By MARNIE McALLISTER
Record Assistant Editor
Divine Mercy Sunday will be observed on April 15 this year, and several parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville have reported plans to observe the feast.
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz will lead the celebration at St. Athanasius Church, 5915 Outer Loop, along with Fathers Gary Davis, Lawrence Lindle, Bill Martin, Emmet Linden and Thomas Clark.
Confessions will be heard from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed at 2:15 p.m. The Rosary will be prayed at 2:30 p.m. and will be followed by Mass at 3 p.m. and eucharistic adoration.
Divine Mercy Sunday will be celebrated at St. Patrick Church, 1000 N. Beckley Station Road, with Fathers Martin Linebach, Bernard Weber, John Caldwell, Terry Bradshaw, David Harris and Gary Padgett.
Confessions will be heard from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. And the rosary will be prayed at 2:30 p.m. The Divine Mercy Hour will begin at 3 p.m. and includes a history of the devotion, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction. In addition, religious articles, water and the Divine Mercy image will be blessed.
Incarnation Church, 2229 Lower Hunters Trace, will celebrate Divine Mercy at 2 p.m. It will include confession, the rosary, eucharistic adoration, Scripture readings, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction.
St. Raphael Church, 2141 Lancashire Ave., will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday with Dominican Father Emmanuel Bertrand. Confessions will be heard from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and the Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed at 3 p.m. followed by Mass at 3:15 p.m.
St. Martin of Tours Church, 639 S. Shelby St., will celebrate the feast day beginning at 3 p.m.
St. Paul Church will celebrate the feast with reconciliation from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 2:45 p.m. The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed at 3 p.m. followed by eucharistic adoration at 3:25 p.m. and evening prayer at 3:45 p.m. It will close with Benediction at 4 p.m.
Divine Mercy Sunday, devoted to works of mercy and forgiveness, is observed annually on the Second Sunday of Easter. Blessed John Paul II established the feast day in April 2000 when he canonized St. Faustina Kowalska. St. Faustina, who lived in Poland early in the 20th century, received revelations from Jesus focusing on God’s mercy.
