History of the Sisters of Mercy

Egan. Preston. Weber. Herrmann. McAuley. Taylor. Warde. Students and employees at Mercyhurst would recognize these instantly as names of administrative, academic, and residential buildings on campus, but the significance of these names does not end there. Each one pays tribute to a Sister of Mercy whose life and ministry were vital to Mercyhurst’s success.

Two buildings bear the names of Sisters of Mercy, who never set foot in America, let alone Erie. McAuley Hall was built in 1959 and was given its name in honor of Catherine McAuley. Catherine McAuley, born in Ireland, recognized the need to minister to the poor and sick, as well as working-class women and children in her native Dublin. In 1827, she established the House of Mercy to house a community of like-minded women devoted to prayer and service of the poor. Several years later, after facing pressure due to the scandalous nature of unmarried women living together without vows, she structured the community into an official religious congregation and named the new order the Sisters of Mercy. Her decision was contingent on the guarantee that the Sisters would remain able to serve the community rather than conforming to a more traditional cloistered style of religious life. The Sisters of Mercy would go beyond the traditional religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to adopt a defining fourth vow—a vow of service. Soon, the Sisters of Mercy spread across the Irish Sea to England and later all the way across the Atlantic to establish a settlement in Pittsburgh.

Seven Sisters of Mercy made the transatlantic voyage at the invitation of Michael O’Connor, an Irish bishop en route to Pittsburgh who wanted the Sisters of Mercy to start a convent there. One of the seven was Sister Frances Warde. Sister Warde was one of the first seven women to join Catherine McAuley’s order in 1832, and Catherine McAuley considered her a close friend and trusted associate—one of the “first-born,” as she referred to those who joined the order in its nascency. The spread of the Mercy mission across the United States from coast to coast was largely due to Sister Warde’s tireless efforts. For four decades after her arrival, she worked nonstop to establish or aid in the creation of Mercy institutions like schools and hospitals, traveling extensively across the nation in a time long before commercial air travel. In doing so, she laid the groundwork for the continued success of the Sisters of Mercy in the United States. Though Catherine McAuley and Frances Warde may never have lain eyes on Mercyhurst, their presence is palpable in Mercyhurst’s continued commitment to the Mercy mission. Therefore, the tribute to their memories in the form of namesake buildings—McAuley Hall and Warde Hall, two of the three freshman residence halls—is well-deserved.

The oldest building named for a Sister of Mercy is Egan Hall, which was part of the original college complex as it was when Mercyhurst opened its doors in 1926. It is named for Mercyhurst’s foundress, Mother M. Borgia Egan, the “remarkable woman” whose tireless commitment to the vision of a women’s college upon a hill overlooking Lake Erie guided Mercyhurst through its early years. Born Catherine Egan in DuBois, Pennsylvania, into an Irish Catholic family, she became a postulant to the Sisters of Mercy at age 14. Her tenure as principal of a Sisters of Mercy school in DuBois exemplified her commitment to Mercy education, as well as her leadership ability. Those who knew her admired her intelligence and decisiveness – once she made a decision, her commitment to seeing it through was unwavering.

Mother Borgia Egan led Mercyhurst through pivotal moments in its development, as its first president for a brief period and then as an academic dean. From traveling to Harrisburg in 1928 to secure the institution’s official charter to purchasing the iconic gates for the entrance to Old Main Drive, Mother Borgia’s leadership shaped Mercyhurst on all levels—academic, physical, and spiritual. It is only fitting that one of the most regal buildings on campus, one that captures the spirit of Mercyhurst as it was at its founding, bears her name.

Mother Borgia did not work alone, however. Mercyhurst would not have succeeded without the contributions of its early sister faculty, which included Mother M. deSales Preston and Sister Mary Alice Weber. As a Sister of Mercy in the early 20th century, Sister deSales Preston trained as a nurse to serve at DuBois Hospital. She gained experience and seniority in the order, becoming involved in the management of various Mercy institutions. These included Mercy Manor, a home for working women in Erie, and a mission at St. Basil’s Parish in Coalport. She joined Mother Borgia’s efforts to establish Mercyhurst College and was present as a faculty member when Mercyhurst opened in 1926. Mother deSales Preston served not one but an impressive three terms as Mercyhurst’s president – from 1927 to 1933, from 1939 to 1945, and from 1948 to 1954. During her tenure, she oversaw important moments in the school’s early history, such as the first May Crowning, the granting of the charter and eventual accreditation, the installation of the Gates, and the construction of a Sisters’ convent that would bear her name. Preston Hall was the residence of the Sisters of Mercy until its conversion first to a men’s residence hall in 1970 and shortly thereafter into faculty offices. In 1990, a third floor was added, providing space for the Walker School of Business and giving Preston a makeover to match the campus’ Gothic style. Sister Mary Alice Weber was also on Mercyhurst’s faculty when the college opened and served as registrar during the school’s early years. Those who encountered her spoke of her charm, intelligence, calm demeanor, and kindness. Both she and her sister Rachael were religious sisters. When their father passed away, they contributed their inheritance to fund the construction of a new hall, which would hold the college’s library and a theatre venue. While Weber Hall is officially named for Joseph J. Weber, the father of Sister Mary Alice and Sister Rachael, its name indirectly honors Sister Mary Alice and her generosity and dedication to Mercyhurst’s success.

After Mother Preston’s final term as president, Mother M. Eustace Taylor stepped into the role. She was Mercyhurst’s fifth president, serving from 1954 to 1960. She was an alumna of Mercyhurst’s first graduating class, earning a bachelor’s degree from Mercyhurst followed by a master’s degree from Duquesne University and a doctorate from Catholic University. Prior to becoming the president of Mercyhurst, she taught English and Latin, resuming her role as an instructor once her tenure as president concluded. Mother Taylor remained active at Mercyhurst in the years that followed, even recording a history of the college to commemorate its fiftieth anniversary. In 1994, 75 years after she entered the Sisters of Mercy, the Little Theatre in Weber Hall was dedicated as Taylor Little Theatre in her honor.

The Herrmann Student Union honors Sister Carolyn Herrmann, whose leadership is particularly noteworthy; in fact, her tenure is referred to as Mercyhurst’s ‘Second Spring’ because the institution experienced profound growth and renewal in these years. Sister Herrmann served as president during a time of great change for both the nation and the institution. She was the first president under the institution’s revised charter, which created a distinction between the leadership of the Sisters of Mercy and that of the college. Upon taking office in 1963, she immediately faced the tension between tradition and modernity at an institution whose identity was grounded in the former and whose students were increasingly seeking the latter. Gone were the days of May Day festivities and formal events intended to shape Mercyhurst’s students as homemakers and women of society. The times were changing, and Sister Herrmann recognized the need for Mercyhurst to adapt. Accordingly, she oversaw the 1969 transition to coeducation, one of the most momentous changes in the history of the school. The capital campaign she launched at the start of her tenure prepared the college for the transition, as it financed the construction of three new buildings in the 1960s to accommodate the growth of the student body. The expansion of the athletic program, the construction of more student housing, and the restructuring of the academic process soon followed.

By the time Sister Carolyn Herrmann left office in 1972, the institution had undergone dramatic lasting changes. Indeed, not since her tenure has another Sister of Mercy served as Mercyhurst’s president, and it would be almost fifty years before another woman, President Kathleen Getz, would hold the role, but Carolyn Herrmann’s leadership left an indelible mark on the institution and positioned it for even greater growth in the decades that followed. Today, the Herrmann Student Union honors her contributions.

These buildings provide venues for student recreation and academic work, house faculty and administrative offices, and enable students to live together in the community. They are central to the life of Mercyhurst for different reasons, just as the women whose memories they honor each left a unique and indelible imprint on the institution. Today, they continue to commemorate the women whose vision and hard work made Mercyhurst the thriving university it is today.