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Family Faith Formation (K-5)

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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 Schedule

Day & Time: Sunday, 11:15am-12:30pm
Dates: September 21, October 5 & 19, November 2


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: November 16 & 30, December 7, January 11 & 25, February 8 & 22, March 8


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 25, November 22, December 6

MEND at Church Support Schedule

Wednesdays

Time: 6pm-7pm, Room 208
Dates: November 5 & 19, December 10

Saturdays

Time: 9:15am-10:15am, Room 208
Dates: November 8 & 15, December 13

MEND First Reconciliation Reviews

Choose ONE of the following:
Thursday, January 15, 6pm-7pm
Wednesday, January 21, 6pm-7pm
Thursday, January 22, 6pm-7pm

First Reconciliation Celebration

Day & Time: Saturday, January 24; 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 2025-26

Day & Time: Saturdays, 4pm-6:45pm (Includes 4pm Mass & Family Friendly Supper)
Dates: February 14 & 28

NOURISH at Church Support Schedule

Wednesdays

Time: 6pm-7pm, Room 208
Dates: February 11 & 25, March 11 & 25, April 15

Saturdays

Time: 9:15am-10:15am, Room 208
Dates: February 14 & 21, March 14 & 28, April 18


NOURISH First Communion
Retreat 2026

Saturday, April 11
1pm-4pm

2026 First Communion Masses

Saturday, April 25 at 11am -OR-
Sunday April 26 at 2:30pm

2026 First Communion Mass
Rehearsal Schedule

Wednesday, April 22, 6-7pm for Saturday, April 25 First Communion Mass

Thursday, April 23, 6-7pm for Sunday, April 26 First Communion Mass


MISSION READY ~ Saints in Action

Mission Ready is another exciting formation path to Christ for the entire family. It is offered to serve families in their growing faith and may follow the sacramental year, Mend & Nourish. Any family may enroll in Mission Ready who desires to put their growing knowledge of the faith into action!

This year’s 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 three special parish faith events. Together, in community, we become Mission Ready!

Schedule

Faith Sessions

Day & Time: Sundays, 9:05am-9:55am
Dates: September 21, October 5 & 19, November 16 & 30, December 7, February 8 & 22, March 8, April 19, May 3

Mission Ready Families Participate & Share Leadership in these exciting  K-12, Family Faith Events:

Saturday, November 1, Noon-3:15pm – Saints & Sweets

Monday, December 15, 6:15pm-8pm – Christmas Caroling at Local Nursing Homes

Saturday, May 24, 5:30pm-7pm – Holy Spirit Gifts & Talents Celebration
This faith event follows the 4pm Mass and begins with a Family Simple Supper.


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