Click here to subscribe today or Login.
To say Catherine McAuley was a visionary would be an understatement. At an early age, the foundress of the Religious Sisters of Mercy understood what “mercy, service, justice and hospitality” meant to a society that was struggling to meet the needs of the underserved.
Those founding tenets became the cornerstone for a global network that provides a voice and hope for people from all walks of life.
It has been nearly 200 years since Catherine undertook her audacious plan to build a place for women and children in Dublin, Ireland. She used her inheritance to build a large house directly across the street from the wealthiest homes in order to serve the poor and needy. It was Catherine’s way of taking her ministry directly to the location where help was needed most, as there were many working poor in the area. Her dream was to educate the women and children so they could have a better life. The plan worked as that home became the International House of Mercy, and her movement became the Religious Sisters of Mercy.
Catherine was most certainly a valiant woman, as is translated from the Latin “Mulier Fortis” that is included in the Misericordia University seal.
The model of a safe place has been replicated in Northeastern Pennsylvania with Catherine McAuley Houses in Plymouth and Scranton. A number of other social service agencies, such as Ruth’s Place, have created parallel services and safe havens for women. The Misericordia University community has been supportive of these local efforts, which are not typically offered directly on a college campus.
Nonetheless, we needed to do more. In 2000, under the leadership of Sister Jean Messaros, vice president of Mercy Integration at Misericordia University, the Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children program was born. One of only eight programs of its type in the country, we enroll single mothers who want to pursue a college degree.
The program has been successful, as we recently graduated our 20th woman from the program. By my count, that means we have 20 more families that can support themselves and at least 20 more children who know that kindergarten and grade school are the first steps toward college.
Indeed, a few of the early graduates are now the proud parents of college students. We often speak of how the program is creating a legacy of academic excellence two generations at a time.
Today, 10 women and 12 young children live in two university-owned homes. Women in the program receive housing and support for up to four years while they work toward a degree. We receive more than 150 admission inquiries annually, an indication that the need for the program is far larger than we, and the seven other universities, can serve. With the support of many of you in our community, we have accomplished much.
It is time to do more. We are working this year to dedicate a third house on our campus for this worthwhile program. By expanding our enrollment to between 16 and 20 women, we will double our commitment to these valiant women and their children. By next fall, Misericordia will host the third largest program of this type in the country and remain the only one that removes rent for housing as a roadblock.
Our program requires commitment from many, especially the students. Besides being enrolled in one of our 34 rigorous academic programs, we also will continue to require the women to work in support of their education and children while we provide assistance with access to child care and family enrichment programming.
Misericordia University’s mission statement clearly refers to our academic community as a place where “all are welcome.” The Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children program guarantees that women and children are welcome on our campus. We believe higher education should empower families to become stronger and to thrive.
In my three years as president, I have been thrilled to see everything we can accomplish when people support each other. I am proud that our Wyoming Valley neighbors and friends have supported Misericordia University’s outreach to those who have the desire and commitment to learn to succeed. I am equally as proud of our students, who excel both in the classroom and in life.