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Jesus’ offering of this opportunity to Peter is a gift of great mercy and an opportunity for profound healing for Peter. Our Lord offers us an equally generous opportunity for healing via the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). Are we taking advantage of this invitation to receive forgiveness?

Click on title for complete article by Fr. John Note: This series will culminate in our parish families offering individual and group sessions on Coping with Loss, Bereavement and Grief. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of our Grief Support Ministry (see ad on page 4) and/or contact Carol Altieri  at 372-4841 ext. 144 for more information if needing support more immediately.        

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love is everlasting.” On this blessed Feast of Divine Mercy, we proclaim over and over: “His mercy endures forever!” The psalmist celebrates God’s merciful help to her or him, in the past, and thanks the Lord for his/her current faith and courage. We must thank God for the gifts of any faith and confident courage that accompanies our beliefs, as all faith and courage is a gift from God. We can never achieve them, of our own accord. All spiritual gifts are given to us by our divinely merciful God! As the psalmist attests, Jesus has become the cornerstone of the Catholic Church, our spiritual home. Let us, again rejoice and be glad. Our God supports and sustains us!

This Divine Mercy Sunday, we learn of the beautiful image that St. Faustina  Kowalska saw in a vision as Jesus appeared to her telling her of His forever love for us and how this Sunday in  particular (a week after the Solemnity of His Resurrection, should know with   confidence that an ocean of mercy and forgiveness will flow from His sacred heart unto the World. Additionally, the images of Divine Mercy that she experienced as He appeared to her should be venerated on this day. As you observe from the image above, the two rays streaming from Jesus’ heart denotes His Blood (red)  and Water (white). The pale ray represents the water that makes souls righteous (for purification). The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls (God’s very life, the life line to all of us). His Love and Mercy flows from His Most  Sacred Heart.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad." Psalm 118 Click on title for complete reflection.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great   mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  1 Peter 3

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? This psalm foretells the desolation, sorrow, humiliation and scorn that Jesus suffered on the Cross. We can only imagine Jesus’ sorrow as such cruel hatred was vented upon His saintly and pure body and soul. This psalm begins with the Savior’s agony, but ends with a serene and courageous expression of confidence in God’s attentiveness and saving power. Despite our sufferings and burdens, let’s give glory and praise to God, as this psalmist does! For complete reflections, click on orange title

PRAYER OF ABANDONMENT Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will.  Whatever you may do, I thank you:  I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me,  and in all your creatures - I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul:  I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.   Charles de Foucauld click on orange title for complete article

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126 for complete reflections, click on title above

We have just completed our Lenten Retreat, Our God’s Healing Touch. This retreat provided us the opportunity to bring ourselves into the very life of Our Gracious God Who offered us a way for more intense personal renewal. A retreat gives us shared moments as a community of faith to ready ourselves for transformation as we can gain confidence through our Hope in Christ Jesus, to experience His Healing touch in our lives to restore us to physical, mental health and/or spiritual wholeness and ultimately to receive His Peace. click on title for complete article