September 29, 2021
Dear Families,
This is an update on the “state of the state” here at Misericordia. Overall we are doing well in terms of Covid. We have had very few breakthrough cases which is a blessing. We are possibly half way to “normal” in returning to work programs and recreation programs. Some cohorts are starting to expand although we continue to be very cautious. Home visits seem to be going well and we have not had any issues. Outdoor outings are continuing to take place and they are loving the fall weather.
As of today our staff vaccination rate is 93.6%. Our vaccination mandate goes into effect 10/4/21. We have several staff who have requested an exemption and they are currently being reviewed by an external panel. Unvaccinated staff will need to make their own decision soon. We do hope and pray that these staff will get vaccinated and continue the journey with us.
by Judy Wall
First, a look back. In 2010 Misericordia created a document called “Community of Believers”; a term coined by Sister Rosemary. It listed 4 core values that underpinned the spirit, heart and mission of Misericordia. These 4 core values, QUALITY OF LIFE, CONNECTION, RESPONSIBILITY, and SPIRITUALITY put language to the culture, behavior, and attitudes of Misericordia.
Each of the 4 values had individual behaviors of the culture for FAMILIES, RESIDENTS and STAFF, who together make up the Community of Believers that is Misericordia. The header of the 2010 CoB document read:
by Linda Buchalo
Did you know that the Chicago Bulls once held their practices on the very site now occupied by the Moore Aquatic and Fitness Center? At the time, this site was home to a large gymnasium and smaller swimming pool. You may have heard the gym at Conway referred to as the “small gym”—that’s because it was the smaller of the two gyms on campus, although now the Conway gym is the only gym on campus. In 1989, the large gymnasium and pool were razed, and the current center was built.
Moore Aquatic and Fitness Center was designed with a walk-in pool that transitions to a depth of 3 feet, 9 inches, making it safer and more accessible for the residents. Although not as deep as the original pool, the new pool is much larger, and the site of the original pool is now the fitness room. The Center is open 7 days a week, including several evenings, and offers a wide variety of programs and services.
What a journey we’ve been on together these past two years. When we started as your MFA chairs in 2019, many of us had never taken part in a virtual meeting or been physically apart from our Misericordia family member for any length of time. Now, it’s a different world.
And yet, what was true then is still true now. Our MFA families are persevering, generous, and flexible. We want to thank each of you for your amazing collaboration and creativity during these unprecedented times! It was clear that MFA families kept support of Misericordia as a high priority – whether it was making masks, delivering meals to residences, fundraising, or doing whatever was needed. Thank you! We literally couldn’t have done it without you.
We are happy to welcome our friends, Jim and Pam Capraro, as the new MFA chairs who started in August. Jim and Pam are long-time members of the MFA Board. We are confident that their considerable leadership, skills and vision will take us forward in exciting ways. We look forward to working with them.
We hope to see everyone in person sooner rather than later!
Thank you,
Laurie & Bill McCarthy
Past MFA Chairs
July 2021
Dear Friend,
On behalf of Sister Rosemary and the entire Misericordia family, we pray that you and your families continue to be safe and well. Normally at this time of year we would be writing to invite you to our annual Misericordia Family Fest. But like 2020, 2021 is very different as we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 restrictions and yet continue to ensure the health and safety of our residents and staff.
In the interest of keeping our entire Misericordia family safe, we have made the difficult decision of postponing this year’s in-person Family Fest once again. However, we still need your support to help Keep Misericordia Strong! In keeping with the traditions set by our dear friend Pauline Greco, the “Queen of Raffles,” over 40 years ago, we invite you to take part once again in our annual Cash and Car Raffle that is now part of our Keep Misericordia Strong Campaign.
We will be offering 3,000 Cash Raffle tickets for $100 each and a chance for 25 individuals to win cash prizes with the grand prize being $50,000! Car raffle tickets will be available for $50 each or 3 for $100 for the opportunity to win a 2021 Kia Forte, generously donated by Andy Francis of Evergreen Kia! The winners will be drawn on September 15, 2021, during a virtual drawing. When we receive your order, we will email you your ticket number(s) upon request. If you would like a copy of your ticket, email
This year marks the 100th Anniversary of Misericordia. Since the 1950s, Misericordia has been dedicated to helping persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are most grateful for your past support and truly rely on you as we begin our next century. We look forward to the time when we can gather together in celebration of Misericordia’s annual Family Fest here on our campus. Thank you most sincerely for your continuous belief in our mission. We are blessed to call you friends and wish each of you good health, happiness and hope for the future.
With grateful hearts,
Lois Gates, Assistant Executive Director
The Greco Family and Friends Committee
July 9, 2021
Dear Friends,
I hope you had a relaxing 4th of July holiday weekend. I am writing to let you know that on Sunday, July 4, The New York Times featured a powerful Guest Essay article from our good friend and fellow MFA parent David Axelrod. If you haven't read it yet, please take the time to do so. I am sharing it in this email as an attachment. We are so grateful to David and Susan for taking the time to share their (and their beautiful daughter Lauren's) story with The New York Times readership and grateful, too, to The New York Times for publishing it. I know that David and Susan have heard from numerous legislators and countless readers who thanked them for sharing this very personal story, and the entire Misericordia community is so grateful, too.
by Linda Buchalo
In 1993, Elizabeth Messer started a horticulture program at Holbrook Center. A year later, Misericordia began construction on an actual greenhouse. The Greco Gardens greenhouse and surrounding gardens opened in 1995 and were dedicated to Pauline Greco in honor of her family's long-standing support.
Located on the southwest side of Conway, Greco Gardens includes the greenhouse, an office, utility rooms, and restrooms. The greenhouse itself has a heated floor, polycarbonate roof, and a special weather system that can be set to electronically control the climate within the greenhouse. The system opens vents in the ceilings and walls and has a cooling wall that is drawn through the greenhouse by huge fans on the roof. A third of the greenhouse is dedicated to hydroponics, a third to special botanical tables for plants and projects, and a third to worktables for the residents.
by Rob Figliulo
Great Turnout! Great Success!
On Monday, June 14, almost 700 golfers played in the Annual Misericordia Bums Golf Outing! That’s close to the record number of players in the outing’s 47-year history. It took four private golf clubs to accommodate so many players. Olympia Fields Country Club has two full 18-hole courses (North and South) and is home to many tournaments on the professional golf tour, including the U.S. Open and LPGA. We always use Olympia Fields as our home base where everyone comes together for dinner, a small gathering of about 700. Two other private clubs were used for golf, Flossmoor CC and Edgewood Valley CC.
During cocktails and dinner, we had raffles, silent auctions and a live auction with spectacular golf trips and sporting events including front row baseball, hockey and Super Bowl tickets. All in all, we raised over $700,000 for Misericordia!
July 4, 2021
OPINION from the New York Times
By David Axelrod
Mr. Axelrod was the senior strategist for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. His daughter Lauren lives in Misericordia on Chicago’s North Side.
My daughter, Lauren, turned 40 last month. She is happy and healthy. And that is nothing short of a miracle.
From the moment my wife, Susan, found Lauren blue and limp in her crib at the age of 7 months — the consequence, we later would learn, of epileptic seizures she suffered in the night — Lauren’s life has been a struggle.
These brutal seizures would continue, poorly controlled, for the next 19 years, roiling her developing brain and necessitating an ever-shifting regimen of medications with punishing side-effects, of surgeries and hospitalizations. More than once, we feared we would lose her.
by Linda Buchalo
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