• Our Parish History

  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.