News from the Parochial Vicar
What a beautiful and grace-filled couple of weeks it has been!
On September 24th, we celebrated the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Beatification is the last step before canonization, when, God willing, he will be declared a saint! Many miracles attributed to his intercession are already being investigated, so we pray that soon he will be declared a saint.
Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us!
Last weekend, we also celebrated our parish feast day, Our Lady of Mercy. We had a wonderful celebration on Saturday with our Oktoberfest. Over 700 people joined in the festivities! The weather was perfect, and it was a night filled with great fun and celebration. A special thank you to all the volunteers who worked so diligently to make the evening such a success.
This past Tuesday, September 29th, the Church celebrated the Feast of the Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, and on Friday we celebrated the Memorial of the Guardian Angels.
October is a month dedicated in a particular way to the angels. At the first moment of creation, God created the angels and assigned each of them a task. All the angels were created in a single instant. We do not become angels when we die; angelic beings are completely different from human beings.
Yet from the beginning of time, God created an angel with the task of interceding for you, protecting you, and watching over you. This is the task of your guardian angel. We all have one, and from the beginning of time, that angel has been assigned to care for you.
We need to be reminded that we have an angel watching over us. That is why the Church gives us the Memorial of the Guardian Angels and a month dedicated to the angels: to remind us that we can turn to them for help. The more we ask for their intercession and protection, the more they can assist us.
Let’s revive that beautiful prayer so many of us learned as children and ask for the intercession of our guardian angels:
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love commits me here,
Ever this day [or night] be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Angels of God, pray for us!
Father Vagenas
Did you miss one? View past postings here.
Our Children's Choir Sings this Sunday 10/4
- There’s something especially beautiful about hearing our youngest parishioners lift their voices in praise! 🥰
Join us this Sunday, October 4 at the 10:00am Mass as our Children’s Choir helps lead our parish family in worship. Come pray with us, sing with us, and give these young disciples a little extra encouragement as they share their gifts with the Lord and our OLM family. 🙏🎵
- This Sunday, we are excited to welcome Edy and Alexis from ImagininGuatemala, our mission partners in Guatemala! Edy serves as President and Legal Representative, and Alexis as Service Team Coordinator, working directly with mission teams serving families in need.
Come meet Edy and Alexis at 1:30 PM or 4:00 PM and hear firsthand about the families they serve, the homes being built, and the lives being changed.
With our 3rd Annual OLM Guatemala Mission Trip coming in January 2027, come learn what a week of mission looks like, hear stories and see photos from previous trips, and discover how you can be part of the mission. - There are many ways to take part! You may feel called to travel with the team, but even if you can't go, you can support the mission through prayer or by making a donation to help support the work in Guatemala.
Want to give? Visit our online giving page and select “Missions Parish Collection for International/Domestic Missions.”
Give Online to Support the Mission
Could God be calling you to be part of it? Come discover how building a home can change a family's life... and yours.
Brogan Family Coat Drive 10/4
- A beautiful tradition of generosity continues at OLM! Mike and Carole Brogan were beloved members of our parish family who, before their passing in 2019, faithfully organized an annual coat drive to help those in need. Today, the Brogan family continues this tradition in their memory, and our OLM family is invited to be part of it.
Please donate new or gently used coats, hats, boots, and gloves to help provide warmth to those in need this winter.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 • 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Simply look for the trailer in the OLM parking lot and drop off your donations.
Donations for women and children will benefit Mutual Ground, while donations for men will benefit Breaking Free.
Thank you for helping the Brogan family continue a tradition of generosity that was so near and dear to Mike and Carole’s hearts. ❤️
Fit Shepherd Workouts on Wednesday and Saturday Mornings
- 🔥 Join the Ranks of Fit Shepherds! 🔥Join us Saturdays at 7am and Wednesdays at 5:30am in the parking lot, and together, let's become the leaders, protectors, and shepherds our world desperately needs.
- For more information check out their website at this link or connect with Dan Maxwell at 630.779.7114 Dannymax80@hotmail.com
Weekly Praying for Priests
- Our priests give their lives in service—celebrating the sacraments, preaching the Gospel, and walking with us through life’s most sacred moments. But who prays for them?
You’re invited to join a dedicated prayer group that gathers weekly to lift up our priests in prayer—asking God to strengthen, protect, and renew them in their vocations. Whether you can come regularly or drop in when you're able, your prayers make a difference. Join us at any of the following times:- 🙏 Wednesdays at 10:30am Rosary & Chaplet of Divine Mercy
🙏 Thursdays at 12:30pm Rosary & Chaplet of Divine Mercy
✝️ First Friday of the month following 12pm Mass Stations of the Cross
- 🙏 Wednesdays at 10:30am Rosary & Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Restore Weekly Confidential Meetings
- If you're carrying the heavy burden of struggling with lust or pornography, you're not alone—and you don’t have to fight this battle by yourself. Restore is a confidential, Christ-centered ministry for men seeking freedom and healing. It’s a safe, judgment-free space where men walk together in brotherhood and accountability, supporting each other on the journey to a renewed life of integrity, peace, and purpose.
Whether you're just beginning to face these struggles or have been fighting silently for years—there is hope, and healing is possible. You are not your struggle.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward restoration, email Restore.olm@gmail.com or call 331-684-7415 to learn more about our anonymous weekly meetings.
All inquiries are kept completely confidential. Take that first step—you are worth it.
Is Jesus inviting you to spend one quiet hour with Him each week?
- We become like that which we gaze upon. Looking into a sunset the face takes on a golden glow. Looking at the Eucharistic Lord for an hour transforms the heart in a mysterious way. – Blessed Fulton Sheen
Our Adoration Chapel remains open because of the faithful “yes” of committed adorers who make sure Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended. Right now, we are especially looking for someone who can commit to Thursdays at 8:30 AM.
We also need more substitute adorers! Substitutes are an important part of keeping our chapel open when a committed adorer is unable to make their scheduled Holy Hour because of illness, travel, work, or other circumstances.
As a substitute adorer, there is no weekly commitment. You simply step in when a need arises and when your schedule allows. The more substitutes we have, the easier it is to keep every hour covered.
Could you give Jesus one hour each week, or be someone we can call upon from time to time?
Whether you commit to Thursdays at 8:30 AM or occasionally serve as a substitute, your “yes” helps keep this sacred space available for everyone who comes seeking the peace, mercy, and love of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Sign up here to become a committed or substitute adorer.
- Little ears can have big questions about God! During the 10:00 AM Mass each Sunday, children are invited to participate in Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW), where they hear the Sunday readings and Gospel proclaimed and explained in a way especially suited to them.
Through Scripture, a brief reflection, and prayer, CLOW helps our young parishioners discover how God’s Word speaks to their lives. Afterward, the children return to Mass and continue worshipping with their families.
CLOW is offered every Sunday during the 10:00 AM Mass. All children are welcome!
- Each October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, inviting us to recognize and uphold the dignity of every human life, especially those who are most vulnerable, from conception to natural death.
This year’s theme, “Mary, Mother of Life,” turns our eyes toward the Blessed Mother. Through her yes to God, her loving accompaniment of Elizabeth, and her faithfulness at the foot of the Cross, Mary shows us how to welcome life, accompany those in need, and remain close to those who are suffering.
- 🤍 The White Cross Memorial
Throughout October, the crosses displayed in front of our church serve as a solemn reminder of the lives lost to abortion and an invitation to prayer. As you pass them, please pray for the children whose lives have been lost, for mothers and fathers facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies, for those carrying wounds from abortion, and for all who accompany families with compassion and hope. - 🌹 Respect Life Month Novena • October 22–30
Join Catholics throughout the country in nine days of prayer for the protection of human life. Each day includes a prayer intention, reflection, and simple ways to help build a culture that cherishes every life. Mary, Mother of Life, pray for us. 🙏 👉 Learn more and find the Respect Life Month Novena here.
Scroll down for full details on each.
October is Respect Life Month | White Crosses
10/4 Our Children's Choir Sings at the 10am Massee
10/4 Special Guests from Guatemala @OLM
10/4 Brogan Family Coat Drive
10/5 + 10/19, 10/2 EDGE Night: “Does God Talk to Me?”
10/5 The Curé Circle: Praying for Our OLM Priests
10/5 OCIA on Mondays
10/6 The Bible and the Church Fathers
10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27 Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group
10/7, 10/14, 10/21 & 10/28🎶 Choir Rehearsals on Wednesdays
10/7 & 10/8 Salt & Light Grow Group | Life Everlasting
10/8, 10/22, 10/24 Mama's Grace Grow Group Gatherings
10/8 Alpha on Thursdays
10/9 & 10/10 Catholic Couples Retreat: Connecting God's Way
10/10 & 10/24 SoulCore on Saturday Morning
10/11 Praise Band at the 12pm Mass
10/11 Pregnancy & Infant Loss Prayer Service
10/12 Help Stock the Shelves for the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry
10/12 Respect Life Ministry Prayer & Fellowship
10/12 Parish Offices Closed for Columbus Day
10/13 Living With Grief
10/14 NEW! Family Faith Formation: SENT • Mission Ready Begins
10/17 & 10/28 REFUGE Teen Youth Group
10/17 & 10/18 Holy Land Olive Wood Sale
10/17 & 10/18 Undy Sunday Collection Weekend
10/17 & 10/18 World Mission Sunday: One in Christ, United in Mission
10/19 Mondays With Monica And Augustine
10/20 St. Peregrine Prayer Service
10/21 The Chosen Season 6: See Episode 1 Special Early Access!
10/24 Alpha Holy Spirit Retreat with Fr. Vagenas
10/25 Donut & Coffee Sunday
10/25 New Parishioner Meet & Greet
10/25 Sacrament of Confirmation
10/28 MAGNIFY Adoration, Praise & Worship, Confessions & Prayer Ministry
10/30–11/2 Remembering Our Loved Ones: Day of the Dead Altar
10/31–11/1 Help Feed Our Neighbors at Hesed House
10/31 & 11/1 Investing in Our Future Priests
11/1–11/2 All Saints & All Souls
11/2 All Souls Mass of Remembrance
11/6 Volunteer to Pray on First Friday
11/7 Knights of Columbus Blood Drive
11/13 & 11/14 Encounter School of Ministry @OLM Register Today
EDGE Night: “Does God Talk to Me?” 10/5 + 10/19, 10/26
- Our EDGE students are invited to a special Youth Minister Speaker Event this Sunday, October 4, exploring a question many of us have asked "Does God talk to me?." Students may attend one of two locations and times:
📍 St. Thomas the Apostle, 1500 Brookdale Rd., Naperville
4:00–5:30pm
OR
📍 St. Anne Parish, 551 Boulder Hill Dr., Oswego
7:00–8:30pm
Students and at least one parent are asked to attend. Families should provide their own transportation and sign in at the table in the lobby upon arrival. Please bring a notepad for taking notes. No sign-out is required at the conclusion of the event. - 📅 And mark your calendars for the rest of October!
Monday, October 19 • EDGE Social/Service Event
6:30pm
Monday, October 26 • EDGE Night
6:30pm • PLC Gym
We’re looking forward to a great month of faith, friendship, service, and growing together at EDGE! 🙏
The Curé Circle: Praying for Our OLM Priests 10/5
- Let’s pray for our OLM priests on Monday, October 5, at 7:00pm in the Church as we gather for the Curé Circle, our monthly time of prayer dedicated especially to the priests who faithfully shepherd our parish.
Our priests generously serve us through the celebration of Holy Mass, the sacraments, the proclamation of the Gospel, and their daily pastoral care. One of the greatest gifts we can offer them in return is our faithful prayer.
Together, we will entrust Fr. Michael, Fr. Vagenas, and Fr. Keith Wolfe to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, asking Him to bless them with strength, wisdom, holiness, perseverance, protection, and abundant joy in their priesthood and ministry.
Whether you come every month or are joining us for the first time, all are warmly welcome. Come spend an hour with the Lord as we give thanks for our priests and surround them with prayer. 🙏❤️
OCIA on Mondays 10/5
- Thinking about becoming Catholic? Curious about the Catholic faith? Or are you Catholic but still need to receive First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation?
Wherever you are on the journey, OCIA is a place to begin.
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is a journey of learning, prayer, conversation, and community for adults who are exploring the Catholic faith or preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation.
Classes meet Monday evenings at 7:00pm, led by Fr. Michael Kearney and Fr. William Vagenas, along with Sunday morning fellowship gatherings beginning with the 10:00am Mass.
We’ve already begun, but it’s not too late to join us! If God has been stirring something in your heart, perhaps this is the invitation you’ve been waiting for.
👉 Learn more or sign up today.
The Bible and the Church Fathers 10/6
- 📖 It’s not too late to join our fall Bible Study! This Tuesday, we continue The Bible and the Church Fathers by exploring how the Early Church Fathers helped shape the canon of Scripture and our understanding of what it teaches. We’ll also look at the great story running throughout the Bible: God’s covenant with His people and the promise and fulfillment of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or are just discovering the study, you are welcome to join us!
📅 Tuesday, October 6 at 7:00pm
📍 PLC Gym
📖 Participant Guide: $20
Come discover the biblical and historical roots of our Catholic faith and meet the men who helped preserve, explain, and hand it on.
👉 Register here
Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27
- Young adults, there’s a place for you at Consuming Fire this October!
This month, Consuming Fire continues Evangelical Catholic’s Reach More training, helping young adults discover how God is calling them to live on mission and equipping them to develop their own lay apostolate.
Here’s what’s coming up:
10/6 • Reach More: The Mission of the Laity
7:00pm • Room 204
10/13 • Social Night
7:00pm • Sport Zone in Aurora & Riverside Pizza in Oswego
10/20 • Reach More: Share an Experience of Faith
7:00pm • Room 204
🎃 10/27 • Consuming Fire All Hallow's Eve Party
7:00pm • Room 204
Consuming Fire is open to young adults in their late teens, 20s and 30s, whether Catholic, non-Catholic, seeking, or simply curious about Jesus. Come grow in faith, build authentic friendships, and discover how the Lord might be calling you to bring Christ into the world around you.
👉 Learn more about Consuming Fire here
Choir Rehearsals on Wednesdays 10/7, 10/14, 10/21 & 10/28🎶
- Love to sing? There’s still a place for your voice at OLM! Choir rehearsals are underway, but it’s not too late to join!
Youth Choir • Grades 3–8 🎵 5:30–6:00pm
Adult Choir • Grade 9–Adult 🎵 7:30–9:00pm
Tenors and basses especially needed! Gentlemen of OLM, come raise your voices! 😉
All rehearsals are held in Room 119.
Parents interested in the Youth Choir should email Frank Sauter at franks@olmercy.com with their child’s name, grade, and phone number.
🎵 Come raise your voice in praise with us!
Salt & Light Grow Group | Life Everlasting 10/7 & 10/8
- What happens after we die? What is purgatory really like? And what does the Church teach about Christ’s Second Coming?
This October, the Salt & Light Grow Group continues Life Everlasting: Heaven, Hell, Death & Judgment, featuring Dr. Edward Sri and Dr. Jeffrey Morrow.
There’s plenty to explore this month:
🔥 Hell • October 7 & 8
☁️ Purgatory & Heaven • October 14 & 15
✨ The Second Coming • October 21 & 22
Through engaging videos, Scripture, Church teaching, reflection, and small-group conversation, we’ll explore these eternal realities and discover how they can help us live this life with greater purpose, hope, and an eternal perspective.
It’s not too late to join us! Choose the Wednesday evening or Thursday afternoon gathering and come grow in faith and fellowship with Salt & Light.
📖 Study guide: $17
👉 Learn more and join Salt & Light here.
Mama's Grace Grow Group 10/8, 10/22, 10/24
- 🌼 Mama’s Grace has something for both moms and families this October!
📖 For Mamas: Sincerely, Stoneheart Book Study
Thursdays, October 8 & 22 at 7:00pm
Join other moms for conversation and reflection on Sincerely, Stoneheart by Emily Wilson Hussem, a book inspired by C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters that explores the lies women encounter and the truth Christ speaks into our lives.
🎃 For Families: Pumpkins, Prayer & Pastries
Saturday, October 24 at 10:00am • OLM Back Patio
Bring the family for a fun morning of pumpkin carving, prayer, fellowship, and treats! Families should bring their own pumpkins; carving supplies and snacks will be provided.
Mama’s Grace welcomes mothers in all stages of life who want to grow in faith and friendship, and you’re always welcome to come for the first time. 💛
For book study locations or more information, text Sammy at 260-610-6481 or visit the Mama’s Grace page here.
Alpha on Thursdays 10/8
- ❓ Why and How Should I Pray? This Thursday, our Alpha guests enter Week 5 and explore one of the most personal parts of our relationship with God: prayer.
Why do we pray? How do we pray? Does God always answer prayer? And what does it mean that, through Jesus, we can actually know and speak with God personally?
And there’s more ahead this October! In the coming weeks, Alpha will explore Why & How Should I Read the Bible? and How Does God Guide Us? Week by week, guests are sharing meals, building friendships, asking honest questions, and discovering more about who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.
🙏 Please keep our Alpha guests and team in your prayers as this journey continues, especially as we begin looking ahead to our Alpha Holy Spirit Retreat later this month, which YOU can take part in too!
Curious about experiencing an Alpha Holy Spirit Retreat with Fr. Vagenas? Check out the 10/26 posting below for all the details and come experience it for yourself! 🔥🕊️
And if you’ve been hearing about Alpha and wondering whether you can still come, reach out! Connect with zara@olmercy.com, call or text 331-707-5381, or visit our Alpha page here to learn more.
Catholic Couples Retreat: Connecting God's Way 10/9 & 10/10
- Your marriage matters. Your family matters. ❤️ Manna for Marriage invites couples to Connecting God’s Way, a Catholic Marriage & Family Retreat led by licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Sheila Hynes.
Take time away together to reconnect as a couple, grow together as parents (mini parenting session included), and discover practical ways to build a stronger Domestic Church where faith and love can flourish.
Friday, October 9 & Saturday, October 10
$60 per couple • Childcare available • Workbook provided
Strengthen your marriage. Build your family. Grow in faith.
Register today at olmercy.com/ministry/m4m
SoulCore on Saturday Morning 10/10 & 10/24
- SoulCore: Pray + Move
Build strength and peace through gentle core work, stretching, and functional exercises prayed with the Rosary. All fitness levels welcome.
When: Saturday, October 10 & 24 at 9:15am · Room 217
What to bring: Rosary, water, exercise mat; wear comfortable clothing.
Cost: No fee; $10 suggested donation if you’re able.
Questions? Connect with Jen Bickel at mamaj5grand@gmail.com or
815-557-9437 or check out the website.
Praise Band at the 12pm Mass 10/11
- 🎶 Our Praise Band will be leading the music at the 12:00pm Mass on Sunday, October 11!Through contemporary praise and worship music, the Praise Band helps lift our hearts and voices to the Lord as we celebrate the Holy Mass together.If praise and worship music helps you pray, the 12:00pm Mass is the one to mark on your calendar this Sunday. 🙏🎶
- 🕊️ For the little ones we hold forever in our hearts.
The loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss leaves a place in the heart that time does not erase. Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, your little one is remembered, cherished, and held close in the heart of God. 🤍
On Sunday, October 11, following the 10:00am Mass, we will gather for a special Pregnancy & Infant Loss Prayer Service of Remembrance at the memorial near our outdoor Stations of the Cross.
Together, we will pray for and remember our littlest ones in heaven while surrounding their parents, families, and all who carry their memory with prayer and love.
Please come for this sacred time of remembrance, healing, and hope. 🕊️
Help Stock the Shelves for the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry 10/12
- 🥫Heading to the grocery store? Consider adding an extra item or two for a neighbor in need.
OLM collects non-perishable food and essential items year-round for the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry. Donations may be dropped off anytime in the three large collection bins in the Parish Life Center (PLC) lobby, located just inside the doors at the bottom of the stairs on the right.
Wondering what to give? Some of the pantry’s most-needed items include:
🥣 Pantry Staples: cereal, oatmeal, rice, pasta, soups, pasta sauce, pancake and baking mixes, macaroni & cheese
🥫 Proteins & Produce: canned tuna or chicken, dried or canned beans, canned or dried fruits and vegetables
🍎 Kids’ Snacks: granola bars, crackers, juice boxes, applesauce, peanut butter & jelly
👶 Baby Needs: diapers of all sizes, formula & baby food
🤍 Personal Care: feminine hygiene products and incontinence supplies for children and adults
Please make sure food donations are unopened and within their printed “use by” or “sell by” dates. Fresh or home-grown produce can be donated directly to the pantry.
Every can, box, and bag adds up. Thank you for helping keep the pantry shelves stocked and providing food and essential items for our neighbors right here in the Aurora community. ❤️
👉 Learn more about the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and its current needs here.
Respect Life Ministry Prayer & Fellowship 10/12
- 🤍 Come pray, connect, and learn more about OLM’s Respect Life Ministry.
During Respect Life Month, our Respect Life Ministry invites you to a special evening of prayer and fellowship on Monday, October 12 from 7:00–8:00pm in Room 124.
Rather than a meeting or planning session, this will simply be an opportunity to draw closer to Christ and one another as we pray for unborn children, mothers, fathers, families, our parish, and the mission of Respect Life.
The evening will include Scripture, intercessory prayer, reflection, sharing, and fellowship, with pastries and drinks to enjoy. ☕🙏
Whether you’re already involved in Respect Life or have been wondering how you might help protect and support the dignity of every human life, you are warmly invited to come.
👉 Learn more about OLM’s Respect Life Ministry here.
Parish Offices Closed for Columbus Day 10/12
- 🇺🇸 The Our Lady of Mercy Parish Offices will be closed on Monday, October 12, in observance of Columbus Day. As we mark this day, we remember the arrival of the Cross in the New World and the seeds of evangelization that followed, eventually bringing the Catholic faith to millions throughout the Americas. Please note that Mass will still be celebrated at 8:00am and 6:30pm. We wish everyone a blessed Columbus Day! 🙏🇺🇸
Living With Grief 10/13
- Grief can affect every part of us: heart, mind, body, and spirit.
Our Lady of Mercy offers a supportive, faith-filled place for adults ages 18 and older who are grieving the loss of a loved one to come together and find healing, hope, and companionship along the journey.
This month’s topic is:
🌿 Nourishing Your Body & Soul While Grieving
Tuesday, October 13 • 1:00–2:30pm • Room 217
Grief topics vary each month, and you are welcome to attend whichever gatherings would be most supportive to you.
Questions? Contact Jolene at 331-707-5380 or jolenel@olmercy.com.
NEW! Family Faith Formation: SENT • Mission Ready Begins 10/14
- Faith is meant to be lived, shared, and passed on.
This fall, OLM Family Faith Formation is launching SENT, a new component of our Mission Ready formation pathway designed to help families grow together in faith and live out their call as disciples of Jesus Christ. - SENT reminds us that faith formation doesn’t happen only within the walls of the parish. As parents and families, we are called to bring our faith into our homes, relationships, and everyday lives, and ultimately to be sent out to share Christ with others.
- Families will gather for five Wednesday evenings from 6:00–7:30pm, beginning October 14. Each gathering combines prayer, faith, conversation, and engaging activities for the whole family. Between gatherings, families will receive a SENT Kit with simple ways to continue growing and practicing discipleship together at home.
- 📅 SENT Gatherings: October 14 • November 18 • December 16 • January 13 • February 24
🎥 Watch the video below to hear more about SENT and discover how your family can be part of it!
Ready to be SENT? Register here.
REFUGE Teen Youth Group 10/17 & 10/28🔥
- High school teens, REFUGE has two chances to gather this October!
- Saturday, October 17
⛪ 5:30pm Mass, followed by REFUGE until 8:00pm - Wednesday, October 28
✨ MAGNIFY Praise & Adoration • 7:00–8:30pm in the Church, followed by hospitality and ice cream sundaes in the Youth Center until 9:00pm! 🍨
- Saturday, October 17
- REFUGE is for all high school teens in grades 9–12 to build friendships, grow in faith, pray, serve, and have some fun along the way. You don’t have to be Catholic to come, and friends are always welcome! Our Lady of Mercy Aurora, IL
Questions? Contact Dave at davem@olmercy.com.
👉 Learn more about REFUGE here
Holy Land Olive Wood Sale 10/17 & 10/18🕊️
- Support Christian families in the Holy Land while bringing home a beautiful piece of our faith. After all Masses the weekend of October 17–18, handcrafted olive wood religious art from the Holy Land will be available for purchase at OLM. The sale is presented by Bethlehem Nativity Products on behalf of St. Catherine Catholic Parish in Bethlehem, and purchases directly support Christian families living in Bethlehem. Stop by after Mass to browse Nativity sets, crucifixes, rosaries, statues, and other handcrafted religious pieces, while helping our Christian brothers and sisters continue to live, work, and sustain their families in the land where Christ was born. 🤎🙏
Undy Sunday Collection Weekend 10/17 & 10/18
- 🩲🧦 Sometimes the most basic necessities are the ones most easily overlooked. New underwear and socks are among the most-requested but least-donated items at Catholic Charities. A fresh pair of socks, clean underwear, or diapers may seem small, but they can be a real gift of dignity and care to someone struggling to make ends meet.
On October 17–18, Our Lady of Mercy will once again participate in Undy Sunday, supporting Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet and local children, adults, and families living in poverty.
🛍️ This year’s most-needed NEW items include:
• Diapers, sizes 6 & 7, and diaper wipes
• Women’s underwear, S–XXL
• Boys’ underwear, 3T/4T–14/16
• Men’s underwear, S, M & 2XL, and T-shirts, S & M
• Men’s athletic/work socks, shoe sizes 10–13
• Children’s socks in all sizes, including toddler (no fuzzy socks)
• Women’s socks in all sizes
• Feminine hygiene products
• Full-size toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, razors, and deodorant
❤️ All donations are gratefully received! Bring your donations to OLM during Undy Sunday weekend, October 17–18, or use the Amazon Wish List to have needed items sent directly to Catholic Charities. Monetary donations may also be made directly to Catholic Charities.
Together, these simple necessities become something much bigger: a reminder to our neighbors in need that they are seen, valued, and cared for.
World Mission Sunday: One in Christ, United in Mission 10/17 & 10/18
- This year, World Mission Sunday marks 100 years of Catholics around the world praying, sacrificing, and giving together for the mission of the Church.
At all Masses on the weekend of October 17–18, we will join Catholics around the world in celebrating World Mission Sunday. we join the universal Church in celebrating the 100th World Mission Sunday, with this year's theme chosen by Pope Leo XIV: “One in Christ, United in Mission.”
Our prayers and gifts help sustain 1,130 mission dioceses throughout the world, supporting priests, religious sisters, seminarians, catechists, parishes, and communities where the Church is young, growing, poor, or persecuted. Funds also help build and maintain the churches, seminaries, convents, and pastoral centers where the Gospel is proclaimed and the Sacraments are celebrated.
❤️ This centennial has a special connection to Blessed Fulton J. Sheen. From 1950–1966, Sheen served as National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and helped awaken generations of American Catholics to their responsibility for the Church's worldwide mission. He called the missions his “greatest love.”
As we celebrate World Mission Sunday just weeks after his beatification, may we carry forward that missionary heart through prayer, sacrifice, and generosity.
A special collection will be taken at OLM for World Mission Sunday. Please prayerfully consider how you can help the Gospel reach communities throughout the world.
🎥 Watch the video to discover how our prayers and gifts become part of the Church's mission across the globe.
Learn more or give online through The Pontifical Mission Societies USA.
Mondays With Monica And Augustine 10/19
- 🙏 If someone you love has drifted away from the Catholic faith, know that you are not alone.
On Monday, October 19 at 7:30pm in the Church, our Mondays with Monica & Augustine prayer ministry will gather to pray for the conversion and return of our loved ones, for our own ongoing conversion, and for the peace and hope that only Christ can give.
Inspired by St. Monica, whose years of faithful prayer and witness accompanied the conversion of her son, St. Augustine, this monthly gathering offers a place of encouragement and shared prayer for parents, grandparents, spouses, godparents, siblings, relatives, and friends carrying this same intention.
Come spend time with Jesus, entrust your loved ones to Him, and allow Him to renew your hope as we pray together and trust in His grace at work.
And if you know someone carrying this same ache, consider personally inviting them to come with you. Sometimes simply knowing we don’t have to carry it alone can make all the difference.
👉 Learn more about Mondays with Monica & Augustine here
St. Peregrine Prayer Service 10/20
- 🙏 Are you or someone you love living with cancer, a chronic condition, or another serious illness? Are you caring for someone who is?
Come to our St. Peregrine Prayer Service on Tuesday, October 20, following the 6:30pm Mass.
Together, we will turn to the Lord in prayer and seek the intercession of St. Peregrine, patron saint of those suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses, entrusting to God those who are sick as well as the family members, friends, and caregivers who walk beside them.
Whether you come seeking prayer for yourself or carrying the name of someone you love in your heart, you are welcome.
Come to Mass, stay for the prayer service, and allow our parish family to pray with you and for you. 🤍“The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up.” – James 5:15
The Chosen Season 6: See Episode 1 Special Early Access! 10/21
- 🎬 Before it begins streaming in November, see it first at OLM!
Our Lady of Mercy has been given a special opportunity to host an early-access viewing of The Chosen Season 6, Episode 1 on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00pm in the PLC Gym.
Season 5 brought us through Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the Temple, the Last Supper, His agony in Gethsemane, and finally Judas’ betrayal and the arrest of Jesus. - Now, Season 6 continues the story as the road to the Cross draws ever closer.
This special early-access opportunity is available only to participating churches and parishes before the episode’s public release, so come experience it together with our OLM parish family before it begins streaming in November.- 📅 Wednesday, October 21
- ⏰ 7:00pm
- 📍 PLC Gym
- 🎟️ Free • No registration needed
- Episode 1 runs approximately 52 minutes, and we anticipate the evening concluding by 8:30pm.
▶️ Watch the Season 6 trailer below for a glimpse of what’s coming.
Come and See. ✝️
Alpha Holy Spirit Retreat with Fr. Vagenas 10/24
- 🔥🕊️ Come, Holy Spirit!
You don’t have to be attending Alpha to experience one of the most beautiful parts of the Alpha journey.
On Saturday, October 24 beginning at 8:30am, you’re invited to join our Alpha guests and team for the Alpha Holy Spirit Retreat with Fr. Vagenas, a day set aside to step away from the busyness of life, encounter the Holy Spirit, and open ourselves more deeply to His presence and work in our lives.
Who is the Holy Spirit? What does He do? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? These are some of the questions we’ll explore together throughout the day.
The retreat includes a light breakfast, a fantastic lunch, talks on the Holy Spirit, small-group conversation, worship, Confession, and an opportunity to receive prayer ministry.
Whether you’ve experienced Alpha before, are curious about it, or simply desire more of God in your life, you are welcome to come.
🙏 Come with an open heart. Come expecting God to move. Come, Holy Spirit!
👉 Registration is required at this link
Questions? Contact zara@olmercy.com.
Donut Sunday 10/25
- 🍩☕ Mass may be over, but don’t head home just yet!
Stop by the PLC after the 8:00am, 10:00am, or 12:00pm Mass on Sunday, October 25 for Donut & Coffee Sunday.
Grab a donut and a cup of coffee, catch up with friends, meet someone new, and enjoy a little extra time together with your OLM parish family.
Sometimes community is built over the simplest things, including coffee, conversation, and a really good donut. 🍩💙
We’ll see you in the PLC after Mass!
New Parishioner Meet & Greet 10/25
- 👋 New to Our Lady of Mercy? We’d love to meet you!
Whether you’ve recently registered at OLM, have been worshiping with us for a little while, or are still thinking about making OLM your parish home, come to our New Parishioner Meet & Greet on Sunday, October 25 at 11:15am in Room 114.
This casual gathering is a chance to meet some of our priests, staff, and fellow parishioners, ask questions, learn more about OLM, and discover ways to connect, grow in your faith, and become part of parish life.
And, of course, we’ll send you home with an OLM swag bag! 🎁💙
No complicated agenda, just a warm welcome and an opportunity for us to get to know you, too.
Come say hello. We’d love to welcome you to the OLM family!
Sacrament of Confirmation 10/25
- 🔥 Come, Holy Spirit!
On Sunday, October 25 at 2:30pm, our young people will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation here at Our Lady of Mercy.
We are blessed to welcome Bishop Dennis Spies, who will celebrate the Confirmation Mass and confer the sacrament upon our candidates.
As this special day approaches, please keep our Confirmation candidates, their sponsors, families, and catechists in your prayers. May the Holy Spirit strengthen these young disciples with His gifts, deepen their relationship with Jesus, and send them forth to live and share their Catholic faith with courage and joy. 🔥 Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
MAGNIFY Adoration, Praise & Worship, Confessions & Prayer Ministry 10/28
- “Worship is our perfection, not God's. To refuse to worship is to deny a dependence that makes us independent. Worship is to us what blooming is to a rose.” – Blessed Fulton Sheen
God does not need our worship. We do.
Worship reorients our hearts toward the One for whom we were made. It reminds us who God is, who we are, and that our lives ultimately find their meaning in Him.
On Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00pm, come spend an evening with the Lord at MAGNIFY, featuring Eucharistic Adoration, praise & worship, Scripture reflection, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and prayer ministry.
Bring Jesus whatever is on your heart. Receive His mercy in Confession, allow someone to pray with you, lift your voice in worship, or simply remain before Him in the Blessed Sacrament.
You don’t need to arrive with the right words or have everything figured out. You only need to come.
🌹 As Blessed Fulton Sheen so beautifully reminds us, worship is to us what blooming is to a rose.
Come worship. Come receive. Come be renewed in His presence.
Remembering Our Loved Ones: Day of the Dead Altar 10/30–11/2
- 🕯️ As the Church turns our hearts toward the faithful departed, we invite our parish family to remember and pray for loved ones who have gone before us.
From October 30 through November 2, our Day of the Dead Altar will once again be displayed in the Narthex with photographs of deceased loved ones from our parish families. The altar offers us a beautiful reminder to remember them, pray for them, and entrust them to the mercy of God.
❤️ Would you like to include a photo of a loved one? Place the photograph in a zip-top bag and write your name and phone number on both the back of the photo and the bag. Photos may be dropped off in the designated basket at the brown desk in the PLC.
Photos will remain on the altar through November 2 and may be picked up beginning November 3 from the same location.
Whether your loved one died recently or many years ago, we invite you to include them as our parish family remembers and prays for all those who have gone before us.
🙏 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Help Feed Our Neighbors at Hesed House 10/31–11/1
- 🥫 HELP OLM PROVIDE A MEAL FOR HESED HOUSE
Each month, Our Lady of Mercy’s PADS/Hesed House Ministry helps prepare and serve meals for approximately 230 adults experiencing homelessness at Hesed House, as well as residents of The Harbor, Hesed House’s permanent supportive housing program for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness and live with disabling conditions.
Want to help with November’s meal? Stop by the PADS/Hesed House Wish List Board in the Atrium near the Door B entrance on the weekends of October 17–18 and October 24–25. Choose an item you would like to provide, write your name beneath it, and tear off the corresponding reminder tab.
🛒 Then purchase your item and bring it back to OLM before any weekend Mass on October 31 or November 1. Donation bins will be located near the Wish List Board. Please only drop off donations during these designated times, when ministry volunteers are available to collect and properly store them.
💙 Prefer to make a monetary donation? Gifts may be made through the OLM Online Giving Portal by designating your donation for Hesed House, or by check payable to Our Lady of Mercy Church with “Hesed House-PADS” in the memo line.
Every item on that board becomes part of something much bigger: a meal, a welcome, and an act of mercy for a neighbor in need.
Questions? Contact Maybird D’Silva at maydsilva@aol.com.
Investing in Our Future Priests 10/31 & 11/1
- On the weekend of October 31 & November 1, Seminarian Matthew Bernhard will speak at Our Lady of Mercy about the Diocese of Joliet Seminarian Education Endowment Fund and invite us to support him, his brother seminarians, and the future priests of our diocese.
Today, 24 men are in various stages of priestly formation for the Diocese of Joliet. Their formation can take as many as eight years, with tuition alone costing approximately $55,500 per seminarian each year.
The Seminarian Education Endowment Trust helps ensure that these men receive the education and formation they need to become faithful shepherds who will one day celebrate the sacraments, preach the Gospel, accompany God’s people, and serve our parishes for generations to come.
A second collection will be taken at all Masses October 31 & November 1. Please prayerfully consider giving generously and, most importantly, continue to pray for Matthew and all our seminarians as they discern and prepare for the priesthood.
Your gift is an investment in the future of our Church.
Learn more or give online
All Saints & All Souls 11/1–11/2
- ALL SAINTS & ALL SOULS: THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
As October draws to a close, the Church enters a beautiful three-day observance beginning with All Hallows’ Eve on October 31, followed by the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1 and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) on November 2.
Together, these days turn our eyes toward eternity and remind us of the beautiful mystery of the Communion of Saints: the Church on earth, the saints who rejoice in heaven, and the faithful departed for whom we continue to pray.
On All Saints, we rejoice in the countless men and women who now behold God face to face, both the saints whose names we know and the many whose holiness was known only to God. On All Souls’ Day, we remember and pray for all the faithful departed, entrusting them to the mercy of God. 🕯️- SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS • Holy Day of Obligation
Saturday, October 31: 4:00pm Vigil Mass
Sunday, November 1: 8:00am, 10:00am*, 12:00pm & 5:30pm - ALL SOULS’ DAY • Monday, November 2
Masses: 8:00am & 6:30pm*
*Livestream available
- SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS • Holy Day of Obligation
- As we celebrate these sacred days, may they renew within us the hope of heaven, our desire for holiness, and our prayers for those who have gone before us. All you holy men and women, pray for us. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
All Souls Mass of Remembrance 11/2
- 🕯️ We remember. We pray. We entrust them to the Lord.
On All Souls’ Day, Monday, November 2 at 6:30pm, our parish family will gather for our annual Mass of Remembrance to pray for all the faithful departed.
This Mass is open to everyone and especially those who are grieving the loss of someone they love, whether that loss was recent or many years ago. During the Mass, we will also remember in a special way those whose Funeral Masses were celebrated at Our Lady of Mercy during the past year.
Come place the names and memories of those you love into the hands of Jesus and join our parish family as we pray together in the hope of the Resurrection. 🤍
The Mass will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
🙏 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
Volunteer to Pray on First Friday 11/6
- 🙏 The Respect Life Ministry invites you to join fellow parishioners in peaceful, silent prayer in front of Waterleaf Women’s Center on Friday, November 6.
Prayer volunteers are needed to commit to one-hour shifts throughout the day. Together, we will pray for women facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies, for their children and families, for hearts to be changed, and for a greater culture of life in our community.
Your prayerful presence can be a quiet but powerful witness to the dignity of every human life and a reminder that no woman facing a difficult pregnancy needs to walk alone.
Friday, November 6 | [7:00 or 8:00] AM–4:00 PM
Waterleaf Women’s Center
Please prayerfully consider giving one hour of your First Friday to stand in prayer for life.
Sign up for a one-hour prayer shift
For more information, contact Michelle at (630) 642-0127.
Knights of Columbus Blood Drive 11/7
- The Knights of Columbus Council #12005 will host a Blood Drive at Our Lady of Mercy on Saturday, November 7 from 8:00am–12:00pm in Room 114.
A single blood donation can help save up to three lives, making this one simple way to give something truly life-giving to another person. ❤️
Appointments are encouraged, and walk-ins are welcome. Please bring a photo ID.
🩸 Saturday, November 7 | 8:00am–12:00pm
📍 Rooms 110 & 114
👉 Sign up for a donation time through Versiti: versiti.org/il
Roll up a sleeve and help give the gift of life!
Encounter School of Ministry @OLM 11/13 & 11/14
- "It is the Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are chidren of God."~Romans 8:16
- ✨ SCHOOL OF IDENTITY: Discover Who You Are in ChristThe Encounter School of Ministry – Chicago Campus is coming to Our Lady of Mercy for a special 2-Day Weekend School of Identity, Friday, November 13 through Saturday, November 14.
Who does God say you are?
This weekend is an invitation to discover more deeply your identity as a beloved son or daughter of God and to learn how living from that identity can transform the way you see yourself, your relationship with God, and the way you live your faith.
Whether you are longing to grow closer to the Lord, seeking greater freedom and confidence in your faith, or simply desire to understand more fully who you are in Christ, we invite you to join us.
📅 Friday, November 13 – Saturday, November 14
📍 Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church
Registration is now open!
REGISTER FOR THE SCHOOL OF IDENTITY
Thank you for Supporting Our Guatemala Mission!What a blessing! 💚
- Thanks to everyone who attended, volunteered, cooked, donated, and supported our Guatemala Spaghetti Dinner, together we raised $4,080.27 toward our 2027 Adult Mission Trip!
- This January, approximately 24 members of our parish will travel to Guatemala in four teams with the goal of building four homes for families in need. Each missionary is responsible for approximately $2,500, which includes home-building materials and costs, airfare, housing, ground transportation, meals and other trip expenses.
- And our parish’s generosity continues this weekend through the special collection for the Guatemala Mission. Whether you support the mission through prayer, a financial gift, or by encouraging our missionaries, you are part of it.
- Thank you, OLM, for helping us build more than homes. You are helping build hope. 💚
Jail Ministry 🙏 A Call to Bring Hope
- There is a mission field right here in our own backyard—often unseen, often forgotten—filled with men and women longing for healing, hope, and a reminder of their dignity.
Jail Ministry is a powerful opportunity to bring the love of Jesus to those who may feel cast aside or defined by their past. Through your presence, they encounter a different truth: they are not forgotten—they are loved by God.
We are seeking dedicated volunteers willing to walk alongside those who are incarcerated, offering compassion, prayer, and a tangible witness of Christ’s mercy.
“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them…” Hebrews 13:3
Please prayerfully consider this invitation.
To learn more, contact Sharon Smagala at tweeter4811@gmail.com.
- Looking for a practical way to serve? Hands for Hesed supports Hesed House throughout the year by providing volunteers for hands-on projects as needs arise.
Opportunities may include:- Painting and light maintenance
- Deep cleaning
- Assembling or moving furniture
- Yard work and outdoor projects
- Whether you're handy with tools, willing to lend some muscle, or simply ready to help, your hands can make a difference!
Most projects are for adults (18+), though youth ages 14+ are welcome when accompanied by a parent.
Interested in joining Hands for Hesed? Contact Stephen Dodd at steve@scdware.com and share your weekday/weekend availability and any skills you'd like to offer.
Thank you for helping us support Hesed House and its mission to end homelessness, one person and one family at a time.
- Do you feel called to accompany women and families facing an unexpected pregnancy with compassion, hope, and Christ's love?
Waterleaf Women's Center is seeking bilingual Patient Advocate volunteers (native Spanish speakers) to provide caring, one-on-one support to patients as they navigate difficult decisions. This is a beautiful opportunity to make a lasting difference by walking alongside those in need with truth, dignity, and encouragement.
If you are interested in learning more about serving in this life-affirming ministry, please contact Michele Gonzales at micheleg@waterleafwc.org.
Waterleaf Women's Center, 3055 E. New York St., Aurora.
Need Clearer Audio? Connect Directly to Our Sound System
If you use a hearing device, you can now connect directly to the system for clear, real-time audio.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Download the ListenWiFi app
- iPhone: Apple App Store
- Android: Google Play Store
Step 2: Connect to the church’s WiFi network
- Network: OLM-Listen WiFi
- Password: welcome2OLM
Step 3: Pair your headphones or hearing device with your phone (just as you would for calls or music).
Step 4: Open the ListenWiFi app and select Channel 1.
You’ll now hear a live audio feed from our sound system.
❓Need help connecting? Reach out to zara@olmercy.com and she will happily assist you.
👉 Note for Android users: Some phones may require turning off mobile data and disabling “WiFi auto-reconnect” for the app to work properly.
📄 Printed directions are also available in the Narthex (vestibule) next to the Children’s Chapel door.
News from the Diocese of Joliet
- Welcome Bishop Brendan J. Cahill • Installation 11/11
🙏 Please join us in praying for our new Bishop!
On September 17, Pope Leo XIV appointed Most Reverend Brendan J. Cahill as the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet. Bishop Cahill currently serves as Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas and will be installed as our new shepherd on Wednesday, November 11 at 2:00pm at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus. Due to limited seating, attendance at the Installation Mass is by ticket only, but the Mass will be livestreamed for the faithful throughout the diocese. Diocese of Joliet
In a special welcome message to the Diocese of Joliet, Bishop Cahill shares his joy as he prepares to come to Illinois, asks us to trust in God’s grace, and looks forward to joining us in the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Diocese of Joliet
🎥 Watch Bishop Cahill’s welcome message below.
As we prepare to welcome our new bishop, please keep Bishop Cahill, Bishop Dennis Spies, and the entire Diocese of Joliet in your prayers during this time of transition. May the Holy Spirit guide Bishop Cahill as he begins this new chapter of ministry among us! 🕊️
👉 Learn more about Bishop Cahill: Diocese of Joliet
- Called to Spiritual Direction? Come & See 10/8
Could God be calling you to the ministry of spiritual direction?
Spiritual direction is a beautiful ministry of accompaniment, helping others recognize God’s presence and movement in their lives. Those interested in learning more are invited to a special Come & See Information Session and Open House on Thursday, October 8 at 7:00pm at the Carmelite Spiritual Center, 8419 Bailey Road, Darien.
The evening will be hosted by Robert Siemens, Director of the Spiritual Direction Program at Franciscan University of Steubenville, and will offer an opportunity to learn more about spiritual direction and the formation program Franciscan University brings to the Diocese of Joliet.
No commitment is necessary. Come, listen, ask questions, and prayerfully explore whether the Lord may be inviting you to this ministry.
📍 Carmelite Spiritual Center • 8419 Bailey Road, Darien
📅 Thursday, October 8 • 7:00pm
Questions? Contact Deacon Anthony J. Clishem, Catechetical Formation Lead, at 815-221-6142 or aclishem@dioceseofjoliet.org.
- A Space for Healing: Grief & Bereavement Workshop 11/4
Wednesday, November 4 • 8:30am–Noon
Blanchette Catholic Center, Crest Hill
How can we, as the Church, better accompany someone walking through grief?
Join the Diocese of Joliet for A Space for Healing: Recognizing Grief • Responding with Hope, a morning dedicated to understanding grief and learning how we can offer the hope and healing of Jesus Christ to those who are mourning.
Featuring Dr. Leonard DeLorenzo of the University of Notre Dame, along with a panel highlighting practical grief and bereavement resources available throughout our diocese.
This workshop is for clergy, parish staff, grief ministry leaders, volunteers, and anyone called to accompany those who are grieving.
Doors open at 8:00am. For registration or questions, contact Deacon Doug McIlvaine at dmcilvaine@dioceseofjoliet.org or 815-221-6136.
- 2026 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal
- The Diocese of Joliet invites all parishioners to support the 2026 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal (CMAA). Together, we can make a profound difference.
This year’s theme, Beyond All Expectations: Faith that Elevates!, reminds us that when we act as one diocesan family, Christ’s mission reaches further than any one parish could alone. Through the CMAA, we help provide shelter for the homeless, feed the hungry, support vocations, and educate the next generation of Catholics.
Our parish goal is $150,100, and 70% of any amount raised beyond our goal is returned directly to our parish to support local ministries and needs. We invite you to review the mailing you received from the Diocese of Joliet and prayerfully discern your gift to this year’s appeal. Ready to donate now? Click here to make your gift.
If you did not receive a CMAA mailing, please contact the parish office. Thank you for your generosity and faithful support.
- The Diocese of Joliet invites all parishioners to support the 2026 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal (CMAA). Together, we can make a profound difference.
Is God Calling You to the Priesthood?
- Marriage is good and priesthood is good, so how do you choose between two goods? Connect with Fr Michael at frmichael@olmercy.com to speak with him.
- From time to time, there are phishing (SCAM) emails and text messages going out to members of the parish and staff claiming to be Father Michael.
Please note that Father Michael and Father Vagenas DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID.
Did You Know We Have a Parish School?
- All Saints Catholic Academy (ASCA) located at 1155 Aurora Ave, Naperville is our parish school! Peruse their website to explore your interest.
Totally Yours Pilgrimages
- Totally Yours Pilgrimages hosts trips to Italy, Fatima, Medjugorje and more throughout the year. For more information contact 630-315-0533 or visit the website to begin your journey today.
Bulletin
- Check out the weekly Bulletin located here.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Last year, with God’s grace and parish donations, the Our Lady of Mercy’s St. Vincent de Paul Society assisted 87 families!
- You can donate to the St Vincent de Paul Society, either with a monthly envelope or through online giving. You can also join our society. Please call 331-707-5376 or check out their website here.
For the Hispanic Community
- Please proceed here for the OLM Hispanic Ministry's upcoming events and resources. Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry
- How can we pray for you today?
No matter what you’re facing, we’d love to pray with you. Submit your prayer requests at this link. - Unbound Joliet Prayer Ministry offers Unbound Prayer to all those who desire to know the Father's love for them, and who desire to be set free form spiritual bondage. Proceed to this link to learn more.
Have you Downloaded our MyParish App yet?
If you haven't done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app, available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones. Or text APP to 88202 to download.
Donate Online Through OSV Giving
- Whether you are a registered parishioner with us or visiting, we are set up to receive donations online through OSV Our Sunday Visitor.
- Click here to for online giving.
- You can also access this link through our myParish App "Giving" button. Don't have the myParish App yet? Download it at this link. Receive this update, instant news, and get access to the parish calendar, daily readings, and Confession guide.
Support the OLM Legacy Fund
- As Fr. Michael Kearney has previously shared, our journey of faith calls us to prepare not only for our own eternity but also for the legacy we leave behind.
- Every donation to the Legacy Fund will help build this enduring foundation. Your gift, no matter the size, is an act of faith.
Here’s how you can give today:- Online: Click here or the link below.
- By Check: Write "Legacy Fund" in the memo
- In Person: Visit our parish office during office hours to make your gift.
GROW GROUPS | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time.
Connect with zara@olmercy.com for any questions.
Connect with zara@olmercy.com for any questions.
MAMA'S GRACE GROW GROUP
Mission. Mama's Grace is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Multiple times each month
Connect. Reach out to Emily Santona, Katie Blatti, & Sammy Grove at 260-610-6481.
Mission. This group exists to inspire and form the young adult generation to be saints.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and twice a month for social gatherings.
Connect. Reach out to our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions.
SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP
Mission. Looking to grow faith and friendships after OCIA, Alpha, CRHP or Bible Studies? Or are you simply looking to join a small group? Consider Salt and Light.
Mission. Looking to grow faith and friendships after OCIA, Alpha, CRHP or Bible Studies? Or are you simply looking to join a small group? Consider Salt and Light.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm OR Thursdays 1-2:30pm
Connect. For more information, connect with Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com or Sophie Petrone pet791@aol.com
FIT SHEPHERDS
Mission. Fit Shepherds are formed through demanding workouts, fraternity, and discipleship.
Mission. Fit Shepherds are formed through demanding workouts, fraternity, and discipleship.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Saturday mornings @ 7am & Wednesday mornings @ 5:30am
Connect. Dan Maxwell at 630.779.7114 Dannymax80@hotmail.com
MANNA FOR MARRIAGE
Mission. Our ministry looks to help grow, ‘nourish’, and strengthen Catholic marriages.
Mission. Our ministry looks to help grow, ‘nourish’, and strengthen Catholic marriages.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Throughout the year through date nights, marriage speakers, Manna Groups for married or engaged couples
Connect. For more information, email us at m4m.olm@gmail.com
GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.
FORMED.ORG Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home or on the go. Discover thousands of books, talks, movies, and studies...
- Visit signup.formed.org/
- Enter our parish zip or name
- Enter your name and email
or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play
ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism App Download the App for free today. Check it out HERE
AMEN - CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God.
HALLOW - A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP Hallow is a Catholic prayer & meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God. Hallow Light is free. Hallow Plus is a monthly fee. Sign up for either one here.
WORD ON FIRE
Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron's Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.
BLESSED IS SHE
Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus. Check out their resources both online and in person.
THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN
Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate.Their mission: To inspire men to holiness
HEROIC MEN
Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Get it all at HeroicMen.com
AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the
Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Matt Fradd's Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth Checkout the podcast here.
PASTORAL CARE & SUPPORT
At Our Lady of Mercy, we are here to accompany you through every season of life. If you're facing physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual challenges—or have questions about end-of-life planning, funeral arrangements, grief, or caregiving—please reach out to us. Contact the Parish Office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.com for support and resources.
HANDS FOR HESED
We’re excited to launch Hands for Hesed, a new ministry serving Hesed House through practical, hands-on support throughout the year.
From time to time, volunteers are needed for special projects such as:
• Painting and light maintenance
• Deep cleaning
• Assembling or moving furniture
• Yard work and outdoor projects
This is a great opportunity to serve in a tangible way and make a direct impact. Most projects are intended for adults (18+), though youth ages 14+ are welcome to participate when accompanied by a parent.
We are looking for 10–20 volunteers to form a team of helping hands.
If you’re interested, please contact Stephen Dodd at steve@scdware.com and include your availability (weekdays/weekends) along with any skills you’d like to offer.
Thank you for supporting this new ministry and helping care for Hesed House—a national model for ending homelessness, one person and one family at a time.
MINISTRY TO THE HOMEBOUND
Do you have a loved one who is homebound and would like to receive Holy Communion? Our trained and commissioned Ministers of Care bring the Eucharist and a prayerful presence to those at home, in hospitals, or in care facilities. To arrange a visit, contact the Parish Office at 630-851-3444.
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” — John 6:35
HOSPITALIZATION
If you or a loved one is planning for surgery or has been admitted to a hospital, we want to be there for you. Whether you're in need of prayer, the Anointing of the Sick, or a visit with Holy Communion, please let us know. Contact the Parish Office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.com so that a priest or trained Eucharistic Minister can visit and offer spiritual support.
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him.” — James 5:14
NEW PARISHIONERS
Welcome to Our Lady of Mercy! We’re so glad you’re here and invite you to make OLM your spiritual home. To register as a new parishioner, simply visit olmercy.com/new-here and click on “Join OLM” to complete our online registration form.
We look forward to walking in faith with you!
MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED
Pregnant and parenting moms in need are part of our community. As a parish, we want every mom to feel supported and know where to turn for help. Connect with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.com for more information.
FAITH BUDDIES
OLM invites you to learn more about our program for children with special needs.
Our Faith Buddies program serves children with special needs, helping them grow in their faith in a loving and inclusive setting. To enroll your child or to volunteer, contact Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.com.
JOYFUL BEGINNINGS: INFANT BAPTISM
We joyfully welcome families preparing to baptize their child into the Catholic faith! To learn more about the preparation process and upcoming Baptism dates, visit:
👉 Infant Baptism at OLM
👉 Infant Baptism at OLM
SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE
Planning a wedding at Our Lady of Mercy? We’re here to help you prepare for a lifetime of love and faith together. Start your journey and explore the steps to begin the process by visiting:
👉 Marriage at OLM
👉 Marriage at OLM
FAITHFUL FAREWELLS: FUNERALS AT OLM
In times of loss, we are here to walk with you in faith and compassion. Our funeral ministry assists families in planning a meaningful and hope-filled liturgy to honor their loved one. For more information and support, please visit:
👉 Funerals at OLM
👉 Funerals at OLM
NOURISH FOR CAREGIVERS
Caring for a loved one can be both a beautiful calling and a heavy burden. Nourish for Caregivers is a local, faith-based apostolate that offers practical, emotional, and spiritual support to caregivers through prayer, community, and resources. If you or someone you love is walking the caregiving journey, you don’t have to do it alone. Learn more at
👉 nourishforcaregivers.com.
Caring for a loved one can be both a beautiful calling and a heavy burden. Nourish for Caregivers is a local, faith-based apostolate that offers practical, emotional, and spiritual support to caregivers through prayer, community, and resources. If you or someone you love is walking the caregiving journey, you don’t have to do it alone. Learn more at
👉 nourishforcaregivers.com.
Did you notice the new speakers? We have a new sound system!
If you use a hearing device, you can now connect directly to the system for clear, real-time audio. Here’s how:
Step 1: Download the ListenWiFi app
- iPhone: Apple App Store
- Android: Google Play Store
Step 2: Connect to the church’s WiFi network
- Network: OLM-Listen WiFi
- Password: welcome2OLM
Step 3: Pair your headphones or hearing device with your phone (just as you would for calls or music).
Step 4: Open the ListenWiFi app and select Channel 1.
You’ll now hear a live audio feed from our sound system.
You’ll now hear a live audio feed from our sound system.
👉 Note for Android users: Some phones may require turning off mobile data and disabling “WiFi auto-reconnect” for the app to work properly.
📄 Printed directions are also available in the Narthex (vestibule) next to the Children’s Chapel door.
❓Need help connecting? Reach out to zara@olmercy.com and she will happily assist you.
✝️ Confession
☐ Make one Confession in November. Pair it with First Friday (11/7), First Saturday (11/8) or MAGNIFY (11/19)
☐ All Souls indulgence (through Nov 8): visit a cemetery and pray for the dead; also make confession, receive Communion, pray for the Pope’s intentions, and be detached from sin.
☐ Build a rhythm: choose one recurring time (e.g., monthly before Curé Circle or MAGNIFY)
☐ All Souls indulgence (through Nov 8): visit a cemetery and pray for the dead; also make confession, receive Communion, pray for the Pope’s intentions, and be detached from sin.
☐ Build a rhythm: choose one recurring time (e.g., monthly before Curé Circle or MAGNIFY)
Help Stock the Shelves for the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry 2/2
- Did you know our parish collects non-perishable food year-round for the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry? You’ll find three large collection bins in the Parish Life Center (PLC) lobby—just inside the doors, at the bottom of the stairs on the right. Each first Monday of the month, the pantry picks up all donated items to help restock its shelves. You can drop off the items at your convenience anytime.
Since 1981, the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry serves individuals and families struggling to meet their basic nutritional needs—neighbors who might otherwise go without.
With more people depending on community food programs, your donations make a real difference. - 🛒 Food donations should be unopened and within the printed “use by” or “sell by” dates. The pantry gladly accepts a wide range of items, especially the following:
- Grains: cereal, oatmeal, rice, pasta
Fruits & Vegetables: canned, dried, or fresh (including home-grown produce!)
Proteins: canned tuna or chicken, beans (dried or canned)
Ready-to-Make: soups, pasta sauces, pancake and baking mixes, macaroni and cheese
Snacks for Kids: granola bars, crackers, juice boxes, applesauce, peanut butter, jelly
Baby Products: diapers (all sizes), formula, baby food
Personal Care: feminine supplies, over-the-counter medicine, incontinence items
- Grains: cereal, oatmeal, rice, pasta
- Every can, box, and bag helps feed a neighbor in need, your generosity brings hope and nourishment to families right here in our community.
