OLM Opens School Year;
Celebrates with Mass of The Holy Spirit
East Greenwich, RI – Our Lady of Mercy School opened its doors for the 2026-27 school year on Tuesday, September 1. The skies remained clear while students and their families gathered in the school parking lot, many greeting each other for the first time since June. Teachers welcomed former students and new ones with hugs and smiles as the first bell rang. With 266 students in total, most grades in the PreK3-8 school are filled to capacity with waiting lists, including the very popular PreK3 classroom which was re-opened last year. In addition to 37 new students in PreK3, PreK4 and Grade 6, OLM welcomed several new faces among the staff as well. New OLM faculty for the 2026-27 year include: Ms. Sarah Hardiman (PK4), Mrs. Michele Laurent (Library), Mrs. Anne Coleman (Assistant Teacher, K), Ms. Ekaterina Rau (Middle School Science) and Dr. Simon Campion (Middle School Math).
On Friday, September 4, the OLM community gathered in OLM Church for its first school-wide First Friday Mass of the new school year. Joining Pastor Father Healey in concelebrating the Mass was OLM Associate Pastor, Father Joseph Brodeur. They welcomed area Pastors Father Jorge Rocha (St. Francis de Sales, NK), Father David Gaffney (St. Bernards, Wickford) and Father Brian Morris (St. Gregory the Great, Warwick) who were representing their parishes where many OLM students and their families reside. With 8th graders serving as lectors, altar servers and hosts, the Mass of the Holy Spirit also included a special blessing for new and returning teachers and staff. Father Healey also gave special recognition to Mrs. Irene Buonaccorsi, who is celebrating her 25th year at OLM. After serving as an aide in PreK for many years, she moved into the main office where she serves as the primary contact for faculty and parents in countless administrative tasks throughout the year. Following the Mass, 8th graders and school families gathered in the school gym for a collation as they celebrated their final “First First Friday” as OLM students. OLM students and staff gather for Mass weekly, as well as the First Friday of each month. Father Brodeur, who also serves as the school’s Spiritual Director, then visited each classroom with a special blessing of Holy Water and a prayer for a successful and happy new school year.
With a tradition of excellence in Catholic education since 1951, Our Lady of Mercy School supports its students as they strive to be the saints and scholars that God is calling them to be. Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Pre-K through Grade 8, co-educational Catholic school located in East Greenwich, RI offers its students the opportunity to pursue excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts in a nurturing environment built upon the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Photo ID’s (courtesy of Caitlin Costa & OLM School)
