Our Lady of Mercy

About Our Lady of Mercy Parish

Our Lady of Mercy Parish is the only Catholic parish in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and one of the largest in the Diocese of Providence. The parish is described on its own website as "a vibrant and active parish in historic East Greenwich." The community worships at a mid-century modern church on Fourth Avenue that was dedicated in 1965, and its parish complex includes the church, rectory, Our Lady of Mercy School (Pre-K through Grade 8), Mercy House (Outreach offices), and St. Patrick Cemetery.

History of Our Lady of Mercy

Founded in 1853 by Bishop Bernard O'Reilly as the Church of the Holy Name, the parish was renamed Our Lady of Mercy under its third pastor. Over 170 years, seventeen pastors have served the parish, growing it from a single house-church on Main Street serving about 100 Irish Catholic families to a multi-building campus with a parish school, outreach center, and cemetery. Key milestones include the 1870 dedication of the wooden Gothic church, the 1927 marble Last Supper altar from Pietrasanta, Italy, the 1950 opening of OLM School, the 1965 dedication of the present church, and the establishment of OLM Outreach under Msgr. Sheahan in the late 1980s.

• 1853 – Fr. Patrick J. Lenihan arrives; parish founded as Church of the Holy Name.
• 1857 – Fr. Lenihan dies at age 32; parish served from Phenix for ten years.
• 1869–1870 – Fr. Thomas Kane builds and dedicates the wooden Gothic church (seating 600, $16,000); parish renamed Our Lady of Mercy.
• 1872 – Diocese of Providence established; Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken consecrated first bishop.
• 1927 – Fr. James J. Trainor installs the Pietrasanta marble Last Supper altar.
• 1950 – Fr. Francis P. Brady opens Our Lady of Mercy School with the Sisters of Mercy.
• 1965 – Auxiliary Bishop Bernard M. Kelly dedicates the present church and rectory on Fourth Avenue.
• 1986–1992 – Msgr. Richard D. Sheahan establishes OLM Outreach program.
• 2012 – Fr. Bernard A. Healey appointed seventeenth pastor by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin.

Parish Priests and Pastoral Staff

Our Lady of Mercy is served by two diocesan priests, assisted by Franciscan Apostolic Sisters (FAS), a parish and school business manager, and staff for music, faith formation, outreach, facilities, and administration. Fr. Bernard A. Healey has served as seventeenth pastor since 2012; Fr. Joseph M. Brodeur serves as Associate Pastor.

• Rev. Bernard A. Healey, S.T.L., J.C.L. — Pastor (2012–present); also Director of the RI Catholic Conference, Chaplain to RI Capitol Police and East Greenwich Police, and Dean of South County Deanery (VII).
• Rev. Joseph M. Brodeur, S.T.L. — Associate Pastor and Spiritual Director of OLM School; ordained June 29, 2024 by Bishop Henning; holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Classics from Providence College (2020) and a B.S.T. from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); previously served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Mary Parishes in Bristol.
• Sister Lourdes de León, FAS — Chief Sacristan and Parish Pastoral Assistant; Superior of the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters Convent.
• Sister Flora Tanarte, FAS — Parish and School Pastoral Assistant.
• Sister Jane P. Molitas, FAS — Parish and School Pastoral Assistant.
• Mr. David Cote — Parish and School Business Manager.
• Mrs. Sandra Demers — Administrative Assistant ([email protected]).
• Mr. Jeremy Long — Faith Formation Director ([email protected]).
• Mr. Douglas Green — Director of OLM Outreach ([email protected]; 401-884-4410).
• Mr. Henri St. Louis — Music Director and Parish Organist.
• Mrs. Shirley Medici — Children's Choir Directress.
• Mrs. Christiana Caprarelli — Cantor / Soloist.
• Mr. Paul Anderson — Director of Parish, School, Convents, and Cemetery Facilities.
• Mr. Patrick H. McNabb — School Principal ([email protected]).

OLM School (Pre-K to Grade 8)

Our Lady of Mercy School has been a cornerstone of the parish since 1950, when Fr. Francis P. Brady opened it in the basement of the church and convent with the Sisters of Mercy as the first teachers. The school moved into a new building on Fourth Avenue in January 1952 and grew so rapidly that two new wings were added in 1955. Today OLM School serves students from Pre-K through Grade 8 under Principal Patrick H. McNabb and Vice-Principal Jennifer Ellis, with a daily Catholic culture of weekly School Mass, monthly First Friday Masses, morning and afternoon prayer, prayer partners between classes, and sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. The school athletics program is known as the OLM Bulldogs.

• Weekly school-wide Mass on Wednesdays.
• Monthly First Friday Masses.
• Daily morning and afternoon prayer, weekly prayer services.
• Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
• Altar Server Ministry and Children's Choir.
• Special faith formation events: St. Francis' Blessing of the Animals, Advent Wreath Blessing, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving Baskets, May Crowning.

Faith Formation for Youth and Adults

The parish Faith Formation program, directed by Mr. Jeremy Long, supports children who do not attend the parish school in receiving the sacraments and growing in their Catholic faith. Parents are recognized as the foremost educators of their children, and the program emphasizes a collaborative effort between home and parish. Sunday Mass attendance is required for all students at every grade level.

• First Communion Program — two-year program for Grades 1 and 2; First Penance during Lent; First Communion Mass in spring of 2nd grade on the Saturday before Mother's Day, with May Crowning Mass on Mother's Day at 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.
• Confirmation Program — one-year program for 8th graders, with the Sacrament celebrated in the fall of 9th grade; mandatory annual retreat and community-service opportunities.
• Family Faith Formation — mandatory family classes for parents of First Communion and Confirmation students; open to other families as well.
• OLM Family Group — supports families in their Catholic faith through spiritual and social events.
• Adult and parent formation offered alongside youth programs.
• Registration fee: $50 per child.

Outreach and Social Action

OLM Outreach Services, directed by Mr. Douglas Green, is one of the major ministries of the parish and a hallmark of its pastoral history. Based at Mercy House (57 Second Street), the outreach team lives out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy by connecting the generosity of parishioners with the needs of the local community. The OLM School's "4 for 4" program has students bring a non-perishable food item each week of the school year to stock the pantry. The parish also sponsors an annual Backpack Drive supporting students at St. Patrick Parish and School in Providence.

• OLM Food Pantry — non-perishable items collected weekly at the front entrance of the church; food distributed from Mercy House.
• Clothing Collection — accepts jackets, slacks, shirts, blouses, shoes, bedding, blankets, towels.
• Holiday Gift Baskets — prepared by volunteers for families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Monetary donations and $10 grocery gift cards accepted for milk and eggs not stored at the pantry.
• OLM Bereavement Support Group — meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month at Mercy House for adults experiencing grief, loss, or isolation.
• Annual Backpack Drive supporting St. Patrick Parish and School in Providence.

Music Ministry

Our Lady of Mercy maintains a robust music ministry under Music Director and Parish Organist Henri M. St. Louis, with Christiana Caprarelli serving as cantor and Shirley Medici directing the Children's Choir. The Music Ministry Office can be reached at 401-884-4968 or [email protected], and the Children's Choir is integrated into OLM School's faith life.

• Adult Choir and cantors for weekend and Holy Day Masses.
• Children's Choir directed by Mrs. Shirley Medici ([email protected]).
• Music supports school liturgies, including weekly School Mass on Wednesdays and monthly First Friday Masses.

Sacraments at OLM

The parish prepares Catholics of all ages for the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and the Rite of Christian Burial are all coordinated through the parish office, with guidelines and requirements posted online. Sacramental preparation for children is offered both through OLM School and through the Faith Formation program.

• Baptism — preparation required for parents; contact the parish office.
• First Reconciliation and First Communion — through 2nd-grade Faith Formation; First Confession scheduled during Lent.
• Confirmation — through 8th-grade Faith Formation; celebrated in fall of 9th grade.
• Marriage — guidelines and requirements posted; contact the parish office to begin preparation.
• Rite of Christian Burial (Funerals) — all baptized are entitled; contact the parish office.
• Anointing of the Sick — available on request.

St. Patrick Cemetery

St. Patrick Cemetery is the parish cemetery established in the 1850s by founding pastor Fr. Patrick J. Lenihan, who purchased four lots on Sixth Avenue for that purpose. According to oral tradition, the cemetery was named in his honor. The cemetery office can be reached at 401-886-5296, and the parish notes that the staff assists with committal services throughout the year. Fr. James J. Trainor (1926–1943) made continued improvements to the cemetery during his pastorate.

• Established by founding pastor Fr. Patrick J. Lenihan in the 1850s.
• Named St. Patrick's in honor of Fr. Lenihan by oral tradition.
• Cemetery office phone: 401-886-5296; email [email protected].

Contact, Location, and Office Hours

Our Lady of Mercy Parish is located at 65 3rd Street, East Greenwich, Rhode Island 02818. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and is closed on Fridays during June, July, and August. Several specialized offices share the parish phone system, including the school, outreach, faith formation, music ministry, and St. Patrick Cemetery.

• Parish Address: 65 3rd Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818.
• Rectory Office: 401-884-4968; Fax: 401-884-1415.
• Email: [email protected].
• OLM School: 401-884-1618.
• Outreach Services: 401-884-4410.
• Faith Formation: 401-884-4968.
• Music Ministries: 401-884-4968.
• St. Patrick Cemetery: 401-886-5296.