Around the Parish – August 9, 2026
St. Hermenegild Mass & Picnic
Join us for our annual St. Hermenegild Mass on Thursday, August 13, at 6:00 PM at St. Hermenegild Church, 28 Church Road, Mercer. This special celebration gives us an opportunity to gather in prayer, honor the legacy of this historic church, and celebrate the faith that continues to unite our parish community.
A parish picnic will follow the Mass. Please bring a covered dish to share and a lawn chair. All parishioners, families, and friends are warmly invited to join us!
Thank you Ladies – Men, You’re Next
We are grateful to all the women of our parish who participated in the first gathering of our new Women’s Group. Thank you for sharing your time, ideas, and fellowship as this new parish community begins to grow.
Now we invite the men of the parish to join us for the first Men’s Group gathering on Thursday, August 20, at 7:00 PM in the parish conference room. All men age 18 and older are welcome. Come meet other parishioners, enjoy fellowship, and help shape the future of this new group. To RSVP, contact the parish office at (724) 662-2999 or office@ihmercer.org.
Homebound Ministry
As we prepare to begin our renewed Homebound Ministry, we invite parishioners who are unable to attend Mass because of illness, age, or other circumstances to contact Deacon Edgar Gonzalez. Those who wish to participate will be added to a monthly visitation rotation.
Each visit will offer an opportunity for conversation, companionship, prayer, and the reception of Holy Communion. Visits will be made by trained parish volunteers. Although an official starting date has not yet been established, we hope to begin this ministry in the near future.
If you or someone in your household would like to receive monthly visits, please contact Deacon Edgar at (724) 662-2999, option 6, or emailing egonzalez@ihmercer.org.
Theme Basket Raffle
We are seeking donated theme baskets for the Spaghetti Dinner raffle! Baskets should be valued at $50 or more, include an itemized list, and be delivered to the parish office by August 23.
Please do not include alcoholic beverages. Before requesting a donation from a local business, contact the parish office to help us avoid duplicate requests.
Thank you for supporting this important parish fundraiser!
Here’s a few thoughts for your week ahead:
August always seems to arrive with mixed emotions. Summer is still very much with us, but the signs of a new season are beginning to appear. Families are preparing for school, calendars are filling up again, and parish activities are beginning to resume after the quieter weeks of summer.
In the midst of all this preparation, it is worth taking time to enjoy these remaining summer days. Share a meal with family or friends, spend an evening outside, visit someone you have not seen in a while, or simply slow down long enough to appreciate the ordinary blessings around you.
The weeks ahead will be busy, but they will also bring many opportunities for us to reconnect and strengthen our parish community. I hope everyone enjoys these final weeks of summer and returns refreshed for all that lies ahead.
Pax et Bonum,
Fr. Andy
The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions
The Mass is considered the greatest prayer of intercession in the Church. This is because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father, making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection. Traditionally, a Priest may be requested to offer a Mass for a specific intention, even if the requester cannot be physically present.
Offering Masses for the Deceased:
Having a Mass offered for a deceased person is an ancient and commendable practice. A Mass is offered to pray for the departed, that they may find peace in heaven. Since each Mass holds infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit to the person prayed for, as well as their family, who can take comfort in knowing that their intention is united with the prayers of the Church.
The Mass: Center of Christian Life:
Every Mass is a precious gift from God. It is the center of the Church’s life, known as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” because in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass. We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. At each Mass, all the intentions of God’s people, both living and deceased, are included. As Pope Paul VI noted in his motu proprio “Firma in Traditione,” the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join their own sacrifices to the Eucharistic sacrifice, participating more intensely and supporting the Church’s needs, especially its ministers.
Requesting a Mass Intention:
Anyone may request a Mass Intention for a living person, a deceased person, members of a family, or a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, such as World Peace, Vocations, or Respect for Life. The Church allows only one intention per Mass.
Offering a Mass Stipend:
The normal stipend offering for a Mass is $10. However, a Mass Offering can be more or less than the suggested amount, depending on the financial position of the person requesting the Mass. Envelopes for Mass intention requests are available at the entrances of the church. These envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. The requester may also ask for a card to be sent to notify someone that a Mass Intention has been requested (one card per intention). Please note that the name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not announced.