Divine Mercy Sunday Celebration Focuses on the Mercy and Love of Jesus

To share the mercy and love of Jesus in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh invites people to come together in prayer with a Live Stream celebration on the diocesan YouTube channel Sunday, April 19, at 3:00 p.m.
 
This Divine Mercy celebration will be within the context of a Holy Hour with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  There will be time for Adoration and song, and Bishop David Zubik will guide people through the prayers of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which are available at the diocesan website, www.diopitt.org.
 
“We are all in such need of the healing and comfort of Jesus right now,” Bishop Zubik said.  “There is great power in us coming together, even virtually, to ask Him to feel His presence and mercy and to let Him know we trust in Him.”
 
When Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina Kowalska on April 30, 2000, he proclaimed that the Sunday after Easter would be Divine Mercy Sunday, and a time to celebrate, bless and share the image and the message of mercy that Jesus gave to her.  
 
St. Faustina was one of ten children born to a poor peasant family in Poland, committed to living the Catholic faith.  She joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw in 1925.  In 1931, St. Faustina had a vision of an image of Jesus with white and red streams of light flowing from His heart with the message, “Jesus, I trust in you.”  St. Faustina died of tuberculosis in 1938.  The image from her vision remains at the center of Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations.
 
“The message of trusting in Jesus is important now as we navigate through so many concerns regarding our health, our communities, our families, our finances, and more,” said Bishop Zubik. “On this Divine Mercy Sunday, let’s remind ourselves that the love and mercy of Jesus is flowing from His heart to ours, bringing us comfort, and hope.”