Bishop Edmund Whalen Celebrates Patroness Mass at Our Lady of Mercy in the Bronx

Auxiliary Bishop Edmund Whalen celebrated a Spanish Mass for the patroness of Our Lady of Mercy church in the Bronx on Sunday, Sept. 20. The Mass was part of a novena held by the parish from Sept. 15 to 23.

During the 11 a.m. Mass, Bishop Whalen thanked the faithful for attending despite the rain and encouraged them to use the occasion to deepen their faith. He noted that the celebration honors the parish and the identity of the community as children of Our Lady of Mercy.

The parish will hold a day of solemnity on Sept. 24 to honor Mary as Mother of Mercy, also known as la Virgen de las Mercedes, who is recognized as an advocate for the poor and oppressed. The feast day is a national holiday in the Dominican Republic. The Mercedarian Order, which honors the Virgin Mary of Mercy, was founded by St. Peter Nolasco in 1218 to ransom Christian captives.