| Summary: | Sisters of Mercy in our different dioceses have often expressed regret that, so far, no one has written a historical sketch of the Order of Mercy in New Zealand. Time is steadily stealing from our midst those who were privileged to enjoy personal acquaintance with the first religious women – the Auckland Sisters of Mercy of 1850 - to come to this country. So, while there yet remain with us, five of the original band who in 1878 founded the first Convent of Mercy in the South Island, I have attempted to break the ice, however feebly, and thus free the current for more competent explorers.
Owing to the lack of a central authority for the Order, the collecting of sources and other data has entailed much more research than one might infer from the size of the work. A considerable amount of detail was necessary but I have endeavoured to so use it as
not to lose sight of the vivifying spirit of mercy, which embraces even the least works of the Order.
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