OLM Parish "Week of Mercy" Begins Sept. 20 with Picnic, Prayer, Charity

Our Lady of Mercy in East Greenwich kicks off its annual Parish Partronal Feast Week of Activities on Sunday, Sept. 20 with a Gathering of Mercy at the annual OLM Parish Picnic.

The picnic is at the OLM School Field from 1 to 4 p.m. and will include food, games for kids and adults, pony rides and a tug-of-war competition.

Those attending are asked to bring a lawn chair or blanket, a small picnic lunch, and a homemade desert for the OLM Desert Table.

The Week of Mercy continues on Monday with a Prayer for Mercy at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Church. The Holy Hour of Mercy will honor marriage and family life in anticipation of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Visit to the USA for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Fr. Ryan Simas, the Associate Pastor of St. Philip Church in Greenville, RI, will serve as the homilist. The Holy Hour includes exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and special prayers for the strengthening of marriage and family life in the parish. A light reception follows.

On Tuesday, a Performance of Mercy takes place at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Church. The OLM Adult Choir under the direction of Henri St. Louis, Director of Music at OLM, and the OLM Children’s Choir under the direction of Deirdre Donovan, Soloist at OLM, will perform hymns in honor of the Blessed Mother Mary. Also Mrs. Donovan and Mr. St. Louis are to perform solos in honor of our Lady of Mercy. A light reception follows.

On Wednesday members of the Our Lady of Mercy Church and School community will gather in the OLM School Cafeteria for a Work of Mercy entitled “Socks and Sandwiches for the Homeless”. Sandwiches will be prepared for the homeless and each person attending the event is asked to bring a new pair of adult socks to be distributed with the lunches.

The Patronal Feast Day of Our Lady of Mercy Church is celebrated on Thursday with a Celebration of Mercy. Solemn Mass will be offered in honor of the patroness of the parish, Our Lady of Mercy, at 9am. Monsignor John J. Darcy, Pastor of St. Margaret Church in Rumford, RI, who formerly served as Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Church, is to serve as the homilist. A light reception follows.

All are invited to attend any and all of the Week of Mercy events. For more information please contact the Our Lady of Mercy Parish Office at 401-884-4968 or parish@olmparish.org