The Church has recognized the Sunday following Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. There is a devotional chaplet (prayer) along with an image of Jesus associated with this title. But more than the prayer, the promise, or the portrait of our Lord, is the person of Jesus Christ and His Paschal Mystery – Suffering, Death, and Resurrection – which were undertaken out of Jesus’ infinite love for each and every human person – you and me. From that Love, Jesus willed the Will of the Father, to extend Divine Mercy to every human person in every time. We so often fail to live faithfully God’s Holy Covenant of kinship bond, solemn agreement, and sacred relationship. Into this situation, our situation, God extended His wondrous and immense Divine Mercy – His Love in Action to us who are less fortunate. As we continue to revel in the joy and amazement of the Resurrection of Christ, let us also pause to ponder deeply the consequence of that Resurrection for each of us – the offering of His Divine Mercy, His intimate relationship, His infinite love, and His immense forgiveness to repentant hearts and believers in the Gospel. Jesus, I trust in You… and in You alone can I trust.
For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
To celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, Holy Family will host a Holy Hour of Adoration, Exposition, and Benediction today Sunday, April 11 from 2p-3p. Fr Gries will be available for confessions during this time. We will conclude with a recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet (texts provided). This will be a wonderful way as a parish family to conclude our Lenten Eucharistic Exposition by uniting together before the Eucharist and asking for God’s Divine Mercy upon the parish, the community, the Church, and the world.
Masks – As of April 6, the Indiana statewide mask mandate has been lifted by Governor Holcomb. This lifts the mandatory wearing of masks at most indoor settings and large gatherings. This technically applies to churches and our weekly Mass Liturgies. However, Archbishop Thompson has asked that parishioners continue to wear Masks for public Liturgies for the time being until all persons desiring a vaccine have in fact had a chance to receive a full vaccine. We want all persons to feel safe and secure when they attend Mass. The wearing of masks assists with this safety. I don’t like masks either, and long to see your smiles, but I also want more to keep us all safe and safely gathered together for Mass. We are drawing nearer the day when we can put this behind us, please be patient. I would ask you to please continue to wear masks for Mass. If you join the for a weekday Mass with school children, masks will continue to be mandatory as the mask mandate for school is until the end of the academic year.
Holy Family, the first to rejoice in the Eternal Life of Jesus, Pray for us.
~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries