July 24, 2009--Acting upon a desire to develop a history of Mercy's healthcare heritage in Michigan, Iowa and Indiana, Sister Elizabeth Mary Burns, RSM, didn't realize she would become immersed in a 10-year research project. The result: Beyond Measure A Legacy of Mercy - a sequential review of the Sisters of Mercy's beginnings in health care and the story of how they worked together to form one of the country's first Catholic healthcare systems - the Sisters of Mercy Health Corporation.

The 97-year history recorded in these pages is more than an interesting story about the Sisters of Mercy in the Midwest. It is more importantly a guide for those who choose to follow in their footsteps.

The vision, tenacity, courage, integrity and compassion of these women provide the base upon which current and future endeavors can build. From their original efforts to care for injured lumbermen and Mississippi River sailors through two World Wars, a major economic depression, and the advent of technology, they worked always for all people in need of healthcare.

Tracing the story of Mercy's hospitals from 1879 until the formation of the Sisters of Mercy Health Corporation in 1976 proved to be a treasure hunt that was as exciting as it was rewarding. The sisters wrote very little of themselves, but their dedication and spirit are clear in their correspondence and in many newspaper clippings, legal documents and memorial booklets that have been excerpted throughout this book. Supplemented and supported by information gathered from numerous books and papers, the documentation revealed a story of vision, tenacity, courage, integrity and compassion; a story that evolved into a fluid literary work that not only informs and interests readers, but also is certain to inspire them..

Elizabeth Mary Burns, RSM, is a Sister of Mercy who lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan. A native of Estherville, Iowa, Sister Elizabeth joined the Mercy Community in 1946 and has been involved in its healthcare ministry since 1949.

Beyond Measure A Legacy of Mercy The Sisters of Mercy in Health Care 1879-1976
Elizabeth Mary Burns, RSM, Author
347 pages; Soft Cover; ISBN: 987-1-886769-33-5; $15.95
Published by Gold Leaf Press in collaboration with Sisters of Mercy of the Americas-West Midwest Community

For more information, to schedule an interview, or to request a review copy, contact:

Author: Elizabeth Mary Burns, RSM
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 248-473-7168
Fax: 248-476-4222
Mail: Elizabeth Mary Burns, RSM, 28554 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336-1507