Postcard with the signature of Fr. Quille showing the newly-built location of Mercy Home on Jackson Boulevard.

As Mercy Home for Boys & Girls celebrates its 125th anniversary, we’re taking a look back at our storied history and all of the lives we’ve touched over the years, thanks to the support and generosity of good people like you. Stay tuned to this space for more from our archives as we mark this incredible milestone in our mission of caring for kids in need.

A brief note of thanks to a friend from Mercy Home President, Fr. Centennial J. Quille. The postcard from 1909 features the newly built home for boys on West Jackson Blvd. in Chicago. Mercy Home was founded in 1887 and moved to the current site on West Jackson a few years later. The building pictured still stands and anchors our Hay Boys Campus in Chicago’s West Loop. Today Mercy Home cares full time for young men and women on two Chicago campuses.

Take a virtual tour of our Hays Boys Campus as it stands today. 

What: 10th Annual Leader Council Graduates’ Luncheon

When: Tuesday, May 22, 2012, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Where: Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave.

Who: Founding Leader Council Chair, philanthropist and former Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library Mary Dempsey provides keynote address. Newsradio 780 WBBM-AM Chicago’s Felicia Middlebrooks emcees.

Why: To celebrate the accomplishments of our young men and women who are graduating from elementary and high schools, vocational schools and colleges and to support the academic success of all young people at Mercy Home. 

Join the members of the Leader Council on May 22 as they celebrate 10 years of empowering youth through education. Founding chairman Mary Dempsey will provide the keynote speech at this special anniversary edition of the Leader Council Graduates’ Luncheon. The event is the Leader Council’s signature annual fundraiser for Mercy Home.

In 2002, Fr. James J. Close and Fr. Scott Donahue approached Dempsey, a longtime friend of the Home, and asked her to help them organize a group of prominent women who would help us generate greatly needed support for our educational programs. A strong advocate for the power of education to transform young lives, Dempsey graciously accepted. During her tenure, the Council grew dramatically and today draws members from among the top levels of Chicago’s business and civic institutions.

Leader Council members donate their time, talent, financial support and professional resources to open doors to academic and vocational opportunities for Mercy Home’s children. These accomplished professionals work throughout the year with our young people, mentoring them and guiding them in school and career planning through events like its annual job skills workshop, held each spring. Thanks to their efforts, young people from severely disadvantaged circumstances have gone on to succeed in higher education and have secured good jobs.

Graduation is a milestone that many of our young people might have thought unatainable before coming to live with us. But with the academic, as well as therapeutic support that they receive at the Home, they catch up and excel. Last year, for example, 100% of our high school seniors graduated.

And, they are taking the next step—college.

The list of colleges that have sent acceptances to Mercy Home’s seniors this year include Northern Illinois University, DePaul University, Saint Xavier University, Lake Forest College, Kendall College, Elmhurst College, Trinity Christian College, Indiana State University, Marian College, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, University of Iowa, Marymount Manhattan College, Western Illinois University and Xavier University.

Fr. Scott delivers homily at 30th anniversary Mass

Family, Friends Honor Fr. Scott at 30th Anniversary Mass

Historic Holy Family Church on Chicago’s near West Side was standing room only on April 29 as Mercy Home President Fr. Scott Donahue celebrated the 30th anniversary of his ordination as a Catholic priest.  An estimated 1,000 friends, family, coworkers, and supporters filled the pews and folding chairs set up in the back of the church to celebrate this milestone and this mission of Mercy, which has accounted for 22 of Fr. Scott’s 30 years of priestly service.

Concelebrating Fr. Scott’s 30th anniversary Mass were Most Reverend, Raymond E. Goedert, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Monsignor Michael M. Boland, President and CEO of Catholic Charities, Monsignor John Canary, Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Reverend Mark Francis, csv , The Superior General of the Viatorian Community and the Reverend Jeremiah Boland, Pastor of Holy Family Parish. Young people from Mercy Home served as alter servers, gift bearers, and petitioners. Fr. Scott’s brother Peter Donahue gave the first reading, and coworker Sr. Diane O’Donnell gave the second.

In his homily, Fr. Scott reflected on the ways that everyone gathered shared in his personal ministry. Drawing inspiration from the feast day of the Good Shepherd, which was Sunday, Fr. Scott said that when we listen to the voice of the Shepherd, Jesus, we become one flock, and “together we show the world the best of who we are. We care for one another. We nurture one another.” The key to his ministry, Fr. Scott said, has been listening, especially to our young people and their stories. He said that when he listens “I learn. I grow. I change.” He then called upon everyone to continue to pay attention and participate fully in life–to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd; to the invitation to love. By doing so, our lives will be made better and we will love more deeply.

Mercy Home Board of Regents Chairman Darryl Schimeck congratulated Fr. Scott on this special occasion and compared the challenges involved in running an organization like Mercy Home with the walking on a high wire. “Fr. Scott faces the challenges of a typical CEO…without losing sight of the fact that he is the spiritual center of this great Catholic institution.” Schimeck said that the job of leading Mercy Home requires incredible balance, with 125 years of successful history on one side of the wire, and the need to innovate and evolve on the other.

Fr. Scott credited and gave thanks to many for keeping him forever focused on the course ahead, saying that he continues to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. “All I’ve ever tried to do is follow the path that God has shown me, and through it all I’ve been blessed by the love, friendship and prayers of my family, loved ones — and incredible friends like you.” He expressed his deepest gratitude to his coworkers and board members, whose insights have also helped guide his ministry at Mercy Home.

A reception was held after Mass at St. Ignatius College Prep, next door to Holy Family Church. Mercy Home would like to thank those who made this celebration a success, including our gracious hosts, the Reverend Jeremiah Boland, Pastor of Holy Family Church and the Reverend Michael Caruso, S.J., President of St. Ignatius College Prep, and Rich Daniels, Bradford Newquist and our musicians.

Fr. Scott asked that in lieu of gifts supporters would consider making a donation to our Legacy of Learning campaign.

One of our boys, Mohamed, recently decided on Elmhurst College for the fall. “I had the opportunity to try out for the soccer team, a sport which I am really passionate about,” he said. “They also offered me a scholarship which in my case is a huge break. Since I’m an international student, I’m not eligible for any type of student loan. I am really happy with my decision.”

Like any family, our Mercy Home family is tremendously proud of each young man and woman who will be crossing the stage to accept their diploma this year. Later this month our seniors—along with our 8th graders—will be honored for their academic achievements at our 10th Annual Leader Council Graduates’ Luncheon.

Education is so important at Mercy Home and it’s a critical component in our children’s care—instilling in them a confidence they’ve never before had, and giving them the opportunity to build for a brighter, more successful future.

For any graduating senior, this time of year promises to be one of great change and growth. Additionally for our kids, it’s also an incredible reminder of the strength, courage and perseverance they’ve harnessed to overcome the pain of their pasts.

Our Mercy Home family is grateful beyond measure to see our seniors so excited about this moment in their lives. Many thanks to good friends like you, whose support and partnership put great achievements like these within reach for our children.

Learn how our internship and summer jobs programs are helping kids build successful futures, and how earning valuable work experience impacts so many other areas of their lives.

Our Mercy Home family is tremendously proud to announce the upcoming graduations of 37 of our young men and women. As these kids wind down their school years and look ahead to what their new chapters will bring, we couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to share in this joyful moment with them.

We sat down with one of our soon-to-be graduates, eighth grader Sylvester, to chat about his hard-earned academic success, and the future your support has allowed him to look forward to.  

Name: Sylvester

Grade: 8^th 

What is your favorite class? Why?

English—in my first school I didn’t get good grades in English but my teacher pushed me. We did stations with different concepts and book groups.

Science—when I was little, people were always talking about atoms. I thought it was going to be hard but it was fun. 

Who has made the biggest impact in your education? What did they do to help you?

My tutors because they explained things to me first so I can understand them—if I need some more background knowledge on something. We learn something new. The new day I go to school—now that I understand it, I can teach everyone else.

What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

When I got a C in English with my tutor’s help. I’m not good at English.

Who is someone you look up to?

My brother, the third oldest. The second oldest has a kid and dropped out of school. The third oldest has a daughter too but he’s still in school. If he can do it, I can do it. You don’t have to worry about everyone else, you just have to worry about yourself.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I was little I said an astronaut. I like planets and stars; they seem amazing.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What will life be like for you, what successes?

I’ll be in college—still studying. I might have one degree already, trying to get my master’s. I want to get all the degrees you can; that’s the goal for me. I want to get a Ph.D. in Science.

How do you hope to see the world change in 10 years? What do you think or hope will be different?

Racism is unnecessary. I don’t want racism, I don’t want gangs to be here in ten years. I just don’t want to get shot. I hope that’s gone. We as Americans can be smarter than other countries—if kids figure out that school is more important than other things.

What is something unique about you?

I’m athletic. I’m plain funny. I know I’m intelligent; I can do anything, I just got to try hard. I’m an achiever.

What does graduation mean to you?

Knowing that you achieved moving on to a higher stage in life. Letting you know that you did well in school. That you persevered in all your classes, you tried hard.

Mercy Home has partnered with AT&T through its Aspire program, which seeks to ensure that more young people nationally graduate and are prepared to achieve in career and college.

AT&T is a proud supporter of the education program at Mercy Home for Boys & Girls and of the 10th Annual Leader Council Graduates’ Luncheon, May 22 at the Chicago Hilton. The keynote speaker will be Mary Dempsey, founding chairman of the Leader Council of Mercy Home.  Reserve your table today.

AT&T Program Helps Chicago Teens Graduate: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Northern Illinois University

DePaul University

Eastern Illinois University

Saint Xavier University

Lake Forest College

Kendall College

Elmhurst College

Parkland Community College

Harold Washington City College

Trinity Christian College

Indiana State University

Marian College

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

University of Iowa

Marymount Manhattan College

Western Illinois University

Xavier University

For Mercy Home president Fr. Scott Donahue, the 40-day journey into the Paschal Mystery that concluded on Easter Sunday, began at his alma mater, Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL.

He had been invited to celebrate Ash Wednesday prayer service with students and staff at the school located in Chicago’s Northwest suburbs. As the 1972 graduate walked through familiar corridors, he was struck by more than just memories. Students and staff had decorated walls throughout the building with large paper hearts bearing the slogan “Have a Heart for Mercy Home.”  They were accompanied by stories of young people living at Mercy Home and hung in celebration of Saint Viator’s annual Lenten Campaign. The school dedicated this year’s campaign to benefit Mercy Home. Throughout Lent, the posters inspired students to reflect on their blessings and to give back to those in need.

“It made me feel proud,” said Fr. Scott, “to be part of the Mercy Home community, and the Saint Viator community, as we journey together in this holy season of Lent. And I am so moved by the generosity of spirit shown by the young adults of my alma mater toward the children in Mercy Home’s care.”

The Saint Viator High School Lenten Campaign encourages students to serve others while reflecting on their relationship with God and deepening their commitment to their faith. Mercy Home, an organization that directly serves Chicago teens, was selected to honor the Year of  Teens and Young Adults in the Chicago Archdiocese. “We frequently remind our students that service to others is an essential element of our faith and the mission of Saint Viator High School,” said the Rev. Robert M. Egan, C.S.V., the school’s president. “Reaching out to those in need defines us as followers of the Lord and our students specifically chose Mercy Home as our Lenten Campaign beneficiary because teens would benefit.”

The campaign included a number of fundraising and service projects benefiting the Home, including the 3rd annual “Run With the Pride 5k Run/Walk” on March 10th.

Last year, Fr. Scott participated in a panel discussion at Saint Viator High School about igniting service in young people as part of its 50th anniversary speaker series. In a Chicago Tribune article about the panel, Fr. Scott was quoted about the impact of his education on his life’s work. “It was my early years at Saint Viator and my life experiences that led me to the priesthood and to Mercy Home,” Fr. Scott said. “It has really shaped me.”

To begin his workshop, Dr. Tatum asked attendees to copy down the following 51 words, written by W.E.B. DuBois:

“When a human being becomes suddenly conscious of the tremendous powers lying latent within him, when from the puzzled contemplation of a half-known self, he rises to the powerful assertion of a self, conscious of its might, then there is loosed upon the world possibilities of good that make men pause.”

Dr. Tatum noted that the 51-word exercise took around five minutes to complete.  He then provided a bleak comparison: some students write fewer than 54 words each week; some read less than a page per day.  When students are reading below grade level, Dr. Tatum explained, we expose them to less.  If reading and writing are to be “tools of protection,” Dr. Tatum believes we must give vulnerable young people access to more difficult and more powerful texts—texts that can enable them to think differently and build resilience.  In his classrooms, he works to connect assignments to the historical and social reasons for reading and to connect discussions to students’ personal, national, economic and emotional backdrops.  For every text he teaches, Dr. Tatum asks, “Out of all the texts in the world, why this one for this time and space?”

Elizabeth Mulligan, Vice President of The Academy, worked with Dr. Tatum while teaching at Henson Elementary School during the 2001-2002 school year and was eager to invite him to become a part of our Speaker Series: “It was wonderful to finally be able to bring Dr. Alfred Tatum into Mercy Home to share his extensive knowledge and expertise with my fellow co-workers and colleagues.  Dr. Tatum is a great mind, and has incredible passion for this work—he beautifully bridges literacy with the concepts that make up our Conceptual Framework by making reading and writing both meaningful and relevant in kids’ lives.  It was a joy to have him here!”

Dr. Tatum shared pieces of student writing from classrooms, from reading clinics and from workshops at juvenile detention centers—as well as writing of his own.  He firmly believes the stakes behind reading and writing couldn’t be higher for vulnerable children: “For them, it’s not an activity, it’s their existence.”