About Our Lady of Mercy · Mercedes, Texas
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 322 South Vermont Avenue in Mercedes, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. It is a parish of the Diocese of Brownsville within the Weslaco Deanery, and is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Hidalgo County, tracing its origin to 1909. The parish serves a bilingual congregation, offering Mass in both English and Spanish, and is currently led by Rev. Jean Olivier M. Sambu. Known locally as the 'Mother Church' of Mercedes, Our Lady of Mercy has given rise to seven other Catholic churches in the region and continues to anchor the faith life of the city through its religious education program, ministries, and active devotional life.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mercy
- Rector
- Rev. Jean Olivier M. Sambu (effective July 1, 2012)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brownsville (Weslaco Deanery)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mercy is the historic 'mother church' of Mercedes and a bilingual parish where every Catholic is welcomed at Mass in English or Spanish, four times each weekend. The parish offers a full sacramental life — daily Mass, Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration with Vespers and Benediction, weekly confessions, weddings, baptisms, and a year-round Religious Education (CCE) program for grades 1 through 12 plus RCIA for adults and RCIC for children. With ministries ranging from the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters of the Americas to the food bank, choir, lectors, sacristans, and home visiting of the sick, parishioners of every age and language have a way to serve.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM (per Diocese of Brownsville parish finder)
- Wednesdays 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM in Church (per parish website)
- Or by appointment — contact the parish office
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 7:30 AM, concluding with Vespers and Benediction at 6:30 PM
Parish Identity and Diocese
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Brownsville, assigned to the Weslaco Deanery, and located in the heart of Mercedes, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. It is a bilingual parish serving both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics, with four Sunday Masses, three weekday Masses, and an active devotional and sacramental life.
- Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville
- Deanery: Weslaco Deanery
- Rite: Roman (Latin)
- Parish founded: 1909
History of the Parish
The land for the first Our Lady of Mercy church was donated by the Capisallo Land Company to the Oblate Fathers in 1908. The original church on Hidalgo Street was dedicated in February 1909, and Rev. Enrique Janvier, OMI, became the first resident pastor in 1912. A Catholic cemetery followed in 1910, and a Sisters of Mercy parochial school served the community from 1915 to 1961. Under Father Ivor Gourmelen, OMI, a new brick church was built at the present Third and Vermont Streets location and dedicated on October 29, 1922. A Texas Historical Commission marker was placed on the property in 2012.
- 1908 — Capisallo Land Company donates land to the Oblate Fathers
- February 1909 — original church on Hidalgo Street dedicated
- 1910 — four acres donated for Catholic Cemetery
- 1912 — Rev. Enrique Janvier, OMI, first resident pastor
- 1915–1961 — Sisters of Mercy parochial school in operation
- October 29, 1922 — present brick church at Third & Vermont dedicated under Father Ivor Gourmelen, OMI
- 2012 — Texas Historical Commission marker erected (Marker No. 17248)
Religious Education & Sacraments
The parish's Continuing Christian Education (CCE) program offers religious formation for children in 1st through 12th grade, plus the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC). Classes are held in person on the parish grounds on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings during the school year. The parish also prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments of the Church.
- CCE grades 1–4 — Mondays 5:30–6:35 PM (drop-off 5:20 / pick-up 6:45)
- CCE grades 5–8 — Tuesdays 6:00–7:20 PM (drop-off 5:50 / pick-up 7:30)
- CCE grades 9–12 + RCIA + RCIC — Wednesdays 7:00–8:20 PM (drop-off 6:50 / pick-up 8:30)
- Classes begin in September; registration in August–September
- Sacraments prepared: Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick
Spiritual Resources & Ministries
Parishioners serve in a wide range of liturgical and pastoral ministries at OLM. From the sanctuary to the food bank, the parish offers ways for every age and talent to participate in the Church's life and mission. The parish's stated call is for ministers to answer God's call to serve not only the church but the community of Mercedes.
- Adoration — Leader: Rogelio Ayala; Assistant: Christopher Garza
- Altar Servers — meet last Monday of each month, 7:00 PM, Parish Hall
- Choir
- Lectors
- Ministers of Communion (Eucharistic Ministers)
- Mass Coordinators
- Greeters & Ushers
- Sacristans
- Rosary Group
- Men's ACTS
- Food Bank / Feeding the Hungry (Coordinator: George Salinas)
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) — Regent Josie V. De La Cerda; meets first Thursday of the month
- Knights of Columbus
- Home Visiting of the Sick
Devotions and Other Services
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish keeps a traditional Catholic devotional rhythm through the Angelus, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Holy Rosary, and regular Benediction. The parish also welcomes requests for funeral services, wedding ceremonies, wedding vow renewals, Holy Day observances, and new home / house blessings.
- Angelus at 12:00 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 PM
- Holy Rosary (Rosary Group)
- Benediction following Wednesday Adoration (6:30 PM)
- Funeral Services
- Wedding Ceremonies
- Wedding Vow Renewals
- Holy Day Observations
- New Home & House Blessings
Love Builds Hope / Legacy Project (Capital Campaign)
Our Lady of Mercy is participating in the Diocese of Brownsville's 'Love Builds Hope' capital campaign, locally called the 'Legacy Project.' The parish's stated goal is $250,000, with half of funds raised going to local parish projects and the balance supporting diocesan pastoral priorities including evangelization, mental wellness support, and youth ministry across the Rio Grande Valley. Pastor Fr. Jean Olivier M. Sambu and Bishop Daniel Flores have publicly pledged their own support for the campaign.
- Campaign name: Love Builds Hope / Legacy Project
- Parish goal: $250,000
- Parish projects: repair Church Bell Tower Windows; upgrade HVAC in Parish Hall; complete the Legacy Project
- Diocesan priorities: evangelization, mental wellness support, youth ministry
- Pledges fulfilled over a three-year period; above and beyond regular offertory
Visit, Contact, and Parish Office
The parish office is open throughout the week, and the church is located at the corner of South Vermont Avenue and West Third Street in central Mercedes. A Texas Historical Commission marker at the corner commemorates the parish's role as the mother church of the region.
- Address: 322 S. Vermont Ave., Mercedes, TX 78570
- Mailing: P.O. Box 805, Mercedes, TX 78570
- Phone: (956) 565-1141
- Fax: (956) 565-1640
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.olmmercedes.org
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9:00 AM–6:00 PM; Wed 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; closed 12:00–1:00 PM for lunch
- Facebook: facebook.com/olmmercedes
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Enrique Janvier, OMI1912–
First resident pastor; Oblate of Mary Immaculate. The original Hidalgo Street church was dedicated in February 1909 before he arrived.
- Rev. Ivor Gourmelen, OMI1922 dedication
Built the present brick church at Third and Vermont Streets, dedicated October 29, 1922.
- Rev. Jean Olivier M. Sambueffective 07/01/2012 – present
Current pastor; leads the parish's bilingual liturgical life and the Love Builds Hope/Legacy Project capital campaign.