Join us at our

Parish

Mission

Parish Mission with Fr. Larry Richards

📅 Monday, September 8 – Thursday, September 11, 2025
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM each night
📍 Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 100 Penn Ave., Mercer, PA

“You Won’t Be Bored
and Your Life Will Be Changed!”

We are excited to welcome internationally known Catholic speaker and author Fr. Larry Richards for a dynamic four-night Parish Mission this September!

Fr. Larry is the founder of The Reason for Our Hope Foundation and is known for his passionate, practical, and powerful preaching. His talks have changed countless lives—and now it’s your turn to experience it here at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.

Each evening has a different focus:

Monday – Knowing God’s love and learning how to pray
Tuesday – The gift of the Mass and the importance of family
Wednesday – Forgiveness of sins through the Passion of Christ
Thursday – A Healing Service and invitation to deeper discipleship

This mission is free and open to all—no registration required. Whether you’re a lifelong Catholic or just curious about faith, you’re warmly invited. Come and be renewed in hope, joy, and purpose.

🕊️ Come and experience what God has in store for you!

🔗 Learn more about Fr. Larry Richards at The Reason for our Hope Foundation
📞 Questions? Contact the parish office!

Parish Mission Prayer

Holy Father, great God of love and mercy, You have surrendered everything for love of us. May we learn to surrender everything for love of You. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may do Your will and not our own. Help us to love You above all things and to love Your people the way You have commanded us.

Quiet our minds and hearts that we may be open to the gift of Your truth, and grant that our Parish Mission may be:

a time of Grace for all,
a time of growth for the young,
a time of refreshment for the old,
a time of renewal for families,
a time of healing for the broken,
a time of joy for the sorrowing,
a time of challenge for the complacent,
a time of forgiveness for the sinner,
a time of strength for the holy,
a time of homecoming for all who have been away.

We beg You these things, Holy Father, in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Who is Father Larry Richards?

A gifted and captivating speaker, preacher, retreat master, and author, Father Larry Richards holds the answer to some of life’s most profound questions. He speaks from experience as a pastor of an inner-city parish, a high school chaplain, a counselor, and an evangelist. Father Larry Richards has directed thousands of Retreats, Parish Missions, and Conferences for young and old alike. His inspirational talks and presentations, always authentic and enthusiastic, have changed the hearts, minds, and lives of millions of listeners worldwide. He continues to accept invitations for speaking engagements all over the world.

Father Larry Richards was born on March 26, 1960, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He entered St. Mark High School Seminary, Erie, Pennsylvania, at the age of 17. After high school, Father Larry attended college Seminary at Gannon University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling in 1983.

Continuing his studies at the Major Seminary at St. Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Father Larry Richards received his Master of Divinity degree in 1987, and he also studied Liturgy at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana.

Ordained to the priesthood on April 21, 1989, for the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, Father Larry Richards has served as a pastor since July 1, 2002.He currently serves as pastor of St. Luke Church and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. He is the founder and spiritual director of the DME (Divine Mercy Encounter) Retreat Program in the Diocese of Erie. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance (CMLA), which ministers to men all around the world.

On August 30, 2004, Father Larry founded and is the president of The Reason For Our Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the Good News by educating others about Jesus Christ and the Catholic faith through multiple media resources. In addition, the Foundation supports charities that strive to make real the Gospel of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at www.thereasonforourhope.org

He has recorded many talks on all aspects of the Catholic Faith for individual and small-group instruction, all of which are available at OurHope.TV completely free of charge. Some of his most popular talks are entitled, The Truth, Confession, The Mass Explained, Knowing God’s Will, Prayer, Living in the Holy Spirit, and Be a Man. Father Larry’s live presentation of What More Could He Do For You?, a dramatic explanation of the Passion of Jesus, is, without a doubt, the most moving re-enactment of the Passion one can view.

Father Larry began his weekly live podcast, called Anchored in Hope, in March of 2021, during which he answers live-chat and e-mail questions. This, along with daily Mass, can be found on OurHope.TV and YouTube, as well as downloaded on your favorite podcast app.

Father Larry’s first book, Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You To Be, was published by Ignatius Press in October of 2009, and it was the #1 best seller by Ignatius Press in 2010. Father Larry’s second book, Surrender! The Life-Changing Power of Doing God’s Will, was published by Our Sunday Visitor in September of 2011. In 2014, a Catholic Men’s Bible, NABRE, with introduction and instructions by Father Larry, was published by Our Sunday Visitor. A Scripture Desk Calendar entitled No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!, containing both morning and evening Scripture passages and encouraging words from Father Larry, was published by The Word Among Us in 2014, as well.

Father Larry’s recorded talks can be heard on the EWTN Radio Show, called Father Knows Best. He has a segment on Dr. Ray’s television series, Living Right with Dr. Ray which airs on EWTN Global Catholic Television. Father Larry was a favorite, as well, on the EWTN radio show called Open Line from the year 2015 through 2020.