History
Catherine McAuley
The Sisters of Mercy organisation was founded by an Irish woman, Catherine McAuley in 1831. At the age of 44 Catherine came into a sizeable inheritance and used it to establish a house for the poor in the centre of Dublin.
Catherine resolved to find new ways to help the needy. In December 1831 she was professed as a Religious Sister and founded the Sisters of Mercy to ensure the continuation of the works she initiated as a laywoman, as early as 1827.
Catherine McAuley was particularly committed to women and children, the sick and dying. Her approach to her mission was characterised by innovation, collaboration and high professionalism. She wanted to meet the needs that nobody else was addressing. She realised that her Sisters needed to work in partnership with others to achieve the best results. She believed in doing everything well and in providing the very best of services.
Mother Mary Vincent Whitty
In May 1861 Mother Mary Vincent Whitty arrived in Australia from Ireland with a vision to continue the Works of Mercy. In 1889 Holy Cross Laundry was established with a mission to support the disadvantaged in the community by providing a high quality laundry service.
The providing of laundry services to benefit the community has been a part of Sisters of Mercy history since their beginnings. Holy Cross Laundry continues the tradition of a high quality laundry products and service to benefit the community.
Our History
Holy Cross Services Limited is under the canonical sponsorship and civil ownership of Mercy Partners. The ministry was entrusted to Mercy Partners by The Brisbane Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy formally on 1 April 2013, initially as a subsidiary company of Mater Misericordiae Limited, and then directly sponsored by Mercy Partners from 1 March 2021 . The Mercy Partners ministerial PJP assumes the role of the canonical sponsor of Holy Cross Services Limited. The civil relationship is that Mercy Partners Limited is the sole Member of the organisation that operates the Ministry. The day to-day operations of Holy Cross Services Limited remain under the governance of their board. Mercy Partners commits to ensure that their ministries flourish as Catholic ministries that contribute to the emergence of a world where the healing, liberating and life-giving mercy of God is experienced.