This Feast Is a Day of Extraordinary Graces from God. Three Times It Is Recorded in The

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. On April 30, 2000, at the canonization Mass of St. FaustinaKowalska, the first saint canonized in the Third Millennium, Pope St. John Paul II declared that the whole Catholic Church should henceforth refer to the Second Sunday of Easter as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” This action of the pope saint was not totally new. From the earliest days of the Church, this Sunday was referred to as a Day of Mercy and Forgiveness. However, there was something prophetic in the decision of the pope. He was declaring to the world Jesus’ wish that we all be more aware of God’s mercy toward us and our need to be more merciful toward all of our brothers and sisters.

This feast is a day of extraordinary graces from God. Three times it is recorded in the Diary of St. Faustina that through a devout confession and reception of communion on the feast, a sinner can receive complete forgiveness of his sins and their punishments. A “devout confession” should include the firm resolution to sin no more.

We will celebrate the feast with a special service in the church at 3 pm today. The service will include exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the singing of the chaplet of the Divine Mercy. All are encouraged to attend. A MARIAN CONSECRATION Last year on May 13, a very good number of our parishioners consecrated themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. If you would like to renew that consecration, it is suggested that you begin your renewal on April 10. However, since we are passed this date, you may do a shortened reconsecration period this year.

ATTENDING THE RE-DEDICATION OF THE CATHEDRAL
If you would like to be included in the drawing for a ticket for the re-dedication of St. John’s Cathedral in Paterson on Saturday, June 24, please call the parish office and give your name to Karen Jaworski, the parish secretary, as soon as possible. Two tickets have been allotted to our parish.

THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
In February of 1967, the Catholic Church received a wonderful gift from God. A small group of university students from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit while on a weekend retreat. They had asked God to allow them to experience the outpouring of God’s Spirit that the Apostles had received on Pentecost. Since that time, God has continued to bless tens of millions of Catholics worldwide with this same merciful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Are you interested in having the Holy Spirit play a greater role in your life?

Starting on May 1st, the Diocese of Paterson will offer a seven week course to prepare you for a deeper relationship with Jesus and for an outpouring of Jesus’ Spirit in your life. The course is offered on Mondays from 7:30 to 9 pm at St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison. For information, please contact Betty at 973-448-8847 or at . I hope to see you there!

Father Nick