The Catherine McAuley Society at Mercy Hospital
We completed the fourth year (2009/2010) of the Catherine McAuley Society in June, which coincided with the 100th anniversary of Mercy Hospital and are happy to report that we recruited 105 members; six honorary.
It was on February 19, 1910 that four Sisters of Mercy traveled from Los Angeles to Bakersfield to bring their ministry of healing to our community. With them came the legacy begun by Catherine McAuley more than 150 years ago. Bakersfield needed a private hospital and the Sisters of Mercy responded to that need. Over the past 100 years, this has been our mission – meeting the needs of our community whether it is providing care to those in our hospital or going beyond the walls of the hospital into the poorest of neighborhoods to serve those who are powerless and vulnerable to the affects of being poor. Catherine calls upon us to be mindful of how communities and cultures differ – she asks us to make sure to support what the community needs at the time; recognizing that needs change.
Our “centennial” group of Catherine McAuley Society members decided to use their cumulative gift of $100,000 (one of our members had her company donate a matching gift) to purchase a state of the art ultrasound machine. This is the most advanced imaging equipment of its kind in Bakersfield. It has already been instrumental in diagnosing lesions on the breast that other local facilities were not able to see. The equipment also has been used to diagnose heart defects in some of our newborns. Its quality of image and enhanced resolution allows physicians to more clearly diagnose areas of concern. The equipment is also ergonomically correct for staff in scanning and moving the equipment from one patient area to another.
To join the Catherine McAuley Society and be part of this special group of women and join us for our fifth year – 2010/2011, please contact the Friends of Mercy Foundation at (661) 663-6700.
