As pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish and Our Lady of Fatima Mission, it is my privilege to welcome you to this vibrant faith community. For nearly 60 years Our Lady of Mercy has been growing and striving for excellence in Catholic community and ministry.
Our members come from different parts of the United States and from more than 10 different countries. As a parish family we face all the challenges of a richly diverse group. Yet beyond our diversity in background, culture or language, we hold the conviction that we are one in our Catholic faith, the strongest of bonds in our call to holiness.
I invite and encourage you to become an active member of our family. Central to our faith is the celebration of the Eucharist on Saturday and Sundays. We also have a variety of activities and ministries to join. It is our hope and prayer that you will choose to become active in them as your time and circumstances permit.
I also invite and encourage you to support your parish with a lively sense of stewardship of your time, talent and treasure. We all need one another and together, combining our talents and resources, we can accomplish so much more than we could ever do alone. Working together for those who do not enjoy all the blessings that we do, Our Lady of Mercy has earned a reputation for being a beacon of active, faith-filled concern in the greater Winston-Salem community.
All of us on the pastoral team and staff are glad you are part of our parish!
Fraternally,
Rev. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv.
Pastor
| 1954 | Our Lady of Mercy is founded under the leadership of Monsignor Francis O’Brien to serve a large influx of Western Electric employees who relocated from New Jersey to Winston-Salem. To meet the needs of the families, two houses on South Main Street and land were purchased and the plans for the church were begun. |
| 1957 | Mass is celebrated at the new church facility on Mother’s Day. Our Lady of Mercy School is dedicated by Bishop Vincent Waters; Sisters of St. Joseph come to staff the school. |
| 1962 | Father Frederick Koch brings music to the Parish as its new Pastor. |
| 1967 | Arrival of Monsignor Lawrence Newman brings an era of financial recovery due to his resourcefulness and vision. |
| 1975 | Father Joe Kerin establishes both a Parish Council and Parish Commissions |
| 1977 | Father Ed Sheridan becomes Pastor, overseeing necessary repairs to the parish facilities. He also establishes the “Mercy 5 Miler”. During Father Sheridan’s tenure, Joe Schumacher is ordained as a Deacon. |
| 1987 | Franciscan Friars arrive and Pastor Canice Connors expands lay ministry and adult education; instills new life into the commissions. A Monthly Hispanic Mass begins. |
| 1991 | Father Conall McHugh is appointed Pastor and focus on the increasing Hispanic population in the area. |
| 1995 | Weekly Hispanic Mass is added to meet the needs of the growing Hispanic population. A vision committee begins looking at the future needs of the parish. |
| 1999 | Parish purchases the Bishop McGuinness High School property under Father Joe Barry’s leadership in order to re-establish our Church and School in a facility that will support the growth of our community of faith. Plans call for a renovation of the existing school building and the construction of a new church. |
| 2001 | Bishop McGuinness High School moves to new location in Kernersville . Renovations on Link Road site begin for OLM School |
| 2002 | Father Bill Robinson assumes role of Pastor. Our Lady of Fatima Chapel is renovated. OLM School moves to renovated property in Link Road. |
| 2004 | Our Lady of Mercy celebrates 5oth Anniversary with a Mass and picnic in Tanglewood Park. In September we broke ground for the construction of the new church. |
| 2005 | Church was dedicated on August 28, 2005. |
| 2010 | Our Lady of Mercy School is awarded the prestigious Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. Within the last 15 years, our parish doubled its population. |
| 2014 | Friar Carl Zdancewicz assumes the role of Pastor. |