Mission and History

The Vice President for Mission Integration complements the President in promoting Misericordia's Catholic and Mercy identity in University culture, policies, and practices. The Vice President for Mission Integration assists the President by promoting and supporting the University's planning process and the development of policies and programs to ensure that they are consistent with the mission of the University. The Vice President for Mission Integration provides leadership, oversight and stewardship for all aspects of Campus Ministry, the Ruth Matthews Bourger Women With Children Program, and the University Initiative for Compassionate and Mindful Living.
Misericordia University, a Catholic liberal arts institution established in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, fosters intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and respect for persons in an environment where all are welcome.
Values Statement
As a community, we are committed to integrity and the values of the Sisters of Mercy as the foundation of university life. Our values are:
Mercy through: | Service through: | |
Compassion | Selflessness | |
Love | Sacrifice | |
Caring | Action | |
Justice through: | Hospitality with: | |
Fairness | Dignity | |
Acceptance | Respect | |
Advocacy | Openness |
The Conference for Mercy Higher Education unveiled the hashtag Make Mercy Real rollout for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The institute encouraged the participation of colleges and universities in this year long effort. Misericordia University utilized #MakeMercyReal throughout 2016 through its social media and compiled a Storify feed of the various posts.
The first Sisters of Mercy arrived in the United States from Ireland in 1843 at the invitation of the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their energy in ministering to the sick and economically poor attracted so many new members that by 1854, Sisters had come from Ireland to settle in New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Little Rock, Arkansas; and San Francisco, California. The sisters spread across the country and establishing schools and hospitals. Since then, the works of Mercy have expanded to embrace education, health care, pastoral, and social services in hundreds of sites today.

History of Misericordia University
The Religious Sisters of Mercy were founded in Dublin in 1831. The Sisters vowed to be of service to the impoverished, sick and uneducated. The Sisters of Mercy came to the Wyoming Valley area of Pennsylvania in 1875, continuing their mission of praying, teaching and caring for the sick. The Sisters quickly established a school for children and soon after, a night school for adults in the established coal mining region. Having secured a strong foundation of Catholic education, the order recognized that a great need was still waiting to be met.
The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Responding to a call to serve the needy of our time. Inspired by the life of Jesus and by our founder Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy envision a just world for people who are poor, sick and uneducated. The Sisters of Mercy are women of faith who commit our lives to God and our resources to serve, advocate and pray for those in need around the world.
Click here to visit The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas website.
Sisters of Mercy Critical Concerns
The Sisters of Mercy were founded out of a deep concern for persons who are poor. Today, that focus is in five “critical concerns" that we address through prayer, attention to personal, communal and institutional choices; education; advocacy with legislatures and other government leaders; and corporate engagement.
Click here to access a .pdf document highlighting the Sisters of Mercy Critical Concerns.
Mercy International Centre