For Mercy’s Sake
A quarterly newsletter of the parish of Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church
May 2015
837 Bartlett Road,
Harborcreek, PA 16421
www.ourladyofmercychurch.org
814/899-5342
The Feast of Pentecost
~May 24, 2015~
Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit,
calls up the image of wind that rushes ,
flames that leap,
and disciples that are inspired to go out from
the upper room fearlessly.
Scripture tells us that this is the moment that gave birth to the Church. Pentecost brings the
Easter season to a grand and fiery close.
The Holy Spirit lavishes us with gifts which empower us as followers of Jesus to take up his
mission and make it ours.
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord
are gifts which help us to continue Jesus’ work in our world.
Pentecost is our Birthday.
As part of the Universal Church, the Community of Our Lady of Mercy
celebrates being Church.
To acknowledge our oneness in the Spirit
all parishioners are asked to wear ‘red’ on the Feast of Pentecost.
As included in our Mission Statement, may we be “empowered by the Holy Spirit to live the
values of Jesus in a prayerful, welcoming, and nurturing environment”.
Inside this
Issue:
The Feast of Pentecost…………………...Page 1
The Gift of Love….....……………….….….Page 2
Ceremony of Remembrance…...………Page 3
CSA 2015 Report …………………………..Page 3
Just a Thought………………………….…..Page 3
Debt Service………………………………..Page 3
First Eucharist………………………………..Page 4
Eucharist Q&A…………………..………….Page 4
New Members……………………………Page 4
Knightly News…………………………….Page 5
Family Scavenger Hunt……………......Page 5
Old Fashioned Picnic…...………….…..Page 6
RCIA……………..…………………….…..Page 6
Pastoral Council Request…..…….……Page 7
Summer Festival………………………….Page 8
Family Pancake Breakfast……………..Page 8
THE GIFT OF LOVE
by
Ed Jackson
Have you ever stopped to think about it;
how sad life would be to try to live without it?
How empty and meaningless would be every day
- we wouldn't even have a reason to pray;
To think that somehow our efforts could be
- the answer to someone else's plea,
To understand that what we do or don't
- will it really matter or maybe it won'tBut still we try no matter what
- and somehow give it all we've got,
what makes us want to be this way,
to live our lives with heart every day?
It's a wondrous gift we've all been given
- from our gracious God in His heaven,
For God loves us so that He sent us His son
-to show us how much He loves everyone;
So what have you done with the gifts you've been given
- are you sure you have gained a place in His heaven?
So live each day like it might be your last
- and forget the mistakes made in the past,
For there's nothing that we can do today
- that can change what we did in our yesterday.
So try to remember as you start out each day,
that God gave us love to brighten the wayto lighten the load of everyday strife
- as we travel down our road of life;
so always remember your gifts from above
and always treasure God’s gifts of love.
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Ceremony of Remembrance for Our Loved Ones
Monday, May 18th at 7 pm the Grief Ministry will host a ceremony for
us to celebrate family members who have died. There will be a special
ritual and an opportunity to express our love to those we have lost.
The Grief Ministry hosts a regular support group and works with people
on an individual basis. To contact the Grief Ministry call Donna Clark
in the parish office.
CSA - 2015 Report
————————
Once again thank you for
your generous support of the
2015 Catholic Services Appeal.
As of April 26, 2015 we have received 193
pledges in the amount of $89,445.
This will go a long way to help meet the
$99,749 we need to pay our 2015 Appeal
goal of $54,421 and to continue servicing
our parish loan, for which we have a $45,328
annual obligation.
In the 2014 appeal we received 219 pledges
in the amount of $94,418.
If you have not yet made a pledge, it is not to
late to do so. Forms can be found on the
bulletin tables or call the office.
There is no gift too small.
Just a thought...
In talking to some older parishioners about the
Catholic Services Appeal, they felt bad that they
were unable to help or make a pledge because
they are on a fixed income and didn’t know what
the future would hold for them.
They were looking for a way to help the parish.
Here is the thought…
How about including Our Lady
of Mercy in your will?
This way, you are assured that
while you need your money
you will have it and you will still
be able to leave something to
your parish later .
Debt Service for April 2015
Amount paid in Interest & Principal -$3,777.29
Our Current Debt Balance - $120,058.72
Our Debt Balance for April 2014 was $161,909.83
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Congratula ons! Congratulations to all our young people
who have celebrated their First
Eucharist this month.
Leah Corey
Connor DeVore
Sarah Dorosch
Kayla Forsythe
Madison Giambrone
Seth Goodman
Josephine Hicks
Sydney Kisiel
Kayla Kohut
Alexander Lunger
Shania Martin
Cianna Mazur
Kiersten Redford
Lynzey Reinsel
Hannah Smith
Georgia Weber
Morgan Wilhelm
Question & Answer
Question: Why does Our Lady of Mercy
celebrate First Eucharist at a regular Sunday
Mass?
Answer: Our Lady of
Mercy celebrates First
Eucharist at a regular
weekend Mass because as
with all special celebrations,
we celebrate with family
and friend. Since First
Eucharist is a religious family celebration, we
celebrate it with our parish family and your
family at the Mass you usually attend with
your parish family.
It can be easy to think of First Eucharist as this
special ceremony that we only enjoy once in
our lives. After all, we usually dress up, invite
guests and mark the day with a party. With all
the excitement, we can forget that the day is
special only because it is the first time we do
something that will now be a part of our lives
every week from now on. Celebrating First
Eucharist in a regular weekend Mass reminds
us that we need to be here, coming to the
Eucharistic table week after week, that every
Sunday is also very, very special.
Welcome to Our New Members!
If you live near these new parishioners, please send a card or stop to say hello.
Annemarie Massella
1938 Depot Rd
Harborcreek, PA 16421-1539
Christine & Patrick Saber
4009 Magnolia Blossom Drive
Erie, PA 16510-6649
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Upcoming K Of C Scholarships
Knightly
News
22nd ANNUAL GOLF & SPORTS RAFFLE
On Friday, May 15th, our Knights of Columbus will
hold the 22nd annual Golf Raffle in Sperry Hall from
6-11pm. This is our major fundraiser for our parish.
Grand Prize will be a six day Royal Caribbean Cruise
for two to Bermuda! Other prizes include golf memberships, sets of clubs, day golf passes, Steelers tickets, a
sailing charter, Seawolves passes, a day's fishing charter, a large screen TV, plus more!
Tickets are $8.00, or two for $15. Free food and refreshments are provided (Must be 21 or older to attend). Casino games, raffles, Chinese auction, cash
prizes for those in attendance, in addition to door prizes, are included. Tickets will be available at the door.
Proceeds are used to support the parish youth programs, and other parish needs. Your past support has
made this event a success, and has helped us to help
the parish. We thank you for all you've done!
As in the past, proceeds from the raffle benefit the
youth of our parish through the Religious Education
program, college scholarships for high school seniors,
and funding of trips and retreats. Parish capital projects
as well as community needs are also funded.
Our Lady of Mercy Knights of Columbus would like to
inform student parishioners that applications are available in the parish office for the Ed Cudicio Memorial
Scholarships for the 2015 school year. Any graduating
senior from OLM may apply by returning an application
along with a mandatory essay to the parish office by
June 1, 2015. Winners will be contacted by the Knights.
A portion of the proceeds from the Golf and
Sports Raffle are earmarked for these scholarships. Our
council thanks all who generously support this fundraiser.
Bingo/Pizza Night at the V.A.
Every three months, on the third Thursday of the months
of January, April, July, and October, a group of our
Knights spends some time with veterans at the V.A.
Hospital. Our council provides pizza and refreshments,
along with cash prizes to the bingo winners. The evening begins about 7 pm and lasts less than two hours.
Our council intends to continue this schedule yearly. It
is an honor to serve these gentlemen who served us
and our country to guarantee the freedom that we cherish!
Capital Fund Project
Due to the aging condition of the kitchen floor in Sperry
Hall, the Knights decided to provide assistance. In
March, the K of C provided funds from the Golf Raffle
proceeds, and the new floor was completed.
OLM SUMMER TIME FAMILY SCAVENGER HUNT 
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Are you a problem solver?..a puzzle solver?..love riddles? Keep reading and join the fun! An ac vity for the whole family, groups of friends, or something to do by yourself What are you looking for? Signs, each week a diﬀerent saint name Where are you looking? Businesses in the Harborcreek community Where will you find the clues? In the bulle n, on the OLM website, or OLM Facebook page. How do you keep track? On the provided scavenger hunt log sheet, record loca on of sign and saint name each week. How long? Signs will be available from Saturday through Friday noon. When? Begins the week of June 28 and con nues for 7 weeks. Great prizes awarded, one entry per family. For each clue found and correctly listed on the log, the family will receive a chance in the prize drawing. The more clues found, the greater chance of winning. 5
Our Lady of Mercy Church
Invites You, Your Family and Friend to
An Old Fashioned Picnic/Reunion
Noon, Sunday, June 14, 2015
OLM Picnic Pavilion (Sperry Hall—Rain Location)
Fun for the whole family! Enjoy games from the past like a sawdust dig, old time relay
races, a pick-up game of kickball or softball, water balloon toss, bocce, corn hole,
and plenty of laughs.
OLM will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, paper products and pop
Please bring lawn chairs and a dish to share
Joining Our Catholic Family Do you have questions about the Catholic faith? Have you thought about becoming a member of the
Catholic Church? Would you like to explore the possibility of being baptized? Then come and join the
members of the RCIA ministry.
Unbaptized adults or teens or those not raised in a Christian community are invited into a rich and powerful
ministry of prayer, faith-sharing, learning and reflection. This one-year (or longer if desired) process allows
participants to explore the teachings, practices and communal life of the Catholic Church so that individuals
can make an honest decision about their faith journey. Because this process requires a full year, those
considering baptism or acceptance into the Catholic Church next Easter would need to begin the process
now.
Individuals raised and well-formed in a Christian denomination other than the Catholic Church are invited to
explore the Catholic tradition and beliefs in a time-frame and context that best meets their needs. Full
reception into the Catholic Church for those baptized and steeped in the Christian faith can take place when
the individual and faith community discerns is appropriate.
Baptized adults, catholics who wish to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation may also pursue the
formation appropriate for this sacrament.
For more information, or to have your questions answered, contact Irene Lucas @ 899-6132, any member of
the parish staff @ 899-5342 or speak with a member of this parish community. All members of our parish
family are reminded that an invitation to a friend or relative can be the one word that was needed. Invite
someone you love to join our Catholic family.
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Pastoral Council Seeking
New Members
Every year the Pastoral Council seeks out parishioners
who can help us envision the future of this
community. The Pastoral Council engages in the
process of pastoral planning and helps to set the
direction of the parish community in prayer,
leadership, service and pastoral action in consultation
with the pastor and staff.
A nominee must be a parishioner who:
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Has been baptized or received into the Roman Catholic Church.
By his or her free and consistent choice is a registered member of Our Lady of Mercy Parish.
Contributes to the betterment of the parish community.
Is age 18 years or older.
We ask your prayerful consideration in nominating either yourself or another member of the
parish community. Nominations can be submitted at the display in the Gathering Space.
Thank You, Thank You
Thank you to all the volunteers who gave their time
and talent so generously during this past year serving
in the catechetical ministry. Your prayerful witness,
creativity and patience, dedication and cooperation
have been noticed with appreciation by your parish
family. Your students are grateful. The families of your
students are very grateful. The entire parish community
is truly grateful.
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Summer Festival 2015
Sunday, July 12
Dinner
Noon to 5pm.
Take out
Noon - 4pm
Games
Noon - 5pm
SAVE THE DATE for Our Lady of Mercy’s
Summer Festival and Chicken Dinner
***Games for children***
Bingo
Chicken Run, contact Peggy Williams at 814-490-5504 or
Mike Radomile at 814-431-5552
Refreshments & Fried Dough
Raffles and Chances on an iPad Mini (3rd edition,
a Keurig coffee maker
AND the $1,000 Grand Prize!
Looking to volunteer? Check out the festival sign
ups starting in June.
Have some Ideas? If you can help, please contact
our co-chair couple, Jayne Suess (972-333-3987) or
Jeff Suess, at (214-641-0667) or their home phone
(814-580-1005).
Tell your friends to mark their calendars!
Bingo
Bake Sale
Corn Hole
Games of Chance
50/50
Children’s Activities
Chinese Auction
Quilt Raffle
FAMILY PANCAKE BRUNCH
Sunday, June 7
9:30-10:30
FOR THE WHOLE
PARISH FAMILY
DONATION $1.00 per person
Please RSVP by May 31
GRADS FREE
A note to the parish community: This Family Pancake Brunch is a parish event. All members of the parish
are invited to it. The Family Pancake Brunch is not a special event for our graduates. Rather it is a time
when our family is gathered together to share a meal. This makes it a perfect time to recognize our
graduates.
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