Former Resident Comes Home for Wedding with Family
Photo Gallery: Lydia’s Wedding at Mercy Home
Birthdays, graduations, a good report card, senior prom. As they are in any family, these are the occasions for many a celebration at Mercy Home. It’s important to acknowledge the milestones in young people’s lives.
But a celebration that occurred at Mercy Home this past Saturday took the cake—the wedding cake.
Lydia Rossi, an extraordinarily poised, determined and accomplished former resident and a survivor of a horrific multi-year ordeal of abuse, had come back to share the joy of her wedding day with her extended Mercy Home family.
And it was a true family affair, with staff members, friends and donors participating in every way possible, pitching in and preparing our home for the occasion. AfterCare staff strung lighted tulle and handmade tissue-paper topiaries throughout our cafeteria. Another, more recent alumna, who is a successful chef, catered the reception. And most dramatically, Mercy Home’s president Fr. Scott Donahue, not only celebrated the wedding Mass in our chapel, but he also had the honor of walking Lydia up the aisle to her awaiting fiancé Corey.
“Fr. Scott is my honorary dad,” Rossi said, explaining that he had played such a big part of so many important moments in her life. Her own father had left her family when she was very young. Fr. Donahue said that he was proud to represent all of the people in Lydia’s life who love and believe in her.
Rossi continues to show her gratitude for the place that gave her a second chance by sharing her story in the hope that it will help younger generations of Mercy Home youth. Last month, she spoke to a group of young women on our girls campus about self-respect, avoiding abusive relationships, getting a good education and following their dreams. And on Friday, she took time out before her wedding rehearsal to sit with CBS 2 Chicago’s Pamela Jones. During the taping, Rossi explained that while her journey was difficult, it nevertheless made her the person she is today, and it led her to the loving embrace of so many who make this life-saving mission of Mercy possible through their hard work, as staff, or their support, as donors.
But despite the adversity that Rossi heroically overcame in her past, Saturday was above all a celebration about the future and the power of love. Fr. Scott began his homily by joyously proclaiming “Look what love has done,” before inviting each guest gathered in the intimate chapel to share their own memories of the bride, and their best wishes for the happy couple.
As Fr. Scott reflected on Lydia’s incredible story and her willingness to champion the cause of Mercy Home to others, he asked, “Who am I to be walking you up the aisle today, that I have that privilege?” Before he could continue, Rossi interjected an answer to this rhetorical question, saying “I might not be alive for you to walk me down the aisle, if it hadn’t been for you.”
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- Photo Gallery: Lydia’s Wedding at Mercy Home
- Lydia Tells Her Story About Her Abusive Past with Our Girls
