Parishes to hold Divine Mercy celebrations May 1

The following article appeared in this week’s St. Louis Review, and was written by Jennifer Brinker.

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 May 1.

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 30; to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet; and to be merciful toward others through words, actions and prayers.

There are 24 parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis that will celebrate the feast of Divine Mercy. They include:

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. LOUIS, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue, Central West End — Archbishop Robert J. Carlson will celebrate a 10 a.m. Mass, both to celebrate this important feast, but also to give thanks to God for the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

The cathedral basilica will offer another Mass at noon, followed by 1 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration and Confession, 3 p.m. chaplet of Divine Mercy and ending with Benediction. Contact the rectory, (314) 373-8200;

ASSUMPTION, 329 Station St., Herculaneum — 1:30 p.m. Apostolate for Family Consecration Divine Mercy video and confessions and chaplet, 3:10 p.m. Mass. Celebrant: Redemptorist Father Ed Cossgrove. Contact Jackie Baumgartner, (636) 931-3503;

ASSUMPTION, 603 Miller St., New Haven — 2 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, confessions and Rosary, 3 p.m. sung chaplet of Divine Mercy, ending with Benediction. Contact Carolyn Phillips, (573) 834-5236;

GOOD SHEPHERD, 703 North Third St., Hillsboro — 2 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, veneration of Divine Mercy image and confessions, 3 p.m. chaplet of Divine Mercy followed by Mass. Celebrant: Father Christopher Holtmann. Contact Lisa Koch (314) 691-4944;

INCARNATE WORD, 13416 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield — 2 p.m. blessing and veneration of Divine Mercy image, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, confessions, chaplet of Divine Mercy and Benediction, ending with a 3 p.m. “Hour of Mercy” Mass. Celebrant: Father Anthony Ochoa. Contact Neosho Stallings, (314) 878-4393;

MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, 5901 Kerth Road, Mattese — 3-4 p.m. Eucharistic Holy Hour with Divine Mercy prayers and ending with Benediction. Contact Pat Dean, (314) 842-1887;

OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR, 401 S. Lindbergh Blvd., Creve Coeur — 1-2 p.m. Blessing of Divine Mercy image, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, adoration period, Easter meditation, chaplet and Benediction. Contact the rectory, (314) 993-2280;

OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE, 4696 Notre Dame Lane, House Springs — Blessing of Divine Mercy image during all weekend Masses (Saturday 5 p.m. and 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, 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, Wildwood — 1:30 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, confessions, Rosary, Sacred Heart Litany, 3 p.m. chaplet of Divine Mercy, followed by 3:30 p.m. Mass. Contact Deacon Norm Nuelle, (636) 458-2977.

ST. ANDREW, 309 Hoffmeister Ave., Lemay — Divine Mercy image will be present during weekend Masses (Saturday 4 p.m. and Sunday 8 and 10:30 a.m.) Chaplet and prayers for the plenary indulgence will be prayed after all Masses. Contact Mary Beth Bettag, (314) 544-3212;

ST. DOMINIC SAVIO, 7748 Mackenzie Road, Affton — 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, followed by Holy Hour with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 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. FERDINAND, 1765 Charbonier Road, Florissant — Divine Mercy celebration, 1:30 p.m. confessions, 2 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration, 2:30 p.m. Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Benediction, 3 p.m. Holy Mass. Celebrant: Father Kristian Teater. Contact Maggie, (314) 691-9165;

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES ORATORY, 2653 Ohio Ave., South St. Louis — 10 a.m. Solemn High Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, chaplet of Divine Mercy, ending with Benediction. Confessions will be heard all morning. Celebrant: Canon Michael Wiener. Contact the rectory, (314) 771-3100;

STE. GENEVIEVE, 49 DuBourg Place, Ste. Genevieve — 2 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration and prayers, 3 p.m. Divine Mercy chaplet, ending with Benediction. Mass at 3:15 p.m. Contact the rectory, (573) 883-2731;

ST. GEORGE, 4980 Heege Road, Affton — 2-3 p.m. exposition of Blessed Sacrament, confessions, Rosary, chaplet and Benediction, followed by 3 p.m. Mass. Celebrant: Father Tom Robertson. Contact Mary Ann Courisky, (314) 353-4909;

ST. GERTRUDE, 6637 Hwy YY, Krakow — 1 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration with Rosary, 3 p.m. chaplet of Divine Mercy, ending with Benediction. Contact Amy Banken, (636) 584-0767;

ST. JAMES, 1107 Summit, Catawissa — Noon Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary, chaplet and Divine Mercy prayers. Celebrant: Father Mark Bozada. Contact the rectory, (636) 451-4685;

ST. JOSEPH, 1355 Motherhead Road, Cottleville — 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. JUSTIN MARTYR, 11910 Eddie and Park Road, Sunset Hills — 3 p.m. Divine Mercy prayers in the rectory chapel. Contact the rectory, (314) 843-8482;

ST. MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE, 4900 Ringer Road, Oakville — 2:30-3:30 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., Lemay — 1:30 p.m. confessions, 2 p.m. Holy Hour with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy devotions with talk by Deacon Anthony Syring from the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb. Contact the rectory, (314) 544-5664;

ST. MAURUS, 10198 Hwy B, 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 Drive, Florissant — Divine Mercy image will be blessed after all Sunday Masses and prayers for plenary indulgence will be offered. Special celebration at 3 p.m. with readings from St. Faustina’s diary, chaplet of Divine Mercy and discussion of “Deeds of Mercy,” followed by Benediction and private prayer until 4 p.m. Contact Paul Horn, (314) 830-0007.