'Jesus, I Trust In You' -- Divine Mercy Sunday were festive, prayerful observances in Diocese
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Rose O’Connor Correspondent and Christina Leslie Staff Writer
Catholics around the Diocese of Trenton observed Divine Mercy Sunday in song, prayer and adoration April 3, the Second Sunday of Easter. Parish celebrations united people of many generations and ethnicities as they echoed the long-ago words of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: “Jesus, I trust in You.”
To see photo gallery of Divine Mercy observance in St. Mary Church, Bordentown, click here.
To see photo gallery of Divine Mercy observance in Holy Cross Church, Trenton, click here.
One such observance of Divine Mercy Sunday took place in St. Mary Parish, Bordentown, where faithful from parishes in Burlington and Mercer Counties gathered.
The Divine Mercy Mass celebrated at the Bordentown church marks the 26th time Geri and Skip Conte, parishioners in St. Anthony-Our Lady of Sorrow, Hamilton, and their growing group of family and friends have gathered to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet, the Rrosary and the Stations of the Cross.
In 1990, the Contes persuaded their pastor at St. Joachim Parish (now a worship site of Our Lady of the Angels Parish), Trenton, Father Jim Saulchelli, to allow them to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet following the Monday devotion to the Miraculous Medal. Two years later, the couple was able to obtain a first-class relic of the Polish nun who was beatified in 1993 by then Pope John Paul II, complete with certificates of authenticity.
The group of devotees to the Divine Mercy of Jesus has grown from a husband and wife to a church with almost 100 people.
“We collected people along the way,” Dominic Commiso acknowledged with a smile, long before #divinemercysunday was trending on Facebook.
Father Michael Burns, pastor of St. Mary Parish, celebrated a Mass with assistance by Deacon Guido Mattozzi of Our Lady of the Angels Parish and Deacon Tom Lavelle from St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, who also served as the homilist for the Mass.
Deacon Lavelle shared the life of St. Faustina and the need for Divine Mercy in our world today.
“We rationalize our sins, we fall for lies,” he said. “Jesus Christ is the source of peace, love and mercy, Jesus, I trust in you.”
Following the Mass, the faithful had the opportunity to venerate the relic of St. Faustina, and received Rosary beads to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
“We feel privileged to pray the Chaplet for those who are sick and dying,” Geri Conte said, while her husband added, “We receive many calls when people are dying -- we pray it all the time. I have the CD in the car.” Conte recalled the promise of Jesus to St. Faustina about praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy: “At death he will appear as a merciful savior and not a just judge.”
Celebrating Divine Mercy in the Jubilee Year of Mercy resonated with many people.
“With all the turmoil in the world today- we need mercy to get us through these tough times,” Jack Laciskey, a St. Mary parishioner.
“People ask how we continue to do this,” Skip Conte admitted, acknowledging Geri’s diagnosis of esophageal cancer in February 2015. “It’s Divine Mercy -- without Divine Mercy, I wouldn't be able to do anything. I just keep praying, ‘Jesus I trust in you.’”
In Mercer County, a parish with the feast day in its name offered many opportunities for faithful to remember the instructions of St. Faustina. Divine Mercy Parish, Trenton, prayed the chaplet each day of the novena which began on Good Friday, reported Father Dennis A. Apoldite, pastor.
“Beginning Easter Monday, and through Easter Saturday, we prayed [the chaplet] at each morning Mass,” said Father Apoldite. “We also added a 12:10 p.m. Mass each weekday.”
Father Apoldite, and parochial vicars Father Thomas Kunnath, Father Edward Kwoka and Father George Medina, concelebrated the Mass, then processed with the Blessed Sacrament inside the church due to the windy weather.
“We encouraged the people to gain the plenary indulgence,” Father Apoldite said. “To help them, we said prayers for the Holy Father’s intentions.”
Hundreds of faithful filled the pews of St. Anthony Claret Church for the Lakewood parish’s annual Divine Mercy observance. Divine Word Father Guilherme Andrino served as principal celebrant in a celebration which involved even the youngest parishioners.
The opening procession was led by young girls clad in nuns’ habits to resemble Sister Faustina, while others, clad in bright blue dresses, danced up the aisle as the congregation waved red flags embossed with the Divine Mercy picture of Jesus with rays emanating from his heart.
“It was a colorful moment,” Father Andrino recalled.
Participants read aloud the story of the Polish nun, venerated the Blessed Sacrament and prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Rosary. Father Andrino was assisted at the Spanish-language Mass by Deacon Alfonso Ramos of St. Joseph Parish, Trenton. Fellowship, with a full dinner prepared by the women of the parish, followed.
Father Andrino estimated nearly 600 people filled the church for the Sunday afternoon observance. “The parish has a great devotion to the Divine Mercy,” he said. “When we announced [the celebration,] they came!”
The Respect Life Committee of St. Gabriel Parish hosted the Marlboro faith community’s celebration, a parish tradition for more than a decade. Deacon Richard Roenbeck, chaplain for the pro-life group, was overjoyed that attendance had grown to about 200 people.
“I think the Year of Mercy played a big part in it,” he said. “We made the link in our pulpit announcements, flyers and [Catholic] radio ads.”
Parochial vicar, Father Joy T. Chacko, served as principal celebrant of the Mass that followed the Chaplet and praying of the Rosary, and led the congregation in a procession with the Blessed Sacrament.
Deacon Roenbeck said, “I love the Chaplet. I listen to it all the time, and I have a CD of it in my car. It just draws me in. When benediction and exposition in St. Gabriel’s happens, it’s special and the people are drawn to that, too.”
Recalling the reaction of an elderly man after the observance was ended, Deacon Roenbeck said that
“When it was over, and he was crying. He told me, ‘I think I was touched by the Holy Spirit.’”
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By Rose O’Connor Correspondent and Christina Leslie Staff Writer
Catholics around the Diocese of Trenton observed Divine Mercy Sunday in song, prayer and adoration April 3, the Second Sunday of Easter. Parish celebrations united people of many generations and ethnicities as they echoed the long-ago words of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: “Jesus, I trust in You.”
To see photo gallery of Divine Mercy observance in St. Mary Church, Bordentown, click here.
To see photo gallery of Divine Mercy observance in Holy Cross Church, Trenton, click here.
One such observance of Divine Mercy Sunday took place in St. Mary Parish, Bordentown, where faithful from parishes in Burlington and Mercer Counties gathered.
The Divine Mercy Mass celebrated at the Bordentown church marks the 26th time Geri and Skip Conte, parishioners in St. Anthony-Our Lady of Sorrow, Hamilton, and their growing group of family and friends have gathered to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet, the Rrosary and the Stations of the Cross.
In 1990, the Contes persuaded their pastor at St. Joachim Parish (now a worship site of Our Lady of the Angels Parish), Trenton, Father Jim Saulchelli, to allow them to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet following the Monday devotion to the Miraculous Medal. Two years later, the couple was able to obtain a first-class relic of the Polish nun who was beatified in 1993 by then Pope John Paul II, complete with certificates of authenticity.
The group of devotees to the Divine Mercy of Jesus has grown from a husband and wife to a church with almost 100 people.
“We collected people along the way,” Dominic Commiso acknowledged with a smile, long before #divinemercysunday was trending on Facebook.
Father Michael Burns, pastor of St. Mary Parish, celebrated a Mass with assistance by Deacon Guido Mattozzi of Our Lady of the Angels Parish and Deacon Tom Lavelle from St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, who also served as the homilist for the Mass.
Deacon Lavelle shared the life of St. Faustina and the need for Divine Mercy in our world today.
“We rationalize our sins, we fall for lies,” he said. “Jesus Christ is the source of peace, love and mercy, Jesus, I trust in you.”
Following the Mass, the faithful had the opportunity to venerate the relic of St. Faustina, and received Rosary beads to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
“We feel privileged to pray the Chaplet for those who are sick and dying,” Geri Conte said, while her husband added, “We receive many calls when people are dying -- we pray it all the time. I have the CD in the car.” Conte recalled the promise of Jesus to St. Faustina about praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy: “At death he will appear as a merciful savior and not a just judge.”
Celebrating Divine Mercy in the Jubilee Year of Mercy resonated with many people.
“With all the turmoil in the world today- we need mercy to get us through these tough times,” Jack Laciskey, a St. Mary parishioner.
“People ask how we continue to do this,” Skip Conte admitted, acknowledging Geri’s diagnosis of esophageal cancer in February 2015. “It’s Divine Mercy -- without Divine Mercy, I wouldn't be able to do anything. I just keep praying, ‘Jesus I trust in you.’”
In Mercer County, a parish with the feast day in its name offered many opportunities for faithful to remember the instructions of St. Faustina. Divine Mercy Parish, Trenton, prayed the chaplet each day of the novena which began on Good Friday, reported Father Dennis A. Apoldite, pastor.
“Beginning Easter Monday, and through Easter Saturday, we prayed [the chaplet] at each morning Mass,” said Father Apoldite. “We also added a 12:10 p.m. Mass each weekday.”
Father Apoldite, and parochial vicars Father Thomas Kunnath, Father Edward Kwoka and Father George Medina, concelebrated the Mass, then processed with the Blessed Sacrament inside the church due to the windy weather.
“We encouraged the people to gain the plenary indulgence,” Father Apoldite said. “To help them, we said prayers for the Holy Father’s intentions.”
Hundreds of faithful filled the pews of St. Anthony Claret Church for the Lakewood parish’s annual Divine Mercy observance. Divine Word Father Guilherme Andrino served as principal celebrant in a celebration which involved even the youngest parishioners.
The opening procession was led by young girls clad in nuns’ habits to resemble Sister Faustina, while others, clad in bright blue dresses, danced up the aisle as the congregation waved red flags embossed with the Divine Mercy picture of Jesus with rays emanating from his heart.
“It was a colorful moment,” Father Andrino recalled.
Participants read aloud the story of the Polish nun, venerated the Blessed Sacrament and prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Rosary. Father Andrino was assisted at the Spanish-language Mass by Deacon Alfonso Ramos of St. Joseph Parish, Trenton. Fellowship, with a full dinner prepared by the women of the parish, followed.
Father Andrino estimated nearly 600 people filled the church for the Sunday afternoon observance. “The parish has a great devotion to the Divine Mercy,” he said. “When we announced [the celebration,] they came!”
The Respect Life Committee of St. Gabriel Parish hosted the Marlboro faith community’s celebration, a parish tradition for more than a decade. Deacon Richard Roenbeck, chaplain for the pro-life group, was overjoyed that attendance had grown to about 200 people.
“I think the Year of Mercy played a big part in it,” he said. “We made the link in our pulpit announcements, flyers and [Catholic] radio ads.”
Parochial vicar, Father Joy T. Chacko, served as principal celebrant of the Mass that followed the Chaplet and praying of the Rosary, and led the congregation in a procession with the Blessed Sacrament.
Deacon Roenbeck said, “I love the Chaplet. I listen to it all the time, and I have a CD of it in my car. It just draws me in. When benediction and exposition in St. Gabriel’s happens, it’s special and the people are drawn to that, too.”
Recalling the reaction of an elderly man after the observance was ended, Deacon Roenbeck said that
“When it was over, and he was crying. He told me, ‘I think I was touched by the Holy Spirit.’”
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