Office of Parish Services
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Services was begun in September 1989. This office is staffed by Mary Anne Scott who is assisted by volunteer parishioners. The location of the office is on the lower level of the Pastoral Center. The office is open five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 AM-4:30 PM. Evening appointments are scheduled on an as needed basis. The phone number is 516-931-1306.
We work in partnership with the neighboring Parish Social Ministry Programs. We also maintain a working relationship with the Catholic Charities Program Developer of our Deanery.
OLM Parish Services was established primarily to meet the needs of our parishioners who are aging. The following services are available:
- Referral/Networking with local Elder Care Programs and Services.
- Home, Hospital, and Nursing Home Visits on an as needed basis.
- Limited Medical Transportation (local area).
Mary Anne Scott is also available as a resource person to the Hicksville/OLM Senior Club. This club meets weekly, on Mondays from 11 AM-3 PM, at the Nassau County Bethpage Community Center, 103 Grumman Road West, Bethpage. The Senior Club Director is Joan Chwalisz-516-938-4261.
OLM Parish Services provides updated information regarding Employment Opportunities. A bulletin board, in the lobby of the Church and in the Parish Services office, provides information about jobs, workshops, and seminars regarding employment. Volunteer parishioners assist in resume writing and interviewing skills.
The Parish Food Pantry is located on the lower level of the Pastoral Center. It provides a variety of canned goods, dry goods, and paper goods to those in need. The Pantry is open Wednesday and Friday: 9:30-11:30 AM, and Tuesday and Thursday: 1:30-3:30 PM.
OLM Parish Services works in conjunction with the OLM St. Vincent DePaul Conference. Together, we seek to identify and service the needs of parishioners by providing food, clothing, and shelter on an emergency basis. We work together with appropriate community services and agencies to develop a permanent plan towards stabilizing an individual and/or family situation.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Every Saturday from 4:00 to 4:40 PM, and every Thursday before First Friday from 4:30-5:30 PM in the Upper Church.
Our Lady of Mercy's Adult Choir
Our Adult Choir ministers at various weekend Masses, including the 5:00 PM on Saturday, the 10:30 AM on Sunday, and the 12 Noon on Sunday. These Masses are rotated every month. The choir sings on weekends, starting in September through June. New members from High School and older are most welcome. The choir also sings at special Liturgical functions during the year including the Christmas Eve Liturgy and the Easter Triduum services. In addition to the liturgical functions of the parish, the choir has participated in choir events throughout the Diocese. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday afternoons from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM in the upper church, or on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM in the upper church. Contact Mr. Pual Eschenauer at 516-681-1228 x252, or peschenauer@olmrcc.org for more information.
Our Lady of Mercy's Children's Choir
Children from Grade 1 through Grade 8 are encouraged to join the Children's Choir. The Chidren's Choir sings regularly at the bi-monthly Family Mass at 10:30 AM, and at special events held in the parish. Rehearsals are held in our school building in the Music Room (Room 110), on Wednesdays after school from 2:55 PM to 3:30 PM. A second rehearsal is held on Wednesdays from 4:15 PM to 4:45 PM, for the children who cannot attend the first rehearsal. If your child plays an instrument, especially the recorder, we can also use their talents. Children will be taught to play the Handbells if they are interested. Call Mr. Paul Eschenauer at 516-681-1228 x252, or peschenauer@olmrcc.org for more information.
Hand Bell Choir
Our Lady of Mercy is pleased to announce that we are purchasing a three octave set of Handbells, graciously donated by our parishioners and several parish organizations. Anyone interested in becoming a ringer should contact Mr. Jim Murano at 516 931 4351.
Columbiettes
Second Thursday of the month at 8 pm in the school cafeteria.
OLM Folk Group -- One Heart, One Spirit
One Heart, One Spirit, the title of its first album, has been the theme of OLM Folk Group since its formation in July, 1968, with a dozen high school students, two adults and a seminarian. Started initially as a relevant form of worship for teens of the '60s, the group eventually reached a member-ship of 117, giving witness to the zeal and spirit of OLM youth as they offered their prayer in song. Over the past decades, the folk liturgy at OLM has progressed from hymns of the protest years to classical and contemporary liturgical compositions, each hymn chosen in keeping with the celebration of the liturgy of the day. Though the nature of the Folk Group has changed dramatically over the years, with its membership now spanning three generations, its thrust has never changed. The goal of its members as leaders in song is to enhance the liturgy while contributing to the spiritual growth of its members and all parishioners who join them in celebration of the Holy Eucharist every Sunday at 9:00 A.M. Meetings on Sunday directly after the 9 AM Mass in the school Arts Room. New members welcomed!
OLM Rock Group
The Rock Group leads the people in musical praise at the 5:30 PM Mass on Sundays. They rehearse on Monday evenings in the Lower Church from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. Anyone interested in joining should contact Mr. Al Margiotta at 516 935 4336.
OLM School Board
“The Diocesan Board of Catholic Education has recommended the formation of a School Board in every parish of the diocese which has an elementary or secondary parochial school. The parish School Board will serve to bring the priests, religious, and laity together in a cooperative effort to meet the problems facing our Catholic shools today and to seek practical and lasting solutions.” (Letter to pastors, April 8, 1968 from His Excellency Walter P. Kellenberg) Mercy’s Parish School Board assists and advises the Pastor and Principal in creating and implementing policies that assure the smooth and effective running of Our Lady of Mercy Parish School. Within the school, an unusually high number of exceptional religious teachers are complemented by an excellent lay faculty all of whom are dedicated to instilling in our children the highest standards of learning skills and habits within the moral atmosphere of Christian living. The Board membership has three categories: ex-officio, appointed and elected by the parish. Visit the OLM School Web Site.
OLM Parish Council
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Council is composed of clergy, religious and laity who meet to help plan for the common good of the parish. It functions as an instrument or vehicle to counsel for definition of goals, determination of policies, and execution of programs in all matters pertaining to the spiritual and temporal welfare of the parish. It provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and, under the direction of the pastor, acts to assist the whole parish family in making the gospel known. The Council consists of a maximum of 22 members: ex-officio (Pastor, Assistant Pastors, Principal of the School, one representative elected by the religious community, Chairman of the School Board, and the President of the Religious Education Executive Board), appointed by the Pastor (up to 3), and elected (9 elected adults and 2 teens).
Adult Singles
Widowed, divorced, separated and singles support each other and strengthen their spiritual lives, enjoy friendship and social activities. This group forms a community that addresses their unique needs through speakers, trips and mutual understanding. They meet on the second Monday of each month (except July and August) in the Convent basement at 8 pm. Ages 50 and older.
Hicksville Senior Citizens
Share fellowship, mutual concerns and good times. They play bingo and have many trips throughout the year take members to Atlantic City, beaches and parties. Seniors meet Mondays from 11-3 at the Bethpage Senior Center. Contact Joan for more information at 938-4261.
Holy Name Society
2nd Sunday Corporate Mass and Communion. Membership meeting Monday 7:30 PM in the school cafeteria. Visit the Holy Name Web Site
Joseph Lamb Knights of Columbus
and Columbian Squires
1st and 3rd Thursday at 8 PM in the school cafeteria. Columbian Squires - Jr. Knights under 17 . C.J. Circle#1976 meets 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 6:45 PM in the school cafeteria.
Our Lady of Mercy Council Knights of Columbus
The Knights are Catholic gentlemen who are committed to the exemplification of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism, and defense of the priesthood. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 8 PM in the School Cafeteria. For more information contact Grand Knight Rich Zavada at 822-3686.
Legion of Mary
Tuesdays at 10 AM - Lower Church. First Saturday Fatima Devotions at 8:40 AM
Nocturnal Adoration
Monthly vigils . Traditional Society prayers at 8 and a silent hour of prayer at 9. All are welcome. 4th Saturday from 8-10 PM- Lower Church
Alcoholics Anonymous
Our Lady of Mercy’s group is called “First Things First,” and features an open meeting each Friday from 8:00- 10:15 P.M. and a closed meeting on Sunday from 7:00 - 8:00 P.M. in the convent basement for those who can benefit from this successful 12-step program. There is also a "Our Own Group" meeting every Monday from 4:30 -5:30 and a Step Meeting every Thursday from 4:30-5:30 PM. An Al-Anon group is also available.
AL-ANON
Adult children. Meets Friday Evenings from 7:30-10:00 in the school cafeteria.
Right To Life Committee
The Right To Life Committee’s primary objective is to promote the sacredness of all human life from the moment of conception until natural death, with particular emphasis on the evils of abortion and euthanasia.
They frequently form a prayerful presence at the local abortion mills, especially emphasizing praying of the rosary. They have conducted a very successful Adopt-a-Baby Prayer Program in the parish, with the many hundreds of baby shower gifts that were donated being distributed to local crisis pregnancy centers. Call 931-4351.
Rosary Altar Society
Our society meets the first Monday of each month in the school auditorium at 7:30 pm from October through June (except January). [During Advent and Lent an alternate date is chosen.] The society seeks to enrich the spiritual lives of its members through community programs, corporal works of mercy, and other endeavors that offer socialization and entertainment for the women of the parish.
We encourage members to attend our 9:00am Corporate Mass on the first Sunday of every month. All women of the parish are invited to join us as members of the society.
For further information, please contact any of the following:
Sherry Abt: sasabt@optonline.net
Maura Farrell: connerton24@aol.com
Janie Dzurilla janiedz@optonline.net
Mary Twiname: mtfrog@optonline.net
Marianne Baird: embee2002@optonline.net
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Contact the Rectory at 931-4351 for informaton.
Thrift Boutique
Mon - Sat from 9:30 -1:00 . East basement of Rectory.
Youth Council
3rd Thursday at 8 PM in OLM School - Room 203.
Families Anonymous
Families Anonymous assists families in which one member is “in trouble” and in need of help and support from other families who have similar problems. From experience, this group has learned that when a family receives help, the troubled individual in the family also receives help.
Families Anonymous holds weekly discussion meetings for concerned relatives and friends. Families receive helpful pamphlets and guidelines, as well as phone numbers to call, -- anytime. Members make new friends who know just what a worried relative is experiencing because they’ve “been there” themselves. It is specialized help for the concerned relative or friend.
There are no fees or dues, and no formal sign-up. Visitors are welcome. Meetings are Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM in OLM School classroom 201.
Emotions Anonymous
This twelve-step program addresses the needs of its members in the area of emotions and feeling, including problems labeled as mental illnesses. It focuses on the development of the coping skills necessary to becoming a contributing member of society. Guest speakers share their experiences, and members come together to help each other and themselves. The program assists the members in developing a good spiritual base for their lives. The group meets weekly, and you may join at any time. Thursdays from 8-10 PM in the Convent Basement.
Dialogue\Newsletter
The Dialogue is a monthly publication for news, information and events of interest to the parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy. We welcome the contribution of articles by any group or individual of the parish.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
This comprehensive and dynamic program focuses on individuals seeking to convert to the Catholic Faith but is also appropriate for: those contemplating converting to the Catholic Faith but are unsure of the decision, those who would like to know more about the teachings of the Catholic Faith, Catholics who have never received the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and/or Confirmation, Catholics who need to learn about any aspect of Catholic teaching (in particular, parents who bear the reponsibility of raising children in the Catholic Faith), Catholics who have difficulty or disagree with any Catholic teachings, Catholics who have been challenged by other faiths and do not have sufficient background to defend the Catholic Faith, and lastly, those who feel that they could benefit from this program, but do not fit into any of the above categories. Individuals can offer their time and talent as teachers, guest speakers or assisting with detail work. Contact the Rectory for more information.
Charismatic Prayer Group
Our Lady of Mercy Prayer Group is one of the oldest in existence in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. It focuses on Holiness, works of mercy, evangelization and community. Using the theme “The Light of the World,” it strives to achieve these goals. Tuesdays at 7:30 PM in the Lower Church.
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Updated September 12, 2007
