Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church

What Can We Do to Bring Loved Ones to the Faith?

¨ Pray, not just “Lord please bring my loved one to You” but put real skin in the game. Real and
    significant chunks of time. This is about your loved one’s ETERNITY pray like it.
¨ Fast, if you can from food or, at the bare minimum from various favorite things.
¨ Ramp up your own prayer life and be seen regularly sacrificing pleasures and convenience for the      faith, so it’s obvious you are invested fully in your faith.
¨ Make efforts to know the faith better so you can answer questions WHEN they ask.
¨ Invite them to faith activities even if it is just praying a rosary with you.
¨ Often ask God to bring them someone they will listen to, a friend, peer or colleagues.
¨ Never quit or give up.
¨ Pray with others for them.
¨ Offer your reception of the Eucharist for them.
¨ Offer your pains and suffering, even the ones that eventually take your life, for their conversion.

        Praise be to God,
        Father Dawson
                       

Attached is the kids' bulletin for the week of October 1st. Please print it and share with your children and grandchildren. Enjoy!
Click on this link to open: Kids' Bulletin
 

Find out how much Jesus loves us when we go to Mass and receive the Eucharist in this inspiring video!         

We, the people of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Plainville, Connecticut are committed to journey together as a community of faith, hope, and love within the Catholic tradition.  We are called to witness to the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives through sharing and celebration of faith and a life of Christian Service.

Dear Padre,

My neighbor is a fundamentalist Christian. He said I won't be "saved" unless I accept Jesus as my personal savior.  Didn't Jesus become my savior when I was baptized?

Your neighbor is probably referring to John 3:7, when Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born anew."  Jesus is talking about a spiritual rebirth; we must have a spiritual birth in order to be saved.

As you have correctly noted, Catholics believe this happens at baptism. In John 3:5, Jesus says, "No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit."

We are saved by the waters of baptism. But for Catholics, it's not merely a one-time event.  We continue to accept or reject the salvation offered us by the decisions we make every day.

Your neighbor used the words "personal savior."  Catholic Christians go even deeper through the sacraments.  We develop and nurture a very personal relationship with Jesus by regularly receiving the Eucharist.  In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we admit we have sinned and ask Jesus to forgive us.  And in the Sacrament of Confirmation, our relationship is "sealed" with the gifts of the Spirit.  

Many Catholics also celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage. The couple's personal relationship with Jesus is deepened through the love the couple shares.

So tell your neighbor you are indeed saved by Jesus.  And because you are saved, you deepen that relationship with Jesus by living a sacramental life.

Fr. Patrick Keyes, CSSR

Weekend Masses
Saturday Vigil  - 4:00 p.m. 
Sunday -  8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m., Liturgy of the Word for Children is celebrated at the 10:30 a.m. Mass

Week Masses
Monday - Saturday 8:00 a.m.
No Mass Celebrated on Wednesdays
       
Confession are celebrated this week at 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays
For an Examination of Conscience go here. 

The Office is Located at:
19 South Canal Street,
Plainville, CT 06062
Office Hours are 
Monday - Thursday:
     9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., afternoons by appointment only

The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, October 9th in observance of Columbus Day.
 
Phone:  860-747-6825
Fax:  860-747-5407
Email: olmct@sbcglobal.net