Our Mother of Mercy Mission was founded in 1926 by the first resident pastor of St. James Major Church, Prichard, Father Michael Neary, S.S.J. As a Josephite mission, the parish was faithfully served by Josephite Priests from Prichard and Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, Mobile. A wooden church was completed in 1927.
Early in the life of the community, a school was established under the able direction of Mrs. Pinkey Barber who commuted daily by streetcar from Prichard. Although physically small, Mrs. Barber taught all eight grades. Many students guided by this strict disciplinarian went on to schools of higher education and today hold positions of importance in the Mobile area.
On August 31, 1962, Father Leon Hill was appointed first resident pastor by Archbishop Thomas Toolen. The school continued to grow under the guidance of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Community and later the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. A new rectory and school building were constructed. On October 15, 1969, Father Francis Messing was appointed administrator of the parish. The school was forced to close because of insufficient funds in May 1971.
The Paulist Fathers came to the parish in 1972. Father William Greenspun, C.S.P., was pastor from 1973 to 1976. The school building was used as a community center, with a “free clinic,” the S.A.I.L. Program and the Youth Challenge Program. Plans were formulated to build a much needed church center.
Hurricane Frederic in 1979 badly damaged the 1926 church bell which was found intact amid the debris.
Father William Cantwell, C.S.P., was appointed pastor in 1980. On January 28, 1982, the present church, built with a generous donation from the Catholic Church Extension Society, was dedicated. In 1984, Father Peter Brown, S.S.E., was named pastor, followed by Father Charles McNeice, S.S.E (1985-1998).
In 1998, Father Charles E. McMahon, S.S.J. was chosen pastor until 1999 when Father Brian Fox, S.S.J., became pastor.
On July 1, 2000, the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria took over the pastoral care of the church when Father Anietie Akama Ukanide, M.S.P., was assigned as the new pastor. Father Paul Asih, M.S.P. served as pastor from May 2005 to December 2007, when Father Ukanide, the present pastor, was reappointed. Today, Fr. Victor Ingalls is the Pastor.