“Our charity must be in our hearts and from our hearts, and a charity such as Jesus Christ practiced while on earth.” — Catherine McAuley

Retreat Instructions, p 148

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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.

But our West Midwest Community is not complete without acknowledging you – the many friends 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 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.

The work of our Sisters touches thousands of lives, as you will see in the ministry stories included in this report. With the support of our generous donors, our Sisters continue to respond to the 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.

Blessings,

February 2010

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Ministry is the heart of the Sisters of Mercy. We are committed to following Jesus of the Gospel by

living the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. We teach the uneducated, care for the sick, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and help the poor.

Today, you will find us ministering in a variety of areas including parishes, schools, hospitals, administration and social services. We are working for change in areas like healthcare, immigration and the environment.

Mercy ministries represent the many ways our West Midwest Community carries out the charism of Catherine McAuley.

Mercy Sponsored/Co-Sponsored MinistriesMinistries of the West Midwest Community

Percentages of West Midwest Sisters Serving in Ministries

n Prayer

n Parish/Pastoral Care

n Education

n Volunteer/Retired

n Health Care

n Administration

n Other

n Social Services

n Housing

12%

9%4% 3% 1%

13%13%

14%

31%

EducationCatherine McAuley Center, Cedar Rapids, IACristo Rey High School, Sacramento, CAMercy Education Project, Detroit, MI Mercy Education Resource Center, Sacramento, CA Mercy High School, Burlingame, CAMercy High School, San Francisco, CAMercy High School, Farmington Hills, MIMercy High School, Omaha, NEMother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, Chicago, IL

HousingCatherine McAuley Center, Cedar Rapids, IAMercy Housing, Inc., Denver, COSt. Catherine Residence, Milwaukee, WIUnity Square, Waterloo, IA

Higher EducationCollege of Saint Mary, Omaha, NEMount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, IASaint Xavier University, Chicago, ILUniversity of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI

HealthcareCatholic Health Initiatives, Denver, COCatholic Health Ministries / Trinity Health, Novi, MICatholic Healthcare West, San Francisco, CAMercy Health System of Chicago, Chicago, ILMercy Hospital & Medical Center, Chicago, ILMercy Hospital, Iowa City, IAMercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, IAProvena Health, Mokena, ILScripps Mercy Hospitals, Burlingame, CA

Long-term CareElder Care Alliance, Alameda, CAMercy Retirement and Care Center, Oakland, CA Mercy Villa, Omaha, NE

Spirituality/Retreat CentersKnowles Mercy Spirituality Center, Omaha, NEMercy Center, Auburn, CA. Mercy Center, Burlingame, CA

Note: Some ministries, such as healthcare systems, may have multiple locations. The city listed is the site of the headquarters or executive offices of the ministries.

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Contents: Ministries - Mercy Matters

Sowing Seeds of Mercy in Sudan

— Page 6

Opening Doors to Brighter Futures— Page 5

A Compassionate Voice for the Homeless— Page 10

Catherine McAuley CenterCelebrates 20 Years— Page 7

A Lifeline for Sudanese Refugees

— Page 8

Vocations on the Rise — Page 11

A Beacon of Hope for Milwaukee Women

— Page 9

Mercy Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 12-15

Overview of Gifts Received . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16

Fund Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 17

Donor Honor Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 18-22

Ways to Give . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 23

5

In 1992, troubled by Detroit’s low graduation rate and intrigued by the book Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves

of Adolescent Girls, which focused on the challenges of middle school girls, a group of Sisters of Mercy asked: “How can we help and where is the greatest need?” Their answer: help break the cycle of illiteracy particularly prevalent in southwest Detroit by working with young girls from low-income families.They began Mercy Education Project (MEP) as an after-school tutoring program offering remedial tutoring for girls in grades 1-8. Their focus was, and still is, reading and math, but over the years, their services for girls have expanded, and the project has added programs for women 18 and older. “I am like the caged bird that has been set free,” said Nicole Simmons, when she “graduated” from Mercy Education Project with her GED in 2006. A bright, but bored, middle-schooler, Nicole eventually had dropped out of school and had a child. She attempted to complete the GED, but didn’t succeed until she came to Mercy Education Project. Today she is a junior studying criminal justice at Marygrove College. “In the Detroit community, 23 percent of the adults never made it through the 9th grade. MEP ensures that girls have the academic skills to make it to high school and to succeed,” says Amy Amador, executive director.

One of MEP’s newest summer programs for middle school girls focuses on developing leadership skills. Headquartered on the campus of the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), Emerging Leaders provides a four-week focus on college and career exploration, academic enrichment and leadership development. The first year, 25 girls completed the program. “The girls came from families where no one has ever applied to college, and now the idea of attending college has become more real,” said Melanie Ward, program coordinator. To further reduce the cycle of illiteracy, MEP’s first executive director, Sister Canice Johnson, RSM, determined it was important to reach women whose ability to hold a job and escape poverty were hampered by illiteracy and lack of education. That

decision led to services for women, including literacy, adult basic education, GED preparation, employment skills and selected career development. MEP also offers major necessities such as child care and transportation.“We have women who come in unable to read,” said Sister Maureen Mulcrone, RSM, MEP’s director of development and marketing. “We’re proud of the fact that by the time they complete MEP’s program, more than 90 percent of our participants will pass the GED.” In the past three years, 100 percent of MEP’s GED graduates have entered college, job training and/or full employment.

Employment is another major hurdle. The Opportunity Knocking program, a partnership with

St. Mary Mercy Hospital, provides low- income women with an avenue to employment and training in healthcare. Both staff and volunteers find satisfaction in seeing girls who have been failing learn to love reading or seeing women whose sense of self is transformed. “If you volunteer at MEP, you could find yourself caught by the mission for a long, long time,” Sister Maureen said.

Opening Doors to Brighter Futures

Amy Amador, left, stays connected with Nicole Simmons, right, a 2006 MEP “grad” studying criminal justice at Marygrove College.

www.mercyed.net

One of MEP’s newest summer programs for middle school girls focuses on developing leadership skills.

6

After the opportunity of visiting the marvelous ministries of the Sisters of Mercy in the Mukuru slum of

Nairobi, Kenya, my entrance into Sudan stood in stark contrast. From Lokichokio airport, just miles before the Sudan border, Sister Kathleen Connolly, RSM, and I boarded a Landrover driven by workers of the diocese of Torit, Sudan. We hired an armed guard and proceeded to cross the border and drive two hours on a road challenged by deep crevices and notorious bandits.

Upon reaching the diocesan compound, I established myself in Sister Kathleen’s tukul and met some of the people working in this desolate region of southern Sudan. Sister Kathleen proudly showed me her “garden” planted in front of her tukul. She also pointed out the flora, unique African fauna, the Toposa men returning and singing from their day of herding, the dramatic sunsets, the beauty of the stark hills, and the drama of the stars against the dark night. For most of the days, I spent time at St. Bakhita’s primary school for girls – grades K-8 – with students from 4

through 20 years of age. The girls were welcoming, spunky, gracious, fit, and fun. Attending one of the few schools for girls in the entire country of Sudan, they valued the privilege of going to school. They were unaware of the lack of teachers having more than a high school education, of a rather rigid British based curriculum, of stark dorms, of few textbooks or educational amenities, of a plain and limited diet, of the upward climb toward further education.

They were happy and energized. From 4-6 p.m. in oppressive heat, the older girls played volleyball, soccer, and net ball in the adjacent dirt field. (Sister Kathleen is now a soccer coach!) One afternoon we were invited to a debate between forms (grades) 7 and 8. Trained in the British style of debate, the girls stepped forward with vigor, conviction, and prepared points.

They argued whether “women should have equal rights as men;” those defending women’s rights lost 17-19! In a few weeks time they went against the neighboring boys’ school and won the debate. I could only imagine the vocal power of these young women a few years hence. On my last day in Sudan, the whole school assembled for formal greetings and entertainment. Kindergarteners recited newly learned English verses and the older girls presented tribal songs and dances. Anyone would immediately be moved to contribute to this wonderful endeavor of educating young Sudanese girls.

Upon visiting a Toposa village, we sought the assistance of a boy who could offer introduction and translation. Women and children who were quite fearful and reticent at first, soon crowded around especially to see their images in digital cameras. The women were the builders of artful huts; the men were away herding goats and cattle; the young girls seemed to be responsible for the small children; two were engaged in grinding sorghum on stone. Life seemed quite primitive. I left wondering how a continuing draught would affect these people. I could appreciate Sister Kathleen’s plan for working in health promotion with the neighboring village – an endeavor that would require a meeting of mercy and justice.

by Sister Judy Carle, RSM of Burlingame, CA

Sowing Seeds of Mercy in Sudan

Golden Jubilarian Sister Kathleen Connolly represented Mercy Beyond Borders serving as a teacher at St. Bakhita School in Narus, Sudan. She also conducted women’s health promotion workshops in surrounding villages. Sister Kathleen says she “absolutely loves going to school every day.”

www.mercybeyondborders.org

Anyone would immediately be moved to contribute to this wonderful endeavor of educating young Sudanese girls.

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The Sisters of Mercy with community supporters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, opened the Catherine McAuley Center

in 1989 to provide services that were needed in the community at that time. In 2009, the Catherine McAuley Center celebrated its 20th anniversary and its success promoting the well-being and dignity of individuals in need and enhancing their employment opportunities through its basic education for adults and a transitional housing program for women.

In the last 20 years, the Catherine McAuley Center has provided over 2,700 students with adult basic education. The education program provides free one-on-one tutoring

at a student’s own pace. Students who enroll in the adult basic education program are often preparing for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) test, improving basic math and language skills, or are English Language Learners (ELL). The Catherine McAuley Center also provides tutorials in basic keyboarding and computer skills as well as specialized classes for banking and citizenship throughout the year.

Sister Bernice Kurt, RSM, is a volunteer tutor at the Catherine McAuley Center. “Each time I go to the Catherine McAuley Center I feel like the boundaries of my world are stretched,” said Sister Bernice.

“The students I tutor are full of energy and try so hard to improve their lives. It is a great privilege to share with them and with the Catherine McAuley Center staff.”

In addition to adult basic education, the Catherine McAuley Center has provided a safe haven for approximately 700 women through its transitional housing program. The housing program provides unaccompanied women over 18 with a safe place to live and an individualized program

of guidance and education to help stabilize their lives.

When women enter the program, their immediate needs for shelter, food and clothing are met. They are then assessed for mental or emotional health issues, substance abuse, confinement or probation within the judicial system, family and other relation-ship issues and/or the inability to maintain employment.

The Catherine McAuley Center’s transitional housing program aims to equip women with the economic, physical, psychological and social independence to become self-sufficient.

The Catherine McAuley Center celebrates its efforts to improve the quality of life for many individuals and their families in Cedar Rapids.

www.cmc-cr.org

Catherine McAuley Center Marks 20 Years in the Cedar Rapids Community

Sister Bernice Kurt, right, visits with a student outside Catherine McAuley Center.

Sister Bernice Kurt works with one of the 2,700 students who have benefited from the one-on-one tutoring.

“The students I tutor are full of energy and try so hard to improve their lives”

— Sister Bernice Kurt

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A typical day for Sister Rosemary Floersch, RSM, begins at 5:30 a.m. and often does not end until

midnight. You might envision that this retired Catholic school teacher is spending her days only in prayer and worship. But, like many Sisters of Mercy, Sister Rosemary concluded her 46-year ministry of teaching and began a new ministry to Sudanese families in Omaha, Neb. As the founder and director of the Sudanese Outreach Project, her day is filled with numerous activities: taking women to work and children to daycare and school; going to Mass; helping with applications for green cards and citizenship; purchasing groceries; picking up the women and children from work, daycare and school; and helping children with homework. She drives family members to doctor, dental and court appointments; takes them to church; and even sees that the children get to sports practice and games. “No two days are the same,” she said.Sister Rosemary didn’t set out to start this new ministry. It began as a way for her to answer what she called “a persistent urging from God” to work with persons who are poor that she felt during the last three years of her ministry of teaching. She was introduced to the Sudanese people as a volunteer tutor at St. Richard’s School in Omaha. She learned quickly that these students and their families were in need of more than tutoring.

Most of the Sudanese families came to the United States as refugees beginning in 1997 to escape the conditions in Sudan, a country at war. They came legally, some with the help of the United Nations. Others saved their money and bought visas and passports. Others were resettled with the help of church organizations.Initially, Sister Rosemary’s service in tutoring the Sudanese families expanded to helping provide food, personal hygiene supplies, diapers and cleaning supplies. In January 2003, Sister Rosemary found that her part-time work had become a full-time ministry. By 2008, the number of families she was helping had grown to 27.To fund her ministry, she applied for and received ministry grants from the McAuley Ministry Fund. In addition, she has received donations and volunteer support from relatives, individual Sisters of Mercy and

Mercy Associates. Until the downturn in the economy, she received significant funding from her nephew, Mark Floersch, who owns an Omaha business. When he had to reduce his support, Sister Rosemary had to cut back the number of families she could help.Today, she has three families that are her primary focus. These families don’t have cars and have each lost their fathers under different circumstances.“When I started, the women didn’t know how to budget; now they are paying their bills first.” She and volunteers helped them learn how to keep a clean house. “They

used to live in huts, and now they find themselves adjusting to a whole new culture,” she said. The transition has been hard, but according to Sister Rosemary, “They’ve come a long way.” At the age of 75, Sister Rosemary admits that sometimes the long days can be tiring, but her strong calling from God to help a group in need pulls her through.“I feel it’s what God wants me to do at this time in my life,” she said. “It is gratifying to see the refugees move toward self-sufficiency. That’s my goal.”

A Lifeline for Sudanese Refugees

Sister Rosemary Floersch, RSM, picks up students each day from school. From left are: Nyasibit Kume, Sister Rosemary, Athena Lia, Nyabuoy Kume, Nyajal Kume and Nyabuoy Lia.

“It is gratifying to see the refugees move toward self-sufficiency. That’s my goal.”

— Sister Rosemary Floersch

9

A Beacon of Hope for Milwaukee WomenSt. Catherine Residence was founded

by the Sisters of Mercy in 1894 at the request of the Mayor of Milwaukee,

Wisc., to house and to teach young women who came from rural areas with minimal or no job experience. The initial residence housed 25 girls and was called Mercy Home.Over the years, the primary focus became providing safe, affordable and supportive housing. Today, St. Catherine’s continues to be a beacon of hope for women who, for various reasons, find themselves in need of affordable housing and a place to get their lives back together. Since its official dedication as St. Catherine Residence in 1967, the non-profit organization has helped nearly 10,000 women, providing them with a safe “home” and supportive community while they explore options and develop competencies.

Nearly half of the women have a behavioral health illness, according to Lynne Oehlke, president and executive director. St. Catherine’s is located on the east side of Milwaukee in an upscale neighborhood. A recent $7.1 million capital campaign enabled the organization to completely renovate and upgrade the rooming facilities and build McAuley Apartments, a 46-unit building featuring one and two-bedroom apartments.

While Milwaukee has other low income public housing, the wait can be long and many women do not fit the criteria. “We are a non-profit organization and are open to a very broad spectrum of women,” Oehlke said. Most importantly, she added, “we provide the welcoming, supportive community of women who help each other get through the tough times. We also staff our desk 24/7. For women who have been abused, who are starting over or who have mental health issues, safety is a very close second, next to affordability, for the women we serve,” she said.St. Catherine’s does not provide social services. “We find that confidence builds when women open their doors, so we support residents as they access services in the community,” Oehlke said. Women are

required to set personal and professional goals and work a minimum of 10 hours a week. Everyone pays some rent. They could do that in other public housing, but St. Catherine’s staff and the women themselves create a “positive and uplifting” environment in which women can grow.According to Oehlke, the diversity of St. Catherine’s and women’s tolerance of difference is remarkable. “We serve 17 year olds aging out of foster care, young mothers with infants, women aging up to 80 years old, women who have always been poor and those who grew up wealthy,” Oehlke said. “Racially and ethnically, our diversity also is impressive.”In addition, St. Catherine’s has 25 beds underwritten by HUD for women who are homeless and who have a mental health diagnosis. All of these women share common spaces and participate in a women-helping-women environment. According to Oehlke, the Sisters of Mercy continue to play a huge role in St. Catherine’s success. Sisters serve on the board and as volunteers. Financially, they are tremendous supporters. But most important, she said, “the core values of the Sisters and of their Foundress, Catherine McAuley, anchor us on firm ground. We follow Catherine McAuley’s belief that women have tremendous abilities. This is a powerful message.”

At the groundbreaking for the McAuley Apartments are, from left, front row: Residents Trish Rhodes, Barbara White and Lori Worman; back row are: Mayor Tom Barrett, Kristie Coryell Corrao, County Executive Scott Walker and President/CEO Lynne Oehlke.

“We follow Catherine McAuley’s belief that women have tremendous abilities. This is a powerful message.” — Lynne Oehlke

www.stcatherineresidence.org

10

A Compassionate Voice for the HomelessLoaves and Fishes

Executive Director Sister Libby

Fernandez, RSM, is the feisty, compassionate advocate of a marginalized and often controversial population.

She and Sacramento’s Loaves & Fishes organization hit the top of the nationwide news last spring. Oprah Winfrey’s show and many others featured the locale’s Tent City with its population of 300 homeless people as symptomatic of nationwide hard times.

Many of those who are homeless depend on Loaves and Fishes for a daily meal and other “survival services” including showers, rest rooms, counseling and a library. Described by The Sacramento Bee as “charismatic,” Sister Libby has led the “Safe Ground” advocacy group of local organizations serving the homeless population.

In 1985, even before she was a Sister of Mercy, Sister Libby began volunteering at Loaves and Fishes. Founder of the Sacramento Food Bank, Father Dan Madigan, had told her, “Check out those Mercys at Loaves and Fishes!” She did and was drawn by the organization’s mission taken from Matthew 25: Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, care for the sick and visit those in prison.

“That’s what I wanted to do,” she said. After she received her master’s degree in social work in 1990, she entered the

Sisters of Mercy in Auburn, Calif. She first worked with Mercy Housing and then 10 years ago came to Loaves and Fishes.

“Since the day I entered the Sisters of Mercy,” she said, “I’ve asked, ‘How is God calling me to serve?’ It wasn’t until Tent City became a cause that it was obvious I was called to lead the homeless and be a voice for them. This is how God wants me to serve. It is humbling, and I am honored to do what I’m asked to do by God.”

“We are all guests of God’s hospitality. People come here to Loaves and Fishes broken, but I see Christ in them, and they begin to lighten up and to make the first step.” It is no surprise Sister Libby knows each homeless person at Loaves and Fishes by name.

Sister Libby and Safe Ground were honored by the California Reinvestment Coalition on

Sept. 30, 2009 at a reception in Sacramento for their work on creative solutions to homelessness. “Being homeless, being in need, should not be a crime,” they have

insisted. For the long term, the group promotes affordable housing and “housing first” concepts which Mercy Housing has implemented in their Martin Luther King Village in West Sacramento.

To replace the closed Tent City, the Mayor’s Task Force on Safe Ground proposed a legalized campground for the homeless. Sixty Tuff Shed cottages would provide basic housing with self-governance, sanitation and a covenant of no drugs, no alcohol and no violence.

“Our homeless people have been so invisible, and people have ignored them. Through this campaign they have become visible. They feel so powerful. They have a sense of dignity and self-worth. We are all called to help someone,” she said, thinking of the 1,000 volunteers who help out at Loaves and Fishes.

She answers her own call tirelessly and asks the community to follow. “I’m so blessed to be able to do this in the name of Mercy.”

Sister Libby Fernandez is shown at the former “tent city.” She has helped draw attention to the plight of Sacramento’s homeless population.

www.sacloaves.org

“Being homeless, being in need should not be a crime.”

— Sister Libby Fernandez

11

When Renée Kettering entered the West Midwest Community of the Sisters of Mercy in Farmington

Hills, Mich., she became part of a long tradition of Mercy that began in Dublin, Ireland on Sept. 24, 1827. That day, Catherine McAuley opened the first House of Mercy on Baggot Street marking the early beginnings of the Sisters of Mercy and their ministry to the poor and uneducated, which now spans the globe.

Renée’s calling to enter religious life began as a student at Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati. Sister Judy Eby, RSM, one of Renée’s teachers, invited Renée to consider thinking about religious life. Renée did not take the idea seriously at first.

“I had a totally different perception of what it meant to be a sister,” said Renée, who is 24. But the seed had been planted and reinforced over the years through a series of people she met and through several Mercy experiences, including Mercy Volunteer Corps at Mercy Education Project in Detroit. Ultimately, the Mercy charism of service and community motivated Renée to pursue the first step to enter religious life, becoming a candidate.

“I want to live and pray with others who have a common vision,” she said.

As a candidate, her vocation is nurtured in prayer and community by local Sisters Mary Kelley, Karen Donahue and Marie Henderson.

The desire to dedicate one’s life totally to God and the charism of foundresses like Catherine McAuley continue to attract women like Renée to religious life. In fact, the Sisters of Mercy are experiencing an increase in vocations.

In 2009, seven candidates entered the Sisters of Mercy throughout the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and 44 are in various stages of the new membership process. In addition, the Sisters

of Mercy are in active conversation with another 64 women who have expressed an interest in religious life.

“Inquiries are up incredibly from women age 18 and older,” said Sister Katherine Hill, RSM, one of the vocation ministers for the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community. “Many women find us through our website, www.sistersofmercy.org, or have experienced our charism through programs like Mercy Volunteer Corps or Mercy Challenge.”

From August 2008 to August 2009, Sisters of Mercy received 1,263 hits on VocationMatch,

a Catholic Vocation Network website. Of those, vocation ministers are following up with 243 inquirers.

“The numbers and quality of young women inquiring are very encouraging,“ said Sister Norita Cooney, RSM, president of the West Midwest Community. “The decision to enter religious life is a culmination of experiences, conversation and personal reflection.”

It often is sparked by an initial conversation with a Sister. From there, a vocation minister assists the woman to discern how and where God is calling her to best live her life for God and others. For those who think religious life is waning, think again. The young woman in the grocery line behind you might just be a Sister of Mercy!

www.mercywestmidwest.org

Vocations on the Rise as Sisters of Mercy Reach Out to Young Women

Candidates Taryn Stark, left, of San Francisco, Calif., and Renée Kettering of Detroit, Mich., are inspired by the charism of Foundress Catherine McAuley.

“I want to live and pray with others who have a common vision.”

— Candidate Renée Kettering

Mercy Matters • Detroit

By collaborating with others in works of Mercy we continually learn from them how to be more merciful.— Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Constitutions #6

Gretchen Elliott leaves ‘indelible mark’ on Catholic healthcare ministry

During her nearly 20 years of service to Catholic healthcare ministry, Sister Gretchen Elliott, RSM,

played an instrumental role in many of the changes that happened on the local and national arena.

Sister Gretchen was president of the Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of Detroit from 1990 to 1998, a decade of growth and consolidation of Catholic health systems nationally. She and other regional community leaders engaged the five other sponsors of Catholic healthcare in Michigan in exploring the potential for a single system. She led the exploration of new forms of Catholic sponsorship of institutional ministries. Her leadership team affirmed the community’s intent to develop a new public juridic person — steps instrumental in the formation of Trinity Health System. She laid the groundwork for the Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of Detroit and the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross (Notre Dame) to establish Catholic Health Ministries as the sponsor of their respective health systems. She joined Mercy Health Services at that time as vice president,

mission services and became part of the team that led to the merger with Holy Cross Health

System (South Bend) and the creation of Trinity Health.

Through the merger and Trinity Health’s early years, Sister Gretchen, as the new senior vice

president, mission integration, helped lead the effort to develop a new Mission Statement and Mission

Standards, as well as a new organizational culture.In this role, she directed mission services, spiritual care,

ethics and community benefit ministry, and contributed

to leadership formation. She worked closely with the ministry organizations, promoting professional development for Mission leaders. In 2007, she was named vice president, palliative care and special projects. Convinced that palliative care should be a hallmark of Catholic health services, she established the expectation that every Ministry Organization offer quality palliative and end-of-life care. Sister Gretchen’s pioneering work in palliative services helped establish or improve palliative care programs across Trinity Health’s 45 hospitals. Not resting on her laurels, Sister Gretchen also worked to fulfill her congregation’s dedication to the environment by establishing, in 2008, the Eco Stewardship Team, which strengthens environmental responsibility across Trinity Health.“Clearly, Sister Gretchen has left an indelible mark on Trinity Health and the national Catholic healthcare ministry,” said Joe Swedish, president and CEO. “Just as importantly, she has left a lasting, positive impression on countless individuals, from patients and clinicians to coworkers, throughout our hospitals and at the Home Office.”“Were it not for Sister Gretchen’s leadership and devotion, Trinity Health would not be the health system it is today,” said Sister Catherine DeClercq, OP, vice president, governance and sponsorship. “Sister Gretchen is a person of great strength and determination. She is a woman of tender courage, and I have so much gratitude for her time with us.”

Sister Gretchen Elliott, RSM (right), with Sister Catherine DeClercq, OP

12

CHA presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Sr. Yvonne Gellise

The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) honored Sister Yvonne Gellise,

RSM, of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, Ann Arbor, Mich, with the association’s 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors recipients for a lifelong commitment and lifetime contributions to the ministry.Sister Yvonne, who entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1955, has been an accountant, a hospital executive and an advocate for helping homeless people rebuild their lives. “She has an undaunted spirit to serve the vulnerable among us,” said Joseph R. Swedish, president and chief executive of Trinity Health, the parent organization to Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. “She is a very humble person, with an aura that people find compelling. It all emanates from her passion to serve.”

“Concern about housing and homelessness is in our DNA,” Sister Yvonne said of the Sisters of Mercy. “We have to have a passion for the possible, and it’s possible for everyone to have a place to live.”Sister Yvonne is senior advisor for governance for the Saint Joseph Mercy Health System in

Ann Arbor, Mich., which is a member of Trinity Health, a national health system based in Novi, Mich. She is a past board chair of Mercy Health Services and a charter member of the Trinity Health board and Catholic Health Ministries, the Vatican-approved public juridic person entity that sponsors Trinity Health. Both Trinity Health and Catholic Health Ministries were founded in 2000.She also is a founder and board member of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance, a homeless-services network in Ann Arbor that includes nonprofit agencies and representatives of the city and Washtenaw County, Mich. Founded in 2000, the alliance established Alpha House, a shelter for as many as eight families. The shelter operates in a building owned by Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. At age 74, Sister Yvonne said she plans to continue working “as long as I can open my eyes to another day. I know that God is my center,” she said. “As long as I have my mind and my heart, why not use them for good?”

13

Detroit’s McAuley Center Marks 25th Anniversary

A small green and brass motorcycle tag, a crisp nursing cap and a leather-bound Mercy Choir

Prayer book were among the memorabilia on display Sept. 19, 2009 at McAuley Center in Farmington Hills, Mich. These memorabilia were part of the retirement center’s 25th anniversary celebration, which brought together past and present staff and sisters from the area.McAuley Center provides a home for sisters in their later years. The celebration included a prayer service, which remembered sisters and employees who have died since the center opened in 1984. One unique item of memorabilia was the small motorcycle tag that had belonged to Sister Elizabeth LaForest. She traveled in Africa by motorcycle while serving in the Peace Corps.

Top row, left to right: Sisters Mary McFarland, Patricia Lamb, Helen Marie Burns, Arleen Marie Sargolia, Gretchen Elliott, Margaret Farley, Diane RondeauSecond row, left to right: Sisters Rita Mary Ruetz, Nancy Thompson Raymunda Crownhart, Mary Carlos Knight, Denise Thias, Lois Wozniak

Sister Yvonne Gellise, RSM, accepts her award at the Catholic Health Assembly in New Orleans.

Sister Lois Burroughs, RSM, helps celebrate.

14

University of Detroit Mercy inducts three Sisters of Mercy into Hall of Honor

Three Sisters of Mercy were among 13 University of Detroit Mercy alumni

inducted into UDM’s College of Liberal Arts and Education Hall of Honor. The first annual inauguration was held at the Detroit Golf Club on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009.Gretchen Elliott, RSM ’66, is retired senior vice president for mission integration at Trinity Health. Margaret A. Farley, RSM ’57, ’60, is retired Gilbert L. Stark Professor Emerita of Christian Ethics at Yale University. Emily George, RSM ’58, who served as president of Mercy College of Detroit, was awarded posthumously. Accepting the honor on behalf of Emily were her good friends, Sister Theresa Blaquiere, RSM and Sister Brigid Johnson, RSM.According to Charles Marske, Ph.D., dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education, “These outstanding individuals have distinguished themselves in their careers, in their communities and in their affection for the University.” They have given a lot of their time and resources back to the University in many different ways, helping the campus flourish and grow. Pictures of them have been hung on the new Hall of Honor, which can be found on the main floor of the Briggs Building.As president of the Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Detroit from 1990 to 1998, Sister Gretchen, as a trustee of Mercy College of Detroit, was a member of the governance and executive group that consolidated MCD and University of Detroit to form UDM. Upon ending her term as president of the Regional Community, Sister Gretchen joined

Mercy Health Services, serving as vice president, mission services from 1998-2000. She was part of the executive team that guided the consolidation of Mercy Health Services and Holy Cross health system to form Trinity Health, forming the third largest Catholic Healthcare System in the United States.A noted author and lecturer on ethics, Sister Margaret was the first woman appointed to serve full-time on the Yale Divinity School faculty and shared with Henri Nouwen the distinction of being the first Roman Catholic faculty member at the Divinity School. She now has the status of professor emerita. Sister

Margaret is a member of and has served on the University of Detroit Mercy Board of Trustees since 1996.Sister Emily, known then as Sister Mary Karl George, became acting president of Mercy College in 1967 when she was only 36. It was in Sister Emily George’s first year that religious sisters were first considered and granted tenure at Mercy College. She was elected Provincial for the Detroit Regional Province for the Sisters of Mercy in 1971 and continued her work in service and scholarship until she lost her life in a tragic automobile accident December 1984, on her way to continue a scholar/research position at the University of Notre Dame.

Left side, standing from left: Sisters Maureen Mulcrone and Judith Mouch Seated from left: Sisters Brigid Johnson, Lorette Sullivan, Canice Johnson and honoree Gretchen Elliott Right side, standing: Sister Marie Henderson Seated from left:: Sisters Theresa Blaquiere, Gilmary Bauer, Mary Kelly and honoree Margaret Farley

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Nearly 100 golfers joined the Sisters of Mercy at the 16th Annual Side-By-Side Golf Outing.

The 16th annual Side-By-Side Golf Outing raised nearly $70,000 to support the works of the Sister of Mercy.

Proceeds from the 2009 golf outing benefit Mercy Education Project and the Mercy Ministry Fund. Mercy Education Project offers educational and life skills support to girls and women in southwest Detroit. The program provides tutoring and cultural enrichment activities for young girls and GED and job preparation for women. The Mercy Ministry Fund provides annual grants to support innovative projects and programs sponsored by individual sisters as they carry out their mercy mission.The exciting day of golf included games, dinner, a raffle and silent auction. Although it rained in nearby Farmington Hills, the weather at Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon was sunny and ideal for golfing. Attendees also had an opportunity to learn about the experiences of Mercy Education Project from graduates Sheila Terrell and Alexia Morgan, a student at Detroit Cristo Rey High School. Detroit Cristo Rey is one of the ministries supported by the Mercy Ministry Fund. The school provides high-quality college preparatory education to students who would not otherwise be able to afford a private school education.Over the past 16 years, the Side-By-Side Golf Outing has raised more than $1.1 million for the Sisters of Mercy and its ministries.

James Olsen, Andre Boucher, Jim Bosscher and Michael Marcus

Mercy Associate Colleen Connolly and Sister LuAnn Hannasch

Golf Committee members Pat Lenhart and Loretta Turczynski

Tom Otskey, Sylvia Frank, Rob Frank and Ray Morro Alan Erickson, Ray Morro, Craig Cross and guests

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Argentine Ministries $120.00Association $3,808.00Cabrini $500.00Courtade Latin America $14,800.00Direct Ministry to the Poor $6,517.75General Fund $6,992.74Special Events $54,802.50Our Lady of Guadalupe $860.00Mercy Education Project $1,770.00Mercy High School $110.00Mercy Ministry Fund $4,885.00McAuley Center $70,508.02Readiness Center $500.00Retirement Fund $11,812.37

Detroit Major Fund Distribution Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community Allocation of Gifts Received

Total Gifts Received Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 • June 30, 2009

$1,747,719.46

Unrestricted $373,066.84

Sisters’ Retirement $67,128.70

Mercy Ministries $421,765.33

Restricted Bequest and Legacy Funds $745,976.59

Other $139,782.00

4%

21%

8% 24%

43%

Donations that came directly to the Detroit, Mich., Development Office

Total Donations Received Fiscal Year

July 1, 2008 • June 30, 2009

$177,986.38

Detroit Development Office Fund Explanations for Fiscal Year 2009Sisters’ Direct Ministry to the Poor Fund supports sisters in ministries that cannot afford to compensate them, such as neighborhood health clinics, shelters, centers for troubled teens, children’s educational projects, senior and community centers. They teach and tutor; provide medical care, crisis intervention and counseling; and offer pastoral care and spiritual direction.

Mercy Ministry Fund provides annual grants to support innovative projects and programs sponsored by individual sisters as they carry out their mercy mission.

Mercy Education Program (MEP) offers educational and life skills support to girls and women in southwest Detroit. The program provides tutoring and cultural enrichment activities for young girls and GED and job preparation for women.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School for Girls (OLG) was located in southwest Detroit for the past eight years until it closed at the end of the 2009 school year. It served a racially and ethnically diverse group of girls with academic potential but whose economic circumstances precluded the opportunity for a quality, faith-based education. OLG emphasized academic excellence, leadership and an active faith in God.

Argentine Ministries, which include Guadalupe Home, a shelter for women and children suffering from domestic violence, and Women’s Center in Moreno and Roca, provide opportunities for women from the barrios to develop their intellectual, physical and spiritual well-being.

Mercy Volunteer Corps is a lay ministry program for women and men making a one- or two-year commitment to service, community living and prayer. Volunteers are engaged in projects in healthcare, education, pastoral ministry and social services.

Sisters’ Retirement Fund provides for the living and healthcare expenses of sisters who are retired from active ministry. Our retired sisters remain engaged in the Mercy mission through prayer ministry, part-time work or volunteer service.

McAuley Center in Farmington Hills, Mich., is the assisted living and nursing care facility for sisters who are retired, disabled or recuperating from serious illness or surgery.

General Fund supports the living, healthcare and educational expenses of sisters in active ministry as well as new sisters joining the community. The fund also provides resources for administrative activities of the religious community.

The simplest and most practical lesson I know...

is to resolve to be good today, but better tomorrow. Let us take one day only in hands,

at a time, merely making a resolve for tomorrow, thus

we may hope to get on taking short, careful steps,

not great strides.

— Letter to de Sales White February 28, 1841

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Donor Honor Roll The names listed below are benefactors who supported the works of Mercy with a cash donation to the Detroit development office of the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community from July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009. Benefactors are listed in alphabetical order by fund of support. Every effort has been made to include all benefactors for the 2009 fiscal year in this list. We regret any omissions or errors that have been made in producing this list.

Argentina Women’s Centers and SheltersDr. Janine Marie Idziak Sister Nancy Jones, RSM

Association FundMs. Paula Chermside

Ms. Cheryl Claeys

Mr. James Rembacki and Ms. Colleen Connolly

Ms. Winnifred Crackel

Mrs. Ann Dillon

Ms. Mary Lee Flohe

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Forintos

Mrs. Dorothy Gereke

Mrs. Kathy Grantz

Ms. Marcie J. Greeley

Ms. Toni P. Gross

Ms. Sarah Halter

Ms. Mary Harnish

Mrs. Muriel Harrington

Mrs. Elaine V. Hauke

Mr. and Mrs. John Jennings

Mrs. Beverly L. Kelley

Mrs. Vicki L. Looker

Ms. Mary C. MacDonald

Mrs. Virginia C. Mackey

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Murray

Ms. Sally M. Owen

Ms. Elaine Pogoncheff

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Printz

Ms. Elizabeth M. Ripple

Ms. Kathryn Rosenberg

Ms. Julie A. Sartori

Ms. Barbara Vinton

Ms. Lucy D. Woodman

Cabrini ClinicMrs. Ann Dillon

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Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Sister Margaret (Marge) Mary Friedhoff, RSM, is a pediatric nurse practitioner at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

“I love working with children of all ages,” says Sister Marge. “Sometimes this even includes the parents of the patients I see, and sometimes the patients I see are young adults themselves, but with a childhood illness that keeps them coming back to a Children’s Hospital.” Sister Marge finds the most rewarding part of ministry to be how she can change a child’s life through education to the parent about what is a normal and what is not a normal expectation for an infant or child.

“If we wish to sow the seeds of real hope in our world, I think Catherine McAuley would say: ‘This is the way we must do it – one person at a time: one answering of the figurative doorbell, one answering of the figurative door, one embrace of the stranger, one welcoming of the other, one sharing of our bread and milk – one person at a time.”

— Mary C. Sullivan, RSM, MAST Journal 6:3 (Summer 1996):

11-17

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AHS Foundation

Northeastern Exploration, Inc.

Saint Mary’s Health Care

Sisters of St. Joseph 1123

Trinity Health

Battle Creek Health System

Lottie Astemborski

Sister Mary Cecilia Begin, RSM

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Behler

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Bliss

Mrs. Arlee Bodnar

Ms. Carol Bojanowski

Ms. Cheryl M. Burke

Dr. John J. Collins, Jr.

Mr. James Rembacki and Ms. Col-leen Connolly

Ms. Mona Courtade

Mrs. Betty Courtade

Sister Mary Simone Courtade, RSM

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Courtade

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin C. Courtade

Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Cwiek

Ms. Catherine Deeny

Karin Dufault, SP

Mr. Louis J. Fierens

Sister Bernadette Mary Frank, RSM

Ms. Shirley M. Gaulke

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Germain

Ms. Doris Goranson

Ms. Lynne A. Gordon

Ms. Sharon Graganta

Ms. Judy Grewe

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Herula

Sister Nancy Jones, RSM

Mrs. Marylal Karbowski

Ms. Theresa Ketner

Mr. and Mrs. Craig W. Killingbeck

Ms. Karen Kulicamp

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kunitzer

Ms. Beth Loughrige

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Markowski

Ms. Nadine J. Maynard

Mr. and Mrs. Philip H. McCorkle, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick B. Moore Sr.

Sister Mary Rosellen Mortimore, RSM

Ms. Barbara Nesbitt

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Peters

Sister Rose Petruzzo, OP

Ms. Wilma Phipps

Mr. and Mrs. James Reed

Mrs. Janice Schuler

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sciba

Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Shunta

Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Slubowski

Mr. and Mrs. I. John Snider,II

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Speigl

F. Remington Sprague M.D.

Mrs. Rose Marie Stencel

Ms. Patricia Suggs

Mr. and Mrs. G. Steven Trimmer

Sister Margaret Weber, RSM

Sister Jean Marie Wojtas,SJ

Ms. Florence Wolf

Ms. Lucy D. Woodman

Ms. Mary A. Wyper

Courtade Latin American-Caribbean Ministry Fund

General FundHealing Touch Center

Meijer

Arkansas County Anesthesia

Mr. and Mrs. Terry P. Aide

Anonymous

Don and Sue Anonymous

Ms. Lorraine Augustyniak

Pauline Balwinski

Mrs. Dorothy J. Barton

Mrs. Edward A. Bartos

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bis

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Bockheim

Ms. Deborah Booms

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Boone

Mr. Thomas E. Bourdon

Ms. Mary Braune

Mr. and Mrs. Roland Breimayer

Mrs. LaVera Adam Brown

Ms. Linda Burpee

Dr. and Mrs. Roger C. Byrd

Mrs. Shelley Catlin

Mrs. Jeannette C. Chermside

Mrs. Emilia Cilwa

Mr. Robert R. Cornett

Dr. Frank C. Cretsinger

Ms. Patricia Davis

Ms. Consuelo Degarza

Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Dosch

Ms. Gladys C. Dreps

Ms. Marilyn L. Dreyer

Mrs. Elaine R. Engelhart

Mr. and Mrs. William Erskine

Ms. Charlene M. Firlik

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Fischels

Mrs. Elizabeth L. Fortin

Mrs. Elsie M. Fortin

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gillis

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gragert

Ms. Mary Gray

Dr. and Mrs. Milton M. Green

Ms. Patricia Griffin

Mrs. Lois M. Hillis

Ms. Colleen Hunt

Ms. Janet James

Mr. Don Jandernoa

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent B. Jankoviak

Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson

Ms. M. Lynne Jungman

Mrs. Sally Leehan Kahle

Mr. Robert A. Keller

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kelly

Sister Patrice Klein, RSM

Ms. Jean Kohnen

Ms. Barbara Kowalski

Mr. Floyd Kuehnl

Mr. and Mrs. Byron O. Kuxhaus

Ms. Anna Lincoln

Mrs. Vicki L. Looker

Ms. Helen Lukas

Mrs. Betty J. Mackay

Sister Mary Patricia Malone, RSM

Ms. Erlene M. Marzec

Ms. Lynn Ann Estate Mattison

Ms. Kathleen McDonald

Ms. Joan Meierotto

Mrs. Lillian Miller

Mrs. Catherine O’Brien

Ms. Martha Anne Patten

Ms. Elaine Pogoncheff

Mr. Norbert J. Pohl

Ms. Mary Alene Poss

Mrs. Polly Price

Mr. Arthur Pszczolkowski

Mr. Vincent Ridge and Ms. Regina Mc Shane

Ms. Linda Lou Riehl

Mrs. Ann Roemer

Dr. Joseph M. Rooney

Reverend Noel T. Rudy

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Schafer

Mr. Joseph Scholten

Ms. Arlene L. Schulenburg

Ms. Martha Schultz

Mr. Thomas M. Senrud

Mrs. Mary L. Serowoky

Mr. William Shay

Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Slubowski

Ms. Birdie M. Stewart

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Talaske

Ms. Julie M. Telang

Mrs. Katie Uzarski

Ms. Agnes C. Van Antwerp

Mr. and Mrs. Fred VanderLaan

Ms. Felicidad Victorio

Mr. J. F. Vitkuske

Ms. Patricia Vogel

Ms. Kelly Vogelheim

Mr. James Watson

Mrs. Olga K. Yaremchuk

Mr. and Mrs. John Yurik

Ms. Mary K. Zarzecki

Mr. Daniel Zimmerman

Sister JoCeal Young, RSM, a member of the Mercy Outreach Surgical Team, travels to Mexico to assist with free surgeries for children with cleft palates, lips and crossed eyes. She is shown here with an indigenous Family in Chiapas.

“I love going to Mexico with the MOST team for two reasons... It is a hands-on work of Mercy, caring for people who have no access to healthcare; and this team is an extraordinary group of

giving, caring people. My Spanish is good enough to be able to speak with the parents, assure them that their children are safe with us and to receive their gratitude when they see the results of our surgery.

Our challenges have increased with border security and increased paper-work requirements by the Mexican government. We even pay for work permits to get into the country! We are supported totally by philanthropy, which pays for equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and some team expenses. Cost per surgery is about $250, which is far below what the same surgery would cost in the US. We are efficient and very careful to use the moneys donated to us very well.”

— Sister JoCeal Young, RSM

Mercy Ministry FundMr. and Mrs. Donald Affeldt

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Aretha

Ms. Mary Barkach

Sister Gilmary Bauer, RSM

Ms. Charlotte M. Betka

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Birkett

Ms. Mary Black

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Bongero

Ms. Lois M. Boomgaard

Mr. and Mrs. Leon Borucki

Sister Mary Kathleen Botsford, RSM

Mrs. Leona Braue

Ms. Madeline Bross

Sister Lois Burroughs, RSM

Ms. Kimberly Cacheris

Mr. James Rembacki

and Ms. Colleen Connolly

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald C. Dreer

Mrs. Dorothy Gereke

Ms. Mary Ann Hallinan

Ms. Mary J. Hammond

Ms. Rita V. Haranda

Ms. Marie Henry

Mr. and Mrs. John Kielian

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Killewald

Ms. Deborah Klein

Sister Patrice Klein, RSM

Mr. Richard Kowalski

Ms. Carol Krempges

Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Krol

Ms. Helen I. Krol

Mr. Tom Lent

Mr. and Mrs. John McCune

Ms. Lucille Morrison

Mrs. Mary Lou Nye

Ms. Sally M. Owen

Ms. Blanche Plamondon

Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Platte

Ms. Elizabeth M. Ripple

Mr. Paul Stebel and Mrs. Marie Schultz-Stebel

Ms. Carolyn A. Shalhoub

St. Andrew Catholic Church

Mrs. Dorothy Thoma

Ms. Caroline Toton

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Trafelet

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Wyatt

Dr. Cynthia Zane and Mr. Stephen Mazurak

Mercy Education Project (MEP)Dr. Faith Mauro-Huse

Mercy High SchoolDixboro United Methodist Church

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Allison

Ms. Kathleen Barron

Ms. Dolores Barron-Rogers

Ms. Michelle Bieber

Mrs. Joanne Campbell

Ms. Mary J. Hammond

Ms. Anne Hill

Sister Nancy Jones, RSM

Irene Katsias

Sister Patrice Klein, RSM

Mr. and Mrs. Dale Lamps

Ms. Eleanor Marker

Dr. Faith Mauro-Huse

Mrs. Barbara S. Milbauer

Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Nienus

Patricia L. Rhule

Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Wasil

Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School for Girls (OLG)

Sister Nancy Jones, RSM

Mrs. Margaret A. Llewellyn

Ms. Elizabeth M. Ripple

Ms. Isabel Savage

Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Seward

Mrs. Nancy Wiernik

Mrs. Ann Dillon

Readiness Center

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Sisters’ Retirement FundArsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Terry P. Aide

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Andrews

Anonymous

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Beachnau

Mr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Beaves, Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Becker

Mr. Robert A. Bedzyk

Mrs. Virginia Bil

Ms. Mary Birkett

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Bladecki

Ms. Josephine Bloom

Ms. Christine Boarts

Mrs. Marian Boerema

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Bollman

Dr. and Mrs. Russell P. Bolton

Mr. and Mrs. John J. Botschka

Mr. and Mrs. John Boyce

Mr. Eugene Breithaupt

Dr. Robert J. Brickner

Mrs. Sheila M. Broderick

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Brooks

Mrs. Gail Brzezinski

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Bulifant

Ms. Karen Burgess

Mr. and Mrs. James G. Burns

Sister Lois Burroughs, RSM

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Bussey

Ms. Anne Butler

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Cafferty

Ms. Helen A. Carey

Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Chalifoux

Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Chamberland

Mr. Richard Cheslek and Ms. Irene Peterson

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Cleary

Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Codd

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Costigan

Ms. Gayle Cranston

Ms. Catherine E. Crocuston

Ms. Margaret L. Curran

Mrs. Patricia A. Curran

Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Czapor

Mrs. M. Susan Delonis

Mr. and Mrs. John DeLuca

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Dembosky

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Deschryver

Mr. and Mrs. Duane Devlin

Ms. Mary Jane Dionese

Mr. and Mrs. William Dittmer

Mr. and Mrs. Roy L. Ducham

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Duranczyk

Ms. Emiline L. Eales

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ehrbar

Ms. Connie Esch

Ms. Marilyn Farrell

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Fiala

Mr. and Mrs. Louis C. Finger

Ms. Alma D. Fitzgibbon

Sister Anne Fleming, RSM

Mrs. Dorothy Foltyn

Ms. Barbara Fox

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Frank

Roderick Frantz

Mrs. Barbara Freybler Leonard

Ms. Rose Mary Geller-Frye

Ms. Frances E. Gleason

Mrs. Paula M. Gottardi

Mrs. Donna R. Grimaudo

Mr. George Guggemos

Mrs. Marjorie E. Hall

Ms. Mary J. Hammond

Mr. Michael G. Hauser

Ms. Anne M. Healy

Mrs. Mary E. Hiaeshutter

Mr. William R. Hoff

Mrs. Agatha Pfeiffer Kalkanis

Ms. Dorothy Kampfschulte

Mrs. Marylal Karbowski

Mr. Robert Kavanaugh

Ms. Mary Ann Keirans

Ms. Mary Klein

Mrs. Cynthia Klein

Mrs. Dorothy Klimek

Mr. and Mrs. Russell Kline

Ms. Jennifer M. Kline

Mrs. Rose C. Kline

Mr. Clarence E. Klotz

Ms. Bernice M. Koza

Mr. and Mrs. Francis W. Kronner

Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Kunkel

Mrs. Betty Ann Lahar

Mrs. Ann M. Lefebvre

Mrs. Marion Leslie

Ms. Sue Liebeck

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Lirette

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Listing

Mrs. Joanne V. Mack Savittieri

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Madigan

Ms. Mary T. Malonis

Mr. and Mrs. John Mantey

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Marcoux

Mrs. Leone Markucki

Ms. Erlene M. Marzec

Mrs. Helen Mastromarco

Ms. D. Jane May

Mr. and Mrs. Duane Maycock

Ms. Kathleen McDonald

Sister Mary McFarland, RSM

Mrs. Ann Dowd McNamara

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Metz

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Miller

Ms. Marcia T. Miller

Mrs. Joyce Mueller

Ms. Luella Myers

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Nitchals

Ms. Patricia A. Nowosad

Mr. August O’Brien

Ms. Christine Osterman

Ms. Ila Parker

Mr. and Mrs. Quentin Parker

Mr. Lawrence J. Petrimoulx

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Pieroni

Mr. Gerald Pins

Mrs. Gladys M. Pirronello

Ms. Dorothy Popovich

Mrs. Mariette Potvin

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Purdy

Ms. Karyn J. Rice

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Sabourin

Mrs. Rosemary Saunders

Mr. Francis R. Schmidt

Ms. Madaline Schmitt

Ms. Jean Shane

Mr. William Shaw and Ms. Susan Przekop-Shaw

Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Simonis

Ms. Karen Smith

Ms. Virginia Spagnuoli

Rose Mary Spagnuoli

Mr. and Mrs. William F. Stapish

Mr. and Mrs. David V. Stark

Ms. Patricia Stebbins

Ms. Rosemary Sullivan

Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Tahy

Ms. Vera Tatusko

Ms. Therese Thelen

Mrs. Delphine M. Thomas

Ms. Dolores Trudo

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Vandruska

Ms. Carole VanEtten

Ms. Sally Vanslambrouck

Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Villerot

Mr. J. F. Vitkuske

Mrs. Phyllis J. Vrooman

Mr. Bruce Wadel

Ms. Constance Weber

Ms. Donna L. Wheeler

Mr. and Mrs. Abbott Wilson

Ms. Mary Winowiecki

Mr. and Mrs. James Wojczynski

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Yurik

Mrs. Sandy Fiero Zajdel

Mr. Arthur Zienert

Ms. Gayle Zompa

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ACS Healthcare SolutionsAdrian Dominican Sisters

Adventure Inn Bed and BreakfastAero Filter, Inc.

Alfoccino’s RestaurantAngelina’s Italian BistroAnne Marilyn Tyler, RSMArchitectural Art Glass

Armando’s Mexican Restaurant and Catering

Artio Global Investors Inc.AWS, Inc.

Barbara MilbauerBatterymarch Financial Manage-

ment, Inc.Battle Creek Health System

Bavarian Belle RiverboatBelle Tire

Benedict Begin, RSMBernadette Mary Frank, RSM

Best BuyBill & Rod’s Appliance, Inc.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganBonnie Tanase-Cairns

Brighton HouseCafé Cortina

Cerner CorporationCharlotte Young, RSM

Charter One BankChase Bank

Cheryl McInerneyCheryl Phillips, RSM

Chris and Judy RossmanCindy Clemence

Colleen’s Gaelic GiftsCommonwealth Energy

Copper Creek Golf Course

Copper Creek TavernCorrigan Record Storage

Crossroads VillageCSB Doors and Hardwood Installation

Cynthia ClemenceDan DwyerDaniel Hale

Deanna ParsiDebra Canales

Deloitte & Touche LLPDelta Dental

Denise Thias, RSMDennis Connolly

Detroit LionsDetroit Salt Company

Detroit TigersDetroit Zoological Society

Diversified Investment AdvisorsDr. Joanne DawleyDr. William LindahlEdwards Service

El Zocalo Mexican RestaurantElaine Hart, RSM

Ellen Marie Foley, RSMFarmington Liquor and Martin Liquor

Foley & Lardner LLPFox Hills

Fr. Vincent Welch Memorial FundFran & Jack Kavanaugh

Frankenmuth Paddlewheel ToursGinger Renkiewicz

Ginopolis’Glasco Corporation

Goldman SachsGus O’Connor’s

Heathers Club of BloomfieldHenry Ford Macomb

Home Instead Senior CareHonigman Miller Schwartz

and Cohn, LLPIndependent Emergency

Physicians PCInvesco Structured Products Group

Investment Property AssociatesIrene Robb

Jan and Paul RobertsonJanet and Victor Maldonado, MD

Jean’s HardwareJeffrey Slocum & Associates, Inc.

Jim RembackiJoan Francis Kaminski, RSM

John & Cheryl McInerneyJoseph & Gene SwedishJoy and Jack Gorzeman

Judith Hestler-ParrJudy and Chris Rossman

Justin AbdelkaderKathy Fischer

Kedrick Adkins, Jr.Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook

Lamplighter Motel, Mackinaw CityLibrary Sports Pub and Grill

Loretta TurczynskiLouis J. Fierens

LuAnn Hannasch, RSMM. Benedict Begin, RSM

Margaret Platte, RSMMaria and Ron SzymanskiMary Carmen Brown, RSMMary Francelyn Miller, RSM

Mary Lourdes Campbell, RSMMary McFarland, RSMMastercraft Coatings

Maureen AltermanMaurita Sengelaub, RSMMercy Education ProjectMercy Hospital CadillacMercy Hospital Grayling

Mercy Medical Center ClintonMercy Medical Center Dubuque

Mercy Medical Center North IowaMercy Medical Center Sioux City

Mercy Primary CareMerrill Lynch

Mexicantown Community Dev. GroupMezza Mediterranean Grille

Michael HolperMichael Slubowski

Monet Aesthetic DentistryMotor City Electric CompanyMr. and Mrs. Harold Portnoy

Mr. and Mrs. Paul ConlonNational Restoration, Inc.

Olive GardenOrin Jewelers

Papa Vino’s Italian KitchenPat and Jim Claffey

Pat LenhartPatriciann Day Spa

Patty FormosaPhillips Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Plante & Moran, PLLCPresent Image

PRP Wine CompanyRenne TherrienRita Ruetz, RSM

Rocky’s Rose Printing

Rosemond Seymour, RSMRosita Schiller, RSM

Ruby TuesdaySaint Mary’s Health Care,

Grand RapidsSam’s Club

Saturn of Clarkston/ Saturn of Southfield

Sheehan’s On The GreenSound Planning

Communications, Inc.St. Joseph Mercy Health System,

Ann ArborSt. Joseph Mercy Oakland

St. Mary Mercy Hospital LivoniaSteak and Ale

Sterling Image Construction, Inc.Steve and Mary Trimmer

Sweet Peas and Little SproutsTamara SpaTaylorMade

Teresa Margaret VanTassel, RSMTerry O’Rourke, MDThe Antigua Group

The Henry FordThe Rotisserie Xperience

The Second CityTheresa Pelky, RSM

Tim Eckles and Julie ConnoyerTina Filoromo

Tmax GearTracy MuscatTrinity Health

Trinity Home Health Services and Mercy Home Care

Trinity Senior Living CommunitiesUniversity of Detroit MercyWatson Wyatt & Company

Wright & Filippis, Inc.Xochimilco

2008 & 2009 Golf Outings Beneficiaries of the 2008 outing were Mercy Education Project and Our Lady of Gudalupe Middle School for Girls

Beneficiaries of the 2009 outing were Mercy Education Project and the Mercy Ministry Fund

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Ways to GiveThere are several ways you can make a gift to the Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Community and realize a charitable tax contribution.

Gifts of CashGifts of cash are best conveyed by check made payable to the Sisters of Mercy. Please mail it in the enclosed envelope after filling in the requested information.

Tribute GiftsTribute gifts offer an opportunity to honor a relative, friend, Sister of Mercy or special occasion. Memorial gifts provide a thoughtful way to express sympathy at the time of death. Please include the name of the honoree or deceased along with your gift and the name of the person to receive an acknowledgement.

Gifts of Appreciated Stock Giving stock may provide great tax advantages depending on the length of time you have held it. You will receive a tax deduction based on the current market value and avoid capital gains on the appreciated amount.

Matching GiftsMany corporations have matching gift programs for their employees and retirees. Ask your Human Resources office if your company will match your gift to the Sisters of Mercy. Your office will provide you with the appropriate forms to send us along with your gift.

Planned or Legacy GiftsPlanned gifts are usually made in the context of the donor’s estate plans. These gifts include charitable bequests, trusts, insurance policies, charitable remainder trusts, and gift annuities. Donors who make such provisions are recognized as members of our legacy society. We encourage you to discuss these options with your attorney, tax professional or accountant.

Vehicle DonationsDonate your Vehicle for Charity By donating your vehicle to Sisters of Mercy, you can:

• Help us maintain and expand our efforts in the community

• Receive the wholesale value of your vehicle as a tax deduction.

• Avoid the possibility of receiving a low trade-in value from a dealer, or the anxiety and hassle of selling to a private party.

If you decide to donate your vehicle:• It will be picked up free of charge.• It will be sold at auction.• Proceeds go to Sisters of Mercy,

West Midwest.• You will receive a receipt entitling

you to a tax deduction.

For your vehicle donation call Donate for Charity toll-free (866) 392-4483.Don’t forget to choose Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest when asked for the name of the charity to benefit from your donation.

On-Line DonationsYou can easily and safely make a one time or recurring donation on our website using your credit card. Visit http://www.mercywestmidwest.org and select Donate from the top menu bar. Questions about donating? Please call your closest Development Office:

Burlingame, Calif: (650) 340-7408

Cedar Rapids, Iowa: (319) 364-5196

Detroit, Mich: (248) 476-8000

Omaha, Neb: (402) 393-8225

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The Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community is one of

six geographical communities that make up the Institute

of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, an international

community of sisters vowed to serve people who suffer from

poverty, sickness, and lack of education, with a special concern

for women and children. The West Midwest Community has sites

in Auburn and Burlingame, Calif., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Chicago,

Ill., Detroit, Mich., and Omaha, Neb., but Sisters respond to the

needs of the time, living and ministering in 28 states and 5 other

countries. In innovative and traditional ways, Sisters of Mercy

address human needs through collaborative efforts in education,

healthcare, housing, spiritual, pastoral and social services. The

Institute of the Sisters of Mercy is comprised of more than 4,000

Sisters and 3,000 Mercy Associates and Companions in Mercy.

The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas sponsor or co-sponsor seven

major national healthcare systems, 20 colleges and universities,

20 elementary and preschools, 39 secondary schools, and hundreds

of affordable housing developments. They also serve in programs

ranging from hospice for persons with HIV/AIDS, to adult literacy

centers and resettlement programs for refugees.

29000 Eleven Mile Rd. • Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Address Service Requested

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PAIDSISTERS OF MERCY OF THE AMERICAS

WEST MIDWESTCOMMUNITY, INC.