DIVINE MERCY
Just what is the Divine Mercy all about? In 1924, when Helen Kowalska, a young Polish woman was 19 years old, she experienced her first vision of Jesus. Jesus instructed her to leave at once for Warsaw and join a convent. Helen packed her bags and left but it would be over a year until she would receive her habit and take the name Sister Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1928 she would take her first religious vows as a nun. February 22, 1931, Jesus presented himself as the “King of Divine Mercy” and told Faustina to paint his image with the inscription “Jesus, I trust in You.” He also told her that the first Sunday after Easter is to be the Feast of Mercy. Jesus spoke to Faustina about his great mercy and the graces he wishes to give to souls but that many do not pay attention to him, busy themselves with other things and treat him as a dead object. Jesus said, “I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy.” (Diary: 1109) What an amazing gift our Lord wishes to give us if we only draw near him and ask! Want to learn more? Our parish has several informational booklets by the Divine Mercy shrine and on Good Friday at 3 p.m. the Divine Mercy Novena will be led along with a brief overview. If you have questions or would like to learn more about the Divine Mercy, this is a great opportunity.
FORMED
Would like to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you know someone who has fallen away from the Church, perhaps a friend, a family member, a co-worker, and you want reach them but you just don’t know how to? This is why our parish has invested in FORMED, so that each of us might grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and in our desire to share our Faith with others, especially those closest to us. FORMED has inspiring movies and video based studies, audio talks and e-books from the Church's most compelling speakers and authors. Some include:
• Prepare for Mass each week by watching an insightful five-minute video Opening the Word, on the Sunday Readings;
• Enjoy movies with your family that are both nourishing and entertaining;
• Enrich your marriage with the award-winning video program Beloved; and
• Help your children grow in faith and character with engaging children’s materials from toddlers to teens, alphabets, children’s catechism, saints, to Why Believe and YDisciple for teens just to name a few.
To register, please go to www.formed.org and click on the “Sign Up” button. A screen will pop up asking “How would you like to sign up?” Click on the middle button, “Sign up as a parishioner.” In the search box under “Find your Parish or Organization” enter 61024, St. Mary, 606 W. Main St. should show below the search button. Click on St. Mary and then click on the “Next” button. A new screen will pop up asking you to register with your name and email address. After that you will be registered and have access to all the resources available on the site free of charge.