by Linda Buchalo
Every day, we see Misericordia staff in action as they care for and work with our family members. It’s awe-inspiring to see how smoothly the process runs, given that many of the residents need a lot of supervision and may have difficulty following directions. Yet, day after day, life goes relatively smoothly for over 600 residents, both on and off campus. We can thank the amazing planning capabilities of Misericordia administrators and staff for this minor miracle.
What happens when an unexpected event causes a glitch in the daily routine? Think about situations that you have experienced in your own life—medical emergencies, severe weather conditions, hazardous spills that require evacuation, and so on. Imagine having to deal with situations like these for 600+ residents and 1600+ staff.
by Barb Quaintance and Julie O'Sullivan
Most Misericordia families have a favorite Misericordia event: the MFA Benefit, Family Fest, Candy Days, and the Women’s Ball. My favorite is the Artist in All. It’s a spectacular event, and the residents are the stars of the show.
I wanted to learn more about the history of the Artist in All (AIA) and what it takes to pull off this memorable evening, so I talked to Julie O’Sullivan, Director of Events and Public Relations for the Misericordia Foundation. Julie is instrumental in making AIA the success it is, and she has a lot to share.
The MFA Board called for nominations for MFA Board member positions, which are ending July 31, 2026. The nominations were received and considered by the Nominations Committee, which met on March 11, 2026. The Nominations Committee endorsed the following slate of candidates for the open Board positions. This slate will be voted on by the entire membership at the April 12th General Meeting.
Slate of Candidates for MFA Board Positions - Term of service: 8/1/26 - 7/31/28
Note: Lisa and Barry Cruse were elected last year as Chairs-Elect and will become MFA Chairs on 8/1/26.
by Barb Quaintance
Siblings have lifelong relationships that can bring great joy. But there are also challenges in any relationship, including relationships with our special family members. The Misericordia SIBS organization celebrates those sibling relationships. Its members are actively engaged in the lives of their brothers and sisters and in the broader Misericordia community.
The SIBS organization has four core elements:
Beautifying and Expanding the Misericordia Campus: The Notre Dame Study
by Barb Quaintance
If you ask, they might just say yes.
When Father Jack and Sister Rosemary went to Notre Dame for Sister Rosemary to accept the 2023 Laetare Medal, they were joined by Matt and Joyce Walsh. The Walshes had not only funded an architecture school at Notre Dame, but they also have a niece who resides at Misericordia. Knowing this, Father Jack and Sister Rosemary asked the Notre Dame architecture department if they would conduct a study of the Misericordia campus, recommending improvements and enhancements. And Notre Dame said, "Yes"!
The Dean of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture came to Misericordia to explore possibilities. He was immediately impressed by the campus and assigned a team of architects to work on the study. The scope of the study was the physical plant, not services or current residences. Their focus was on using the campus most efficiently and building/modifying structures to meet Misericordia’s evolving needs.
Support Misericordia at the register throughout the month of March at all 188 Jewel-Osco locations! Help keep #MisericordiaStrong! Don't forget the register says: "Would you like to donate to Support People with Disabilities? All proceeds go to the Misericordia."
Misericordia has partnered with Camp Courageous to offer a camp experience exclusively for our residents from July 26–31, 2026. Camp Courageous is located about 3.5 hours away in Monticello, Iowa. Misericordia will be arranging transportation for our campers.
Misericordia needs to gauge the level of interest, so if you think you might be interested and would like to learn more about Camp Courageous, click here to sign up for an Information Session by March 13th.
by Barb Quaintance
They say that aging is not for the faint of heart. We all hope to age with grace and dignity, surrounded by people who will support and love us throughout the aging process.
Misericordia has an aging population. Geana Connelly saw that many residents were facing the challenges of aging. She also heard from families who had questions about what to expect as their family member aged. Aging is not a chronological number, but rather, a biological process. Would it happen sooner than it would for the general population? What are the signs? What might the trajectory be? What can a family do to support an aging family member?
Because Misericordia is so attuned to the residents and their families, Geana decided to host a webinar series addressing aging issues. Coordinated by Sarah Peters, this three-session series addresses various components of the aging process:
ATTENTION ALL MFA FAMILIES! (March 6th Deadline)
The MFA Board is beginning the process of creating a slate of candidates to serve on the board with terms running from 08/01/2026 to 07/31/2028. This slate will be presented to the membership for a vote at the upcoming MFA General Meeting scheduled for April 12, 2026.
Current Board Status and Opportunities for New Members
We currently have an engaging board which has been serving you well, and most of the board members whose terms will be expiring on 07/31/2026 have expressed interest in continuing their roles. This continuity is excellent for maintaining a smoothly running organization. However, we want to emphasize that the board is open to all and not a closed club.
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