Families,
As Scott Thompson mentioned during the MFA meeting, the campus is currently facing challenges with our phone system. Some areas are more affected than others. We currently have the new phones in our possession and the next step is to install them in the areas that are most affected.
This is a large project with many buildings and phones to upgrade so we will be implementing this new system in phases.
Phase 1 has started now and will be rolling out new desk phones in the next few weeks. They are starting with McAuley and the business office and then on to Quinlan and Mercy Glen. As we work through phase 1, we are gathering the information for other buildings on campus that will be part of the next phases.
Another part of Phase 1 is to repair McAuley's overhead paging system which is currently not working. Equipment has been ordered to restore this service.
Thank you for your patience with this process. We will inform you of any updates as they occur. Please continue to call 773-973-6300 to reach the person you would need to talk to.
Mary Pat O'Brien
Assistant Executive Director
At the October MFA General Meeting, Scott Thompson presented on technology updates at Misericordia and AWARDS, a new system to track and manage resident care at Misericordia.
Click here to view the Misericordia Technology Update Presentation
October 22, 2021
To the MFA,
What follows are the responses provided by Misericordia's Administration to the questions that were posed during last Sunday's MFA membership meeting.
If you wish to view last Sunday's meeting again, you can view the YouTube recording here: MFA October 17th Membership meeting.
Pam & Jim Capraro
MFA Chairs
Misericordia Administrator responses to MFA Member Questions:
Congratulations and a big thanks to Misericordia parent Bonnie Romniak for dontating her winnings on the Wheel of Fortune to Misericordia!
Click below to read the great article about Bonnie's adventure on the Wheel of Fortune and to view a portion of the show starring Bonnie's apperance.
Click here to read the article in the Daily Herald
Click here to view a portion of Bonnie on the Wheel of Fortune
Pam and Jim Capraro
Misericordia Family Association Members,
We hope this finds you and your families well. As we mentioned at our most recent board meeting, it is both an honor and a privilege to serve as your MFA chairs. We stand on the shoulders of the many capable leaders who have gone before us, most recently, Laurie and Bill McCarthy, who ushered us into the world of video communication as the pandemic upset our normal way of operating.
It is almost hard to believe we are beginning our third year of virtual meetings. Certainly, the pandemic has changed how we have done almost everything in our day to day lives. Fortunately, one thing that has not changed, is the excellent care provided to our family members by the staff at Misericordia. They are hardworking, unfailing and creative in their efforts to provide a safe and nurturing environment for those we hold so dear.
by Linda Buchalo
The newest wing to the main building at Misericordia started as an idea to build a large chapel that would accommodate more people for weekend Mass. After conversations with Cardinal George, it was decided that building a multi-purpose center was the most fiscally responsible and best solution. Thus, the Jean Marie Ryan Community Center was born. The construction of the JMR Center answered the need to have liturgical celebrations for large groups as well as hold all members of the Misericordia Family Association (MFA) for quarterly meetings.
Dedicated in 2008, the center was funded primarily by Bill and Mary Ryan, parents of Jean Marie Ryan, who lived a part of her short life at Misericordia’s south campus. The Ryan family remains active at Misericordia today. Jean Marie’s sisters are involved with both Women’s Golf and the Women’s League. Other family members remain faithful donors and friends.
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
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