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

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prestige and learning. She died when catherine was eleven
and thenceforth the three orphans were brought up by
Protestant friends who could never persuade Catherine to
adopt their religion.
( 1 ) Vlhen sixteen years old, Catherine was adopted by
Mr. and Idrs. Callaghan, lately l'eturned from abroad, who
were old Protestant friends of the McAuley family.
Her nevv guardians idolised Catherine but were inflexible
on one point - that she should not profess the
Catholic religion. Yet so deeply.did she revere her
father's memory that she offered· to relinquish all, rather
than embrace any religion but his,· and this, even though
she was yet ignorant of Catholic aching and was denied
any association with it. However, the strength of her convictions
eventually secured her objective and she not only
resumed the open practice of her religion, but gained a
victory over the prejudice of years by winning her
guardians themselves to e~)race the Catholic religion.
Mr'. Callaghan who survived his wif'e by two ars died
in 1822, leavin,e.· Catherine his sole heiresr:;. (2) She was
now mistress of his sta.tely residence 11 Coolock House with
its plate, carriages and furniture, and income of £600 a
year· and a sum of £30,000 in the Bank of Ireland. 11
Already
1 .
11
Leaves from the Annals of the Sisters of Mercy 1 ', Nev1
York 1881 Vol 1. page 10.
2. Article in "Zealandia 11 (IJirs.· Goulter) Auckland Nov.L5th.,1937