Mercy Mission: HOME

Saint Xavier University, founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1846, is the first Mercy Institution of Higher Learning in the United States. It is Chicago's oldest Catholic University.  Saint Xavier University has many offices that support our Mercy mission.  This guide gives access to these resources, materials from the Library's collection, and links to online content.

Catherine McAuley, Founder of the Sisters of Mercy

Catherine McAuley

• In God Alone - The Story of Catherine Mc Auley (video)
• Circle of Mercy: Life of Catherine McAuley Part 1 (video)
• Circle of Mercy: Life of Catherine McAuley Part 2 (video)
• The correspondence of Catherine McAuley 1827-1841. edited by Sister M. Angela Bolster.
• Letters of Catherine McAuley. commissioned by Mother Mary Regina Cunningham ; edited by Sister Mary Ignatia Neumann.
• Books about Catherine McAuley in the SXU book collection.
• 2008 Founders Day presentation: "The Idea of a Mercy University: A Conversation Between Catherine McAuley and John Newman" by S. Maureen Scott, RSM

Books about The Sisters of Mercy

• A listing of books in the SXU catalog listed under the subject heading of Sisters of Mercy.
• A larger set of books located throughout the I-Share consortium under the subject heading of Sisters of Mercy.
• Women of faith : the Chicago Sisters of Mercy and the evolution of a religious community /
  by Connolly, Mary Beth Fraser Published 2014
  Call Number: BX4482 .C66 2014 and ebook version.

Journal articles about The Sisters of Mercy

• Journal articles about the Sisters of Mercy (from our Core Collection fulltext aggregator, Academic Search Complete).
• Journal articles from the ATLA Religion Database (more discipline-specific journals).

Encyclopedia article about The Sisters of Mercy

• New Catholic Encyclopedia entry on the Sisters of Mercy

Book about the History of SXU and the Sisters of Mercy

• First in Chicago: a History of Saint Xavier University, by Joy Clough, RSM (Sisters of Mercy)

The history of SXU is described in the following online book:

First in Chicago: a History of Saint Xavier University, by Joy Clough, RSM (Sisters of Mercy)
This book is also found in our paper collection at LD4865.S32 C56 1997

The Saint Xavier College self study : the liberal education of the Christian person : a progress report compiled by the combined faculties of Saint Xavier College and related elementary and secondary schools, submitted to the director of the Fund for the Advancement of Education.
Published: Chicago, Ill. : The College, c1953.  (digital copy available soon)

Location: Special Collections (Non-Circulating)
Call Number: 376.8 S15fL 1953

The Second Vatican Council, fully the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican (Concilium Oecumenicum Vaticanum Secundum) and informally known as Vatican II, addressed relations between the Catholic Church and the modern world. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, from October 11, 1962 -December 8,1965.

Shortly after this momentus event, many of the key theologians met on our campus for a "John XXIII Vatican II Theology Symposium" 

A Theology Symposium: The theological task confronting the church today : March 31-April 3. 1966 Saint Xavier College. Chicago, Ill. : Saint Xavier College, 1966.

Ten of the world's foremost Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox theologians participated in a 4-day symposium sponsored by Saint Xavier College. Each of the theologians delivered an address on a different theological problem confronting Christianity today. The talks were original contributions to the field, with concentrations on the development of doctrine as a prerequisite to the solution of theological differences and units. Some of the topics included combating atheism, women as priests, and the concept of God in relation to man.

The actual symposium papers are recorded in:

The Word in history; the St. Xavier symposium, by Burke, Thomas Patrick Published 1966.
Call Number: BT80 .B8 1966
Location: Special Collections (Non-Circulating)

A related video item is:

Remembering the Pope John XXIII symposium: [videorecording] : the theological task confronting the church today
Patrick Burke, PhD.
Main Floor Audiovisual--SXU Patrons Only
DVD Number 1340

LOCAL MATERIAL:

See an online copy of the ephemeral planning documents and rosters from one of the four original paper scrapbooks:  The theological task confronting the church today : a theology symposium, March 31-April 3, 1966. Call Number: BT80 .T48 1966  Location: Special Collections (Non-Circulating)

Within Saint Xavier University:

• The Sisters of Mercy -- a short history and listing of Celebration dates.
• SXU's Catholic and Mercy Identity -- describes how a Saint Xavier University education is informed by Mercy traditions and identities; sets forth how the University aspires to be Catholic and Mercy in all areas of its academic and communal life.
• SXU's Office for Mission Integration and Mercy Heritage -- assists the Saint Xavier University community to be more focused on, intentional about, and accountable for pursuing its educational mission as a Catholic and Mercy institution.

Beyond Saint Xavier University:

• Sisters of Mercy -- official web site listing activities, and ways to become involved.
• Sisters of Mercy Facebook page. 
• Sisters of Mercy Twitter page.
• Conference for Mercy Higher Education -- responsible for the preservation and development of the core Catholic identity and mission of Mercy higher education in accord with the spirit, mission, and heritage of the Sisters of Mercy.
• Mercy International Association -- an organization of the leaders of Mercy Congregations, Institutes and Federations throughout the world, founded to serve the Sisters of Mercy, their associates and colleagues in ministry.

• Wikipedia entry "Sisters of Mercy" -- contains an (incomplete) listing of affiliated world-wide schools.

VIDEOS

Part 1: Founding of the Sisters of Mercy

• Mother McAuley - an inspirational leader (Alexis Harrison)
• Radical benevolent work  (Heather Kaminski)
• Early incidents of need and action - Walking Sisters (Abel Juarez)

Part 2: Saint Xavier Academy, 1846 to 1915

• Arrival in Chicago: The Fire, 1871 move to Cottage Grove (Valencia Pringle)
• Academies for Women (Lauren Voytal)
• 1846 Sisters start Chicago charities (Kyeara Aikens)

Part 3: Saint Xavier University, 1915 to 1970

• 1915 Saint Xavier College - Second Vatican Council, going Co-Ed (Victoria Morales)
• 1935 Nursing program, 1956 move to 103rd, 1966 John 23rd Symposium, diversity arrives  (Max Boyso)
• racial and economic changes, campus move, liberation of lay people, men arrive (Zhane Johnson)

Part 4: Saint Xavier University, 1970 to the present

• 1992 becomes a University, Mercy Service, Associates of Service (Kolin Smith)
• committed to caring, service, retreats, make a difference (Laura Gomez)
• responding to need, works of Mercy, Mercy clubs and activities (Panda Cano)

STUDENT DOCUMENTARY class work:  suite of videos about the Sisters of Mercy and SXU

AUDIO

Sister Cathleen interview (mp3 audio) by Julia Gochee.

We are building a finding aid and a database of selected images from our Archives photograph collection.

Entry points will be:

• Important People (Sisters, Presidents, Faculty, Visitors)
• Important Places (historical buildings and sites)
• Important Events
• Themes over Time (i.e. Diversity, Fashion, Candid Shots, etc.)

Catholic Newspapers Online (CNO) links to more than two hundred newspapers, and provides easy access to current issues of many diocesan, national, and student newspapers. 

The Saint Xavier University shield was designed by art department faculty member Sister Mary Solina Hicks, R.S.M. and represents:

--the black and white checkerboard, and the diagnal gold bars are from the family coat of arms of Saint Francis Xavier, the Jesuit patron of Mother Frances Xavier Warde, founder of Saint Xavier University.

--the red and gold bars, and the white Jerusalem cross are from the shield of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas;

--the open book depicts education;

--the University’s Latin motto of "Via, Veritas, Vita," “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).