“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.” – Ephesians 4:4-6
MICHIGAN CITY – The newly united parishes of Michigan City have now received a new name. After consulting with numerous individuals and groups over the past several years, there has been a clear and consistent affirmation to identify a name that reflects the tri-campus community. During Masses celebrated the weekend of April 11-12, the parish officially announced its new name – Mary, Mother of Mercy.
During the season of Lent, the Diocesan Priest Council met to consider a resolution that would unite Notre Dame with Queen of All Saints as one parish. St. Mary and Queen of All Saints were already joined as a single parish. Now that the resolution was approved and formally declared, Queen of All Saints, St. Mary and Notre Dame are officially one parish, made up of three distinct campuses.
The newly formed parish, Mary, Mother of Mercy, includes the three former parishes of Queen of All Saints, St. Mary and Notre Dame. Each church will continue to honor and retain its historical name, but its designation will shift from “parish” to “campus.”
Father David Kime shared that he truly loves this name for the tri-campus parish, stating it is both beautiful and fitting. Each of the churches, he pointed out, already honors the Blessed Mother.
“It feels right and natural that our shared parish identity would continue to place Mary at the heart of who we are,” he said.
Beyond this continuity, Father Kime explained, there is also a deeply theological reason for choosing this name.
“We are living in a time when the world is in great need of God’s mercy – perhaps more than ever,” he said. “As Catholics, we know that we seek this mercy through Jesus Christ, and we trust that Mary, His Mother, always leads us to Him. Mary is rightly called the Mother of Mercy because she is the Mother of Jesus, who is the living image of the Father’s mercy.”
The pastor added that standing beneath the Cross, Mary was uniquely united to her Son’s sacrifice, interceding for the mercy that flows from His saving death.
“As our Mother, Mary continues to plead for mercy for all her children before the throne of God,” he said. “In choosing this name, we place our parish under her loving care and ask her to guide us, protect us, and intercede for us in these challenging times.”
Stacey Gushrowski, parish secretary, shared that she feels Father Kime is doing “an awesome job bringing our community together.” She has personally noticed an increase in Mass attendance, stating that it's nice to see people from all churches coming together to worship.
“I like coming to church where the church is filled with people,” Gushrowski said. “It was especially nice at the Easter Triduum to come together to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. I think this was God's plan to begin our new parish at this Easter season.”
Gushrowski feels that the new name of the church is beautiful and one that makes her want to be part of the faith community.
“Our mission to receive mercy and give mercy is the foundation of our faith,” she said. “I imagine the Sacred Heart of Jesus being very happy.”
Gushrowski added that her prayer is that all three campuses will feel at home. She noted a parish isn’t about what space is being worshipped but more about coming together as one community to worship and receive the Blessed Sacrament – “to become a dynamic Catholic presence in Michigan City on fire for the love of Jesus.”
