By Sr. Paulanne Diebold, R.S.M.

All are invited to join the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the sisters in Louisville in October of 1869. The celebration will begin with a liturgy at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, September 29 at Good Shepherd Church in Louisville, followed by a reception.

The history of the Sisters of Mercy in the Archdiocese of Louisville began October 2, 1869, when, at the suggestion of Bishop William George McCloskey, Sisters of Mercy from St. Louis arrived in the Portland area of Louisville to take over the operation of the U.S. Marine Hospital. The nursing skills of women religious had become legendary during the Civil War, so it was natural to seek a community of sisters to run the hospital. Under a five-year contract with the federal government, the sisters operated every aspect of the hospital, including direct care for those wounded in the Civil War and in the building of the Portland Canal, as well as lifetime boatmen who were sick or aged.

From the beginning, the sisters also held Sunday school for children and for adults seeking instruction in the Catholic faith. In addition, on Saturdays, they offered sewing and needlework classes for girls. The sisters also started visitation in the area to comfort and assist the poor, sick and elderly. Within a year, they had begun to offer education to hospital patients and other adults in the area. Since hospitals did not pay much in those days, the sisters bought a cow and put in a garden to feed themselves and reduce expenses.

Young women interested in religious life began to arrive, and soon it was necessary to find a building to house the novitiate. As they say, the rest is history. Following their work at the hospital, the sisters were invited to staff a few parish elementary schools in the Archdiocese and opened Mercy Academy in 1885. It grew rapidly and in 1901, the sisters opened a new Academy building at 1176 East Broadway, where it operated for 106 years before moving to Fegenbush Lane.

At the request of women who requested a home for the aged, Bishop McCloskey invited the Sisters of Mercy to take up this mission, and in 1892 founded Sacred Heart Home. It was originally on Payne Street, but the bishop directed that it be moved into the city. Later it returned to Payne Street. It was sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy until 2016, when it was sold to Nazareth Home and renamed Nazareth Home Clifton.

The Catholic Women’s Club approached the Sisters of Mercy to take over their mission of providing a residence for working women, so in 1914 the name was changed to the Visitation Home for Working Girls. A community of sisters lived there and in the early years were responsible for organizing social activities for the residents. Fortunately, the Auxiliary planned and implemented the programs. During World War I, many women came in droves to do the men’s jobs and “The Viz,” as the home was called, flourished. Later, it was renamed McAuley Residence for Business Girls. In the 1970s and ‘80s, as the economy became stable and women could afford apartments, the occupancy rate declined to the point where a study was undertaken to determine the viability of the building for future use, resulting in its sale in 1988.

With a great leap of faith, and at the wishes of Archbishop John Floersh, the sisters founded Assumption High School in 1955. It took years of fund-raising spring and fall carnivals to pay off the debt. Referring to those years, Sister Mary Prisca Pfeffer used to say, it was “Struggle, struggle, struggle!”

Today, both Mercy Academy and Assumption High School continue to provide a top-quality Catholic education and innovative curriculum responsive to real life, with a focus on empowering young women to become strong, confident, capable leaders.

In addition to staffing 25 schools during their years in the Archdiocese, the sisters branched into other areas of service, including jail ministry, CCD at Fort Knox, the Cerebral Palsy School and Mattingly Center, peace and justice ministry, Day Spring, Bridgehaven, area community ministries, Catholic Charities, Mercy Montessori, Lake St. Joseph Retreat Center, parish ministry, archdiocesan agencies and many others. The Louisville sisters also ministered in schools in Paducah and Hickman, Kentucky, and Columbus, Ohio, and at hospitals in Morganfield, Owensboro, Paducah and Irvine, Kentucky.

Over the years, Mercy’s ministries have evolved to meet the changing needs of the times. Many Sisters of Mercy have dedicated their lives to the well-being of those they served during their 150 years in the Louisville area. The sisters currently ministering there stand on the shoulders of these women and give thanks to God for their faithful service. Five Sisters of Mercy currently are missioned in Louisville and engage primarily in volunteer or part-time service.

Those interested in attending the Mass and reception should RSVP by September 20. Call 502-493-3750.