Called to Care Living Mission Every day - Karen - Flipbook - Page 12
The story
behind the
8Good Cup of Tea9
A
good cup of tea is never just a
cup of tea.
For Catherine McAuley,
founder of the Sisters9 of Mercy,
hospitality was a sacred act. She
believed that every person should be
welcomed with warmth, dignity and
kindness. Long before healthcare
spoke of holistic care and personcentred services, Catherine
understood the healing power of
presence, conversation and
community.
As she neared the end of her life, she
left the Sisters with a simple but
memorable request: 8Be sure to have a
comfortable cup of tea for them when
I am gone.9
At first glance, these words may seem
ordinary. Yet they reveal something
profound about Catherine9s
understanding of Mercy. She knew
that people need more than practical
assistance. They need welcome. They
need friendship. They need to know
they belong.
In the Mater, a cup of tea often
accompanies life9s most important
conversations. It is offered to anxious
family members waiting for news. It is
shared between colleagues after a
difficult shift. It provides comfort to
patients, visitors and staff alike, In
these simple moments, we witness the
values that have shaped the Mater
since its foundation: mercy,
compassion, hospitality and respect.
The Good Cup of Tea is therefore
more that a refreshment break during
Mission Week. It is a celebration of
our Mercy heritage. It is an
opportunity to pause, connect and
remember that mission is lived
through relationships.
Every cup shared becomes a small act
of hospitality. Every conversation
becomes an opportunity for kindness.
Every welcome becomes a reflection
of Mercy.
As we gather during Mission Week,
we do so in the spirit of Catherine
McAuley. We share a cup of tea not
simply because it is a tradition, but
because it reminds us of who we are.
A community of care.
A community of compassion.
A community of Mercy.
And perhaps that is why Catherine9s
invitation still resonates today. In a
world that often moves too quickly, a
simple cup of tea reminds us to stop,
listen, connect and care.
To share a cup of tea is to share
something of ourselves.
Lucia Maierean
Page 12
