Category: Uncategorized

Restore Rocks

Our society has gravitated towards urban and suburban living spaces which are filled with concrete. If we garden, it is done with specific dirt since Indiana clay isn't really conducive to plant growth. We are far removed from the farms, fields, and woods of long ago. We have lost contact with dirt, specifically rocks.

If we venture outside we are usually running on sidewalks, bicycling on paved roads, or walking while talking on our phones. While there are some who move the earth for a living or enjoy wilderness hiking and rock climbing, the majority of us only put rocks in landscaping around our homes.

Rocks used to mean so much more. We used them to defend and mark our land, wash our clothes with stream water, pound our grains into flour, and in the 1930's, they were used to employ men all across our great land in building landmarks.

At Our Lady, Mother of Mercy Center we have several walls built by these men in the '30's. Rocks, were, and are, an integral part of our landscape. While we preserve what currently exists, we are going about restoring what was lost. We will never be able to fully restore every grotto that the Precious Blood Sisters had on the campus, however, we are beginning to put some rocks back where they once were.

A generous family has donated a Saint Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes statue to the Center. We have access to several postcards that have helped us locate the exact spot of the previous Lourdes grotto and we are now ready to rebuild that grotto!

We have had some generous farmers donate field rocks, but we will need so much more to build a new grotto. Would you be willing to help us put the grotto back at the base of Holy Family Hill? We are raising $3,000 to purchase more rocks, mortar, and framing for the grotto. Anyone who donates $500 or more will have their name put on a plaque on its base. No amount is too small as we work towards restoring our sacred places!

Join us on #GrottoGivingDay as we restore rocks to their proper place and make history as Our Lady of Lourdes returns to Our Lady, Mother of Mercy Center!

Thank you so much for your generosity and be sure to visit us often in 2018 and watch the grotto being built!

 

#GivingGrottoDay

 

When you think of giving, what do you think of? What does it mean to give? Is it giving your heart away in true love, or giving birth? Do you think fondly of giving away prizes, or your child to marriage? Is it the giving of gifts for special events, or giving of your time, that brings you joy?

Giving can mean so much to us that I think we often take it for granted. The ability to give means that you have treasure, accumulated material, or spiritual, wealth. Some give out of their excess, and some give all that they have. But almost everyone has a desire to give something.

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been designated for giving to non profits. It has been dubbed "Giving Tuesday" in hopes that you will take the "giving" out of the Thanksgiving, and share it with an organization that is meaningful to you.

Our Lady, Mother of Mercy Center is participating for the first time in this year's Giving Tuesday. We are raising $3,000 to rebuild the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto on the perimeter of Holy Family Hill. Searching through old postcards has enabled us to locate the exact location of the previous one from when the Sisters of the Precious Blood were here. A generous family has stepped forward to donate the statues of Saint Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes.

This Thanksgiving, while gathering with family and friends, could you keep our endeavor in your thoughts and prayers? After careful consideration, perhaps you would then be willing to give to our project on Giving Tuesday.

All $500 and higher donations will be placed on a plaque at the base of the grotto for all future generations to see the type of giving that was important to you. While some can afford that amount, there is no amount to small to give to help us restore our sacred places. As always we welcome all giving from your spiritual wealth as well.

Thank you for thinking of us during the giving season. We appreciate your support! Be sure to visit us this spring and watch the grotto go up!

Tagged , ,

Take A Tour!

The middle of September will be arriving this Saturday. Along with it is our September tour date!

We get asked all the time what we are doing on the campus. So many changes in such a small amount of time!
The best way to find out is to come and see if for yourself!

Here are 5 reasons you need to visit us!

5. Fall in Northeast Indiana is beautiful!
4. Things are changing quickly on the campus; you won't see the same thing twice.
3. You want to be the first one to hear about what we are doing next!
2. This is one of the last times of 2017 to see the Chapel.
1. Our Lady of Grace is only out on tours dates and you don't want to miss it!

See you on Saturday at noon!

Tagged , ,

Fall Has Arrived!

We have been so blessed with such good weather here in the Midwest this summer! It makes me feel so guilty when I see what other states are enduring as we head into autumn. There is absolutely nothing that we can do about it, other than pray, pray, pray!

If you are in the path of fire, flood, or wind, please be assured of our prayers when we meet with staff, volunteers, visitors, and our First Saturday Rosary Group.  May your burden be lightened, your safety preserved, and the peace of the Lord be with you.

Please visit the Center this fall. The spring will be flowing, the leaves will be turning colors, the air will be fresh and crisp, and your spirit renewed. The peace from prayer will have a lasting effect on you! Don't forget about Holy Family Hill, the walking rosary, the Tomb of Christ, and the Stations of the Cross are all available when you visit.

Stop by our offices and say hello! We love to see our visitors! Also be sure to sign up for one of our few remaining tours left before winter arrives. Changes are always happening around here and you never know what you will see when you get a behind the scenes tour!

See you soon and God Bless you!

5 Reasons to attend the First Saturday Rosary

Where does the time go??? I don't know how we can be getting into September already when August just got here!

The 9th First Saturday of 2017 is rolling up on us this week. Another Saturday to honor the request of the Blessed Mother at Fatima. I hope that you will join our little community for this wonderful prayer service.

I could write pages about why we offer this, but I will just give you a quick list of 5 to entice you to come on over Saturday morning at 10:30.

5. Free breakfast! (Who doesn't want to eat some free food???)
4. Meet new friends! Our bunch is out going. You will feel right at home.
3. Get some peace. The campus is a very beautiful place and you will feel better after a visit.
2.See the Chapel. We are still using the Chapel. Come pray with us before it gets too cold to be in there.
1. The Blessed Mother asked it of you. Don't like what you are seeing in the world? Our Lady gave us the answer. Pray the Rosary and you will change the world.

Who can say "no" to that?

See you Saturday morning!

Our Lady of Grace Returned

An anonymous source leads to its finding

Rome City, IN (August 9, 2017) – After five days of investigation by Rome City Town Marshall and the Noble County Sheriff’s Department, the Our Lady of Grace statue was returned to Our Lady, Mother of Mercy Center located north of Rome City off of North Kelly Street.  The statue was recovered at 11:30 pm on Aug 8th after an anonymous source lead the Town Marshal to the statue.

Executive Director of the Center, Sheri McBride, stated, “Our Lady, Mother of Mercy Center is eternally grateful for all the hard work of the Rome City Town Marshall and the Noble County Sheriff's Department in the relentless pursuit of our statue.  We are relieved that it has been found in pristine condition and we look forward to returning it to its proper place.”

While the Center was ever hopeful that the statue would return, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to secure funding to make sure a replacement statue would be placed by the waterfall.  Upon the return of the statue, the campaign funds will be used to ensure the statue is properly secured with upgraded security.  Any remaining monies will be used to purchase a statue of Saint Joseph.

Even though the statue has been recovered, this investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with additional information should contact the Rome City Town Marshall or the Noble County Sheriff’s office.

Tagged ,

Welcome to Our Lady, Mother of Mercy Center

Hello friend!
We are excited to welcome you to our new web page and our very own blog!!!!

It is amazing to think about all of the exciting changes that have been made to the campus of Our Lady Mother of Mercy Center. We know that many of you have been instrumental with those changes by donating your time and resources to the new direction that we are moving. Some of you are following our journey from afar and we appreciate your prayers! We would be lost with out all three of those tools.

We have a very exciting summer scheduled for 2017 and you will be able to hear all about them right here! Besides sharing our upcoming events, we will also share the renovation process, personal testimonies, the discoveries we make along the way and why we do what we do.

Join us tomorrow as we talk more about the foundation, Mother of Mercy.