by Linda Buchalo
Did you know that Misericordia operates several businesses under the leadership of Steve Achilles, Vice President of Business Operations? Many are long-standing fixtures on campus, while others—like the new composting venture—reflect how the organization is thoughtfully growing its mission through innovation.
Each enterprise expresses the Misericordia mission in action, combining meaningful resident employment with efforts to strengthen Misericordia’s visibility and financial stability.
Misericordia businesses must meet the following qualifications:
The combined businesses provide employment for 70+ residents. Employees can learn new skills in a carefully curated and collaborative setting; many of these opportunities are a springboard for future community employment opportunities.
The following sections summarize each distinct business or subset of a Misericordia business.
Misericordia's third State of the State for Employees took place on Wednesday, October 15. Four separate sessions were offered to ensure employees across all shifts had an opportunity to participate.
The employees heard from Fr. Jack and some of the senior leaders about the projects underway to help employees and the organization work smarter, not harder. A short video honoring Sister Rosemary was shared, as well as a virtual open house for Rosemary Park.
Please click here to access this video presentation. If you have difficulty with the video sound quality, you can turn YouTube Closed Captioning on by clicking on the CC button at the bottom of the video window.
Thanks to all the families who braved the downpour to attend our fall general meeting on Sunday. If you were unable to attend or would like to view it again, a link to the recorded meeting is provided.
Click here to view the video of the meeting!
* Please note that we experienced technical difficulty caused by a faulty cable while recording the audio. While the sound is of good quality, the audio "cuts out" and goes silent randomly. We are sorry for the inconvenience, but the video still provides a good representation of the meeting. You can turn on YouTube Closed Captioning by clicking on the "CC" button below the video
We paid tribute to Sister Rosemary and her legacy: groundbreaking contributions to the provision of care and services to disabled children and adults, and the embodiment of this vision in Misericordia Home. It is up to us to preserve this legacy!
Meeting highlights:
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The Social Service Department would like to provide a quick “Things to Know” document that contains information about your family member’s state funding, including medical benefits, personal needs account, and private bank account (if applicable). It also covers our expectations for our families/guardians. Additionally, please review the Bed Hold policy, your involvement with medical appointments, and the annual staffing process.
Please click here to view the document. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Social Service Coordinator.
We invite you and your family to join us for a Memorial Mass celebrating the children and adults of Misericordia who are now resting in God’s love.
Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 11 am
Misericordia Home
Jean Marie Ryan Center
6300 N Ridge Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660
Please RSVP by October 19 to Fatima Feliciano,
Coffee & bakery will be served after mass, and a brief Alumni meeting will follow in the Jean Marie Ryan Center.
Sunday Brunch & Breakfast is available at the Greenhouse Inn, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm. Reservations, if desired: 773-273-4182.
Parent Portal Tip
If you have not logged into your Parent Portal recently, you may notice some updates to the format when you visit the site. To help familiarize you with these changes, we wanted to share the following instructions:
If you have any questions, please email Jack Mayer at
Donation Information
Please join us for the SIBS Annual Halloween Party! New Time, New Activities, and More Space!
This year, we will be hosting our annual party in the Jean Marie Ryan Center, Courtyard Inn*, and, Trick-or-Treating in the Village. *The Courtyard Inn will be set up to accommodate our residents who desire a quieter/lower sensory experience.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 2:00 – 4:00 PM $5 Per Person | Residents Free
Volunteers & Candy Needed! Drop off candy at Thome. Chocolate and sugar-free options desired!
To volunteer, click here
Questions, please contact Anne Mills
773-273-2730
This is the first in a series of webinar topics that Misericordia will be offering over the next year. We hope you can join us!
Helping Them Heal: Supporting Grieving Adults with Disabilities. A virtual workshop for families helping loved ones navigate loss and life transitions. Tuesday, October 14th at 12 pm
In this workshop, presented by Misericordia’s Counseling Department, you will learn about the types of loss beyond death, common misconceptions about grief in adults with IDD, variations of grief expression, strategies for providing support after loss, and self-care for families.
Submit questions for Q&A by October 8th to
Misericordia was delighted to welcome Cardinal Blase Cupich and the Honorees who supported the expansion of our campus on Saturday, September 12.
The sun came out just in time for the Cardinal to dedicate and bless our 16 new homes at Sister Rosemary Connelly Park, the extension of the fitness center, the Gildo Mazzolin Recreation Center, and the new fully accessible 18-hole Misericordia Miniature Golf Course.
The blessing was followed by mass with a special recognition for the honorees and lunch. Thank you to everyone who helped make Dedication Day a beautiful day for the residents, staff, and honorees.
Click here to watch Cardinal Cupich's Homily.
For the Sunday brunches, we rely on an online SignupGenius and can have new people come through each week. The one spot that needs consistent volunteers is in the cashier role, as they keep all of the bills and orders organized. We have a rotating roster of volunteer cashiers, and many people sign up to work once every 4-5 weeks.
If you're interested in helping on Sundays in the Greenhouse Inn as a cashier, please email Paul Schwartz at
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