The Culture of Misericordia: A Community of Believers 
by Linda Buchalo
As part of the Misericordia community, we know that groups from all over the country look to Misericordia as the model for caring for people with disabilities. In fact, some families have relocated to the Chicago area for the express purpose of having their children reside at Misericordia Home. What makes this place so special?
At its very core, the culture of Misericordia is driven by five specific values, which are exemplified by residents, staff, families, and the organization itself. These values, collectively known as A Community of Believers, make Misericordia the community that it is—a group of individuals connected by common beliefs and values.
This article is the first in a series and covers the concept of our Misericordia Community of Believers with a summary of our core values. Subsequent articles will provide in-depth coverage of each of the core values.
I asked my son Andy, a resident at Shannon Apartments, to help me come up with examples of how we exhibit these values. He provided lots of great ideas and thus deserves part of the credit for this article and those that follow. You’ll read more about these examples in the articles that examine each core value.
I consulted the Webster dictionary to break down the meaning of Community of Believers. Webster notes believer as the noun form of the verb to believe. Webster Includes the following definitions for believe:
- To have a firm or wholehearted religious conviction or persuasion
- To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something
And Webster includes these definitions for community:
- A unified body of individuals
- A group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society
These definitions aptly describe the Misericordia Community of Believers. We are a group of people bound by our faith commitment to provide a worthwhile life for some of God’s most vulnerable children. As God’s children, we extend our love and care to embrace those who are most in need. We believe in the mission of Misericordia, and further, we believe in those who call Misericordia home. We recognize the strength, goodness, and love that abounds in the residents. We know their disabilities, but we also recognize their abilities, their resilience, their happiness, and we benefit by the joy they bring to us and to those around them.
The original Community of Believers document was drafted in 2010. The term was coined by Sister Rosemary and the document was based on four core values. Recently, a fifth core value was added - Diversity and Inclusion. That original document began with the following paragraph:
“We are a Community of Believers bound together by our commitment to God, to one another, and to our mission. We provide a life, and a life worth living, to God’s most vulnerable people. We are a diverse group of residents, families, staff, volunteers, contributors, and friends. Our Community of Believers is a blessing to us all, and we celebrate this life we share. This life is characterized by [five] values.”
Misericordia is a community that exists within the greater community, embracing the members of the Mis community but reaching out to those in the surrounding area. We invite others into our Mis community, and we participate in activities outside of the campus. As members of the Misericordia community, we share the life-long challenge of caring for individuals with special needs and providing them with the best care possible. For those who suggest that community living is not the right approach, it is the strength of our community that helps and encourages us to reach beyond the borders of the campus.
In a situation that can sometimes feel overwhelming, the core values of Misericordia provide the framework that guides us through the task of nurturing and caring for these most special of God’s children. These values provide our residents with a lifestyle that is desired by many, but often denied to those with special needs. The core values emphasize our belief that the residents of Misericordia deserve a life that is worth living.
In future articles, we’ll cover the ways in which residents, staff, and families exhibit and live by the following five core values:
- Quality of Life—one way that Misericordia stands out from similar residences is the quality of its lifestyle for residents and their families. All too often, people with disabilities lead a sheltered, simple life, but the residents at Misericordia live life to the fullest. With each passing year, I receive more and more literature about senior living communities. Each time I read these, I am reminded of Misericordia: a great place to live, a beautiful setting, meals provided, a swimming pool and fitness center, community outings, with transportation provided.
- Connection—the Misericordia community connects with each other and with the greater community. Within the campus, activities bring together the residents from many different living areas, each area its own family and part of the greater Misericordia family. Some residents live in community-based housing and return to campus for vocational services, social events, and other activities. Based on their level of independence, residents travel into the community for work, shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Families and other community members come onto the campus to visit, volunteer, dine at the Greenhouse Inn, and enjoy various activities. Several major fundraisers draw large crowds to the campus, for example, Family Fest and the Holiday brunches. And Misericordia families are dedicated to spreading the good news of Misericordia. Our yearly Candy Days collection is another way that people connect to and support Misericordia.
- Diversity/Inclusion—our campus and population reflect the diversity of the greater community. Misericordia is a stronger community because of its members who come from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds. In fact, seeing the way that people of all cultures get along within the Misericordia family would be a great lesson to many parts of our world today. We share traditions and customs and our acceptance of one another makes us a better and stronger community. Aside from cultural, racial, religious, and ethnic differences, we embrace those who are more vulnerable, and we recognize their strengths and the positive energy that they bring to all that they do.
- Responsibility—every member of the Misericordia community bears an awesome responsibility to live up to the mission of Misericordia. We each recognize our obligations from a moral and financial standpoint. And at the most basic level, we know that we must do all that we can to maintain this great place, whether that be volunteering, fundraising, or pitching in however we can. Residents are taught to respect and care for their surroundings and families are asked to ensure that Misericordia will be able to continue its great mission. And from within the organization itself, leadership is constantly making changes to keep up with the latest in caring for our family members.
- Spirituality—although under the auspices of the Chicago Archdiocese, Misericordia welcomes and supports members of all faith communities. This core value extends beyond one’s religion to include kindness in all that we do and ensuring that all who live and work at Misericordia are treated with dignity and respect. Friends have often commented that everywhere you go on campus, people are so friendly. And what a wonderful gift to our family member to have found a place where they are recognized and acknowledged. People with disabilities so often go unnoticed, but at Misericordia, they are the stars, God’s precious gift to all of us. How wonderful it is to travel across campus with your child and hear him or her greeted by name everywhere you stop! God’s love truly shines down on this place.
Stay tuned for more detailed information about how residents, staff, families, and the Misericordia organization promote and live by these core values.
Send yours to
