At Our Lady of Mercy Parish, we accompany and equip parents to embrace their call to raise their children as life-long disciples of Jesus. We do this in four life-changing ways.
- We come to be transformed by Jesus in community and through the celebration of the Sacraments, where we are inspired to use our God-given gifts to serve one another as His beloved children.
- Parents hear and reflect on God’s Story of Love at on-site gatherings in the company of supportive parents while the children receive their experience of faith during the same session.
- Every family takes home a Jesus Storybook Bible that allows everyone in the family to deepen their knowledge and personal awareness of God’s saving love for them.
- With the blessing and the unique gifts of the families gathered, our table leaders, and our classroom catechists, we encounter Jesus in each other, His Word, and our living Tradition, empowering us to grow and witness our Catholic faith with Jesus’ super-abundant love.


SEEK is the first step or pathway on our journey of faith. Everyone is called to know and find meaning in our Glory Story throughout our lives. It is our sincere hope that every family will enroll in SEEK!
SEEK is about our life-changing Glory Story- the Biblical journey that mirrors our lives and reveals we are created from love and for love. It’s a drama that unfolds, showing we have been captured by sin and need a redeemer, Jesus Christ, who rescues and saves us from ourselves. Our encounter with this unimaginable love transforms us with the desire to respond and live in relationship with God who gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Church to share His supernatural gifts in community as His kingdom-builders on Earth as it already is in Heaven!
Parents, you participate and enjoy fellowship with each other as you encounter our God of love through guided discussions, activities, reflections, and witness stories- all of which serve to equip you to lead and engage your children in meaningful faith experiences at home. Meanwhile, the students are discovering the same Glory Story themes with their peers and the leadership of their classroom catechesis.
SEEK Class Schedule
Day & Time: Sunday, 11:15am-12:30pm
Dates: September 20, October 4 & 18, November 1 & 15

ROOT is a learning experience of our foundational beliefs we profess in the Creed; it is the Church’s reflection of our Glory Story! ROOT follows the SEEK series and begins in the month of November.
Parents, you will get to know the Trinity and the essential teachings of our faith contained in the Creed. You will deepen your understanding of what we believe and be empowered to share the essentials of our Catholic faith with your families. At the same time, your children, in a classroom setting, will deepen their understanding of what we believe through hands-on activities and meaningful conversations. What’s more, an at-home “ROOT Box” connects families with the previous on-site learning experience, deepening the family’s knowledge and practice of the faith.
ROOT Schedule
Day & Time: Sunday, 11:15am-12:30pm
Dates: December 6 & 20, January 10 & 24, February 7 & 21, March 7 & 21

MEND is a First Reconciliation preparation journey for families.
Families journey deeper in faith to encounter Jesus in the gift of Reconciliation. This pathway of faith typically follows SEEK and ROOT. As a MEND faith community, families will come together once a month to pray at the 4pm Mass, share in a family friendly supper, followed by a meaningful faith session that grows our love and knowledge of Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
MEND Class Schedule
Day & Time: Saturdays, 4pm-6:45pm (Includes 4pm Mass & Family Friendly Supper)
Dates: October 3, November 7, December 5
MEND at Church Support Schedule
Wednesdays
Time: 6pm-7pm, Room 208
Dates: October 7, November 11, December 9
Saturdays
Time: 9:15am-10:15am, Room 208
Dates: October 17, November 14, December 12
MEND First Reconciliation Reviews
Choose ONE of the following:
Thursday, January 14, 6pm-7pm
Wednesday, January 20, 6pm-7pm
Thursday, January 21, 6pm-7pm
First Reconciliation Celebration
Day & Time: Saturday, January 23; 11am-12pm -OR- 12:30pm-1:30pm

NOURISH is a First Communion preparation journey for families.
NOURISH allows families to journey deeper in faith by preparing to encounter Jesus in the gift of the Eucharist. This pathway of faith typically follows SEEK and ROOT. As a NOURISH faith community, families will come together three times, once a month to pray at the 4pm Mass, share in a family friendly supper, followed by a meaningful faith session that grows our love and knowledge of Jesus in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. This journey is designed to equip you as parents to teach, share faith, and pray with your children in a manner that deepens your family’s awareness of God’s real presence of love at home, and most intimately, in the celebration of the Eucharist at Mass.
NOURISH Schedule 2026-27
Day & Time: Saturdays, 4pm-6:45pm(Includes 4pm Mass & Family Friendly Supper)
Dates: February 6 & 28
NOURISH at Church Support Schedule
Wednesdays
Time: 6pm-7pm, Room 208
Dates: February 17, March 3 & 17 & 31, April 14
Saturdays
Time: 9:15am-10:15am, Room 208
Dates: February 13, March 6 & 20, April 3, April 17
NOURISH First Communion
Retreat 2027
Saturday, April 10
1pm-3:15pm
2026 First Communion Masses
Saturday, April 24 at 11am -OR-
Sunday April 25 at 2:30pm
2026 First Communion Mass
Rehearsal Schedule
Wednesday, April 21, 6-7pm for Saturday, April 25 First Communion Mass
Thursday, April 22, 6-7pmfor Sunday, April 26 First Communion Mass

MISSION READY ~ Sent
Mission Ready is another exciting formation path to Christ for the entire family. It is offered to serve families in their growing faith and follows the sacramental year, Mend & Nourish. Any family may enroll in Mission Ready who desires to put their growing knowledge of the faith into action!
Mission Ready will focus on the lives of some significant Saints. Our journey into their lives and legacy will connect us to our universal call to holiness no matter what our age and station in life. Drawing from several of God’s friends within the Communion of Saints, our storytelling and study will lead us to discover expressions of our sainthood and guide us to participate in the leadership of special parish faith events. Together, in community, we become Mission Ready!
This year’s Mission Ready will invite families on a journey of discipleship and discernment. They will grow in the habits and practices of a disciple, and be equipped to take up the mission of evangelization. Families will take concrete steps to follow after Jesus as they are sent out everyday to classrooms, sports fields, work places, living rooms, and more – where they become witnesses for others. Together, in community, and with Sent, we become Mission Ready!
Schedule
Faith Sessions
Day & Time: Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00pm
Dates: October 14, November 18, December 16, January 13, February 24
Mission Ready Families Participate & Share Leadership in these exciting K-12, Family Faith Events:
Wednesday, August 12, 5pm – School Sendoff Mass & Social
Wednesday, December 9, 6:15pm-8pm – Christmas Caroling at Local Nursing Homes
Sunday, January 3, 1pm – Epiphany Play
Wednesday, March 10, 7pm-8:45pm – Feed My Starving Children (FMSC)
Additional Family Resources & Events

Family Faith Events
In addition to our exciting pathways of family faith formation this year, we are also host a number of social Family Faith Events focused on themes of our Church Year and Catholic Tradition.
Become a Family Catechist
Are you a passionate disciple who enjoys gathering families with a heart of hospitality? Do you enjoy engaging others in faith discussions and prayer?Would you like to discover how to offer life-changing encounters of Jesus and grow disciples?
See our Contact Information below and Inquire about Becoming a Family Catechist today!
Contact Us
Mary Jo Trapani
Director of Family Faith Formation, Kindergarten – Grade 5 | OCIC
maryjot@olmercy.com
(331) 707-5378
Megan Legler
Family Faith Formation Coordinator
MegL@olmercy.com
(331) 707-5375
Lydia Schmitt
Individuals with DisABILITIES Coordinator
LydiaS@olmercy.com
(331) 707-5377
Karen Schwartz
Administrative Assistant, Family Faith Formation, Grades K-12 | OCIC
karens@olmercy.com
(331) 707-5369

