The Sisters of Mercy have announced that they are withdrawing from a trust which runs four nursing homes in Northern Ireland. The order is to depart from its trusteeship of Mercy Care, a registered company set up to manage the four voluntary nursing homes, viz. Avila in Bessbrook, Co Armagh; St Joseph’s in Warrenpoint, Co Down, St Macartan’s in Clogher, Co. Tyrone and Our Mother of Mercy in Newry.
Between them, the four institutions cater for some 150 people and while all the premises have been under lay management, the Sisters of Mercy had represented 40% of the management board and held the role of chairperson.
The sisters have also acted as pastoral carers within the homes.
The order said it was keeping an open mind on the future of Mercy Care and would explore possibilities over the next year.
The order hopes the homes can continue to function into the future as viable entities - continuing the ethos of care of its foundress, Sr Catherine McAuley (pictured left).
In a statement announcing the latest phase of its retrenchment, the congregation said the decision to withdraw from the trusteeship of Mercy Care was 'difficult' and added that the falling number of nuns was one of the reasons which brought it about.
"In arriving at this difficult decision we have considered many factors including our reducing numbers, aligned to a much reduced capacity within the province to exercise our trusteeship in a responsible manner in the long term," it said.
St Macartan's was run by the St Louis Sisters before being taken over by the Mercy congregation and can accommodate 33 people.
St Joseph's Home in Warrenpoint has 37 nursing beds and provides day-care three days per week and a meals-on-wheels service daily.
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