Parishes around the Archdiocese of Louisville will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday April 3.
Divine Mercy Sunday, devoted to works of mercy and forgiveness, is observed annually on the Second Sunday of Easter. St. 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.
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz will preside at the celebration planned at St. Raphael Church, located at Bardstown Road and Lancashire Avenue, this year. The celebration will begin with confession from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed at 3 p.m. and Mass will follow at 3:15 p.m.
Other celebrations of Divine Mercy around the area include:
- St. Martin of Tours Church, 639 S. Shelby St., will celebrate 20 years of perpetual eucharistic adoration on Divine Mercy Sunday.
- The sacrament of reconciliation be offered beginning at 1:30 p.m. and will be followed by a procession at 2:30 p.m., the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 p.m. and Mass at 3:30 p.m.
- St. Paul Church, 6901 Dixie Highway, will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday with reconciliation at 2 p.m., exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 2:45 p.m., followed by the rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, adoration, evening prayer and Benediction.
- St. Patrick Church in Eastwood, 1000 N. Beckley Station Road, will begin the celebration of Divine Mercy by holding a vigil with adoration and confession on April 2 from 6 p.m. to midnight.
The celebration will continue on April 3 at 1:30 p.m. with confession and veneration. The Divine Mercy image, a relic of St. Faustina and an image of St. John Paul II will be available for veneration.
The rosary will be prayed at 2:15 p.m. and a Divine Mercy Holy Hour will be at 3 p.m. Mass will follow.
For more information, call 244-6083 or visit www.stpatricklou.org. - Holy Trinity Church in Fredericktown, Ky., will hold a Divine Mercy Celebration from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 3. All are encouraged to attend Mass at their parishes and then attend the Divine Mercy celebration.
Eucharistic adoration and confession with Father Matthew Hardesty will begin at 2 p.m. A Divine Mercy Prayer Service with readings, a homily by Deacon Sean McKinley and devotions will begin at 3 p.m. Benediction will begin at 4 p.m. and will be followed by additional time for confession. - St. Athanasius Church, 5915 Outer Loop, will hold its 19th annual Divine Mercy Sunday celebration beginning with confession, which will be available from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The rosary will be prayed at 2:30 p.m.
Afterward, there will be Mass, eucharistic adoration and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The celebrant will be Father Gary Davis, pastor of St. Athanasius. - St. Louis Bertrand Church, 1126 S. Sixth St., will begin its celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday at 2 p.m. with reconciliation and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Mass will follow at 3 p.m.
