Pastor's Corner, April 12, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

In the year 2000 St. John Paul II declared, “It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church, will be called ‘Divine Mercy Sunday.’”

What is the “whole message” that comes from the word of God this Sunday? St. John Paul II explained that the message of mercy comes “from the lips of the risen Christ, who bears the great message of Divine Mercy and entrusts its ministry to the Apostles in the Upper Room: ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you. … Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (Jn 20:21-23).

The events of Holy Week have opened the flood gates of Divine Mercy. We are now at peace with God and we have access to the mercy which flows from Christ’s pierced heart, especially through the Sacrament of Mercy given to the Church on Easter Sunday night when Christ gave His apostles the power to forgive sins in His name.

I hope you might be able to join us at 3 pm this afternoon for Exposition, the praying of the Divine Mercy chaplet and Benediction. Confessions will be available beginning at 2 pm. Now is the time to receive the whole message of Divine Mercy.

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker