Parishes to celebrate feast of Divine Mercy Sunday April 15
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The Feast of Divine Mercy, or Divine Mercy Sunday, is observed on the octave of Easter and celebrates the fullness of Christ's Resurrection. This year, the feast will be celebrated on April 15.
The feast was initiated by St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who kept a diary in the early 1900s of Christ's private revelations, telling her of His message of mercy.
Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska wrote that she first saw a vision of Jesus on Feb. 22, 1931. He had rays of mercy streaming from his heart. Christ told her to have an image painted to represent the vision and to write below it, "Jesus, I trust in you!" St. Faustina also wrote in her diary that Christ encourages the faithful to trust in His mercy and turn to Him for that mercy.
St. Faustina died of tuberculosis in 1938 at age 33. Pope John Paul II canonized her in 2000. That same year, the pope declared Divine Mercy Sunday a worldwide feast day. Two years later, he instituted a plenary indulgence for those who participate in the devotion. A devoted advocate of the feast, Pope John Paul II will be beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday this year.
To receive the graces of the plenary indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholics should prepare in the following ways:
- Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation with true repentance on or before Divine Mercy;
- On Divine Mercy Sunday, receive a worthy Communion and venerate the image of Divine Mercy;
- People are encouraged to pray the novena of Divine Mercy, which begins today, Good Friday, and ends the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday, this year April 14; to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet; and to be merciful toward others through words, actions and prayers.
There are 25 parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis that will celebrate the feast of Divine Mercy. They include:
Special celebrations including Mass:
CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF SAINT LOUIS, 4431 Lindell Blvd. in the Central West End; Mass at Noon, celebrated by Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, 1 p.m. eucharistic adoration and confession, 3 p.m. chaplet of Divine Mercy, ending with benediction. Contact: Rectory (314) 373-8200.
ASSUMPTION, 329 Station St. in Herculaneum; 1:30 p.m. Apostolate for Family Consecration Divine Mercy video, Confessions, chaplet and 3:10 p.m. Mass clebrated by Father Henry Novak, CSSR. Contact: Jackie Baumgartner (636) 931-3503.
ASSUMPTION, 603 Miller St. in New Haven; 2 p.m. exposition, Confessions, Rosary, 3 p.m. sung chaplet of Divine Mercy, ending with benediction. Contact: Carolyn Phillips (573) 834-5236.
GOOD SHEPHERD, 703 No. Third St. in Hillsboro; 2 p.m. exposition, veneration of Divine Mercy image and Confessions. Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 p.m., followed by Mass celebrated by Father Christopher Holtmann. Contact: Lisa Koch (314) 691-4944.
HOLY INFANT, 627 Dennison Drive in Ballwin; 1:15 p.m. Confessions, 2:30 p.m. Rosary, Divine Mercy chaplet, 3 p.m. Holy Mass. Contact: Josie Valdeabella (636) 734-6244.
INCARNATE WORD, 13416 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield; 2 p.m. blessing and veneration of Divine Mercy image, exposition, chaplet of Divine Mercy, benediction, ending with Mass at 3 p.m., "the Hour of Mercy", celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Rice. Contact: Neosho Stallings (314) 878-4393.
MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, 5901 Kerth Road in Mattese; 3 p.m. eucharistic Holy Hour with Divine Mercy chaplet, ending with benediction. Contact: Pat Dean (314) 842-1887.
OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE, 4696 Notre Dame Lane in House Springs; Blessing of Divine Mercy image during all Sunday Masses (Saturday 5 p.m., Sunday 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.), chaplet of Divine Mercy and veneration of image and first-class relic of St. Faustina following all Masses. Contact: Mary Myers (636) 274-1717.
QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS, 6603 Christopher Drive in Oakville; Confessions 2-4 p.m., eucharistic adoration prayer service at 2:30 p.m., including sung chaplet of Divine Mercy and ending with Benediction. Veneration of Divine Mercy image available. Contact: Catherine Foster (314) 846-9381.
ST. ALBAN ROE, 2001 Shepard Road in Wildwood; 1:30 p.m. exposition, Reconciliation, Rosary, Sacred Heart Litany, 3 p.m. Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3:30 p.m Mass. Contact: Deacon Norm Nuelle (636) 458-2977.
ST. ANDREW, 309 Hoffmeister Ave. in Lemay; Divine Mercy image will be present during all Sunday Masses (Saturday 4 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.), chaplet of Divine Mercy and prayers for the plenary indulgence will be prayed after all Masses. Contact: Mary Beth Bettag (314) 544-3212.
ST. ANTHONY, 3009 High Ridge Blvd. in High Ridge; 7-8 p.m. Apostolate for Family Consecration DVD presentation, "Divine Mercy: Our Lady and Blessed Pope John Paul II." Contact: Fran Stegmann (636) 671-0565.
ST. DOMINIC SAVIO, 7748 Mackenzie Road in Affton; 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, followed by Holy Hour with exposition of the Holy Eucharist, Rosary and chaplet and the Litany to the Sacred Heart, ending with Benediction. Elevator available at back parking lot, inside the south doors to the church. Contact: Maureen Wikete (314) 752-8671.
ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON, 2 Seton Ct. in St. Charles; Confessions begin at 2:30 p.m. with eucharistic adoration, Rosary, chaplet of Divine Mercy and benediction, ending with Mass at 4 p.m. Contact: Ann Yeager (636) 928-3497.
ST. FERDINAND, 1765 Charbonier Road in Florissant; 1:30 p.m. Confessions, 2 p.m. eucharistic adoration, 2:30 p.m. chaplet of Divine Mercy, benediction and 3 p.m. Mass celebrated by Father Kristian Teater. Contact: Maggie (314) 691-9165.
ST. FRANCIS BORGIA, 311 W. Second St. in Washington; 2 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, Rosary, chaplet of Divine Mercy, ending with benediction. Contact: Mary Alferman (636) 239-4923.
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES ORATORY, 2653 Ohio Ave. in south St. Louis; 10 a.m. High Mass celebrated by Canon Michael K. Wiener, exposition, chaplet of Divine Mercy, ending with benediction. Confessions will be heard all morning. Contact: Rectory (314) 771-3100.
STE. GENEVIEVE, 49 DuBourg Place in Ste. Genevieve; 2 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, prayers and confessions, 2:30 veneration of the Divine Mercy image, 3 p.m. chaplet of Divine Mercy, closing with benediction. Mass at 3:15 p.m. Contact: Rectory (573) 883-2731.
ST. GEORGE, 4980 Heege Road in south St. Louis County; 2-3 p.m. exposition of Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, Rosary, chaplet and benediction. Mass 3 p.m., celebrated by Father Tom Robertson. Contact: Mary Ann Courisky (314) 353-4909.
ST. JAMES, 1107 Summit in Catawissa; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. eucharistic adoration, Confessions, Rosary, chaplet and Divine Mercy prayers. Father Mark Bozada will be the celebrant. Contact: Rectory (636) 451-4685.
ST. JUSTIN MARTYR, 11910 Eddie and Park Road in Sunset Hills; 4:30 p.m. eucharistic adoration Holy Hour. Contact: Rectory (314) 843-8482.
ST. MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE, 4900 Ringer Road in Oakville; 2:30 p.m. Holy Hour, including exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy devotions, Rosary, Confessions and benediction. Contact: Ann Clark (314) 487-7652.
ST. MARTIN OF TOURS, 610 W. Ripa Ave. in Lemay; 1:30 p.m. Confessions, 2 p.m. Holy Hour with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy devotions, and chanting the chaplet of Divine Mercy.Contact: Rectory (314) 544-5664.
ST. MAURUS, 10198 Hwy B in Biehle; 1 p.m. eucharistic adoration, Confessions, veneration of Divine Mercy image, Rosary, chaplet of Divine Mercy, ending with Benediction at 3 p.m. Contact: Barbara King (573) 547-8713.
ST. ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE, 1210 Paddock Driver in Florissant; Divine Mercy image will be blessed after all Sunday Masses, and prayers for plenary indulgence will be offered. Mass at 2 p.m. celebrated by Father Robert Brockland, and chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 p.m., ending with benediction. Contact: Paul Horn (314) 830-0007.
Divine Mercy chaplet, novena
As written in St. Faustina’s diary, Christ revealed to her a special chaplet to be prayed. It is to be prayed using a standard rosary or special Divine Mercy chaplet beads. Through St. Faustina, Christ has asked the faithful to pray every day the chaplet at 3 p.m., the hour of great mercy and His death. Here’s how to pray the chaplet:
• Begin with one of each of the following prayers: the Our Father, Hail Mary and Apostles’ Creed.
• On the five large beads before each decade, pray the following: “Eternal Father, I offer You the body and blood, soul and divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”
• On the 10 small beads of each decade, pray the following: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
• After praying five decades, conclude with the following three times: “Holy God, holy mighty One, holy immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
• The Divine Mercy novena should be prayed beginning on Good Friday. For information on how to pray the novena, visit: thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena.php
The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception also have developed a Divine Mercy app for the iPhone (available through iTunes) and Android smartphones (available through Google Play).
