Mission

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is a Catholic organization answering the Gospel call by ministering to children and families in need.

Mercy Home:

• Savesyounglivesbyprovidingasafeenvironment,anurturinghome, andopportunityforanexcellenteducationandmeansforpersonalgrowth • Supportshealingforfamilies • Iscommittedtoraisingpublicawarenessofyouthinneedandencourages supporttohelpthem • IssustainedbybenefactorswhobelieveinthemiracleofGod’smercyinaction.

Founding

Between1880and1890,Chicago’spopulationmorethandoubled.Absorbingthisinfluxprovedimpossible.Iftheyfoundjobsatall,newimmigrantsworkedformeagerpayinsubstandardconditionsandlivedinslums.

ArchbishopPatrickFeehan,aTipperarynative,hadarrivedinChicagobywayofNashvillein1880.Bythemiddleofthedecadehewasalarmedathowthecity’sstreetsteemedwithhomelessboys.In1886heconvenedameetingofpriests.There,theRev.DennisMahoneyputforthaplanforaworkingboyshomethatFeehanquicklyendorsed. HeassignedRev.LouisCampbelltorunit.

In1887,Fr.CampbellsetupshopinroomsonLaSalleSt.aboveaCatholiclibraryintheshadowsoftheBoardofTradeBuilding.Laterthatyear,Campbell’sendeavorwasincorporatedastheMissionofOurLadyofMercy,intended“tocareforthespiritualandtemporalwelfareofhomelessandfriendlessworkingboysandwaifs.”

WhenFr.Campbellfellillin1889,Fr.DennisMahoneytookcharge.Hescrapedtogetheramodestdownpaymentandpurchasedaprivateresidencefortheboysatwhatisnow1140W.JacksonBoulevard,MercyHome’sheadquarterseversince.

A Solution for Kids in Crisis Since 1887Mercy Home for Boys & Girls

Formoreinformationvisitusatwww.mercyhome.org

1140W.JacksonBlvd,Chicago,IL60607312.738.7560

Leadership

Fr.Mahoneygavewayin1906toRev.CentennialJ.Quille,whosetaboutrebuildingtheHome.AroundWorldWarI heintroducedatrade-schoolaspectmeanttoteachtheboysjobskills.Theylearnedbricklaying,carpentry,painting,automechanics,shorthandandtyping,andcandlemaking.SomelearnedprintingonequipmentQuillehadacquiredtoaidthemission’swork.TheMissionPresstothisdayflourishes,servingMercyHomeandprivatebusinessesalike.

In1934,amidsttheGreatDepression,Fr.EdwardKellyarrived.Fr.KellybroughttheCYOanditssportsprogramstotheHome’sgymnasiumandbasement,whereaboxingringwasinstalled.DuringFr.Kelly’s39yearsaspresidentofMercyHome,hewasdubbed“theapostleforboys” bytheChicagoDailyNews.

Rev.JamesJ.ClosereplacedFr.Kellyin1973.“Fr.Jim”establishedamodelofcarethatcreatesatherapeutic-milieucommunitytohelpyouthpermanentlycorrectemotional,behavioral,andcognitivebarrierstohealthylifedevelopment.Closewasanimaginativeandtirelessfundraiser.Heupgradedplantandequipment,recruitedatop-notchprofessionalstaff,andinstitutedaprogramofaftercareforformerresidents,alongwithprogramsforyoungerchildren.ClosealsolaunchedamentoringprogramforyoungpeoplelivingintheGreaterChicagoareaknownasFriendsFirst,andestablishedagirlshomein1987intheformerWalgreenmansioninthesouthwestsideBeverlyneighborhood.

InAugust2003,Fr.CloseandRev.L.ScottDonahue,whowasthenMercyHome’sassociatepresident,dramaticallyexpandedtheservicesavailabletohurtingyouthby

openingtheReverendJamesJ.CloseHome.Theeightnew home settings enabled Mercy Home to accommodate moreyouththanatanytimeintheinstitution’shistory.

MercyHomealsopurchasedaresidentialbuildingonthesoutheastcornerofitswestsideblocktohouseanexpandedaftercareprogramandtransitionalresidencetohelpformerMercyHomeyouthsucceedafterleavingprogram.Inaddition,thefamilyofMargeandArtTichenerdonatedTheChristtheHealerChapel,whichopenedonOctober14,2005andrepresentedthecapstonetothemulti-yearexpansionofMercyHome’sWilliamE. &MaryGannonHayBoys’Campus.

Today,Fr.DonahueservesasMercyHome’s8thpresident.ACatholicpriestoftheChicagoArchdiocese,Fr.DonahueservedfortenyearsasMercyHome’sassociatepresident,duringwhichtimeheinstitutedtheMercyWorksfaith-basedvolunteerprogramofMercyHome.

Aspresident,Fr.Donahuecontinuestoleadthe Home’sstrategicvisiontoenhancethedepthofservicesweprovidetochildreninlightofourrecentexpansion. Aspartofthisvision,Fr.Donahueinstitutedthe Academy,andre-structuredtheservicesweprovide foryoungpeopletoenhanceeducationaland vocationalachievement.

Fr.DonahuehasalsooverseenthedramaticexpansionoftheAfterCareprogram,whichofferslife-longconnectiontoMercyHomeforformerresidents,andhasworkedtostrengthenouryoungpeople’sfaithfoundationstohelpguidethemthroughouttheirlives.Hecarefullystewardsthetrustandsupportofdonorsacrossthecountry.