Pastor’s Corner
Dear Sacred Heart Family,
The Lord is truly Risen! He is Risen indeed. This weekend the Church throughout the world celebrates the Divine Mercy. The first Sunday after Easter is known as “œDivine Mercy Sunday,” in part due to Saint John Paul II and Saint Faustina.
When Karol Wojtyla became the Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, he promoted the cause for sainthood of Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska. This young religious died at the age of 33 after having been the recipient of visitations, apparitions, and private revelations concerning the Divine Mercy. The Mercy of God is His compassion to us in our weakness. His Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection are the means by which the Mercy of God set us free from sin and separation from the Love of God.
Once in prayer, the Lord was trying to reassure Saint Faustina of how real and powerful His Love is for us. He said, “œWhat more can I do to convince you? I died for you.” Are we convinced?
Here at Sacred Heart, many people are praying this week to the Divine Mercy in anticipation of this Sunday’s special observance. At the Masses this weekend, the image of Divine Mercy will be prominent in the Church as it is every year. We will celebrate a special Holy Hour from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, during which we will sing the Divine Mercy Chaplet, pray a litany of praises of the Divine Mercy, and adore the Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
If you are familiar with this devotion, this weekend is a special time to renew your relationship with Jesus in His Divine Mercy. If you are new to this message, it is a powerful time to enter into a discovery of how tender, kind, and merciful is the Love of God for you. Especially when we are weak, discouraged, and losing hope, it is time to hear the call to turn to God’s Mercy. Together let us make the prayer of Saint Faustina our own: “œJesus, I trust in You!” Have a blessed weekend!
In Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart,
Fr. Bjorn Lundberg