About Our Lady of Mercy · Harborcreek, Pennsylvania
Our Lady of Mercy Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, just outside Erie, within the Diocese of Erie. Founded in 1946, the parish grew from a humble mission chapel serving the Sisters of St. Joseph at the Harborcreek Training School for Boys (established 1911), and was formally erected as a parish under Father William Hastings. Today the parish celebrates Mass on Saturday evenings, Sunday mornings, and weekdays, and is served by a pastor, a permanent deacon, and a large lay staff who coordinate lifelong faith formation, music and liturgy, youth ministry, a food pantry, small Christian communities, and a wide range of family and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mercy (the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Mercy)
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Kujawinski (Pastor since October 18, 2022)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mercy is a mid-sized, family-friendly parish in Harborcreek with a strong Eucharistic identity and a deep bench of lay ministries. Beyond weekend and weekday Mass, parishioners can join one of several Small Christian Communities (Steel Magnolias, Sophia's Circle, Wild Hope, Angels in Training, Potter's Clay), the OLM Pickleball Club, the Parish Book Group, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Grief Support (third Wednesday of each month), and Healing Ministry. Lifelong Faith Formation (since 1995) and a Youth Minister support every age group, and a parish-run Food Pantry Distribution and Hospital / Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound keep the parish rooted in outreach. The parish is also a pioneer of the small faith community model and welcomes new members through an active FlockNote, YouTube, and Facebook presence.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45–4:15 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Daytime Prayer Line (Donna): 814-899-9108
- Evening Prayer Line (Gerri): 814-490-9681
- (No public perpetual adoration schedule published; the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the chapel of the catechetical center)
Our Story: A Parish Grown From a Farmhouse Chapel
Our Lady of Mercy began on the grounds of the Harborcreek Training School, where a room in one of the farmhouses served as a chapel for the Sisters of St. Joseph beginning in 1911. Neighbors slowly started coming to Mass, and by 1925 the chapel was declared a mission of St. Peter Cathedral. On May 4, 1946, with the appointment of Father William Hastings, the chapel community was formally constituted as a parish. The parish community grew so quickly that by 1948 the congregation had overflowed into the school gym, where Mass continued until the first church was completed on Easter Sunday 1954. The parish marked its 50th anniversary on the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy in September 1996 and, looking ahead to a new century, embraced the restructuring of itself into small faith communities.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led today by Father Matthew Kujawinski, who began as pastor on October 18, 2022, and is assisted by permanent deacon Paul Barko (assigned to Our Lady of Mercy in June 2021). Irene Lucas has directed Lifelong Faith Formation at the parish since 1995. A seasoned staff handles day-to-day parish life: music and liturgy, youth ministry, business administration, and maintenance.
- Rev. Matthew Kujawinski — Pastor
- Deacon Paul Barko — Deacon Assistant (since June 2021)
- Irene Lucas — Director of Lifelong Faith Formation (since 1995)
- Nick Heise — Youth Minister / Parish Impact Coordinator (since July 2023)
- Brandon Vogt — Director of Music and Liturgy (returned July 2023)
- Katie Stephenson — Administrative Assistant
- Sue Berdis — Business Administrator (joined February 2024)
- Kirk Mientkiewicz — Maintenance Coordinator (since 2000)
- Rochelle Edwards — Faith Formation Secretary
Lifelong Faith Formation
The Lifelong Faith Formation ministry, coordinated by Irene Lucas, envisions accompanying parishioners on a lifelong journey of faith, with special attention to youth, young adults, and families. Activities include evaluating existing formational opportunities, innovating new programs, hosting family events throughout the year, and growing a ministry to young adults. The planning team meets monthly on the third Tuesday and oversees a program roughly every four to six weeks.
- Family Faith Formation
- Religious Education (pre-K through 6th grade)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Vacation Bible School (annual)
- Youth Ministry
- Lifelong Faith Formation Council (monthly planning meeting)
Small Christian Communities (SCCs)
Our Lady of Mercy was a pioneer of the small faith community movement in the Diocese of Erie. After attending a workshop by Fr. Art Baranowski on restructuring parishes into small communities, the parish was the only one to follow through and develop a CORE Team and trained facilitators — a model later shared with other parishes. Today several SCCs meet throughout the week for shared faith, study, and support.
- Steel Magnolias SCC
- Sophia's Circle SCC
- Wild Hope SCC
- Angels In Training SCC
- Potter's Clay SCC
Music & Liturgy
Music and liturgical preparation are directed by Brandon Vogt, who returned to the parish in July 2023 as Director of Music and Liturgy. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin with a liturgical ministry schedule, and welcomes volunteers to read, serve, or sing.
- Director of Music and Liturgy: Brandon Vogt
- Liturgical ministry schedule coordinated through the parish office
- Children's Liturgy of the Word leaders always needed
Pastoral Care & Outreach
Beyond the sanctuary, Our Lady of Mercy runs a number of pastoral and outreach ministries. A monthly Food Pantry Distribution helps feed neighbors, while a Hospital Ministry and Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound bring the Eucharist to parishioners who are sick or elderly. The parish also publishes weekday prayer lines so that anyone can request prayer by phone, and a Healing Ministry gathers on Sundays after Mass.
- Food Pantry Distribution
- Hospital Ministry (visitors trained and rotated)
- Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound
- Healing Ministry (Sunday 10:30 a.m.)
- Daytime Prayer Line: Donna — 814-899-9108
- Evening Prayer Line: Gerri — 814-490-9681
Parish Groups & Fellowship
The parish calendar is full of lay-led gatherings that mix fellowship, faith, and fun: a Prayer Shawl Ministry that knits and prays for those in need, an active OLM Pickleball Club (which meets several times weekly), a Painting/Crafting Group, and an OLM Book Group.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- OLM Pickleball Club
- OLM Book Group
- Painting/Crafting Group
- Grief Support Group (third Wednesday)
Sacraments
Our Lady of Mercy prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments through its parish and Lifelong Faith Formation programs. The parish's baptismal register dates back to 1925 (George Knecht, baptized March 8, 1925), and the parish has kept a continuous 'Book of Life' since becoming a mission of St. Peter Cathedral that year. The first recorded marriage was on June 22, 1929 (William E. Boniger and Margaret Whitford).
- Baptism
- Marriage
- First Communion & Confirmation (through Faith Formation)
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturday 3:45 p.m. or by appointment
- Anointing / Pastoral Care (on request)
- Eucharist to the Homebound
Visit, Connect & Stay Informed
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the rectory and church on Bartlett Road. The parish bulletin (published weekly on the website), FlockNote email list, Facebook page, and YouTube channel keep parishioners and friends informed and connected — including live-streamed Mass.
- Parish Office: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Facebook: facebook.com/ourladyofmercyharborcreek
- YouTube: youtube.com/@OurLadyofMercyHarborcreek (livestream)
- FlockNote: olmharborcreek.flocknote.com
- Weekly bulletin posted at ourladyofmercychurch.org
History Timeline
- 1911 — Harborcreek Training School founded by Msgr. Herman Clement Weinker; Mass celebrated in a farmhouse chapel by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
- 1925 — Our Lady of Mercy becomes a mission of St. Peter Cathedral; first baptism George Knecht (March 8, 1925).
- 1927 — Fr. Walter Conway arrives; September founding of the Altar Society.
- 1929 — First parish marriage celebrated by Fr. Conway.
- 1939 — Fr. Conway asks Bishop Gannon for parochial mission status.
- 1943 — Fr. Leonard Kuziora named superintendent.
- May 4, 1946 — Fr. William Hastings becomes first Rector; parish formally established.
- 1948 — Congregation outgrows the chapel; Mass moves to the school gym.
- 1952 — Property purchased from Albert and Ida Hadberg on Bartlett Road.
- 1953 — Approval for the first parish building; architect Oscar Brenot designs a 404-seat chapel/catechetical center.
- Easter 1954 — First Mass celebrated in the new church.
- 1961 — Fr. James Sperry becomes pastor (October 12).
- 1966 — Rectory completed; ties with Harborcreek School for Boys dissolved; first full-time resident pastor.
- September 1996 — 50th anniversary celebrated on the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy.
- October 18, 2022 — Fr. Matthew Kujawinski installed as current pastor.
- 2016 — Designated a Jubilee Church for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Herman Clement Weinker1911 –
First diocesan superintendent of schools; founded the Harborcreek Training School where Mass was first celebrated in a farmhouse chapel.
- Fr. Walter Conway1927 – 1943
Came to Harborcreek Training School in 1927; celebrated the first marriage at Our Lady of Mercy (1929); wrote Bishop Gannon in 1939 asking to establish the chapel as an independent mission. Performed 98 baptisms in 16 years.
- Fr. Leonard Kuziora1943 – 1946
Named superintendent of Harborcreek Training School in 1943; performed 30 baptisms in three years.
- Rev. William Hastings1946 – 1961
On May 4, 1946 became first Rector of Our Lady of Mercy; oversaw the building of the first church (Easter 1954). Transferred to St. Stephen's, Oil City on October 12, 1961.
- Rev. James Sperry1961 –
Succeeded Father Hastings on October 12, 1961; also superintendent of Harborcreek School for Boys; performed 438 baptisms in his first ten years. First full-time resident pastor once the 1966 rectory was complete.
- Rev. Matthew Kujawinski2022 – present
Current pastor; has served Our Lady of Mercy Parish since October 18, 2022.