Dear friends in Christ
Since 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter has also been known as Divine Mercy Sunday. The consoling message of today is addressed above all to those who, afflicted by a particularly harsh trial or crushed by the weight of the sins they committed, have lost all confidence in life and are tempted to give in to despair. To them the gentle face of Christ is offered; those rays from his heart touch them and shine upon them, warm them, show them the way and fill them with hope. How many souls have been consoled by the prayer “Jesus, I trust in you,” which Providence intimated through Saint Faustina! Throughout the Church on this Sunday many many souls will be strengthened and encouraged to approach the Risen Lord with a fresh confidence and seek His mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This Sunday afternoon in the church we shall make the Devotions to Divine Mercy by praying the Chaplet, venerating the image of Christ displayed in the church through this special Jubilee Year, and receive the Benediction of Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist. There will be the opportunity for Confession throughout the afternoon.
As the joy of Easter is renewed on this Octave Day, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who makes the celebration of Holy Week and Easter a fitting event. I invariably reflect with gratitude at this time that there are a huge number of people who make this possible and the Parish Family is always seen at its best at these times. Many hundreds of people come to our church throughout Lent and Holy Week and we are able to offer them an experience of things spiritual because of the working together of so many different groups and individuals. These include those involved with the liturgy (Altar staff, musicians and Sacristy personnel), those who clean and look after the church both inside and out, and the very good administrative team that supports me behind the scenes; thank you all very much and God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale