Houses of Mercy are modeled after the first House of Mercy on Baggot Street, Dublin, Ireland, started by Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy. There, Catherine and her sisters provided religious, educational and social services for women and children.

The New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community sponsors Houses of Mercy in Erie and in the Philippines.

The 1999 Action Plan of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas called for 31 Houses of Mercy based on Catherine’s first house. In April 2002, the Sisters of Mercy in Erie opened the first designated House of Mercy in the United States. The house is a mercy presence in a developing, ethnically and economically diverse neighborhood. It is a place of welcome and hospitality.

The House of Mercy in Erie works with the strengths of people living in the neighborhood, mobilizing their assets to create positive change and build a stronger neighborhood. It offers youth programs and supports various neighborhood initiatives. For more information, contact Sister Michele Marie Schroeck at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The House of Mercy in Lala, Lanao del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines, offers a religious education program for women and is open to those who need a place to pray or be in solitude. Also, it manufactures herbal syrups, soaps and candles. Sister Liwanag Salazar is coordinator. For more information, contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it