Celebrating International Women's Day 2018

International Women's Day this year celebrates the activists working to claim women’s rights everywhere and to empower women in all settings, rural and urban. With this theme the work undertaken by Sisters of Mercy and our co-workers, increasingly in collaboration with like-minded organisations, is recognised.

From our inception in 1831, Sisters of Mercy have had a particular focus on caring for women and children, with Catherine McAuley, our foundress recognising the significant role women play in shaping society and future generations. 'No work of charity can be more productive of good to society, or more conducive to the happiness of the poor than the careful instruction of women', wrote Catherine and ever since through education, healthcare, housing and the provision of other services, Sisters of Mercy have worked to protect, support and empower women.

We, Sisters of Mercy Parramatta Congregation, have re-committed ourselves to use our energies, gifts and resources to address violence and discrimination especially for women and children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, displaced persons, minority groups, the homeless, those suffering hardship because of poverty and those affected by injustice within the Church.

We invite you to learn more about the rich variety of works (ministries) we are engaged in and to consider how you might collaborate with us through prayer, advocacy, participation in events or other involvement.

'Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls is the unfinished business of our time, and the greatest human rights challenge in our world.'

-UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, Message for International Women's Day 2018