A Transformative Tenure: Fr. Scott Marks 20 Years as President

September 24, 2026

Since his installation as Mercy Home’s eighth president in 2006, Father Scott Donahue has guided the organization through a period of growth and change not seen since its earliest days. Under his leadership, the mission has expanded, evolving to meet the increasingly complex needs of the community while remaining rooted in its founding purpose.

A Calling to Compassion

As he grew closer to the mission, the needs of our young people became more evident, deepening that purpose. In 1996, he accepted the role of associate president. To better serve youth who had experienced trauma, he earned a master’s degree in social work.

At the same time, he worked alongside Father Close, board members, and supporters nationwide to increase capacity. Their efforts culminated in the opening of the Home’s modern residence on our West Side Chicago campus in 2003, increasing the number of young people in our care by 40 percent.

The Father Scott Era Begins

When Father Scott was appointed president in 2006, he increased emphasis on education, recognizing it as the surest path to long-term independence and success. He established a department focused on academic achievement and career readiness.

The results have been remarkable. Despite arriving an average of three years behind, our seniors have consistently graduated high school at a rate of 100 percent. Expanded career programming has also prepared young people for a changing workforce, opening pathways from technology to trades.

Father Scott also led an evolution in Mercy Home’s therapeutic approach, integrating the latest understanding of complex trauma and child development. Central to this shift was recognizing the critical role families play in a young person’s healing.

“When I first came to Mercy Home, there was very little family work being done,” Father Scott said. “We’ve since come to understand how essential it is to engage families in the healing process, not just for the child, but for the family as a whole.”

That shift helped drive one of the most far-reaching successes of his presidency: the expansion of the Community Care program. Designed to support former residents and their families, this program provides resources, guidance, and a support network that endures well beyond a young person’s time at Mercy Home.

The impact of that investment was clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing one of the greatest challenges in the Home’s long history, Father Scott worked with medical experts and made the difficult decision to transition many young people back home to limit exposure. At the same time, Mercy Home adjusted quickly. Academic support shifted to remote learning, while Community Care teams delivered food, groceries, teletherapy, and other essential assistance to children sheltering at home with their families.

“The way everyone adapted was nothing less than a miracle,” Father Scott said. “We made a promise to our young people and their families that we would continue providing the same care they received at the Home. And we kept that promise because of our coworkers and our donors.”

Leading with Faith

Father Scott’s leadership has always been shaped by his vocation as a priest. Even before becoming president, he helped extend Mercy Home’s ministry of compassion to more people. As executive director of the televised “Sunday Mass at Mercy Home,” broadcast on WGN since 1992, he introduced innovations that helped the program flourish. Today, it connects more than 60,000 elderly, ill, and homebound Catholics to the Eucharist each week.

In 2002, he founded MercyWorks, a faith-based volunteer service year program inviting recent college graduates to live in community while working directly with residents. Meanwhile, he instituted spiritual development programs that encourage young people to draw strength from their faith as they grow and heal.

Growth and Gratitude

While Father Scott’s legacy is reflected in expanded programs, improved outcomes, and strengthened facilities, he consistently credits Mercy Home’s coworkers, donors, and God’s grace.

“I always tell people that the word at the heart of this mission is gratitude,” he said. His own experience has given him much to be thankful for.

“What I value most are my faith, my family, my friends, and meaningful work,” he said. “Those are the pillars of a rich life. I’ve been greatly blessed.”

As he marks this milestone, Father Scott expresses both reflection and hope.

“As grateful as I am when I look back, I am even more inspired when I look ahead—especially to the work that will continue long after I am no longer president,” he said. “I often quote the Swedish diplomat Dag Hammarskjöld, who said, ‘For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.’”