Greetings Friends,

We had a most beautiful Holy Week and Easter at St. James, including a large group of families who joined us to pray the Stations of the Cross this past Friday. On Sunday, we experienced an excellent turnout for Easter with many new faces joining us for Mass. Thank you to those who brought eggs for the kids hunt, deserts, and champagne. Yet, Easter is not over! Within the Catholic Church, the solemnity of Easter is celebrated for eight full days, in what is known as an octave, which comes to completion this Sunday, the Feast of Divine Mercy. To finish out this Octave of Easter correctly, I need your help in completing a particular work of mercy. Allow me to explain. 

Back in the 1930s, Jesus chose a humble Polish nun, St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, to receive revelations concerning his Divine Mercy, and to share this with the rest of the Church. Our Lord Jesus told St. Faustina that "Souls perish in spite of my bitter passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy..... Tell souls about this great mercy of mine, because the awful day, the day of my justice is near." (Diary, 965). He then went on to promise that anyone who goes to confession and receives Holy Communion will obtain the complete forgiveness of sins and punishments. In response, on May 5, 2000 the Church decreed that the second Sunday of Easter would be known as the Sunday of Divine Mercy. 

This is where I need your help and your work of mercy comes in. Time is short and we need to get the word out about this coming Sunday by inviting others to experience this tremendous outpouring of grace. Jesus said “…tell the whole world about my inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially poor sinners. On that day the very depths of my tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon the souls who approach the fount of my mercy. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to me, even though its sins be as scarlet” (Diary 699). This Sunday is a most blessed day for sinners to experience God’s mercy, but to do so your hell is needed. There are souls who will not come unless you invite them (you might share this video I created on Facebook or You Tube).

Plans at St. James for Divine Mercy Sunday

This Sunday, April 11, 2021, I will be giving a homily on the healing power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confession will be available before, during, and after Mass, from 8:15 to 11:00 and perhaps even longer if needed. Also, the Image of The Divine Mercy, which Our Lord requested to be solemnly blessed and venerated on this day, will be on display. He promised “that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish” (Diary 341, 48).

A Note on Friday Penance

One other item before I forget: You are dispensed from the normally required penance this Friday, April 9, 2021, because it is part of the Octave of Easter, which is a solemnity. As you know, Catholics are required out of obedience to our bishops and in memory of our Lord’s crucifixion, to do some act of penance on most Fridays of the year. During Lent, this is required to be done by giving up meat, but during the rest of the year, you are allowed to give up meat or substitute another penance in its place unless that Friday happens to be a solemnity (Canon 1251), such as this coming Friday.

Thank you for your help getting the word out and inviting poor souls to Divine Mercy Sunday. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Faithfully your pastor,

Father Mayer