By Maria Franco, Founder of All Saints Mercy House
Some callings arrive not with thunder, but with whispers—gentle nudges that grow into undeniable purpose. Mine began on Divine Mercy Sunday in 2015, born from the ache of watching a beloved family member face their final journey without the dignity and peace they deserved.
That single experience planted a seed. Through prayer, through conversations with fellow parishioners at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Garden City, and through the encouragement of family and friends, that seed began to grow into something larger than I could have imagined: the vision for All Saints Mercy House.
Finding Our North Star
In February 2017, my fellow dreamers Lisa, Meg, and I made a pilgrimage that would change everything. We traveled to Francis House in Syracuse, New York—a comfort care home run almost entirely by volunteers. For three days and nights, we didn’t just observe; we lived their mission.
We witnessed love made tangible. We saw volunteers transform clinical care into something sacred—offering not just medical support, but genuine companionship, dignity, and peace to those in their final chapter. We watched families find solace in an environment that held space for both grief and grace.
We returned to Garden City transformed—invigorated yet overwhelmed, certain yet humbled. The question was no longer if Long Island needed this, but how we would answer the call.
Walking in the Footsteps of Compassion
My own path led me to Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in October 2018, where I continue my work as a pharmacist. But it became so much more than a career—it became my training ground in the ministry of presence.
At Gurwin, I’ve been blessed with the profound privilege of accompanying souls through their end-of-life journey. During the darkest days of COVID-19, when families couldn’t be at bedsides, our team became family. We held hands. We offered prayers. We ensured that no one faced their final moments alone. We became the hands and feet of Jesus for the vulnerable and frightened.
These experiences have crystallized my understanding of what All Saints Mercy House must be: a place where clinical excellence meets boundless compassion, where no one is turned away, and where dying with dignity isn’t a luxury but a sacred right.
The Need We Cannot Ignore
We all experience loss. It’s the great equalizer, the universal human experience that none of us escape. And too often, it comes wrapped in helplessness—families stretched thin, trying to provide care they’re not equipped to give, watching loved ones suffer in environments that feel sterile rather than sacred.
All Saints Mercy House will offer an alternative. We will walk alongside families during those final weeks or months, alleviating burdens while preserving bonds. And for those who have no family? We will be their family.
This isn’t about filling a gap in healthcare—it’s about restoring humanity to one of life’s most profound passages.
Building an Army of Angels
The Holy Spirit has been guiding every step of this journey, opening doors in His perfect timing. But divine inspiration requires human action. Creating All Saints Mercy House is a community effort—one that needs you.
We’re building what I call an Army of Angels: volunteers, donors, prayer warriors, and advocates who believe that every person deserves to die with dignity, surrounded by love.
We need your:
- Time – to serve, to plan, to support
- Talents – your skills, whatever they may be, have a place in this mission
- Treasures – every gift, large or small, brings us closer to opening our doors
The dream is no longer distant. It’s here, now, waiting to become reality. But we cannot do this alone.
Join the Mission
If this story has stirred something in your heart—whether it’s a memory of your own, a desire to serve, or simply a sense that this matters—I invite you to join us.
Reach out with your thoughts, questions, or prayers. Share your ideas. Offer your time. Make a donation. Or simply hold us in your prayers as we continue this work.
Together, we can ensure that no one on Long Island faces their final journey without compassion, dignity, and love.
God’s blessings,
Maria
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” – Matthew 5:7
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