The Archdiocese of Newark’s Respect Life Office is set to open the second location of The Mercy House, a resource and referral center to the needy, in Jersey City next week.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The grand opening, which will feature a tour of the facility and a blessing from Auxiliary Bishop Gregory J. Studerus (who oversees Hudson County for the Archdiocese), will take place at 20 Greenville Ave. on Monday, December 5th at 11 a.m.
Jersey City Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley has also confirmed her attendance And Mercy House staff and volunteers will begin serving everyone who visits the site until it closes at 4 p.m.
“We’re excited about being in Jersey City, and everyone from the community has been very welcoming so far,” Respect Life Office and The Mercy House Director Cheryl A. Riley said in a statement.
“There’s a lot of need in the world today, so we’re looking forward to being there for the people who could use some help.”
Much like the original Newark Mercy House, the Jersey City location will provide nonperishable food, clothing, baby supplies, furniture, as well as assisting those who request help finding employment and housing.
The resource and referral center will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with special events like a Christmas toy giveaway expected throughout the year.
Additionally, the Mercy House staff will continue operating the existing Class C boarding house upstairs, with paying tenants receiving three meals per day.
Jersey City’s Mercy House is the next step in the Archdiocese’s goal of opening a resource and referral center in each of the four counties it serves — Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union.
This development came about after Father Joseph Furnaguera of St. Paul the Apostle Church offered the parish-owned Greenville Avenue property to the Respect Life Office, which quickly converted several of the building’s first floor rooms into storage spaces for the essentials it distributes.
Now that the center is finished, the new Mercy House will aim to bring Jesus’ teachings to life in Hudson County.
“The Mercy House embodies the Catholic Church’s mission — we’re helping the poor and the vulnerable and the homeless,” Riley added.
“Whether it’s providing them with a warm coat or supplying a package of diapers for their baby, we’re out in the trenches giving people what they need. At the same time, we’re bringing them to Christ and letting them know the Church is always there for them.”
To inquire about donating to or volunteering at The Mercy House in Jersey City, contact Cheryl A. Riley at cheryl.riley@rcan.org