Is your parish participating in Divine Mercy Sunday?

[AngelRose81]

Ours is. We had a beautiful Mass this morning (incense and everything) and Father’s homily was especially good. He related the gospel to the Divine Mercy and read some excerpts from St. Faustina’s diary about the graces of Divine Mercy and even about her vision of hell. Then after Mass ended he invited everyone to stay and pray the Chaplet and almost the entire congregation stayed. It was a wonderful Mass!!

We are also having a Divine Mercy Holy Hour at 3pm (confessions are heard starting at 2pm) where we’ll have exposition, the Chaplet, some Litanies, and probably some other things, and then benediction.

What are your parishes doing?

 

[puzzleannie]

we have met every day in church for the novena, and holy hour of adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament this afternoon and praying the chaplet. have done so for the last 6 yrs that I know of.

 

[AlwaysCatholic]

Our parish does but without the help of the pastor. He allows it, but does not promote it, and does not attend, Thanks to a lay person in the parish we do have devotions, sometimes with a deacon from another parish, but it would be nice to have some backing from the pastor. The same backing that he gives to golf outings, or to an annual steak frys on a friday. Ours is a social parish, heaven forbid we should be spiritual. Sorry for the sarcasm, just imho.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Sadly, I had to vote “no”. Both of our parishes denied the Sacrament of Reconciliation to the Faithful (as requested by Our Lord). And aside from a picture of the Divine Mercy on the parish bulletin… there was absolutely no mention made of this important Feast. St. Faustina, pray for us.

 

[Jennifer_G]

we have met every day in church for the novena, and holy hour of adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament this afternoon and praying the chaplet. have done so for the last 6 yrs that I know of.

Our church also had the Novena (and a Novena/Chaplet pamphlet) every morning, too. I couldn’t go since it’s when I work. But, I did participate in our Divine Mercy Sunday.

 

[upbeatjonm]

We had a special Divine Mercy holy hour service from 2:30 - 3:30 on Sunday. Very special and peaceful experience.

 

[Michael_Neal]

yes, it is one of favorite masses, I love my parish here in Virginia

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Not a whisper of Divine Mercy Sunday in my parish anywhere…not at Mass nor even in our bulletin…If I did not know it was Divine Mercy Sunday, then I would not know at all…

 

[WestonGrant]

Wow. That’s sad Barabara.

We had a really amazing Mass. The church was full. But our priest is really into it, so I think it rubs off on everyone else.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Wow. That’s sad Barabara.

We had a really amazing Mass. The church was full. But our priest is really into it, so I think it rubs off on everyone else.

I though it was very sad too…not even a passing mention anywhere. Very happy to read that your own parish experience and those of others, in the main, in this thread was very rewarding. Since Divine Mercy Sunday was announced, I have never heard any mention of it in our parish on Divine Mercy Sunday or anywhere/at any time, although while I was able to attend our Church during the week there was Exposition and Chaplet of Mercy on a Wednesday which was lead by a parishioner…

 

[Joysong]

BarbaraTherese:

Not a whisper of Divine Mercy Sunday in my parish anywhere…not at Mass nor even in our bulletin…If I did not know it was Divine Mercy Sunday, then I would not know at all…

That was my experience at Saturday’s vigil Mass as well, and it was rather unsettling to me. I went to mass in another parish on Sunday, and the priest did speak a few words about St. Faustina and the feastday.

It caused me to wonder if the priests who avoid recognition of the day are more centered on the Octave of Easter and may believe this feast overshadows it? One might think that since the proclamation came from Rome, that it would filter down through our clergy who would embrace the Church’s teaching and gladly impart it to her children.

In other words, it is NOT an “optional memorial” . . .

This was sent to my inbox from Zenit today:

Here is a translation of the greeting Benedict XVI gave today before praying the Regina Caeli with thousands of people gathered in the patio of the pontifical residence at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.

Dear brothers and sisters:

During the Jubilee Year 2000, the dear Servant of God John Paul II established that in the whole Church the Sunday after Easter, besides being the Sunday “in albis” would be designated Divine Mercy Sunday. He did this together with the canonization of Faustina Kowalska, a humble Polish woman religious, who was born in 1905 and died in 1938, a zealous messenger of merciful Jesus.

Mercy is in reality the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God, the face with which he has revealed himself in the old covenant and fully in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of creative and redeeming love. This merciful love also illumines the face of the Church, and is manifested, both by way of the sacraments, in particular that of reconciliation, and with works of communitarian and individual charity.

All that the Church says and does shows the mercy that God feels for man. When the Church has to remind about a neglected truth, or a betrayed good, it does it always motivated by a merciful love, so that men may have life and have it in abundance (cf. John 10:10). From divine mercy, which puts hearts at peace, also arises the authentic peace of the world, peace among peoples, cultures and religions.

Like Sister Faustina, John Paul II became in turn an apostle of divine mercy. On the night of that unforgettable Saturday, April 2, 2005, when he closed his eyes to this world, precisely the vigil of the Second Sunday of Easter was celebrated, and many observed the unique coincidence, which brought together a Marian dimension – the first Saturday of the month – and that of divine mercy.

In fact, his long and multifaceted pontificate finds here its central nucleus; all of his mission at the service of the truth about God, about man and peace in the world is summarized in this proclamation, as he himself said in Krakow-Lagiewniki in 2002, in inaugurating the great Shrine of Divine Mercy, “Apart from the mercy of God there is no other source of hope for mankind.” His message, like that of St. Faustina, presents the face of Christ, supreme revelation of the mercy of God. To contemplate constantly this face: This is the inheritance that he has left us, which we welcome with joy and make our own.

 

[TOP]

Last year after Mass for the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday), I asked our pastor how to venerate the image he left on the confessional door as our parish did not practice the devotion. This year it was placed by the alter and we recited the chaplet after Mass with him in the lead. He had the chaplet printed on the back of the bulletin. After Mass he said he plans on expanding the devotion every year and he may need a reminder a month in advance. It was a wonderful exchange that took a year to manifest. Tim

 

[InLight247]

Our Parish started to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday a few years ago. Yesterday in the 12:30 Mass, our pastor gave the background of Divince Mercy Sunday, explained the meaning of the picture, and told the congregation to kneel while he was exposing the Blessed Sacrament at the end of the Mass.

The adoration was from 1:30 till 5:00 with the prayer of Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00. Many attended. Most people stayed for the whole period. The Vicar came in to do the Benediction at 5:00. My body felt pretty stiff after long time of sitting and kneeling but it was great!!

If your church does not celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, you can always bring it to the pastor’s attention and get it started with the pastor’s approval. I find the parishioners really have to take initiative and responsibility for most activities. The church is really our church and we are actually the church. It take an army of Indians to put things together, under the chief’s support and blessing. If you get started now, you will have Divine Mercy Sunday celebrated next spring!!

God bless!

 

[Teelynn]

Last year we did because we had a priest as an assistant that was pretty spiritual. It was beautiful but a little clumsy as no one was used to it yet. (I am sure that Our Lord loved the effort though ) This year there was a brief mention in the homily but that was it. I did however look online and found a parish in my area that had Divine Mercy adoration and service at 3:00, and attended. It was beautiful!! Very organized with exposition and benediction and the chaplet, hymns and prayers. Loved it!!

Jesus I trust in You!

 

[Teelynn]

Our Parish started to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday a few years ago. Yesterday in the 12:30 Mass, our pastor gave the background of Divince Mercy Sunday, explained the meaning of the picture, and told the congregation to kneel while he was exposing the Blessed Sacrament at the end of the Mass.

The adoration was from 1:30 till 5:00 with the prayer of Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00. Many attended. Most people stayed for the whole period. The Vicar came in to do the Benediction at 5:00. My body felt pretty stiff after long time of sitting and kneeling but it was great!!

If your church does not celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, you can always bring it to the pastor’s attention and get it started with the pastor’s approval. I find the parishioners really have to take initiative and responsibility for most activities. The church is really our church and we are actually the church. It take an army of Indians to put things together, under the chief’s support and blessing. If you get started now, you will have Divine Mercy Sunday celebrated next spring!!

God bless!

In Light-
Great minds think alike! Can’t tell you how many times that thought went through my head between today and yesterday!
Thanks for the reinforcement!!

 

[InLight247]

Teelynn

Glad we agreed.
In my parish, there are many ministries. They are all in charged by parishioners. Of course, all has to be approved by the pastor.

In my parish, the Divine Mercy Sunday celebration is put together by the Divine Mercy Group. That group has weekly discussion of St. Faustina’s diary. They are in charge of ordering and putting Divine Mercy Chaplet pamphlets on the table weeks ahead in the lobby for parishioners to pick up. They put the large Divine Mercy pictures in the lobby and on the altar. They announced the Divine Mercy celebration in the bulletin ahead of time. They led the Divine Mercy prayer at 3:00 pm. They took up all materials afterwards and put them back to storage.

I listed these things here so for those who are thinking about initiating such an activity may have a general idea about what is involved.

All you need to do is to talk to the pastor as a start. With his approval, you can form a group of a few interested peopld to engage on. You need to get some budget from the financial council to purchase the large divine mercy pictures – one for the lobby, one for the altar, if budget allows, and pamphlets of “Divine Mercy Novena” as well as regular “divine mercy prayer cards” with Jesus’ picture on the front, prayers on the back. Depending on how large your parish is, then you can decide how many pamphlets to order. All these just need a little homework and coordination.

In stead of longing for the fishes in the pond, weave a net and go catch the fish.

Many times a significant ministry just takes one person’s initiative to get started, and our Lord will be pleased.

I wish you all the best. God bless!

 

[catherine_m]

I voted “no”. Our Priest didn’t even mention it was Divine Mercy Sunday!!

 

[water]

I didn’t go to mass at my parish that day. I and my g/f were asked to bring the offers during the mass at the Cathedral celebrated by our Bishop.

My parish has a human-sized statues of Saint Faustina and Jesus inside the church. It’s beautiful.

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

Our parish does but without the help of the pastor. He allows it, but does not promote it, and does not attend, Thanks to a lay person in the parish we do have devotions, sometimes with a deacon from another parish, but it would be nice to have some backing from the pastor. The same backing that he gives to golf outings, or to an annual steak frys on a friday. Ours is a social parish, heaven forbid we should be spiritual. Sorry for the sarcasm, just imho.

sadly—the same here. Father did a Eucahristic Benediction then left and from there on in it was just lame.

 

[Belle10]

Our pastor did talk about it during his homily, which tied in the message of Divine Mercy with the readings and the need to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. We did not have a praying of the chaplet by the congregation though (which I would’ve loved!). We are blessed to have a 24 hour/7 day a week adoration chapel though, so I’m sure (I hope!) many people prayed it in adoration.

One other thing: at the beginning of Mass our pastor pointed out that a group had taken out a full-page ad about the Divine Mercy in our local (secular) newspaper that day – I got it later and it was wonderful!