by Terri Rafter
I recently had the pleasure of tagging along on the bus to go to the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade. What a fun experience that was! Not only did the staff show respect, patience and kindness to each resident, but the residents themselves were kind and helpful to each other. Added to their kindness is their sheer exuberance and joy. For some reason, laughter is the key to their happiness. Giggles and belly laughs come so easily to the residents. Wish we could all live our lives that way!
Dear Friends,
Hope you are well and enjoying the first few days of spring. As you will see from our spring newsletter (CLICK HERE), we continue to be blessed here at Misericordia and had a very busy winter. I also want to share a few important updates regarding the Misericordia Foundation.
My dear friend and colleague, Lois Gates, is retiring on April 1. We will all miss Lois, but I am thrilled for her and know that she will continue to be a big part of Misericordia moving forward. We are fortunate that Lois will continue to share her expertise as a Board member on the Foundation and as a devoted volunteer working with our benefactors and fundraising groups. We wish Lois the very best in her retirement, and I know I speak for the residents, their families and the entire Misericordia Community when I say we are all grateful to Lois for making an incredible difference here at Misericordia. Congratulations Lois!
Dear Misericordia Families,
Several weeks ago, the MFA board, on behalf of all families, gifted me with a beautiful book. It contained all of your cards, best wishes, and memories of years past. As I read the cards and notes, it brought to mind all the connections I have made with many families. As I read your card and notes, so many emotions. They brought smiles, tears, and some surprises at what you remembered, which definitely jarred my memory.
The decision to have your family member join the Misericordia community has impacted your lives tremendously. I thank you for having trust in us to offer a safe and beautiful environment and providing quality care and programs for your family members. I also thank you for being able to be part of that journey with your family.
I feel so blessed to have received this and in such a beautiful format. I will always cherish this for the joy it and you and our residents have brought me.
Very sincerely,
Mary Pat
Click HERE to go to the book on the Shutterfly website. Then, click the book cover to view the book. (Note: There is no need to "add to cart" or "sign-in" to view the book. It is best viewed on a computer screen.)
This is an excerpt from a homily delivered by Brian Paulson, S.J., president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, on January 24, 2025, at the Mass for Life in Washington, D.C.
There is an amazing work of the Catholic Church on the North Side of Chicago called Misericordia/Heart of Mercy Home. The word misericordia has its roots in two Latin words, miserere (to have compassion or have mercy) and cor, which means heart. Over 600 people of all ages live at Misericordia Home in a sort of village or campus spread over 37 acres.
As its mission statement explains, Misericordia aims “to provide a continuum of care and support for children and adults of all faiths and cultures who have intellectual and developmental disabilities…. Through Catholic values and traditions we strive to be a diverse and inclusive community of acceptance, respect, dignity, spirituality, and quality of life for us all.”
by Rick Nash
About two years ago, my son Bryan, who is a resident at Shannon Apartments, told me on the phone that he was late for “Man Cave”. Man Cave? What the heck is Man Cave? Bryan just said he needed to be there and hung up the phone. Later, I learned that Man Cave was a program started by one of the Shannon Qs. It’s part physical fitness, part team building, part motivational exercise, part dance party, and really a lot of fun. Here's how the Shannon Q describes the Man Cave:
"Man Cave was created to address the challenges faced by the guys at Shannon Apartments, especially some of their health issues related to weight gain and not-so-great eating habits. Many of them struggled to express these concerns, so I wanted to provide a safe, open space for them to come together and be vulnerable without feeling less than a man. The program encourages physical fitness and unity, teaching the guys not only how to work out, but also valuable life lessons like motivation, accountability, and teamwork.
After 47 years of service, Mary Pat O’Brien, Misericordia’s Assistant Executive Director for Residents and Programs, retired.
A gorgeous memory book was created for Mary Pat and presented to her at the February MFA Board Meeting. Thanks to all the families who submitted cards, poems, photos, reminiscences, and meaningful memories.
We are so grateful to Laurie and Bill McCarthy, past MFA chairs, who spent countless hours creating this beautiful book as a labor of love. It means so much to Mary Pat, who will treasure this outpouring of love from her Misericordia family.
Click HERE to go to the book on the Shutterfly website. Then, click the book cover to view the book. (Note: There is no need to "add to cart" or "sign-in" to view the book. It is best viewed on a computer screen.)
Thank you to everyone who attended last Sunday’s meeting annual SIBS meeting. We loved seeing so many of you in person and our guest of honor, Lois, was touched by your presence at our pre-meeting “Toast to Lois” event. Below are links to the SIBS PowerPoint presentation, information sheet and Sister Rosemary's video message.
Click here for the SIBs Meeting Presentation
Click here for the Sister Rosemary Video
Click here for the Sponsorship Brochure
Click here for Useful Information for SIBs
Thursday, June 26th, 2025 at 5:30 pm at The United Club at Soldier Field
Cash and Car Raffles are Live! To purchase raffle tickets and learn more about the Benefit, go to the website at www.mfabenefit.org .
During March, Misericordia will recognize the following departments, and there will be an appreciation luncheon on Wednesday, March 12th:
Maintenance/Building Operations, which works tirelessly every season to keep the campus safe, functional, and beautiful for all.
Human Resources/Staff Development, which recruits, trains, and works to retain the Misericordia staff. They hold specialized training sessions and provide resources for the staff.
Reception, which covers the all-important Thome and McAuley reception areas. The receptionists are great ambassadors for Misericordia.
Behavior Services, which supports the mental and behavioral well-being of the residents. Services include individual and group work to enhance the social, communication, and interpersonal skill development of the residents.
It's March and that means Jewel-Osco is once again having their register campaign for Misericordia!
Don't forget to stop at any of the 188 Jewel locations and donate at the register all March long! Friendly reminder, the register says, "Would you like to donate to Support People with Disabilities?"
Please know that all donations from the campaign are still going directly to the Misericordia Foundation. Spread the word!! Thank you, Jewel-Osco!
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