February 2010 Dear Friends of Mercy, We founded the West Midwest Community in July 2008 by bringing together six former regional communities – Auburn and Burlingame, Calif., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Chicago, Ill., Detroit, Mich, and Omaha, Neb. We have worked together to develop the structures and processes needed for our new Community. Just as important, we are coming to know our members and our ministries and are seeing how our Mercy charism is being carried out with the same passion and care across our new geography, consistent with our heritage. “Our charity must be But our West Midwest Community is not complete without acknowledging you – the many friends in our hearts and and supporters who, over the years, have opened your hearts to the Sisters of Mercy and to the people we serve. You truly are extensions of the spirit of our Foundress, Catherine McAuley. Your from our hearts, continued heartfelt prayers and financial generosity make it possible to open many doors for the people we serve throughout the West Midwest Community and beyond. and a charity such as The work of our Sisters touches thousands of lives, as you will see in the ministry stories included Jesus Christ practiced in this report. With the support of our generous donors, our Sisters continue to respond to the while on earth.” unmet needs of our times as Catherine McAuley did so many years ago. So from our hearts to yours, please accept our thanks for all you do in the name of Mercy. — Catherine McAuley Retreat Instructions, p 148 Blessings, 2 Ministries of the West Midwest Community Mercy Sponsored/Co-Sponsored Ministries inistry is the heart of the Sisters Education Higher Education of Mercy. We are committed to Catherine McAuley Center, Cedar Rapids, IA College of Saint Mary, Omaha, NE following Jesus of the Gospel by Cristo Rey High School, Sacramento, CA Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, IA Mliving the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL Mercy Education Project, Detroit, MI Mercy. We teach the uneducated, care for the sick, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless Mercy Education Resource Center, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI and help the poor. Sacramento, CA Healthcare Mercy High School, Burlingame, CA Catholic Health Initiatives, Denver, CO Today, you will find us ministering in a Mercy High School, San Francisco, CA Catholic Health Ministries / Trinity Health, variety of areas including parishes, schools, Novi, MI hospitals, administration and social Mercy High School, Farmington Hills, MI services. We are working for change in Mercy High School, Omaha, NE Catholic Healthcare West, San Francisco, CA areas like healthcare, immigration and the Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, Mercy Health System of Chicago, Chicago, IL environment. Chicago, IL Mercy Hospital & Medical Center, Chicago, IL Mercy ministries represent the many ways Housing Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, IA our West Midwest Community carries out Catherine McAuley Center, Cedar Rapids, IA Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, IA the charism of Catherine McAuley. Mercy Housing, Inc., Denver, CO Provena Health, Mokena, IL St. Catherine Residence, Milwaukee, WI Scripps Mercy Hospitals, Burlingame, CA Unity Square, Waterloo, IA Long-term Care Elder Care Alliance, Alameda, CA Mercy Retirement and Care Center, Percentages of West Midwest Sisters Serving in Ministries Oakland, CA n Mercy Villa, Omaha, NE 4% 3% 1% Prayer 31% n Spirituality/Retreat Centers 9% Parish/Pastoral Care Knowles Mercy Spirituality Center, n Education Omaha, NE n Volunteer/Retired Mercy Center, Auburn, CA. 12% n Health Care Mercy Center, Burlingame, CA n Administration n Note: Some ministries, such as healthcare systems, may Other have multiple locations. The city listed is the site of the n headquarters or executive offices of the ministries. 13% Social Services 14% n 13% Housing 3 Contents: Ministries - Mercy Matters Catherine McAuley Center A Beacon of Hope Celebrates 20 Years for Milwaukee Women — Page 5 — Page 9 A Compassionate Voice Opening Doors to for the Homeless Brighter Futures — Page 10 — Page 6 Sowing Seeds Vocations on the Rise of Mercy in Sudan — Page 11 — Page 7 Mercy Matters . Pages 12-14 A Lifeline for Overview of Gifts Received . Page 15 Sudanese Refugees Fund Explanations . Page 16 — Page 8 Donor Honor Roll . Pages 17-22 Ways to Give . Page 23 4 Catherine McAuley Center Marks 20 Years in the Cedar Rapids Community at a student’s own pace. Students who enroll of guidance and education to help stabilize in the adult basic education program are their lives. often preparing for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) test, improving basic math When women enter the program, their and language skills, or are English Language immediate needs for shelter, food and Learners (ELL). The Catherine McAuley clothing are met. They are then assessed for Center also provides tutorials in basic mental or emotional health issues, substance keyboarding and computer skills as well abuse, confinement or probation within the as specialized classes for banking and judicial system, family and other relation- citizenship throughout the year. ship issues and/or the inability to maintain employment. Sister Bernice Kurt, RSM, is a volunteer tutor at the Catherine McAuley Center. The Catherine McAuley Center’s “Each time I go to the Catherine McAuley transitional housing program aims to Center I feel like the boundaries of my equip women with the economic, physical, Sister Bernice Kurt, right, visits with a student outside world are stretched,” said Sister Bernice. psychological and social independence to Catherine McAuley Center. become self-sufficient. he Sisters of Mercy with community “The students I tutor are full of The Catherine McAuley Center celebrates supporters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, energy and try so hard to improve its efforts to improve the quality of life for opened the Catherine McAuley Center their lives” many individuals and their families in Tin 1989 to provide services that were needed Cedar Rapids. in the community at that time. In 2009, the — Sister Bernice Kurt Catherine McAuley Center celebrated its “The students I tutor are full of energy and 20th anniversary and its success promoting try so hard to improve their lives. It is a the well-being and dignity of individuals great privilege to share with them and with in need and enhancing their employment the Catherine McAuley Center staff.” opportunities through its basic education for adults and a transitional housing program In addition to adult basic education, the for women. Catherine McAuley Center has provided a safe haven for approximately 700 In the last 20 years, the Catherine McAuley women through its transitional housing Center has provided over 2,700 students program. The housing program provides Sister Bernice Kurt works with one of the 2,700 students who have benefited from the one-on-one tutoring. with adult basic education. The education unaccompanied women over 18 with a safe program provides free one-on-one tutoring place to live and an individualized program www.cmc-cr.org 5 Opening Doors to Brighter Futures n 1992, troubled by Detroit’s low decision led to services for women, graduation rate and intrigued by the including literacy, adult basic education, book Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves GED preparation, employment skills and Iof Adolescent Girls, which focused on the selected career development. MEP also challenges of middle school girls, a group offers major necessities such as child care of Sisters of Mercy asked: “How can we and transportation. help and where is the greatest need?” “We have women who come in unable Their answer: help break the cycle of to read,” said Sister Maureen Mulcrone, illiteracy particularly prevalent in southwest RSM, MEP’s director of development and Detroit by working with young girls from marketing. “We’re proud of the fact that low-income families. Amy Amador, left, stays connected with Nicole Simmons, right, by the time they complete MEP’s program, a 2006 MEP “grad” studying criminal justice at Marygrove more than 90 percent of our participants They began Mercy Education Project College. will pass the GED.” (MEP) as an after-school tutoring program One of MEP’s newest summer programs for offering remedial tutoring for girls in grades middle school girls focuses on developing In the past three years, 100 percent of MEP’s 1-8. Their focus was, and still is, reading leadership skills. Headquartered on the GED graduates have entered college, job and math, but over the years, their services campus of the University of Detroit Mercy training and/or full employment. for girls have expanded, and the project has (UDM), Emerging Employment is added programs for women 18 and older. Leaders provides a One of MEP’s newest summer another major “I am like the caged bird that has been four-week focus on programs for middle school hurdle. The set free,” said Nicole Simmons, when she college and career girls focuses on developing Opportunity “graduated” from Mercy Education Project exploration, academic leadership skills. Knocking program, with her GED in 2006. A bright, but bored, enrichment and a partnership with middle-schooler, Nicole eventually had leadership development. The first year, St. Mary Mercy Hospital, provides low- dropped out of school and had a child. She 25 girls completed the program. “The girls income women with an avenue to attempted to complete the GED, but didn’t came from families where no one has ever employment and training in healthcare. succeed until she came to Mercy Education applied to college, and now the idea of Both staff and volunteers find satisfaction Project. Today she is a junior studying attending college has become more real,” in seeing girls who have been failing learn criminal justice at Marygrove College. said Melanie Ward, program coordinator. to love reading or seeing women whose “In the Detroit community, 23 percent of To further reduce the cycle of illiteracy, sense of self is transformed.