Posted June 1, 2026

Sister Catherine Rawley, RSM, age 101, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, died peacefully on May 20, 2026, at McAuley Convent in Merion, PA.

Catherine was born on October 17, 1924, in Summit Hill, PA, the firstborn child of her parents, John Rawley and Kathryn Regina Conahan.  With her siblings, John and Margorie, Catherine enjoyed a happy life in the small, quiet town of Summit Hill in Northeastern Pennsylvania, known for its strong sense of community.  Catherine attended St. Joseph Elementary School, where she first met the Sisters of Mercy.  It was here that the seeds of her catholic faith and her religious vocation were sown.

On September 24, 1946, Catherine began her journey in mercy by entering the Mater Misericordiae Convent in Merion, PA. At her reception, Catherine received the religious name Sister Mary Richard and chose “Lord, increase my faith” as her lifelong motto. For the next seventy-nine years, Catherine embraced her vowed commitment to God, offering a quiet, exemplary witness to her faith. As the senior member of her infamous “band of 21” sisters, Catherine is fondly remembered for taking her role seriously, keeping the younger members “in line” and always encouraging them to aim higher.

Catherine began her ministry of mercy as an elementary teacher and principal, serving in schools in Allentown, Nesquehoning, Philadelphia, Summit Hill, and Hapeville, Georgia. She also taught Religion at Little Flower and St. Hubert High School, nurturing the faith of many teenage girls. Her gifts of faith and deep spirituality were recognized by the community leadership, resulting in her appointment as Mistress of Novices from 1965 to 1971. Respected and loved by six bands of aspiring young women, Catherine taught them to be Sisters of Mercy through her example of fidelity, humility, and prayerfulness. Known for her many innovative projects, Catherine kept her novices engaged in serving others, learning new skills, and growing in the spirit of mercy.

Catherine’s life of ministry encompassed many additional roles and locations. She held various positions at Gwynedd-Mercy College, including director of residents, faculty member, and director of the evening and summer divisions. She also served as Mercy Corps leader, director of sisters’ education, and local coordinator for the Convent of Mercy and St. Mary Convent in Philadelphia. Her final years of active ministry were devoted to spiritual and pastoral care at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital, the Convent of Mercy, and McAuley Convent.

Catherine’s faithful presence and interest in her family members’ lives will remain a lasting legacy for them and for all who knew and loved her. Her example of goodness, compassion, and merciful service, all “centered in prayer,” is her gift given and received over 101 years. Go now in peace, faithful friend of God, for time and eternity!