As a gift to humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness, and fear, the Risen Lord offers His love that pardons, reconciles, and reopens hearts to love. It is a love that converts hearts and gives peace. How much the world needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy!
Lord, who reveals the Father’s love by Your death and Resurrection, we believe in You and confidently repeat to You today: Jesus, I trust in You, have mercy upon us and upon the whole world.
~ St. Pope John Paul II, Regina Caeli message prepared for Divine Mercy Sunday, April 3, 2005
RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Divine Mercy Sunday focuses on the gift of mercy and love given through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Let us prepare our hearts, our minds and our bodies to celebrate the sacrifice of our risen Lord. He is truly Risen!
RCIA would normally be very busy this time of year because this is when those preparing for baptism and those wanting to come into the church would receive the sacraments of initiation and the love of Christ. This year it's different, we are waiting. We will wait until we can gather again. When this is, well that is all in God's time, not my time, to know. While we are all adjusting to the changes and the waiting, let's try to be flexible. That is something we say in RCIA. Be flexible, you never know what Fr. Sean will change. Everyone knows he can change what he wants, when he wants. So we are open to change and willing to make adjustments. We now livestream mass daily, who would have thought. Mass has changed our daily life in a great way. We look forward to this Sunday due to a beautiful message from Jesus regarding "Divine Mercy Sunday." His message:
"My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy."
Mercy is given freely and in abundance by Jesus. We can accept his forgiveness or not. Mercy is something I believe everyone needs. Mercy for all in our community that are suffering from loss. Suffering from new situations without any coaching or lessons. This might be scary, if you didn't have Jesus's love and mercy to hold you up. Keep Jesus close, He has your back.
Did you know that on the Second Sunday of Easter of the Jubilee Year 2000, at the Mass for the Canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, Pope John Paul II declared the Sunday after Easter to be called “Divine Mercy Sunday"? We have St. Faustina Kowalska to thank for Divine Mercy Sunday. She listened to Jesus and delivered His message. The image of Jesus with the red and white rays shining from the heart of Jesus signifies water and blood. Blood for the sacrifice of the Cross and the gift of the Eucharist, and water represents not only baptism but the gift of the Holy Spirit.
If you are interested in increasing your prayer life, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and a Divine Mercy Novena are available online. There is also a daily rosary available just sign up at
dailyrosary.net. There is a different reflection every day and some events are live-streamed on Youtube others are not. I do hope you take time to focus on God and the gifts He shares with us daily.
Last week as we renewed our baptismal promises, I thought His rising would have let this restlessness dissolve in my heart. I find myself still waiting... Still wishing for a date when we can gather again. So I remind myself that our Lord sacrificed Himself for us so we could have salvation. His sacrifice was so great. It is a gift we receive freely from our Lord. Let us be patient and know that everything happens in God's time... not our time. So we pray and we wait.
If you are over the age of 7 and unbaptized and interested in receiving sacraments, please contact Julie Cook at [email protected].
From Team RCIA
A prayer when Baptism must be delayed in time of Coronavirus
I know it’s not a race or a test of will, Lord. Yet I feel a bit lost now that the Triduum has ended and the baptismal waters remain just out of reach.
In this time of waiting, may I receive your grace— in patience that hopes with all who long to gather at your table, in compassion that abides with all aching to embrace again, and in mercy that anoints the sorrowing with the promise of joy’s return.
Let me be alert to the opportunities each day to fall more deeply in love with your Word and with your people who live that Word by their faith and courage.
Teach me to trust that the new life promised to me is already mine, for Christ is living and ever at my side. And help me wait in joyful hope for the day I know is coming when all our longings will soon be filled with your love that knows no bounds. Amen.