First Posted: 11/14/2014
DALLAS – “Were there always Cougars at College Misericordia University?” That’s the question Cody Cougar asks his Mother as this Mercy Cougar Book explains in a fun fashion how the Sisters of Mercy founded Misericordia 90 years ago, and how the Cougar found its way to the campus in 1986.
To paraphrase Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, the book is about “Nuns, & Highlanders, & Cougars! Oh, my!”
This book was written by Misericordia alum Judy Walsh Daley, who uses the characters of Cody and Mommy Cougar to take readers through changes and historical events of the school, including the achievement of university status in 2007.
In 1924, the Sisters of Mercy founded College Misericordia on the Dallas highlands to educate the daughters of miners. It was Luzerne County’s first 4-year college and remained primarily a women’s college until 1979 when it was officially designated co-educational.
Looking at vintage photos in the book, one can see why the Misericordia sports teams got the nickname, ”Highlanders.” The college was also one of a few universities to have a real, live mascot: a West Highland Terrier dog called “McGinty,” named after Sr. Eloise, an avid sports fan who was also the school’s athletic director for 25 years.
The Sisters of Mercy are an Irish community founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland. They are big football fans who root for Notre Dame when Misericordia is not playing, and are looking forward to having their own football team take on the Fighting Irish one day.
When the little white dog retired as the school’s mascot in 1986, Misericordia officials and students searched for a mascot that more fully projected the image of the institution. The Cougar was chosen for its powerful and unstoppable nature, synonymous with the determination of the Sisters of Mercy to provide a four-year academic education for women at a time when few women attended college.
Over 40 Sisters of Mercy attended a recent book signing at Mercy Center where the author signed copies of her book. Sr. Dorothy McLaughlin requested an autographed copy as a Christmas present for her niece who was a Highlander field hockey player. Daley wrote in that book, “From one Highlander to another Highlander.”
At a reception following the signings, Dr. Thomas Botzman announced that not only did Misericordia Printing Services compose and print the book, but the university donated the printing costs so that more proceeds will go directly to the Sisters. That brought a big round of applause.
Daley also thanked the Sisters for her Mercy education, noting she did not forget that much as she was able to start law school at the age of 40. In one class, Daley related law students gave their names and their undergraduate schools such as Yale, NYU, Penn, Villanova and Cornell. She and one other student from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania were the only two from virtually-unknown PA schools. The two became writing partners and both graduated with honors from Temple University law school. Daley emphasizes in talks to Misericordia students they are being prepared to compete with any student from anywhere, even brand-name universities.
Misericordia’s name means “heart of Mercy.” Two Sisters at the event explained the full circle of the Mercy educational mission which is based upon compassionate service, the motto of the Sisters of Mercy.
Sr. Catherine McGroarty, director of the Catherine McAuley House in Plymouth, noted, “This is the only homeless shelter in the area where women and their children are allowed to stay. During the day, mothers go to work or get help seeking work, while their children attend school.”
Likewise, Sr. Jean Messaros, vice-president of Mission Integration at MU, was instrumental in developing the Women with Children Program, enabling qualified women to attend classes while living in Misericordia housing with their children.
The Sisters of Mercy continue that educational vision through Misericordia and other programs. Realizing the value of an education based upon compassionate service, all of the Sisters on the Board of Trustees voted to expand that mission by having Misericordia become co-educational.
