The Event

A CELEBRATION OF MERCY & SERVICE
An event to benefit Mercy by the Sea and honor the inaugural Catherine McAuley Spirit Award recipient,

Marie Dennis

Marie Dennis, a longtime leader in the global Catholic peace movement, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Catherine McAuley Spirit Award. Learn more here.

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The Gathering

On October 4, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., join fellow supporters at Mercy by the Sea for a joyful evening celebrating the impact you make possible.

Spend the evening with 100 friends of Mercy enjoying a relaxed social hour, sharing a delicious dinner, and being inspired during an uplifting award program. Through engaging stories and heartfelt moments of recognition, we will highlight how generosity is turning compassion into action—and say thank you to the donors who bring this mission to life.

Rooted in Catherine McAuley’s spirit of service, contemplation and action, the evening blends meaningful connection, warm hospitality and a thoughtfully paced program with plenty of time to connect, reflect and celebrate, this is an evening designed to feel both purposeful and genuinely fun.

Honoring our first recipient, Marie Dennis, with the Catherine McAuley Spirit Award, the benefit event captures the heart of Catherine’s enduring legacy: mercy rooted in contemplation. Catherine believed that prayer, reflection, and rest were not a retreat from the world, but the wellspring that made courageous service possible.

A Tradition Begins

The first Catherine McAuley Spirit Award benefit event marks the beginning of a new fundraising tradition rooted in gratitude, justice, joy, and hope. Through this inaugural event, we gather not only to honor one life of mercy, but to strengthen Mercy by the Sea as a place of rest, reflection, and renewal for those who serve. Together, we celebrate mercy in action—and invest in its future by ensuring this sacred space continues to nourish spirits and send compassion back into the world.