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The Cincinnati Community

In the 1850's Cincinnati had a population of 200,000 with 50,000 Catholics. Archbishop Purcell asked Mrs. Sarah Peters, a benevolent convert, to go abroad to find religious men and women to serve the missionary needs of Cincinnati. In 1857 Mrs. Peters visited Kinsale, Ireland and asked for Sisters of Mercy. Mother Mary Teresa Maher declined the invitation because their number of Sisters was small and the needs of Kinsale were great. After a second request and with the support of the local Bishop, Mother Teresa agreed and on Friday, July 23, 1858 members of the Kinsale community left their beloved convent for the new world. The group went to England, then came by sea to New York. They visited the Dublin foundation in New York before taking the hot, fatiguing overland trip to Cincinnati with Mrs. Peters.

Ten Sisters arrived on August 18, 1858 and took up residence with Mrs. Sarah Peters on Lytle St. Their original quarters were named "Convent of Divine Will." On August 24, 1858 the Archbishop canonically appointed Sister Teresa Maher as Mother Superior of the community and the Cincinnati Sisters of Mercy Community became a foundation. In October they moved to their own house on Sycamore Street, an old frame structure, damp, airless and disintegrating from age and neglect. The Church of Cincinnati was poor, the Sisters opened a night school and Infant Boys' School and the major elements of their apostolate were in motion.

Today the Sisters in Cincinnati continue the mission of teaching at McAuley High School and Mother of Mercy High School and Mercy Montessori Center. They also staff various elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. They continue their health care in hospitals and out-reach centers. The Sisters are involved in various social ministries, including Bethany House, H.O.M.E., Healing Connections and Mercy Connections.