OLM

November 18, 2020

My mother passed away

For those who did not pray with us during last Sunday’s live-stream Mass, I wanted to let you know that my much loved mother (Rose Ochylski) passed away last Friday. She was a wonderful person and a faithful Catholic. Here is her obituary (thanks to my sister Rose)

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/freep/obituary.aspx?n=rose-virginia-ochylski&pid=197117972

I will be going to Detroit, Michigan to celebrate her funeral which will take place on November 27th at 11:00 AM (Michigan time) at my home parish where I was baptized (St. Thecla’s – Clinton Township). If you could say a little prayer for her and my family, I would appreciate it.

Fr. Michael will be filling in for me while I am gone.

On Wednesday November 18, we have a parish council meeting to discuss Christmas 2020 at Our Lady of Mercy. However, we know that things are constantly changing, so any plans we make will have to be provisional.

The neighborhood is still restricted but there are no controls that anyone has seen. I wanted to thank those of you who came last Sunday to support me. We know that churches are not transmitting the virus.

The joke is pretty awful, sorry about that.

May God bless you and keep you safe!

Fr. Ron

The Frog

A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that the teller’s name is Patricia Whack. So he says, “Ms. Whack, I’d like to get a loan to buy a boat and go on a long vacation.”

Patti looks at the frog in disbelief and asks how much he wants to borrow. The frog says $30,000. The teller asks his name and the frog says that his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it’s OK, he knows the bank manager.

Patti explains that $30,000 is a substantial amount of money and that he will need to secure some collateral against the loan. She asks if he has anything he can use as collateral.

The frog says, “Sure. I have this,” and produces a tiny pink porcelain elephant, about half an inch tall, bright pink and perfectly formed. Very confused, Patti explains that she’ll have to consult with the manager and disappears into a back office.

She finds the manager and says, “There’s a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000. He wants to use this as collateral.” She holds up the tiny pink elephant and says to the manager “I mean, what the heck is this?”

The bank manager looks back at her and says: “It’s a knick knack, Patti Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man’s a Rolling Stone.”

November 12, 2020

More of the same

Hello again,

Well, not too much has changed this week. The church neighborhood is still restricted but it seems as though things are getting slightly better. We keep praying and begging God!

So, next Sunday the Mass will be live streamed. You can see it at 11:00 AM or later on Youtube. Again, thank you to all the volunteers that are doing double duty to make sure you have access to OLM. We won’t be sending an usher to your house for the collection, but you can support OLM following the instructions on the OLM web’s home page.

By the way, many people read the google reviews, even for churches, so if you have the time, could you write a nice review for your church? This was proposed by the parish council yesterday at our Zoom meeting. Go to this link and click on “Google reviews” then choose the option “Write a review”:

https://www.google.es/search?source=hp&ei=VwytX6PyM9C7lwTot7S4DA&q=our+lady+of+mercy+madrid&oq=our+lady+of+mercy+madrid&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIJCAAQyQMQFhAeMgYIABAWEB4yBggAEBYQHjICCCY6BQgAEMQCOgQIABAeOggIABDJAxDEAjoGCAAQChAeOgUILhDEAjoLCC4QyQMQxAIQkwJQwwlYvitg-SxoAHAAeACAAW6IAbsRkgEEMjAuNJgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXo&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwjj-d2M5PzsAhXQ3YUKHegbDccQ4dUDCAc&uact=5

Fr. Ron will preside and preach this Sunday.

I also received and interesting email of a foundation that offers free online classes for those interested in learning Spanish.They also include a certification. It is especially offered to immigrants here in Spain. So, if you are interested, email me and I will send you the necessary information.

I pray God keeps you and your family safe, this second wave is formidable!

Fr. Ron

Finding a Husband

At a local coffee bar, a young woman was expounding on her idea of the perfect mate to some of her friends. “The man I marry must be a shining light amongst company. He must be musical. Tell jokes. Sing. And stay home at night!”

An old granny overheard and spoke up, “Honey, if that’s all you want, get a TV!”

November 5, 2020

The latest news at your church!

The days seem to go by fast for me, how about you? The world doesn’t seem to get any calmer. I always write wondering if this will ever end. But we need to keep doing the best we can, right?

The current restrictions are quite changeable. For example, to leave or enter Madrid, it is permitted on weekdays but not on weekends. (This is to stop people from going away for the long weekends of all saints and the Almudena and spreading the virus). In all of Spain, there is a curfew between 12 midnight and 6 AM.

There are 35 neighborhoods in Madrid that are also restricted due to higher cases of COVID. The church neighborhood is one of them. We had very few people last Sunday. But there were absolutely no controls anywhere. (The Spanish police work hard Saturday nights, so Sunday morning are usually calmer). Some people said they will try anyway to come. I do it every day and have never been stopped. (I do have permission, just in case). But if I didn’t, I would just speak English and say “Church, iglesia.” But I can’t encourage anyone to not respect the restrictions. Everyone decides for themselves. I know in my heart that the churches are not the problem. The virus has been spreading in other ways.

If you do come, we continue trying to make the best out of things. We have redone the church floor and it shines brightly! We continue with our new extraordinary!

We do have the live streaming of the Mass now thanks to Alex and Janet (although we need to improve the Internet but that had to wait for the floor to dry). You don’t need to watch at 11:00 AM, you can go to youtube and see it anytime. Only around 100 people watched it last week. And there are 300 people on this email list…… Please try and make use of this service, it was done for those of you who love OLM but have decided not to come.

Here is a link to help you: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+lady+of+mercy+madrid

(There are also choir videos on the search).

Fr. Micheal will be celebrating this Sunday. I am around, doing Spanish Masses. We also have Christmas lottery which I will be happy to sell before and after Mass. Fr. Sebastian is also available for that too. We also hear confessions! 🙂

By the way, this Sunday is also the second Sunday of the month and we used to ask for your contributions of food items for the struggling families of our parish. You can bring them any Sunday or during the week! Always appreciate: sunflower oil, juices, milk, parboiled rice, canned meats, fish, and veggies.

Be well and don’t lose hope!

Praying for God’s blessing upon you and your families,

Fr. Ron

Grocery Bag

It was very crowded at the supermarket, and the customer in front of me had a large order.

As the harried-looking clerk lifted the final bag for her, its bottom gave way, sending the contents crashing to the floor.

“They just don’t make these bags like they used to,” the clerk quipped to the customer. “That was supposed to happen in your driveway!”

October 24, 2020

NEW RESTRICTIONS – What you need to know

Well, here is your bonus email!

The authorities decided yesterday to confine the neighborhood of Chamartin STARTING MONDAY!

1) The Chamartin neighborhood is where the church is located.

2) So, starting Monday, October 26, no one can enter or leave the neighborhood’s boundaries unless they have permission.

3) People who live near the church are free to attend church services. They will not be cancelled.

So, tomorrow, Sunday October 25, YOU MAY COME TO CHURCH, the restrictions won’t go into effect until Monday.

The church still has an occupancy limit of 1/3 , about 175 people in our case. We don’t even get close to that limit.

As it stands now, if you do not live inside the church’s neighborhood you CANNOT enter the neighborhood for Mass on the following Sunday, November 1st (which is also All Saints Day).

I cannot give you permission to enter the neighborhood for Sunday church attendance.

We will try and get the streaming up and going, but our IT guy (Alex) is also in preventive auto-confinement. It will depend upon when he can safely leave his home. Stay tuned here.

Also, our plans for CCD taking place at church will have to be placed on hold. Nancy is setting things up with every catechist, and online will be our only option for now. Please be patient.

Also, tonight, Europe ends daylight savings time, so we gain an hour of sleep. Turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed.

Due to the COVID19, we have lost a great deal of income, please make a donation to support your church. We are also committed to assisting our parishioners in need, if you would like to make a donation:, here are the bank details:
(tax deductible if you pay Spanish taxes and provide our treasurer your DNI number)
Account holder:
PARROQUIA HABLA ING. N. S. MERCED MADRID
Bank Details: IBAN: ES07.0186.5001.64.0511473809
Bank Name: Banco Mediolanum
BIC (or SWIFT): BFIVESBBS

wow, that’s quite a bit. Hang in there, “Tough times never last but tough people do.”

May God bless you and keep you safe,

Fr. Ron

Call Policy

The local high school has a policy that the parents must call the school if a student is to be absent for the day. Kelly (name changed to protect the guilty), deciding to skip school and go to the mall with her friends, waited until her parents had left for work and called the school herself. This is the actual conversation of the telephone call.

Kelly: “Hi, I’m calling to report that Kelly so-in-so is unable to make it to school today because she is ill.”

Secretary at high school: “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll note her absence. Who is this calling?”

Kelly: “This is my mother.”

October 21, 2020

Crazy World

Hello again,

Sometimes when I write these emails I tap very “lightly” on the keyboard because this world is changing constantly! In all of our Masses last Sunday (Spanish and English), we had amazingly good crowds, some of the best since we reopened, but we did not pass the legal limit. It is obvious to me that people are reaching out to God in this time of crisis.

Fr. Michael was to preside last Sunday in English, but had to take precautionary measures because some Jesuits in his community tested positive (He himself tested negative). He is in self isolation until the required numbers of days pass. So I was with you last Sunday. It was a beautiful Mass! This Sunday I have to be with the Spanish parish so you will have Fr. Sebastian as your presider. Every priest I know loves to preside in Masses in English because you are a great community! Please welcome him warmly!

We were going to live stream the Mass last week, but someone in last Saturday’s wedding inadvertently picked up one of our cables. So there was a glitch. We do hope to get that up and running soon. Always check the web site to see if the Mass was recorded or not and be assured that Alex is doing his best (he is wearing many hats these days). www.ourladyofmercy.info

I have been forgetting to mention our monthly food collection for struggling families. Sorry about that. One of our great parishioners, decided on her own to purchase quite a huge quantity of basic food products and delivered them to the church yesterday! I may have forgotten but the Holy Spirit touched the heart of a good soul. Thank you DT! If everyone wants to donate food to our pantry, you can bring it any Sunday (or any day for that matter).

The government is reviewing the state of emergency in Madrid and also talking about taking new stronger measures. I was dismayed to see a possible “Prohibition against singing in Mass”. It is rather silly because there is no difference between singing softly and speaking softly. At least in my mind. Maybe the government representatives go to Masses where all the Catholics are singing their hearts out?? Hmmmmm. I have not seen that in Spain. So, if we can still sing, let’s sing with a normal speaking volume, OK? I still laugh at how much distance we have in church but are still allowed to sit next to a complete stranger in the bus or metro….Guess we shouldn’t think too much, right?

Someone asked how we are going to do our annual All Souls Mass on the first Sunday of November. Usually we have envelopes where you can write people’s names and include your donation. They say we can’t pass them out. I think the best way to do it would be to make a donation directly to the church account and put in the concept. ” All Souls – The X’s family deceased friends and family members.” (Where “X” , of course, is your surname) Or just give me an envelope to me at church.

Account holder:
PARROQUIA HABLA ING. N. S. MERCED MADRID
Bank Details: IBAN: ES07.0186.5001.64.0511473809
Bank Name: Banco Mediolanum
BIC (or SWIFT): BFIVESBBS

OK, this is longer than I wanted, I will close with a funny, because we need to keep our sense of humour and our faith! Hang in there. If something big changes, I will write again.

Be blessed,

Fr. Ron

Hearing Request

During a revival meeting, an evangelist asked the people in line what they needed.

One man’s request was for his hearing. The evangelist spit on his finger, put it in the man’s ear, prayed for him and then asked him, “How’s your hearing now?”

He said, “I don’t know – it’s next Tuesday.”

October 8, 2020

Crazy Times

So, what to do in this upside down world?

The restrictions are confusing to everyone. It seems as though the police will start to impose fines starting today. That includes those who live in restricted “Neighborhoods”. So, I encourage everyone to respect the restrictions. I cannot give legal authorisations for Sunday Mass attendance unless it is a special celebration such as a baptism or wedding.

Last Sunday we experienced a big drop in attendance. On the one hand, we had a much safer environment, on the other hand, we did not come close to the 30% occupancy limit. If you wish to attend Sunday Mass, you need not worry. We will make sure the pews are disinfected and there will be plenty of ventilation.

Catechesis. I have decided to delay the onset of CCD for a little while longer. Our new target date is the second Sunday in November. Alex is once again working hard trying to help upgrade our technology so that the CCD classes can be both on site and also online. This is a difficult decision but starting sooner is just too problematic.

Most of us feel the same tension. On the one hand, we need to be safe and cautious. On the other hand, we must also try to live our lives.

We might start streaming again soon, I will keep you posted!

Mónica Kurtis, one of of parishioners who is a doctor, reminded us that masks should be removed from the side (not pulling down below the chin). This way we don’t touch our mouths. It’s the proper way to remove or put on a mask. Most people do it incorrectly. Thank you Dr. Mónica for your advice!

I will be presiding and preaching on Sunday. As of now, I am also scheduled for the Spanish Mass at 12:30. Fr. Sebastian should be available for confessions after Mass. We also have Confirmation scheduled for Saturday evening in the Spanish church. Three or 4 OLM adults will be participating.

A very timely funny follows. Be blessed and strong, God will see us through!!!!!

The Flu

A young boy called the pastor of a local church and asked him to come by to pray for his mother, who was very ill with the flu.
The pastor knew the family and was aware they were members of another church down the road. So the pastor asked, “Shouldn’t you be asking Father Simon at your church to come by to pray with your mom?”
The young boy replied, “Yeah, but we didn’t want to take the chance that he might catch whatever it is that Mom has.”

October 3, 2020

new COVID19 restrictions

You have heard that the central government has imposed new restrictions on Madrid. The Madrid local government has challenged the order in court but for now we must respect the new norms. It is most likely that fines will not be imposed until after the courts hash out the disagreement.

It is complicated but I will try to highlight the most important facts.

– Church occupancy is now reduced to 30%, at OLM that will be around 175 people. Last Sunday we had 166. I think we may have to block off some pews)

– Restaurants are reduced to 50% occupancy and tables must be 1.5 meters apart. They close at 11:00 PM. (Can’t enter after 10:00 PM)

– There are no new restrictions on public transport (!)

– Groups of family gatherings limited to 6 people

Some parts of Madrid are “restricted” and you cannot leave them or enter them unless it is for work, taking care of the elderly or handicapped, hospital, schools, exams, necessary government paperwork requirements, or for a serious cause. (Church attendance is not a serious reason as you can attend church in your own neighbourhood).

Children’s parks are not closed.

Currently, these restrictions are in place until October 16. (But who knows?)

What parts of Madrid are restricted? I will try and give the complete list here: (recently added barrios in orange)

Carabanchel: Puerta Bonita, Vista Alegre y Guayaba.
Usera: Almendrales, Las Calesas, Zofío, Orcasur, San Fermín y Orcasitas.
Villaverde: San Andrés, San Cristóbal, El Espinillo y Los Rosales.
La zona de salud básica de Villa de Vallecas.
Puente de Vallecas: Entrevías, Martínez de la Riva, San Diego, Numancia, Peña Prieta, Pozo del Tío Raimundo, Ángela Uriarte, Alcalá de Guadaira, Federica Montseny, Campo de la Paloma (nueva) y Rafael Alberti el distrito de Puente de Vallecas.
Ciudad Lineal: Doctor Cirajas, Ghandi, Daroca, La Elipa y García Noblejas.
Vicálvaro: Vicálvaro-Artilleros .
Fuenlabrada: Cuzco, Francia y Panaderas.
La zona básica de Humanes de Madrid.
La zona básica de Moraleja de Enmedio.
Parla: San Blas e Isabel II.
Getafe: Las Margaritas y Sánchez Morate.
San Sebastián de los Reyes: Reyes Católicos.
Alcobendas: Chopera y Miraflores.
Alcorcón: Miguel Servet y Doctor Tueta.
Alcalde Bartolomé González, en Móstoles.
Lavapiés, en el distrito centro.
La zona básica de Villa del Prado.
Sierra de Guadarrama, en Collado Villalba.
Villamil, en el distrito de Tetuán.
Canillejas, en el distrito de San Blas-Canillejas.
Las Fronteras, en Torrejón de Ardoz.
San Isidro, en el distrito de Carabanchel.

If you are not sure, ask google if your neighborhood is restricted!

May God gives us the strength we need to endure this nightmare!

Mail Processing

During a hectic night of mail processing at the post office, a number of letters fell off an elevated conveyor belt and scattered onto the floor. Before the area supervisor had a chance to pick them up, the facility manager, who had a reputation for being stern, came upon the scene.
“Why is this mail on the floor?” he demanded angrily.
Without hesitation the supervisor replied, “Gravity, sir.”