Pittsburgh Mercy Health System
McAuley Ministries
History
Our Beginning
The history of McAuley Ministries begins with the Sisters of Mercy, a religious congregation founded in Ireland in 1831 by Catherine McAuley. Having spent most of her life relying on the goodness of others to provide her with food and shelter, Catherine inherited, at the age of forty, approximately $1 million by today’s standards. Instead of using her newfound wealth to care for her own needs, she built a House of Mercy in the midst of one of Dublin’s affluent neighborhoods to respond to the needs of the poor, especially women and children. Her strategy was to make the needs of the less fortunate everyday evident to those who had the resources to help. In order to give permanency to her work, Catherine, at the urging of the local bishop, established the Sisters of Mercy, a religious congregation committed to the service of the economically poor, sick, and uneducated.
Pittsburgh, First Stop in America
In 1843, the Sisters of Mercy brought their caring and compassionate works to Pittsburgh. Mother Frances Warde led six other Sisters to Pittsburgh where they founded the first American congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. The pioneering "Seven Sisters" of Mercy opened the first hospital in Pittsburgh and the first Mercy Hospital in the world on January 1, 1847. Everyone was welcomed regardless of race, nationality, age, gender or religion. Mercy Hospital was also the region's first teaching hospital with resident physicians in training starting in 1848.
A Time of Growth
Mercy Hospital grew rapidly along with Pittsburgh. The Sisters of Mercy and the laypersons who joined their health ministry expanded facilities, added new departments, and established a full-time medical staff and a School of Nursing. In 1983, Mercy expanded to become the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System (PMHS) -- a network of facilities and programs located throughout the Pittsburgh region. Over time, PMHS evolved to also include Mercy Jeannette Hospital, Mercy Behavioral Health, Mercy Senior Care, and several primary and outpatient treatment centers.
Health Industry Restructures
During the 1980's and 1990's many changes occurred in the industry. First, Mercy joined the Eastern Mercy Health System, a system of health care providers sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy from Maine to Florida. Then in 1998, Eastern Mercy Health System joined with the Sisters of Providence Health System and Allegheny Health System to form Catholic Health East, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health care systems.
Catholic Health East is a multi-institutional Catholic health system, co-sponsored by 10 religious congregations, and Hope Ministries, a Public Juridic Person. The System is based in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania with health ministries in 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida. Catholic Health East includes 32 acute care hospitals, 4 long term acute care hospitals, 36 freestanding and hospital-based long term care facilities, 12 assisted living facilities, 5 continuing care retirement communities, 8 behavioral health and rehabilitation facilities, 25 home health/hospice agencies, and numerous ambulatory and community-based health services.
Returning to Our Roots
In 2007, PMHS refocused its mission, transitioned its acute care services to other providers in the region, and returned to its roots of caring for the most vulnerable people in the community. Mercy Hospital merged with the UPMC health system in January 2008, and the proceeds of the transaction resulted in the formation of McAuley Ministries, a public foundation and the grantmaking arm of PMHS.
Today, PMHS provides services to the most at-risk residents of the community—those facing mental illness, addictions, homelessness, abuse, and isolation. In the Catholic tradition of compassion and respect, PMHS ministers to the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.
