Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
"But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed." —Eph 2:4-5
On Divine Mercy Sunday, the focus is on the healing power of Our Lord's Mercy. Through Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the celebration of the Eucharistic Liturgy, we will draw special attention to God's Divine Mercy.
Along with the regular Mass schedule, we will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament streaming live as well as drive-thru Confessions beginning at 2:00pm. In honor of Divine Mercy there will be a sung recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy beginning at 2:30pm. We will conclude the octave day of Easter with Mass at 3:00pm in which we will ask for Our Lord's Divine Mercy to heal our hearts, our minds, and our bodies.
Why is Our Lord's Divine Mercy so important? Wholeness. Every person has a built-in desire for wholeness. This desire for joy is deeply rooted in our heart. The good news is that Our Lord desires to heal our broken heart… to bind up our wounds… to make us whole. Jesus said, "Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30). Our Lord longs to take our sins from us and to rescue us from isolation and sadness. Through our baptism, Jesus clothes us in garments of gladness and rescues us from original sin. That is the lesson of His mercy and love.
Please take advantage of this time of great grace. Often times our sickness, like other forms of human suffering, gives us an opportunity to encounter the living Christ… to ask for grace, for healing, or for the strength to accept sickness in a spirit of faith and submission to God's will. During this Mass, we will pray for the restoration of our physical health as well as our spiritual needs.
May Our Lord's Divine Mercy mend the broken-hearted, restore hope, and bring joy to all in need of healing. This is part of the Church's experience in every age and today is no different. Our Lord desires to restore us to health and make us whole.
We have been redeemed as so we celebrate, For Jesus is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!
Lastly, if you haven't yet signed up for online giving for our parish. Please do so here: https://saintbernadette.weshareonline.org. Your gifts are needed now more than ever so we can continue the mission of the Church of making more disciples.
God Bless,
Fr. Don Kline, V.F.