Dear Parishioners:
First off, I would like to thank everyone who made this Holy Week so special. I would like to thank:
+ Our Music Ministers: Organists, Leaders of Song, Accompanists and choirs
+ Our Liturgical Ministers: Deacons, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, ushers, sacristans and Altar Servers
+ Our Liturgical Decorating Committee: a small army of volunteers who transformed our Church All these people assist throughout the entire year, not just during Holy Week, but the holy days are times to highlight their service to the Parish.
This Sunday is called “DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY,” which occurs the first Sunday after Easter. This day, focusing on God’s mercy, was established by St. Pope John Paul II, based on the writings of Sr. Faustina Kowalska. Sr. Faustina was a Polish mystic who wrote of her visitations from Christ in which Jesus spoke of God’s mercy.
The Message of the Divine Mercy that Sr. Faustina received from the Lord (1931-1938) was not only directed toward her personal growth in faith but also toward the good of everyone. With the command of our Lord to paint an image according to the pattern that Sr. Faustina had seen, came also a request to have this image venerated, first in the Sisters’ chapel, and then throughout the world.
The same is true with the revelations of the Chaplet. The Lord requested that this Chaplet be said not only by Sr. Faustina, but by others: “Encourage souls to say the Chaplet that I have given you.” The same is true of the revelation of the Feast of Mercy. As Christ told Sr. Faustina: “The Feast of Mercy emerged from my very depths of tenderness. It is my desire that it solemnly be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the fount of My Mercy.”
Our Parish will be hosting a Divine Mercy afternoon of prayer from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. We will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (concluding with Benediction), praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet (at 3:00 PM), the Rosary and other readings from St. Faustina. Stop by!
Remember: Together, we can do something beautiful for God.
In Christ,
Fr. Brian
PS: Don’t forget to support the annual Catholic Ministries Appeal. The Appeal helps fund a great of good work that we cannot accomplish on a Parish level: Catholic Charities, vocations and seminaries, evangelization, etc., etc. I personally make a pledge each year because I think the work of the Diocese funded by Catholic Ministries Appeal is that important. Please see the brochure at the doors of the Church and page 7 of this week’s bulletin.