Who are we?

     The community of the Society of Our Lady of Mercy is composed of a dynamic group of School Parents, Parish Members, and Catholic, English-speaking individuals who live in the city of Rio de Janeiro, and share common interests, concerns, and priorities, the most marked of which is the maintenance of Our Lady of Mercy School, currently celebrating 60 years of Excellence in Education.

     Since January of 1919 the Society of Our Lady of Mercy initiates a process of careful selection by welcoming prospective new members who have been identified, indicated, or who have shown themselves to be the profile of a Society Member, either by association with the OLM School or Parish, or through personal or professional reputation in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

     Ever since English-speaking people began coming to Rio de Janeiro, their numbers have grown among many of the Catholic Faith. It was only natural that they would seek out one another in the common interest and purpose, which was to promote Catholic life and Activities. This had a deeper meaning. It meant the desire to hear the Word of God, Attend Special Devotions, Go to Confessions, Have Catechetical Instructions and Share other Church Activities all in their own language. For this reason, in January of 1919 a group of Catholic Laymen, together with the Brazilian Ecclesiastical approval, formed the British-American Church Society. This group shared activities originally with another confraternity and, eventually, the Society acquired the use of the “Capela de Nossa Senhora da Piedade”, in Botafogo – Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, where it spent a number of years and prospered.

     The Society grew on strength of the indomitable spirit of the founding members and the cooperation of the Ecclesiastical leaders, who shared in this pioneering effort. In the course of time the Society adopted it’s present name – “Society of Our Lady of Mercy”.

     One of the first objectives of the Society was to provide schooling for children of English-speaking Catholics or others who wished to have their children instructed in the Faith. Our Lady of Mercy School was founded in 1952. Today, after 30 years of Dr. Charles Lyndaker's outstanding guidance, our school continues to thrive under the leadership of Mr. Robert Francis Rundle Junior who has open a new page in our precious history. It has grown into a dynamic Educational Institution serving over 500 students from Pre-Nursery through High School. The School is fully accredited by the U.S. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offers both a U.S. and a Brazilian Diploma, in addition to a complete program of Religious Education.

     Today, the Society’s principal aims are the running of OLM School, providing the facilities for the running of the School as well as Financial Assistance to the Parish to promote Social and Religious Activities among Rio’s English-speaking Catholic Community.