When young men and women act out, it is easy to assume that they are just “bad kids.” But what many people don’t realize is that there is often a reason for a young person’s poor behavior. Sometimes, they are coping with some kind of pain or trauma that we are unaware of. This is, sadly, the case with many of the boys and girls who come to Mercy Home—kids like Mackenzie.

Mackenzie just couldn’t seem to get along with her mother. They barely agreed on anything. And though their relationship had always been difficult, as Mackenzie got older, it only seemed to deteriorate more.

Mackenzie’s father was never a source of stability in her life either. Her parents split up when she was very young. Sometimes her dad was very interested in being a part of her life, and sometimes months would go by when she didn’t hear from him at all.

Mackenzie was desperate for her father’s approval and involvement in her life. She blamed her mom for her father’s absence in her life. As a result, she began to defy her mother in every way she could think of.

Before long, she was hanging out with the wrong crowd of kids, skipping school, and staying out later than her mother allowed. Her mom tried to talk to her and guide her back to a better path, but Mackenzie refused to listen.

Things hit an all-time low when Mackenzie’s father announced that he would be moving out of state and wasn’t sure when he would be back to see Mackenzie. She was devastated. After years of doing everything she could think of to get his attention, it felt like it was all for nothing. She thought that if only her parents stayed together, she wouldn’t be in this position at all.

Mackenzie’s mother was at a loss with how to deal with her daughter’s defiant behavior and depression. She turned to her parish priest, who recommended Mercy Home. He told Mackenzie’s mother that it would be a structured and therapeutic environment that would help Mackenzie get back on track.

At first, Mackenzie didn’t like the idea of leaving her home and neighborhood. But as she thought more about it, she decided that it was worth a try. She agreed to visit our Home and learn more.

After a tour of our girls’ campus and meeting some of the Mercy Home coworkers, Mackenzie decided she wanted to move in. Of course, it was after she moved in that the real work started.

It took a while for Mackenzie to adjust to life at our Home. She hadn’t followed her mother’s rules in so long that she forget what it was like to follow rules at all. She had to get used to a strict schedule with time allotted for chores and studying. It wasn’t easy, but she quickly adapted.

Since moving in, Mackenzie stopped skipping school and has been working diligently with her tutor to improve her grades. She also has been working hard with her therapist to address her anger with her parents—and her relationship with her mother has been steadily improving. We are incredibly proud of her progress and know we can expect great things from her in the future!

I am truly grateful to Partners in Prayer like you for allowing us to help hurting young people like Mackenzie. Your support is life-changing. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your friendship to our kids.

“I am truly grateful to Partners in Prayer like you for allowing us to help hurting young people like Mackenzie. Your support is life-changing.”

A special partnership for the sake of Mercy’s kids and for our televised Sunday Mass

You can make a difference in the life of a troubled child. Fr. Scott needs Partners to pray for our kids at Mercy Home–and also faithful Partners to help broadcast Sunday Mass at Mercy Home.

By pledging your support and your prayers, you’re offering a precious gift to Mercy’s kids–and helping our community of faith join together every week.

The boys and girls of Mercy Home are very proud of the difference they are able to make just by sharing their time and heart with others. None of this would be possible without our kind, faithful supporters, for not only sharing their friendship but for also setting an example of generosity and compassion for them to follow. During this month, please keep the young people of Mercy Home and all of our generous benefactors in your thoughts and prayers.