Christmas begins in the quiet.
God enters our world not with fanfare or grandeur,
but.... tenderly as a newborn child,
under the veil of night—into poverty, hiddenness,
and the darkness that could not overcome His light.
but.... tenderly as a newborn child,
under the veil of night—into poverty, hiddenness,
and the darkness that could not overcome His light.
This is the radiant mystery of the Nativity, which we joyfully celebrate.
Join us at Our Lady of Mercy to encounter it anew and bring your family, your friends, your neighbors, and even your great uncle who's in town from out-of-state to celebrate the birth of Jesus with us this Christmas.
Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24
- 3:00 PM — Church and PLC (livestream available)
- 5:00 PM — Church
- 7:00 PM — Church
- Midnight Mass — Church (livestream available, preceded by Christmas Concert at 11:15pm)
Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25
- 8:00 AM — Church
- 10:00 AM — Church (livestream available)
- 12:00 PM — Church
Christmas Eve
(Thursday 12/24)
- [insert time(s) here]
Christmas
(Friday 12/25)
- [insert time(s) here]
In a world that often feels heavy, fractured, and restless, Christ continues to come the way He always has, quietly and gently, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 hidden in smallness.
Even now, we are seeing hearts stir, young adults returning to church, families pausing to reconsider faith, men and women sensing that something deeper is calling them home. Christmas is often the moment when that quiet longing finds a doorway.
Even now, we are seeing hearts stir, young adults returning to church, families pausing to reconsider faith, men and women sensing that something deeper is calling them home. Christmas is often the moment when that quiet longing finds a doorway.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
An invitation to acknowledge the darkness without fear.
An invitation to allow Christ to come into your heart again.
An invitation to discover that God, all-powerful and eternal, did not arrive clothed in earthly majesty, but chose the smallness of a newborn child, vulnerable and gentle, so that every heart could draw near without fear to Jesus, the Emmanuel.
Our Christmas webpage includes FAQs, who the presider for each Mass is, which Mass will have incense etc., and 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙨 to help make inviting someone simple and personal. A church building can feel intimidating, but a 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.
- 🎁 FAQs
- 🕯️ Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Presider for Each Mass time
- 📡 Livestream information
- 🌿 Which Masses include incense
- 💺 Seating details
- 🎼 Information on the annual concert before Midnight Mass
- 🙏 Feast of the Holy Family Mass times
- 💌 Ways to make a Christmas offering to Our Lady of Mercy
- 🎉 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀
We’ve created easy-to-share graphics and prompts for text, email, or social media. Sometimes Christ’s quiet arrival begins with a single invitation. - 📖 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗿. 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹
A thoughtful meditation on Christ’s hidden coming into the darkness, His gentle strength, and His desire to enter the most unseen places of our lives. - 📅 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻
Learn about: 🌟 When the season begins and ends. 🕊️ The Octave of Christmas. 🎵 The meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas. ✨ The significance of Epiphany
Christmas reminds us that darkness never has the final word. The Light has come, quietly, gently, and with great love... for you.
Please consider sharing this with someone who may be waiting, even silently, for the light of Christ this Christmas.
See you soon.
Please arrive early for the Midnight Mass and enjoy the Annual Christmas Concert "A New and Glorious Morn" at 11:15pm on December 24th
- Our yearly tradition of the Christmas Concert continues this year, featuring A New and Glorious Morn by Lloyd Larson, beginning at 11:15 PM on Christmas Eve.
- Accompanied by a mini chamber ensemble—including a string quartet, percussion, trumpet—and supported by the voices of the Our Lady of Mercy Choir under the direction of Frank Sauter, this musical invites us into the heart of the Christmas story. Through a thoughtful blend of familiar carols and original songs, A New and Glorious Morn reflects on the truth that in Christ, “the old is gone and the new has come.” It retells and celebrates the Nativity in a way that helps us encounter the Light and Life of Christmas with fresh attentiveness, reminding us of God’s promise of salvation offered to all who receive it in faith.
- Join us for this meaningful 40-minute musical prayer before Midnight Mass at 11:15pm, as we prepare to welcome the dawn of Christ’s saving love.
Octave of Christmas Schedule
As we continue to rejoice in the birth of Christ throughout the Octave of Christmas, please take note of our adjusted liturgical and office schedules.
Eucharistic Adoration
- Friday, December 26 — No Exposition
- Monday, December 29 & Tuesday, December 30 — Exposition from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Wednesday, December 31; Thursday, January 1; Friday, January 2 — No Exposition
- The Adoration Chapel remains open for private prayer whenever the building is open.
Confession Times
- Friday, December 26 — 12:30 PM
- Tuesday, December 30 — 7:00 PM
- Wednesday, December 31 — 12:30 PM
- Thursday, January 1 — No 6:30 AM Confessions
- Friday, January 2 — 12:30 PM
Parish Office Hours
- The Parish Offices will close at Noon on Tuesday, December 23, and will reopen on Monday, January 5.
Thank you for your understanding as our staff observes the Christmas holy days.
Praise Band at the 12pm Mass on 12/28
- At the 12:00 pm Mass on Sunday, December 28, our Praise Band leads us in joyful worship! Experience uplifting music that draws hearts closer to Christ and fills our church with gratitude and praise.
Solemnity of Mary Mother of God 12/31 - 1/1/2026
- As we step into a new calendar year, the Church invites us to begin with Mary — the one who first bore Christ into the world and who continues to guide the Church as a mother. The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God is a Holy Day of Obligation because it celebrates the greatest truth of our faith: that Jesus is truly God and truly human, born of a woman who freely said “yes.”Let us start the year with this feast, a beautiful way to entrust 2026 to her care and to her Son’s peace.
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 1/3 - 1/4/2026
- Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, shown in the visit of the Magi who came from distant nations to honor the newborn Christ. Known as “Three Kings Day,” this feast reminds us that Christ’s mission is for all people.
- Mass times for the Feast of the Epiphany:
Saturday, January 3 at 4pm
Sunday, January 4 at 8am, 10am, 12pm, and 5:30pm
Blessed Chalk Available After Epiphany Masses 1/3 - 1/4/2026
- We invite you to pick up blessed chalk after Mass and take part in the traditional Epiphany home blessing. With your family, mark your door: 20 + C + M + B + 26
- The numbers represent the new year, and the letters recall the Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar—as well as the prayer Christus Mansionem Benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.”
- This simple, ancient tradition is a beautiful way to welcome Christ’s blessing and protection into your home as we begin a new year.
