The divine mercy devotion will conclude on Sunday, April 19. An increasing number of parishes are observing this feast with a holy hour and other activities.
Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated worldwide on the Sunday following Easter each year. On this day parishes often host holy hours with Benediction, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and reconciliation.
Pope John Paul II said a plenary indulgence can be received “so that the faithful might receive in great abundance the gift of the consolation of the Holy Spirit. In this way, they can foster a growing love for God and for their neighbor, and after they have obtained God’s pardon, they in turn might be persuaded to show a prompt pardon to their brothers and sisters.”
Those seeking the indulgence must follow the usual conditions, receiving a sacramental confession, Communion and prayers for the intention of the pope in any church or chapel.
St. Faustina Kowalska is the Polish nun who promoted the divine mercy devotion and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. The devotion began in the late 1930s by St. Faustina, who had a vision of Jesus where he asked for devotions to divine mercy.
“In reality, mercy is the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God; the face with which he revealed himself in the old covenant and fully in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of creative and redeeming love,” Pope Benedict XVI said in 2008.
Key: S – Spanish
BARLING
Sacred Heart of Mary
4:30 p.m., with anointing of the sick
BELLA VISTA
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
3 p.m.
BENTON
Our Lady of Fatima
3 p.m.
BERRYVILLE
St. Anne
12-4 p.m., potluck, video, holy hour
BLYTHEVILLE
Immaculate Conception
2 p.m., adoration and holy hour
CARLISLE
St. Rose
3 p.m., Benediction and novena
FAIRFIELD BAY
St. Francis
3 p.m.
FAYETTEVILLE
St. Joseph
3 p.m., room 301
FORT SMITH
Christ the King
Following 9 a.m. Mass
HARRISON
Mary Mother of God
2:30 p.m.
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE
Sacred Heart of Jesus
3 p.m., music, adoration, Scripture reading, Divine Mercy chaplet, Benediction
JACKSONVILLE
St. Jude the Apostle
3 p.m.
LAKE VILLAGE
Our Lady of the Lake
Before 9 a.m. Mass
LITTLE ROCK
Cathedral of St. Andrew
3 p.m., chaplet
Our Lady of Good Counsel
3 p.m., chaplet, Benediction, exposition of Blessed Sacrament, reconciliation, Litany of Divine Mercy
Chaplet of Divine Mercy will also be prayed before each Mass April 18-19
MENA
St. Agnes
11 a.m., chaplet
MOUNTAIN HOME
St. Peter the Fisherman
3 p.m., outdoor procession, devotions and Benediction
NEWPORT
St. Cecilia
After 10:30 a.m. Mass, chaplet
NORTH LITTLE ROCK
Immaculate Conception
3 p.m.
PARIS
St. Joseph
3 p.m.
ROGERS
St. Vincent de Paul
2:30 p.m.
RUSSELLVILLE
St. John
9:30 a.m.
SAINT VINCENT
St. Mary
Before Mass
SILOAM SPRINGS
St. Mary
8:50 a.m., 12:20 p.m. (S)
TEXARKANA
St. Edward
3 p.m., Benediction, chaplet and confessions
TONTITOWN
St. Joseph
After Masses, chaplet
YELLVILLE
St. Andrew
Noon
