As a result of their early success and support from the Diocese, the group was able to open a soup kitchen at a church in San Bernardino. In 1992, Mary’s Mercy Center purchased its present facility for food provision and support services. In 1993, Mary’s Mercy Center purchased an old convent that would be transformed into Veronica’s Home of Mercy for women and children, the first of two long-term transitional residences. In 1994, Casa Merced was purchased, and began operation as the first of three re-entry residences for women who have completed the program at Veronica’s Homes. In 1996, medical and dental screening were added to our list of services which include: clothing distribution, shower facilities, and food bag distribution, and soup kitchen.
Mary’s Mercy Center’s various programs align with the vision of the Diocese of San Bernardino. As stated by Bishop Gerald Barnes in his 1997 statement regarding Neighborhood Vision: “committed to responding to people in need, helping those who are powerless, alienated, and without hope.” In the Diocese’s vision of “Stewardship of Resources,” Mary’s Mercy Center takes heed in “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor: 9:6). Understanding that we are stewards and givers of the abundance of life, Mary’s Mercy Center aims to strengthen the resources provided to us and to utilize those resources in a creative, productive and responsible manner. All of our programs reflect family, youth, neighborhood, community unity and diversity. Families, youth, the community and society, as a whole, are built around the stability and success of parents and their children.
Our programs concur with Diocese philosophy, “To successfully carry out our diocesan vision of filling lives with hope, we will stay focused on those areas of greatest concern to us….”. One of the areas of concern is stewardship of resources. We can see how Francis, as our Pope, is raising the hopes of people everywhere, and that we can gradually transform our world. When all of us catch that spirit and act according to the spirit of Jesus, act like the Good Shepherd -- reaching out, drawing everybody in, sharing what we have -- the reign of God begins to come more into its fullness in our world. Mary’s Mercy Center will continue to provide for the economically disadvantaged and those experiencing crisis, and align itself with the needs of an evolving community. Together with the Diocese, we help bestow the blessings of the Lord upon the poor and distressed.
In a continued pursuit to fill lives with hope and looking at one of the greatest needs presently in San Bernardino, homeless men, Mary’s Mercy Center is working to expand its outreach. Father Mike’s vision of transitional housing for men is on the way to becoming a reality. Mary’s Village would enable homeless men to once again have hope. Their program would be similar to the one we have successfully implemented for the homeless women and children. There is an old proverb, “ Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Our goal is not only to give them a home but to teach them a trade so they can then help themselves.