Founded by the Sisters of Providence Health System, Mercy Hospital is a faith-based, non-profit organization serving patients regardless of background or beliefs.

In September 1873, two Sisters from the Canadian community approached Reverend Patrick J. Harkins, pastor of Holyoke, Massachusetts' St. Jerome's Church, asking permission to solicit funds from his parishioners.

Reverend Harkins granted the request, he in turn asked the Sisters to petition their superiors to send others from their community to establish a Holyoke mission.

He wanted the new mission to address the needs of the rapidly growing poor Irish and Scottish immigrant mill workers in the Holyoke community.

Within a week they accepted the first orphan to their House of Providence and it was not long before city officials were sending the needy and infirm to them for care and shelter.