Who They Are

Community lies at the heart of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross. Founded in Ingenbohl, Switzerland, the congregation has over 2,600 sisters across 20 countries. They serve in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa.

Their charism, or driving purpose, is rooted in the compassionate love of God revealed in Christ, urging them to take concrete action and make that love visible to others in their time and world.

In response to this call, their international ministries focus on three areas:

• Social work and healthcare
• Education at all levels
• Parish ministry and catechetical outreach

The sisters devote particular attention to marginalized or less privileged communities. By listening to each community’s needs and challenges, they adapt their missions accordingly. As their motto states:

The need of the time is the will of God.

Their Story

Founder Father Theodosius Florentini was a social reformer who established hospitals and schools in Switzerland. In the 1850s, he founded Holy Cross Hospital, which became the first motherhouse of the Sisters of Mercy, led by Sister M. Theresa Scherer.

In 1912, the congregation expanded to Dickinson, North Dakota. They quickly became known across the United States for their healthcare ministry and multilingual skills, which allowed them to serve diverse communities.

Their reputation soon spread to Merrill, Wisconsin. In 1923, the Merrill City Council offered to build a hospital for the Holy Cross Sisters to operate and staff. Led by Mother Anceta Regli, the sisters agreed and established their provincial house and novitiate in the city. The townspeople quickly rallied around them, with many contributing their labor and funds to the construction of the hospital.

In exchange for running Holy Cross Hospital, the city gave the sisters the nearby T.B. Scott Mansion, which they converted into a convent. The sisters lived there until 1990, when they sold the building to the Good Samaritan Health Center.

The sisters also established Our Lady of the Holy Cross High School in 1936. It was originally an all-girls Catholic high school that held classes at the T.B. Scott Mansion. To make room for the growing student population, the sisters built a second convent with dorms. Underground tunnels connected the dorms, the hospital, and the T.B. Scott Mansion, making it easy to travel between buildings during the harsh Wisconsin winters.

In 1990, the sisters converted their second convent into an assisted living facility called Bell Tower Residence. Over 1,000 people have called the community home. Today, it’s owned by Wisconsin Illinois Senior Housing.

The Holy Cross Sisters remain active volunteers at the local food pantry, in prison ministry, and through other community organizations. They’re also members of the Wisconsin Religious Collaborative, which brings together organizations of women religious to share resources and provide cooperative services.

Contributions and Legacy

The Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross are dedicated to serving people in need through education and healthcare. Their ministries are guided by their “Option for the Poor,” focusing on marginalized communities, minorities, and oppressed groups.

Building on the work of their founders, the sisters continue to provide healthcare to the sick and elderly. For instance, the South India Province has established free medical camps and mobile medical services for people living in rural villages. In the United States, their activities include dementia support and prison ministry.

The sisters also empower people in need with religious and vocational training. For example, in Romania, they created a nurse’s training program. Some of these missions involve partnerships with other institutions. In Brazil, the congregation collaborates with the Associação Cidade da Criança to offer career training for adolescents and young adults.

Anti-human trafficking is another key focus. In 2017, the sisters opened a shelter in Delhi for women threatened by or fleeing trafficking, part of a broader commitment that also includes anti-trafficking education in the United States.

Other ministries include community food pantries, palliative care, pastoral care, and special education.