Co-Founders Honored by Sisters of Mercy

News:
Sister Pat Griffith, Executive Director of Mercy Haven and Sister Kathy Nolan, Co-founder, were honored on Tuesday, May 19 by the Sisters of Mercy for their “lives and work that give witness to the mission and values of the Sisters of Mercy.” This honor was bestowed at the annual Evening of Mercy fundraiser for the Mid-Atlantic Community of the Sisters of Mercy, which was held at the Yale Club in Manhattan.

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“This is a great honor for both of us,” said Sister Pat, “especially in light of this year’s 30th Anniversary celebration of Mercy Haven.” In 1985, Sisters’ Pat and Kathy, along with a group of concerned citizens in Bay Shore responded to the need for safe, clean, dignified housing for those who had been released from psychiatric hospitals with little or no support in the community. “We didn’t plan to start an agency,” shared Sister Kathy, “we were merely responding to an invitation to help those in need.”

“Our Evening of Mercy is a celebration of those who express the mission of Mercy in both their personal and professional lives,” said Sister Pat Vetrano, RSM, President of the Mid-Atlantic Community. “All of our honorees envision a just world for people who are poor, sick or in need of services.” The evening’s other honorees included Attorney Richard Warren, who specializes in child welfare law, adoption and non-profit corporate law and Jay Sullivan who is an author, attorney and consultant whose book Raising Gentle Men recounts his days working with the Sisters of Mercy at an orphanage in Jamaica.

During their comments as they accepted their awards, Sister Pat and Sister Kathy recounted the early days of Mercy Haven and shared with the audience the growth of the agency during its 30 years. “In the early days, we asked the Sisters of Mercy Leadership Team to ‘lend us’ $1,000,000 and presented a plan on how that would be paid back…the Sisters didn’t laugh at us, despite our lack of experience, but instead gave $10,000 in seed money and a commitment to support one of us for 3 years,” said Sister Pat. “There were a few others in the community who supported us as well, including a man made homeless by the Town’s closure of his home. He regularly sent us letters encouraging us to continue along with a dollar or two to help.” Sister Pat went on to share that the opposition they faced from government officials, the community and even some religious leaders to housing those with mental illness was intense. “This made the commitment by the Sisters and the letters of encouragement even more critical to Mercy Haven’s foundation,” she said.

Sister Kathy went on to describe all the facets of the agency today. “Mercy Haven currently houses 293 people including 65 children and partners with another agency to offer 75 Section 8 Vouchers to special needs elderly people. We own 61 units of housing and rent an additional 38 for a total of 99 units under the agency’s management,” she shared. “Our future plans include housing for veterans and a new apartment complex with 20 studio apartments.” She also shared highlights of the agency’s support services which include legal advocacy, homeless education, supported employment and a community garden.

Sister Pat ended by sharing a quote. “The foundress of the Sister of Mercy, Catherine McAuley, said ‘The poor need our help today, not next week.’ This is our mantra as a community of Mercy,” continued Sister Pat, “and this Evening of Mercy is a clear affirmation of that mantra.”