 bound
fot the East. With.Florence Nightingale and Miss Stanley
they showed themselves indefatigable in their efforts to
soothe the awful sufferings of the plague-stricken and the
wounded, on battlefield and in hospital, at Balaclava,
Scutari, and Inkerrnann. (2) Two of the Sisters, victims of
cholera and typhus respectively, are buried on the bleak
heights of Balaclava. Again, in the records of the American
Civil War, we read of the devotion of the Sisters to the
stricken soldiers of their adopted country. (3) In 1900 we
find Queen Victoria giving a very cordial reception to the
Sisters of Mercy vvho had worked so heroically during
1. Annals of the Sisters of Mercy Vol. 11. p. 129.
2. Ibid. pp. 197-198.
3. Supplement to .N.Z. Catholic Schools Journal, September
1932 (Aucldand. )