Today we celebrate Mercy Day, which is a day dedicated to Mary. One of her many titles is “Our Lady of Mercy.” Mary was a Model of Mercy for Catherine McAuley. By a happy accident, Catherine opened her House of Mercy on the feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, September 24. This House of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin was a place that educated the ignorant, especially women, housed the homeless, and healed the sick. It was and is a place of welcome, symbolized by a striking red door. Nine more Houses of Mercy would open in Ireland—Tullamore, Charleville, Carlow, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Birr, Kingstown and Booterstown—and many more around the world. Following Communion, we will recognize several people in the community of Assumption who model Mercy, following the examples of Mary, Catherine and the Sisters of Mercy. I would like to tell you about a person in my own life who models mercy, my mom, Karen Cassidy. Throu...
These posts are the collected homilies of Deacon Ned Berghausen, permanent deacon of the Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, assigned to St. Agnes Catholic Church. The title "Foot Washer" refers to the Last Supper (John 13:1-20) in which Jesus washed the feet of the apostles and challenged them, "“Do you realize what I have done for you? If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow."