History of the Sisters of Mercy and Mercyhurst

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing key figures, events, locations, and organizations in the history of the Sisters of Mercy and the founding of Mercyhurst.

Catherine McAuley

The founder of the Sisters of Mercy ($1778$–$1841$) who was born in Dublin, Ireland, inherited the Callaghan estate, and established the House of Mercy in $1824$.

House of Mercy

The house purchased in Dublin in $1824$ by Catherine McAuley to provide care and education for homeless, impoverished women and children.

Sisters of Mercy

The religious order established on December $12$, $1831$, by Catherine McAuley, whose members professed vows of chastity, poverty, obedience, and service, and operated as an uncloistered community.

Walking Nuns

A derogatory term applied to the Sisters of Mercy because they were uncloistered and walked outside the convent to deliver care, education, and healthcare.

Mercy International Centre

The name given to the original House of Mercy in Dublin where Catherine McAuley is entombed.

Frances Warde

An Irish-born sister ($1810$–$1884$) who brought the Sisters of Mercy to the United States in $1843$ and holds the record for founding over $100$ religious communities.

Carlow Institute of Mercy

The Irish institution where Frances Warde served as Mother Superior in the late $1830$s before departing for the United States.

Rev. Michael O'Connor

The Pennsylvania clergyman who visited Carlow in $1843$, became Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and convinced Frances Warde to expand the Sisters of Mercy to the U.S.

Queen of the West

The ship that carried Frances Warde and $6$ fellow sisters across the Atlantic on a rough $30$-day voyage to the United States, departing on November $4$, $1843$.

Mercy Hospital

The hospital founded in Pittsburgh in $1847$ by Frances Warde and the Sisters of Mercy.

Know-Nothings

A nationalist group in Rhode Island that displayed anti-immigrant sentiment and burned down Catholic immigrant churches.

Nolasco Kratzer

The Sister of Mercy ($1838$–$1872$) who was invited to Titusville by Bishop Mullen to open schools and served as Mother Superior of the order for $2$ years.

Bishop Mullen

The Bishop of the Diocese of Erie who invited the Sisters of Mercy to Titusville and blessed their foundation on September $23$, $1870$.

Mother Borgia Egan

The founder of Mercyhurst ($1885$–$1962$) and former Mother Superior of the Titusville order who spearheaded the development of Mercyhurst College.

Morrow Lowry

A Republican party member and friend of Abraham Lincoln who sold $75$ acres of land for $\$31,000$ to serve as the site for Mercyhurst.

F. Ferdinand Durang

The Philadelphia architect who designed the Tudor-Gothic style buildings for Mercyhurst.

Dr. Michael Fuhrmann

An educator who traveled to Harrisburg alongside Mother Borgia Egan, Monsignor Sullivan, and Sister Pierre Wilbert to secure the official charter for Mercyhurst.

Sister Pierre Wilbert

A Sister of Mercy who joined Mother Borgia Egan, Monsignor Sullivan, and Dr. Michael Fuhrmann on the journey to Harrisburg to obtain the charter for Mercyhurst.