Divine Mercy devotion begins on Good Friday

In the Jubilee Year of 2000, at the canonization of St. Faustina, Pope John Paul II declared the Sunday after Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday. Special graces of mercy for the forgiveness of sin and remittance of the temporal punishment for sin are available on this day.

The conditions for these graces include asking for Divine Mercy with complete trust; repentance of all sins and reception of the sacrament of reconciliation either during Lent or before receiving Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday; veneration of the image of Divine Mercy; and practice of mercy in dealings with others.

This year, Divine Mercy Sunday is April 27.

The major archdiocesan celebration will take place April 27 at St. Joseph Church, 1802 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, beginning with confessions at 1 p.m., Holy Hour at 1:30 p.m. with the recitation of the rosary and eucharistic adoration, followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 2:30 p.m. and Mass at 3 p.m., with former Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes, celebrant and homilist.

Blessing with a relic of St. Faustina will follow Mass. For details, contact Margaret Bieser at 577-0385. See also Association of Marian Helpers’ website, www.marian.org; and the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy website, www.thedivinemercy.org.

Other services and celebrations include:

Annunciation, 517 Avenue B, Bogalusa: April 27 at 3 p.m. with recitation and closing prayers of the Divine Mercy novena, conducted by the Annunciation Rosary Society. Following the close of the novena, members will have fellowship at a reception in the Dobyns Center.

Ascension of Our Lord, 799 Fairway Dr., LaPlace: Private daily recitation of the novena on Good Friday, concluding with recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, novena and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in church at 3 p.m. on April 27.

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, 3037 Dauphine St., New Orleans: Divine Mercy Mass April 27 at 3 p.m. in English, sign language and Spanish. Every Thursday, Mass in Spanish at 6 p.m., followed by recitation of Divine Mercy chaplet in Spanish.

Divine Mercy Parish, 4337 Sal Lentini Pkwy., Kenner: Novena every evening at 6:30 p.m. from Good Friday to Easter Saturday (on Easter Sunday, the novena will be at 7 p.m.). On April 27 at 3 p.m., the Divine Mercy devotions, eucharistic adoration, confessions, blessing of Divine Mercy images, and concluding with a procession with the image of Divine Mercy around the grounds at 4:15 p.m. A parish picnic will begin at
4:45 p.m.

Immaculate Conception, 4401 Seventh St., Marrero: Recite the novena each day from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday at 5 p.m.

Infant Jesus of Prague Mission, 700 Maple St., Harvey: Devotion begins April 27 at 9 a.m. with recitation of the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet, and veneration of the Divine Mercy image and a First Class relic of St. Faustina, concluding with 10 a.m. Mass. Fellowship and refreshments follow in Carmel Hall.

Mary Queen of Peace, 1501 W. Causeway Approach, Mandeville: The Divine Mercy chaplet April 27 from 2-4 p.m. with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet in song, Divine Mercy devotional prayers, closing benediction, and veneration of the Divine Mercy image. Reconciliation will be available.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, 411 North Rampart St., New Orleans, April 27: Benediction and recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet at 3 p.m. with homily and adoration.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, 2320 Paris Road, Chalmette: April 27, 11 a.m. Mass; encourages parishioners to receive special graces by trusting in God’s mercy, receiving reconciliation during Lent, attending Mass, receiving Communion, venerating Divine Mercy image and being merciful.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 1908 Short St., Kenner: Recite chaplet after 9 a.m. morning prayer on Good Friday and Holy Saturday and after the 3 p.m. service on Good Friday; after all Easter Sunday Masses; after weekday Masses Easter Monday through Easter Friday at 6:25 and 9 a.m.; and on Easter Saturday after the 6:25 a.m., 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Vigil Mass. Confessions will be heard 30 minutes before all Sunday Masses. On Mercy Sunday, the chaplet and adoration will begin at 2:30 p.m., with 3 p.m. Divine Mercy Mass, followed by blessing with relic of St. Faustina.

Sacred Heart, 28088 Main St., Lacombe, April 27: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 2 p.m., Divine Mercy chaplet at 3 p.m. followed benediction, concluding with Mass in church.

St. Anselm, 306 St. Mary St., Madisonville: Divine Mercy devotion April 27 from 3-4 p.m., with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction, Litany of the Saints and silent adoration, and recitation of the Divine Mercy praises and chaplet, led by Deacon Jack Glover.

St. Anthony, 2653 Jean Lafitte Blvd., Lafitte: Recitation of the novena and Good Friday service April 18 at 6:45 p.m.; novena at 7:30 p.m. followed by Easter Vigil Mass April 19 at 8 p.m.; Easter Sunday, April 20, 10:45 a.m., novena followed by Mass; then April 21-25 Mass and novena at 7 p.m.; Easter Saturday, April 26, 3:45 p.m., novena followed by Mass; concluding April 27 with the Hour of Mercy devotion at 3 p.m.

St. Bernard, 2805 Bayou Rd., St. Bernard: April 27, Divine Mercy chaplet will be recited before 9 and 11 a.m. Masses. At 1:45 p.m. there will be a procession on the church grounds and the Divine Mercy chaplet will be recited, concluding with 3 p.m. Mass. A reception follows.

St. Genevieve, 58203 Hwy. 433, Slidell: Divine Mercy devotion with Mass April 27 at 11 a.m., followed by adoration until 3 p.m. Rosary will be recited at 2 p.m. and reflection led by Deacon Paul Mumme.

St. Hubert, 176 Anthony Monica St., Garyville: Mercy Sunday April 27 beginning at 2 p.m. with adoration, recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet and benediction at 3 p.m.

St. Jerome, 2402 33rd St., Kenner: Recite the Divine Mercy chaplet beginning Good Friday after Stations of the Cross in Spanish, concluding with a bilingual service on April 27 at 3 p.m.

St. Joan of Arc, 529 West 5th St., LaPlace: Recite the Divine Mercy novena and chaplet beginning Good Friday after the 3 p.m. service; Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday at 3 p.m.; Easter Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m.; Easter Tuesday following 5:30 p.m. Mass;
and Easter Saturday following 4:30 p.m. Mass. On April 27, Divine Mercy chaplet at 3 p.m.

St. John the Baptist, Paradis: Devotion with recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet and novena April 27 at 3 p.m., followed by a social gathering.

St. Matthew the Apostle, 10021 Jefferson Hwy., River Ridge: Divine Mercy devotion beginning with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 2 to 3:30 p.m., recitation of the Holy Rosary at 2:30 p.m., chaplet at 3 p.m., sung by the Children’s Choir, and concluding with benediction at 3:30 p.m.

St. Patrick, 28698 Highway 23, Port Sulphur: Divine Mercy Mass April 27 at 3 p.m., with confessions prior to Mass. Refreshments will follow.

St. Peter, 125 East Nineteenth Ave., Covington: Following the 5 p.m. Mass April 27, there will be eucharistic adoration from 6-9 p.m., with chaplet recitation on each hour and special prayers during each hour: 6 p.m., for youth and young adults; 7 p.m., for marriage and family life; and at 8 p.m., for the protection of life. Confessions also will be offered.

St. Rita, 7100 Jefferson Hwy., Harahan: Recite the novena recitation every Saturday year-round at 3:30 p.m. prior to the 4 p.m. Vigil Mass.