Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!
The octave day of Easter completes this first week of our 50-day celebration of the Resurrection. I am usually writing these articles on Mondays for the weekend ahead, but I can verify thus far that I am two-for-two in my plan to eat ice cream every day this week—which, of course, is something I gave up for Lent. I’m pretty sure the conventional wisdom affirms that a scoop a day keeps the doctor away. Yep, that’s definitely it.
This past Easter Sunday, St. Robert welcomed seven newly initiated members into the Catholic Church and completed the sacraments of initiation for three additional parish members. Congratulations to Billy, Marcella, Michelle, Brooke, Ella, Julie, John, Mallori, Bethany, and Jason! We also have a few more candidates who entered the OCIA process a bit later, and whose initiation we will complete on Pentecost Sunday. Good Shepherd welcomed one newly initiated member and three who completed the sacraments of initiation. Congratulations to Alivia, Vanessa, Caitlyn, and Caiden! I am supremely grateful for Tim Cassady, Dcn. Richard, Hannah Marconeri, Bill Stroup, Fr. Christian, and the rest of the OCIA team for preparing our brothers and sisters so well.
As for my personal experience of Holy Week, the first-year stress and exhilaration of “newness” gave way to the second-year consolation of familiarity. I had a much better mental handle on the process of our Holy Week liturgies here, which made it easier for me to enter into their mystery. A particular grace for me was celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. God reminded me of my own personal journey to the priesthood, and how lovingly He has prepared each of us for our vocations in this life. There is no quicker or surer path to peace in our hearts—and peace in the world—than our generous surrender to His will.
Today, on Divine Mercy Sunday, let us especially cling to the promises of Jesus revealed through this holy devotion. He reminded St. Faustina—the saint through whom we’ve received this devotion—that mankind would not have peace until it turns with trust to His mercy. And so, in the opening prayers of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, we pray: “You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.”
As part of this octave feast day, you are welcome to join us this afternoon here at St. Robert anytime between 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM for Eucharistic exposition and confession. We will have a communal recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 PM. Jesus promised on this day the special remission of all sins and temporal punishment to the soul who receives Holy Communion and goes to confession. Hopefully you can make it! Many blessings to you all this week. Praise God, whose mercy endures forever.
Fr. Brian