Pastor

Our Lady of Mercy School

July 2018

Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Grace:

There is before us a difficult choice:

"Between a rock and a hard place"
"Pick your poison"
"Lesser of two evils"
"Between the devil and the deep blue sea"

These phrases refer to situations like our parish finds itself. Two options, neither of which is ideal.

Our numbers are falling – people and income. The tenant in our school has vacated the building causing a $150,000 change in our budget – a negative change. Keeping the building vacant is one very bad option.

Do we continue to maintain two churches while attendance is minimal for even one of them? Or, do we sell one of them even though it is where we, our family and friends, have worshipped, where we were wedded, baptized, educated and from where we expect to be buried?

Our lay leadership, in the form of the parish council and finance committee, with the support and approval of the pastor have decided that an unrelenting effort must be made to re-rent the school building, even if it means we must sell some or all of the "Mercy" campus. Our previous tenant, before the sponsorship problem that caused the State of Ohio to rescind their charter, had discussed purchasing the property rather than relocating. They needed more space and owning is significantly less expensive than leasing. In all likelihood, any new tenant will want the same.

The property is currently being marketed by Joe Dierkers, a parish member and a member of the finance committee. Joe has been a commercial realtor for over 45 years. He has handled our real estate sales and leasing needs for the last 15 years. His marketing efforts include both statewide and national elements. The property is listed in several on-line web sites such as MLS and LoopNet.

We don't know where this will lead or how soon we may be faced with a decision, or whether that decision will be pleasant or painful. When that time comes, your pastor, the lay leadership, the membership, as well as the Archdiocese will be consulted.
Thank you.

Sincerely,

Our Lady of Grace Parish Council and Finance Committee

Our Lady of Mercy School Building for Lease

STEAM Academy has served children and their
families in our neighborhood for several years.
Their lease has ended and there is no new tenant
for the school building at the Our Lady of Mercy site. 
If  you know of any interested parties or have any ideas
for the use of the building, please contact Joe Dierkers at 414-0313.

Our Lady of Mercy School Building
545 Odlin Ave.
Dayton, Ohio 45405
(937) 274-2107

SPIRITAN PARISHES IN DAYTON - OHIO

SPIRITAN PARISHES IN DAYTON - OHIO

The Spiritans began working in Ohio (Fr. Steurer in Troy, St Patrick's, 1872, and Fr. Ott in Piqua, St Boniface, with 5 mission stations, 1873) even before the arrival of their 1st Provincial (Fr. Strub in 1874).
- In 1928, they took over the ministry to the African Americans in Cincinnati (St. John the Baptist Church). That same year, the Archbishop asked them to take care of the growing African American Community in Dayton.
- Since then, the Spiritans have dedicated their ministry among African American Catholics and all who joined, and they still are continuing ministering among urban and rural parishes.
- At the moment they serve 8 parishes: Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Mercy, St. Benedict the Moor, St. Mary, Queen of Martyrs, Dayton, St. Augustine, Germantown, St. Mary, Camden, and Visitation, Eaton, striving to be a light that shines to brighten the life of the people they serve in the Archdiocese of Most Rev. Dennis Marion Schnurr.

https://youtu.be/NlkHvsYWU6I

Jean-Michel Gelmetti

5:30 P.M. Sunday Evening Mass at Corpus Christi

5:30 P.M. Sunday Evening Mass at Corpus Christi

Everyone is welcome to attend. We especially hope that young adults from our parish and the Dayton area will be encouraged to attend.  Fr. Ted Cassidy, a Marianist priest, will be presiding over most of the Masses.   If you would like to participate in the Sunday evening services as a Eucharistic Minister, Server, Lector, Petition writer, Greeter, or Choir member, please contact our Parish office 937 274-2107 ext 100

Assumption Food Pantry Joins CSSMV

For 49 years the Assumption Food Pantry has been a part of many lives: those who have received a helping hand when in need and those who have volunteered with love and dedication. It is with mixed feelings that we are no longer operating independently at the former Assumption Church site.

By God's glory our sorrows are always transformed to new life.  Tuesday, March 1, 2016, marked a new beginning as we partner with the Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley (CSSMV) Food Pantry.  This partnership allows us to provide expanded services and resources to the Assumption Food Pantry clients. Cindy Rogerson will continue serving our brothers and sisters in need on-site at the CSSMV location, 922 West Riverview Avenue, and she will keep us up to date with news and information.

We would like to express our great appreciation to all who have volunteered their time and talent, and given monetary or food donations over the past 49 years.  Our Lady of Grace Parish is committed to the success of this new partnership and we pray that you will continue to help us support this vital community resource as you have in the past.  We will continue to provide food chests at each worship site for donations of staples and food pantry donation envelopes, and we encourage continued volunteerism at CSSMV.

Our Lady of Grace is possible because of those who give of their Time, Talent and Treasure.

Click here for more information about the CSSMV Food Pantry Website