Parishes in archdiocese to host celebrations
The feast of Divine Mercy, or Divine Mercy Sunday, is observed on the octave day of Easter. This year, the feast will be celebrated April 12.
The feast was promoted by St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who kept a diary in the 1930s of Christ’s private revelations telling her of His message of mercy. She 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 died of tuberculosis in 1938 at age 33. St. John Paul II canonized her in 2000 and declared Divine Mercy Sunday a worldwide feast day. Two years later, he granted a plenary indulgence for those who participate in the devotion. St. John Paul II was canonized on the feast of Divine Mercy in 2014.
To receive the graces of the indulgence, the three usual conditions of going to confession, receiving Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father must be met. The two sacraments may be received on the same day, but the Church permits them to be received up to about 20 days before or after the day the indulgenced work is performed. Additionally, the faithful should take part in the prayers and devotions on the Second Sunday of Easter held in honor of Divine Mercy in any church or chapel, or they may recite the Our Father and Creed before the Blessed Sacrament, adding a devotional prayer to our Lord.
Catholics also are encouraged to pray the novena of Divine Mercy, which begins Good Friday and ends the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday; pray the Divine Mercy chaplet; and to be merciful toward others through words, actions and prayers. (To learn how to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet and novena, visit thedivinemercy.org.)
Divine Mercy celebrations with Mass
CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF SAINT LOUIS, 4431 Lindell Blvd. at Newstead Avenue; Mass at noon with Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, followed by eucharistic adoration, confessions, ending at 3 p.m. with Divine Mercy chaplet and Benediction.
GOOD SHEPHERD, 703 N. Third St. in Hillsboro; 2 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the indulgence prayers, confessions and veneration of Divine Mercy image; 3 p.m. Divine Mercy chaplet, followed by Mass at 3:30 p.m.
HOLY INFANT, 627 Dennison Drive in Ballwin; 2:15 p.m. adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by the Rosary, Divine Mercy chaplet and Benediction; 3:15 p.m. Mass. (Confessions will not be available that day.)
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, 8 West Highway D in New Melle; Confessions begin at 2:30 p.m., followed by eucharistic adoration at 2:45 p.m., Divine Mercy chaplet and Rosary and Mass at 4:30 p.m.
OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE, 4696 Notre Dame Lane in House Springs; blessing of Divine Mercy image during weekend Masses (5 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday); following all Masses, there will be a Divine Mercy chaplet and litany and veneration of the image and first-class relic of St. Faustina.
SACRED HEART, 555 Bailey Road in Crystal City; 11 a.m. Mass, followed by reflection, Divine Mercy chaplet, Rosary and confessions.
ST. AMBROSE, 5130 Wilson Ave. on the Hill; Mass at 1 p.m., followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, confessions and adoration until 3 p.m. The Divine Mercy chaplet will be prayed at 3 p.m., followed by Benediction.
ST. FERDINAND, 1765 Charbonier Road in Florissant; confessions begin at 1 p.m., followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction and Divine Mercy chaplet; Mass will be celebrated at 3:15 p.m.
ST. PETER CLAVER, 4330 Shreve Ave. in St. Louis; 10 a.m. Mass, followed by eucharistic adoration until 3:45 p.m. Confessions will be available throughout adoration. A Divine Mercy chaplet will be sung and conclude with Benediction at 4 p.m.
ST. RAYMOND-ST. ELIZABETH, 1420 S. Sappington Road in Crestwood; confessions from 2-3 p.m., 2:30 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet, ending with Benediction; 3 p.m. Mass.
Divine Mercy celebrations without Mass
CHRIST THE KING, 7316 Balson Ave. in University City; 11 a.m. prayer of the Divine Mercy chaplet in song.
OUR LADY, 1550 St. Marys Lane in Festus; sung Divine Mercy chaplet at 3 p.m.
QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS, 6603 Christopher Drive in Oakville; 2:30 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy chaplet, Rosary and confessions.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, 4556 Telegraph Road in Oakville; 3-4 p.m. Holy Hour in the church with adoration, Divine Mercy chaplet, reflection and confessions.
ST. FRANCIS BORGIA, 115 Cedar St. in Washington; 2 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, sung Divine Mercy chaplet, Rosary, private prayer and ending with Benediction. Confessions will be available. Refreshments and fellowship will follow.
ST. GERARD MAJELLA, 1969 Dougherty Ferry Road in Kirkwood; 2 p.m. procession and veneration of the Divine Mercy image, followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and confessions; 3 p.m. Divine Mercy chaplet, ending with Benediction.
ST. JOHN THE BELOVED DISCIPLE, 4616 Blue Springs Road in Imperial; 2 p.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by eucharistic adoration, confessions, Divine Mercy chaplet and Benediction at 3:15 p.m. Hospitality to follow.
ST. JOSEPH, 106 N. Meramec Ave. in Clayton; Festival of Mercy featuring Maria Vargo. Eucharistic adoration at 2:30 p.m., Divine Mercy chaplet at 3 p.m., followed by a concert featuring Scripture, song and testimony. Confessions will be available.
