TODAY IS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY OPPORTUNITY FOR A PLENARY INDULGENCE
In the year 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II, declared, at the direction of Jesus, transmitted by Saint FaustinaKowalska, that the faithful may receive a plenary indulgence, i.e., the grace and pardon of Baptism on the Feast of the Divine Mercy. To receive this plenary indulgence, the faithful must make a good confession within 20 days of the feast, receive Communion worthily within 20 days of the feast, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. In addition, the faithful must participate in a celebration of the Divine Mercy on the feast day (our parish service will begin at 2:30 pm in the church) or we must pray before the Blessed Sacrament, exposed or in the tabernacle, recite there the Our Father and the Creed, adding a prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus. This offer by the Church of a plenary indulgence is a wonderful expression of God’s greatest attribute, His Mercy. I hope the whole parish accepts this wonderful offer.
By the way, we will have a special program on the feast, explaining the origin of the Divine Mercy teaching and devotion on Divine Mercy Sunday. The presentation will take place in the parish hall starting at 1:30 pm. Please plan to join us for this inspiring and informative afternoon.
HOW TO BENEFIT MORE FROM THE MASS
How can we benefit more from our experience at the Mass? We can benefit more from the Mass by placing our focus, our attention on God during the Mass prayers. When the priest speaks the prayers at Mass, he stands in the place of Jesus, the head of the Body of Christ. As the priest speaks those words, where should we place our attention? Preferably we place our attention on the one to whom the priest’s words are addressed. Most of the words of the Mass are addressed to our Father in Heaven. Something like 90% of the words of the priest are addressed to the Father. As the priest speaks, we should try to focus our own attention on the Father. Some the words that the priest speaks are addressed to Jesus, the Son. As the priest addresses Jesus, we should place our attention on the Son, too. Mass is so much more enriching when we place our attention on God rather than on other things. We come to Church to worship God and to love God and also to learn from Him!
HOW TO SHARE YOUR FAITH . . . AND HOW NOT TO SPECIAL EDITION OF DINING WITH THE DEACONS, APRIL 9
We all want our families and friends to love God and to live by faith in Him. Join us this Monday for an evening with Andre Lesperance, a consultant for “Reach More”, who will share some practical wisdom on how to bring our families and friends to believe in God. To sign up, please contact Karen in our parish office at 908-897-5371 or .
LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMNAR STARTS ON APRIL 23
The Service Committee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is offering a Life in the Spirit Seminar that will start on Monday, April 23, and end on Monday, June 4. The goal of this seminar is to help the participants to deepen their bond with the Lord Jesus and to learn about and deepen their bond with the Holy Spirit, who communicates to us the will of God. The meeting dates are April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 19, 21 and June 4. The meetings will take place at St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison and run from 7:30 to 9 pm. For more information and to register, you may contact Betty Pinsonault at 973-448-8847 or .
God bless.
Father Nick