Infant Baptisms
The origin of Christian Baptism is Jesus. Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters. Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin –Original and personal– and begin to live a new life with God.
In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ’s call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love.”
~United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (Chap 15)
Registrations for Baptism are available all year long. Preparation classes are offered the first weeks of each Month. You can register by bringing in the Child’s Birth Certificate and both parents’ IDs. If you have any questions you can stop by or call the Rectory.
By Baptism we become members of the Church, the Body of Christ.”
First Communion for Children
The Parish of Our Lady of Mercy welcomes you and your children to The Religious Education Program. Our focus is to prepare your children for a life with Christ. Classes are in English or Spanish. There are four sessions every week! EVERY child, not enrolled in a Catholic school should be enrolled in the Religious Education Program from 1st grade until they are confirmed in high school. Please, do not neglect your child’s religious formation!
In order to receive First Holy Communion or Confirmation, a student must attend 2 consecutive years of Religious Education Classes.
Girls who have not been confirmed and made their Holy Communion MUST be in this program BEFORE they can celebrate their Cotillion (Quinceañera)!
Confirmation
The Parish of Our Lady of Mercy welcomes you and your children to The Religious Education Program. Our focus is to prepare your children for a life with Christ. Classes are in English or Spanish. There are four sessions every week! EVERY child, not enrolled in a Catholic school should be enrolled in the Religious Education Program from 1st grade until they are confirmed in high school. Please, do not neglect your child’s religious formation!
In order to receive First Holy Communion or Confirmation, a student must attend 2 consecutive years of Religious Education Classes.
Girls who have not been confirmed and made their Holy Communion MUST be in this program BEFORE they can celebrate their Cotillion (Quinceañera)!
Matrimony
“Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with “the wedding feast of the Lamb”’ (Rev 19:7, 9). Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his Church.
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy.” ~United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Please call the Parish Office to schedule a meeting to start the marriage process in the catholic Church.
“Man and woman were created for each other.”
Anointing of the Sick
VISIT TO THE SICK: Please let us know when a family member or neighbor is confined to the hospital, nursing home or is homebound. A member of the Ministry of Care will call for a visit.
The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.
Call the Office
Funeral
At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of baptism and strengthened at the eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting word of God and the sacrament of the eucharist.
Cremation
While the Church continues to hold a preference for corporeal burial, cremation has become part of Catholic practice in the United States and the around the world.
Call the office to make arrangements
Would you like more information on sacraments?
Special Masses
Quinceañeras
Parents of girls 13 years of age or younger, are you planning a Quinceañera?
If you and your daughter are preparing her Quinceañera (15-year celebration), here are some of the requirements needed for the Quinceañera Mass.
The Quinceañera Mass must be scheduled no later than 4 months before the date requested. She must be a practicing Catholic, this means she is Baptized, has received her First Communion, has been Confirmed and is attending Mass on a regular basis. If she is not yet confirmed, you can register for the Confirmation Program at OLM; this is a two-year process. This program should be started in 8th grade or at the age of 13, so when the time comes, your is fully prepared for her Quinceañera.
Wedding Anniversary Masses
Wedding Anniversary Masses can be scheduled with a 4 month notice.
To register, bring your marriage certificate to the Rectory and begin the process.
Special Blessings
Presentations of Newborns, 40 days, 3 years old
Presentations for children can be scheduled for a Sunday Mass. Please contact the Rectory for more information.
Blessings for Wedding Anniversaries
Blessings for couples can be scheduled for a Sunday Mass, call the office for more information.