Divine Mercy Sunday
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
The devotion to Divine Mercy had a decidedly rocky start, but that is actually a very good sign.
Most authentic devotions that have taken deep root in the life of the Church began with obstacles, resistance, and apparent failure. The pattern is remarkably consistent: Jesus or Mary appears to a humble, often uneducated soul; the visionary receives the message with childlike simplicity; the superior or bishop pushes back — sometimes repeatedly; the visionary is told to keep quiet or is even suspected of delusion; then comes a miracle, a striking providence, or a “bizarre coincidence” that cannot be explained naturally; the superior’s heart softens; and suddenly, like a lightning bolt from heaven, the devotion spreads across the Church with astonishing speed.
Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska was given not a single apparition but a lengthy series of visions and interior locutions from Our Lord Himself, and also from Our Lady, concerning her vocation to the convent and His merciful plans for a world sliding into darkness.
The timing is providential - the revelations began in the mid-1930s, only a few years after the great miracle of the sun at Fatima in 1917, and precisely during the harrowing political experience of Poland — crushed between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, bloodied by two World Wars, and destined to become the first battlefield of the new paganism.
Poland, the land of Mary’s special patronage, was being prepared to give the world the message of Divine Mercy just as it would later give the Church the Pope who would proclaim it universally.
Once the Image of the Divine Mercy was specifically dictated to Sister Faustina (“Paint an image according to the pattern you see”), two remarkable providences followed.
First, Faustina herself could not paint at all, yet her confessor and spiritual director, Blessed Michał Sopoćko, suddenly found himself on the same faculty with a professional artist, Eugene Kazimirowski, who was both able and willing to execute the work under Faustina’s direction.
Second, the humble nun made a profound and lasting impression upon a certain young priest who would one day become the bishop of her diocese and, ultimately, the Pope, Karol Wojtyła.
Saint John Paul II carried a double devotion in his heart from his earliest priesthood: total consecration to Our Lady of Fatima and an ever-deepening love for the Divine Mercy.
He would later write: “The message of Divine Mercy has always been near and dear to me… It is as though history had written it in a special way.”
There is one caveat I always insist upon when speaking of Divine Mercy, and it concerns not an error in Saint Faustina’s writings (which are thoroughly orthodox and approved by the Church), but a serious distortion that sometimes appears in the preaching of those who claim to promote it. Divine Mercy is NOT about excusing sin.
Too many preachers today twist the message into a false “inclusivity” that says it is “merciful” simply to accept people exactly as they are, without calling them to conversion. They claim that preaching about sin, repentance, or the reality of hell is “unmerciful” or “judgmental.” Such people are profoundly mistaken and, whether they realize it or not, they empty the Cross of its power.
Nowhere in the Diary does Our Lord tell Sister Faustina that the moral law no longer matters or that sin is inconsequential. Quite the contrary. Jesus repeatedly emphasizes the gravity of unrepented sin: “My daughter, write that the greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy… But let him not abuse My mercy… Woe to the one who does not take advantage of My mercy while there is still time!” (Diary 1485).
The authentic message of Divine Mercy is this: God is calling back to His love every soul that has fallen, no matter how far, no matter how horrific the sins. He stands ready to forgive any sin the instant a sinner humbles himself, turns away from the evil, and asks for forgiveness with a contrite heart.
Upcoming Events
Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
April 15 Pastoral Council meeting - 6pm in the Parish Hall
For Your Information:
FORMED.ORG has weekly features at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at https://signup.formed.org
ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30p for prayer and supper. Everyone is invited. Contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator for more information.
PASTORAL VISITS, HOUSE BLESSINGS, and SUPPER INVITATIONS Father Ryan is more than happy to visit you or your loved one for any reason in your home, in the hospital, in the nursing home, or wherever as needed. Please call or text him directly to make arrangements.
MAUSOLEUM Construction will begin in Summer 2026. Our sales representative, Garth Daniels, can be reached at (318) 295-4409. If you have any questions or you know of anyone else interested in making a purchase, please encourage them to speak with Garth or to call the church office.
EMPOWERING GOD’S CHILDREN Parish volunteers must be VIRTUS trained and go online regularly at Virtus.org for the latest training bulletins. Any questions or issues can be reported to the office. Printed resources are available on the table at the entrance to the Church: “Protecting our Children, Understanding and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse” includes Resources and Contact Numbers for reporting abuse; “Protecting God’s Children, Teaching Touching Safety Quick Reference Guide”; The Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Minors and The Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Priests, Deacons, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff, and Volunteers are available in the Safe Environment section of the diocesan website at DioceseAlex.org or a copy may be requested from the Safe Environment Office (318) 445-2401.
PLEDGE TO HEAL If you or a family member has been abused or victimized by a representative of the Catholic church or a member of the clergy, please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. Dr. Lee Kneipp, Clinical Psychologist, Victim Assistance Coordinator, Diocese of Alexandria encourages those persons to come forward and speak out. Dr. Kneipp is establishing support groups in the central Louisiana area for victims and family members. The focus of these groups is to further emotional and spiritual healing as an adjunct to therapy, in an atmosphere of others who understand the pain, betrayal, and fear associated with abuse. Dr. Kneipp can be reached at 318-542-9805. All calls are confidential.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 8:00p In memory of Pat Bullard and RL Reynolds/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Gertrude Roy/Johnson
- Mon NO MASS
- Tues 9:00a In memory of Kathleen Mills/Crothers
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Angelia Canizaro & Craig Stamm/Booth
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Jack Ellerbee/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of deceased members of the Johnson and Roy families
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Gail Graugnard & MaryAgnes York/P Gilfoil
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Marleigh Bullard/family
Altar Candles this week are burning in memory of Becky, Beverly, and Edgar Lancaster
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/11 5:30p | - | C VanderVieren | M Ernst |
| 4/12 9:30a | Michael, Finley, Ashlyn | J Howington | - |
| 4/18 5:30p | - | P Wilks | N Ernst |
| 4/19 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, & Daniel | Youth | - |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| March Budget | $ 12,500 |
| March Collections | $ 15,698 |
| March Expenses | TBD |
| April Budget | $ 10,000 |
| April 5 Collection | $ 2,345 |
| April to Date | $ 2,356 |
| Unassessed Special Collection | $ 6,472 |
Stewardship Jesus meets the needs of each disciple. To the fearful in the upper room, He speaks words of peace. To doubting Thomas, He provides tangible proof of His resurrection. What do I need to become His disciples? What do I have to share that might meet someone else’s needs?
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Michael Lancaster (Apr 13), Skeeter Wilks (Apr 17), Ann Claire Fordice (Apr 20)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
For our Pope, Leo XIV, our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Phillip and Peggy Scurria, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Craig Cox, Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, Donna Fulton (Ellerbee), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan, Alex, and Palmer Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Maggie Reynolds Guillory, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Tyrel Jacobs, Patricia Lively (Wilks), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Jimmy Hopson(Wilks), Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Mike Morelli, Cole Norris, Randy Parker, Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Curt and Brianne Rome, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Debbie Kedrick Sims, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Chandler Wood
