Our Lady Of Mercy

Pros

• Sunday Mass at the church is peaceful, and the ambience is beloved.
• The parish is excellent for encountering God outside the home.
• The parishioners are kind and the community is supportive.
• Visitors leave the church feeling renewed and hopeful after prayer.
• The church is a beautiful place for weddings, baptisms, first communion, confirmation, and other sacraments, with Don Julio offering personal and respectful service, and Bible courses are offered.
• The church features a dedicated pastor, a colorful entrance, a prayerful temple, friendly faithful, and great sacred images.
• The parish is beautiful and a good place to feel the presence of the Lord.
• The services are consistently uplifting.
• The church is peaceful and lively, giving attendees a sense of peace.
• The church is amazing and beloved by the community.
• The church is loved and the parishioners are welcoming.
• The church is welcoming and houses a school for toddlers.

Cons

• The catechism kids don't get any time off, which troubled the reviewer.
• The reviewer felt devastated upon entering the church due to depression and anxiety.
• The PA system has a flaw, making the priest hard to understand, which bothered the reviewer.
• They didn't like it.

Review

The parish comes through in many voices as a lively, welcoming hub of faith and community. Across the comments, there's a strong sense that this church offers a wealth of activities and a compelling, motivating preacher who helps people engage with their faith in meaningful ways. Sunday Mass is repeatedly described as peaceful, a time when the sanctuary feels like a refuge, and the overall ambience of the church is cherished by those who attend. In short, it's seen as a place where worship and spiritual life feel accessible and uplifting.

The entrance to the church itself leaves a positive impression, with several reviews noting a colorful and inviting approach to the building that signals the warmth inside. Parishioners emphasize not only the beauty of the sacred space and images but also the dedication of the leadership. A dedicated pastor and a friendly, faithful congregation contribute to a temple that feels prayerful and well cared for. The sense of reverence is balanced by a welcoming atmosphere, making regular attendees feel that they are in a place where their faith can grow with guidance and encouragement.

There is a strong sense of ongoing personal encounter with God through the parish's activities beyond Sunday worship. One long-time member recalls growing up in the church in the 1970s and still feeling connected to it today, highlighting a continuity of faith that spans generations. For others, the church has been a source of deep personal transformation: someone entered devastated by depression and anxiety and left feeling renewed after praying with the community and venerating Mary and God. This theme of healing and renewal through prayer and communal worship recurs, reinforcing the church as a sanctuary during difficult times.

The parish is described as a hub for sacraments and family life. It's seen as a place where children can receive catechetical instruction and sacraments such as baptism, first communion, and confirmation. It's also a warm setting for weddings and other celebrations, with a suggestion that couples receive considerate, personal attention - one review even mentions being attended to by Don Julio for certain ceremonies. The church's role in life-cycle events - weddings, quincea?eras, baptisms, and other rites - contributes to a sense that the parish supports families through important moments and milestones. The building also houses a school for toddlers, underscoring the parish's ongoing investment in early faith formation.

Community life within the parish is repeatedly praised as lively and supportive. Visitors and longtime members alike describe a great sense of community and a welcoming fellowship among parishioners. Bible courses or study groups are part of the offerings, suggesting opportunities for learning and growth beyond liturgy. The experience of "being under the presence of our Lord" in a peaceful yet active setting - where people feel drawn to prayer, reflection, and service - appears to be a central strength of the parish.

There are a few practical notes and a couple of caveats mentioned by members. One participant expressed a desire for a daily report - via email, text, or fax - to stay updated, signaling a preference for more consistent communication. Another review mentions that the PA system could use improvement, with the priest's voice sometimes hard to hear clearly, which can impede understanding during services. A small portion of the feedback is negative or mixed, with at least one person indicating they "didn't like it," reminding readers that even well-loved communities have diverse opinions and areas being refined over time. Additionally, there's a note that catechism kids don't get time off when needed, highlighting a tension between schedule demands and family realities for working parents.

Overall, the parish appears as a warm, orderly, and spiritually rich community that many people find deeply meaningful. It's described as a beautiful, peaceful place that offers a wide range of rites, opportunities for growth, and personal support. The atmosphere blends reverence, personal care, and a sense of shared faith, making it a place where individuals and families feel seen, encouraged, and sustained by a community that truly lives its faith together. The combination of dedicated leadership, active parish life, sacramental vitality, and a welcoming pew-side fellowship seems to be what draws people back - whether they're seeking solace in hard times, celebrating joyous milestones, or simply longing for a peaceful space to pray and grow.

Located in the Bronx, New York, this area offers a variety of amenities that cater to senior living. With multiple pharmacies such as Rite Aid and CVS Pharmacy within a few miles radius, residents have easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, transportation options like Metro North train stations and MTA subway stations are conveniently located for seniors who may not drive. There are also plenty of parks and places of worship nearby for recreational and spiritual activities. For entertainment, theaters like Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers and AMC Bay Plaza Cinema 13 are just a short distance away. Hospitals such as Bronx VA Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital provide quality healthcare services within close proximity. Overall, this area offers a mix of amenities that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment in the Bronx.

Restaurants

• Last Stop Bar & Grill (0.8 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• Serafina (5.9 miles)
• McDonald's (6 miles)
• Kura Revolving Sushi Bar (6.1 miles)
• The River Palm Terrace (6.6 miles)
• McDonald's (7.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)
• Value Drugs Eastchester (4.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.8 miles)

Transportation

• Metro North - Mt Vernon East Train Station (2.1 miles)
• Metro North - Riverdale Station (2.6 miles)
• MTA Fordham Metro-North Station (2.8 miles)
• MTA Subway - Fordham Rd (3 miles)
• Pelham Station (3.1 miles)
• Metro North - Bronxville Train Station (3.4 miles)
• MTA Subway - Inwood/207th St (3.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• The Riverdale Minyan (2.5 miles)

Parks

• Riverdale Park (2.6 miles)
• Inwood Hill Park (3.4 miles)
• J. Hood Wright Park (5.3 miles)
• Flat Rock Brook Nature Center (5.6 miles)
• Uniontown Playground (6 miles)
• Memorial Park (6.2 miles)
• Manor Park (6.4 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Bay Plaza Cinema 13 (2.9 miles)
• Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers (6.3 miles)
• AMC DINE-IN Shops At Riverside 9 (8.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Bronx VA Medical Center (3 miles)
• NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital (3 miles)
• St Barnabas Hospital (3.3 miles)
• Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital (4.2 miles)
• Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion (5.5 miles)
• Milstein Hospital Building (5.6 miles)
• Holy Name Medical Center (7.6 miles)

Cafes

• Cafe Zeppieri (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5.9 miles)
• Starbucks (6.3 miles)
• Starbucks (7.1 miles)
• Kuppi Coffee Company (7.9 miles)
• Starbucks (8.5 miles)
• State Of The Art Coffee (8.8 miles)

Physicians

• Park Medical Group PA (5.5 miles)
• Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital (5.6 miles)