Pastor's Note from Fr. Szparagowski 📝 - [April 27th Bulletin]

Today, on this Second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday – a feast instituted by Saint John Paul II, rooted in the revelations of Jesus to St. Faustina Kowalska, and overflowing with the message at the very heart of our faith; that God is mercy. His mercy is not abstract. It is not a vague feeling or a passing sentiment. It is personal, powerful, and incarnate – in the wounded hands and pierced side of the Risen Christ who stands before the Apostles in today's Gospel, saying not a word of condemnation, but only; "Peace be with you."

This year, our hearts are heavy as we gather for this beautiful feast. The Church, and indeed the world, has just bid farewell to Pope Francis, the 266th successor of St. Peter. As we grieve his passing, it seems no coincidence that Divine Providence has placed his death in such close proximity to this feast of mercy.

Pope Francis was a tireless preacher of God's mercy – a shepherd who reminded us that no one is beyond the reach of the Father's love. From the very beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis echoed the call of Jesus in today's Gospel: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." He called us to go out, to bring the mercy of Christ to the peripheries – of cities, of poverty, of isolation, and of wounded hearts. His papacy was marked by a call to compassion, to tenderness, and to accompany one another as fellow pilgrims on the road to healing. He often said, "The name of God is mercy."

Today's Gospel also brings us face to face with St. Thomas, who doubted until he placed his hands into the Lord's wounds. And it's fitting – because it is in Christ's wounds, in His suffering and death, that God's mercy is made visible. Pope Francis deeply understood that connection between suffering and mercy. He never shied away embracing the poor, the sick, the imprisoned – those bearing the wounds of this world. And he called us, repeatedly, to be "missionaries of mercy" – not simply recipients of grace, but agents of it, bringing healing and reconciliation to others.

My friends, the death of a pope always brings a moment of pause in the life of the Church. It reminds us of the frailty of our earthly journey and of the permanence of God's plan. Popes come and go – but Jesus remains. And it is Jesus who breathes His Spirit upon the Church again today, saying; "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them." That gift of reconciliation, of Divine Mercy, is Christ's enduring legacy, and is now ours to carry forward.

So, what shall we do in this moment? First, we pray for Pope Francis. We entrust his soul to the Lord, whose mercy he proclaimed with his whole heart. We ask that the Risen Christ – whom he served so faithfully – will welcome him into the joy of heaven, where all wounds are healed and all doubt erased. Second, we renew our own trust in Divine Mercy. This is not the time to harden our hearts or close ourselves off from grace. Let us run – like Thomas, like the Apostles – to the Risen Lord, who still shows us His wounds not to accuse us, but to assure us that we are loved.

And finally, let us live what we believe. The world needs mercy. Our families, our parish, our workplaces – they all need the peace of Jesus. If there is someone you need to forgive, forgive them. If there is someone who is suffering, comfort them. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Be mercy in motion. Pope Francis reminded us many times that "a little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just." May we honor his legacy by becoming bearers of that mercy, guided by the Holy Spirit, and rooted in the truth that Jesus is risen – and His mercy endures forever.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. May God Bless you all.

Please invite someone to Mass today.

St. Philip Neri, pray for us.

-Fr. Szparagowski