The first foundation of the WMW was established in 1846 when Mother Mary Frances Warde and five companions, all under the age of 25, arrived in Chicago. Quickly following were establishments of Mercy foundations in San Francisco (the actual beginnings of Burlingame in 1854 and Auburn in 1857) and Grass Valley, Calif. (the first of Omaha's 13 founding foundations in 1863), as well as Cedar Rapids (in 1875). Detroit, which is made up of four foundations, traces its beginnings to Foundation, Iowa, in 1869, but could easily be argued as one of the oldest Mercy communities due to its origins in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1856.
To view a timeline of our history, please click here.
Lorraine Latraille had been doing the works of Mercy and attending retreats at Mercy Center in Auburn for 15 years, but she felt a real calling to be an associate four years ago. She’s been in parish ministry for 30 years, most recently as chair of the Immigration Support Network from St. Paul’s Parish.