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Divine Mercy Sunday instills hope for humanity

By KARA KOCZUR, Globe staff reporter
March 20, 2008

In a world that has lost its sense of sin, the only source of hope for people is through Divine Mercy, said Msgr. Roger Augustine, senior priest of Blessed Sacrament Church in Sioux City.

"Our world is in a tremendous state of suffering-a cry of mercy seems to rise up," he said. "People can regain [hope] once they begin to recognize God's love through Divine Mercy."

People will have a chance to remember the hope found in Divine Mercy at various celebrations 
Divine Mercy Celebrations

The celebration at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City begins at 1:30 p.m., March 30, with a Eucharistic procession, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and confessions. The recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy will follow at 3 p.m. A reception will follow.

The Divine Mercy celebration at St. Joseph's in Wesley begins at 3 p.m., March 30, and will include music, readings, prayers and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Eucharistic adoration and confessions will occur one hour prior to the celebration. A reception will follow.

The celebration at St. Cecelia's in Algona begins at 3 p.m., March 30, with songs, quiet meditation, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and a procession of the image of Divine Mercy.

Check your parish bulletins for other Divine Mercy celebrations in your area.
throughout the Diocese of Sioux City on Divine Mercy Sunday, which is March 30 this year. Divine Mercy Sunday, which falls on the Second Sunday of Easter, was instituted by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000. He did this on the same day he canonized Sister Faustina Kowalska, a polish nun of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy who, beginning in 1931, received revelations from Christ asking her to promote his message of Divine Mercy to the world.

"The most beautiful thing is that even though I sin, God is always waiting for me to return," said Msgr. Augustine, who will be the homilist at the Divine Mercy Sunday celebration sponsored by Queen of Peace, Inc., and hosted by Blessed Sacrament Church in Sioux City. "We have to put our trust in God and that Jesus will forgive us."

For at least the last 10 years, Queen of Peace, Inc., has sponsored a Divine Mercy celebration in the diocese. Formerly held at Trinity Heights, the celebration outgrew its chapel and community room and moved to Blessed Sacrament in 2003. Last year an estimated 400 people attended, said Regina Ratino, a member of the spiritual committee of Queen of Peace, Inc.

"The Divine Mercy celebration at Blessed Sacrament offers an individual the beautiful opportunity to pray for mercy in union with many others in front of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacred Image of our Lord," Ratino said.

Divine Mercy Novena

Although the actual celebration is no longer held at Trinity Heights, the praying of the Divine Mercy Novena still occurs there. The novena begins on Good Friday and is a way to prepare for the Feast of Divine Mercy, Ratino said. Those who would like to participate are asked to pray the first three days on their own and then join others in prayer at Trinity Heights at 7:30 p.m., March 24-29.

Blessed Sacrament isn't the only parish in the diocese that will be holding a Divine Mercy celebration. Both St. Cecelia's Catholic Church in Algona and St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wesley are holding celebrations as well.

"The celebration just seemed like the natural thing to do," said Deb Trenary, who plans the event at St. Joseph's. She added that the idea to have a celebration in the parish for the first time last year began with the practice of Divine Mercy Devotions, which some St. Joseph parishioners participated in once a month six months prior to Divine Mercy Sunday.

However, she stressed that anyone can attend the celebration. "It is a day for everyone, whether they have attended [Divine Mercy] Devotions or not," she said, adding that over 60 people attended last year. "This is really a day of thanksgiving for all the special graces that God gives us."

St. Faustina wrote of these special graces in her diary, which records the Lord's revelations to her. In particular, she wrote of the graces Christ told her one receives when celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy.

"On this day the very depths of my tender mercy are open," St. Faustina writes of the words Christ spoke to her. "I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of my mercy. ... Let no soul fear to draw near to me, even though its sins be as scarlet."

This will be the sixth year that St. Cecelia's will hold a Divine Mercy celebration. Last year between 150 and 200 people attended, and those are the numbers expected to attend again this year, said Lorri Larsen, who is part of the parish staff that plans the event.

Larsen also spoke of the special connection her parish has to Divine Mercy. "When we did the renovations of our church about six years ago, we purchased the Divine Mercy image and placed that image in our reconciliation chapel so when people go to reconciliation they are aware of the Divine Mercy they are receiving-the healing that takes place," she said.

The Divine Mercy image, which will be venerated at celebrations throughout the diocese, was received by St. Faustina in one of her visions of Christ. She saw the Lord dressed in a white robe with two rays, one red and one pale in color, pouring out from his heart. Jesus asked her to have the image painted for people to venerate, with the words "Jesus, I trust in you" inscribed at the bottom.

Trenary agreed that the image helps people remember God's mercy. "This image is really a reminder to us that we need to trust in Jesus and show mercy to each other," Trenary said.

To observe the feast, the faithful should sincerely repent of their sins, go to confession, receive Holy Communion the day of the feast, venerate the image of Divine Mercy, place their complete trust in Jesus and be merciful to others.

"Filling [people's] hearts with hope-it's what we're trying to do," Msgr. Augustine said of Divine Mercy celebrations in the diocese. "It's only in the mercy of God that the world will find peace and people will find happiness."