Divine Mercy Sunday – A Personal Blessing and Gratitude

By Marie Plunkett

Another Easter has come and gone, and what a beautiful one it was: Lent, Holy Week, the beautiful Easter vigil, Easter Sunday, and yesterday's Divine Mercy Sunday. I would like to share how this weekend provided me with blessings and express my gratitude.

It was a special coffee Sunday for our new Catholics – Owen, Jacinta, Nneka and Michael - who were presented with gifts by our Parish Pastoral Council Vice Chair, Laurie Hanson, and Fr. Francis Ndey, our pastor. Thank you to my Coffee Sunday ministry volunteers, Debbie, Mary Ellen, Owen, and Theresa. Special thanks to Susan for helping me plan it and making some delicious food. And thank you to all who came to celebrate a special day.

At one point earlier, I told a parishioner that I might not be there because my back was so painful, but I thought I, or others, couldn't miss Divine Mercy Sunday, as it is the finale of a beautiful Easter. I went and prayed to our lord Jesus to help me manage the pain. I was shocked. I twisted and moved to find a comfortable position, and it worked. Pain subsided a bit, and I was able to listen and pray.

Divine Mercy Sunday was SO beautiful. Moe and other choir members sang the Divine Mercy Chaplets, Moe, so very much; it was so well done. I was completely entwined in the whole service, and Deacon Mathew's homily had me, and I am sure all of you as well, in a state where we were totally immersed by what he was saying. What a way to end Easter. Deacon Mathew, I know yesterday was a very spiritual day, and your homily touched the hearts of many more and me. Thank you, Deacon Mathew.

I wanted to express these items because I have had some rough times lately: my daughter has breast cancer, my son had a stroke, and I have a few health issues. I pray hard, do novenas, and ask God to help me along. Sometimes, thinking he had forgotten me, as Jesus said on the cross, "Did you forget me, Father?" Did you?

Yesterday, I began to understand that he hasn't forgotten me; he is always there, gives us that little start, and on we go. I remember my Dad, RIP Dad, saying when our troubles arose, think of all the people who are sick and suffering, in wars, etc., and thank God for what we had.

I am going to try to practice what I received yesterday from Divine Mercy Sunday, stop whining about the things I cannot control, and do the good things I can control. I felt so lifted when I got home yesterday. I hope this feeling stays with me.

God bless everyone at Holy Rosary, and thank you for allowing me to express this. Sometimes we criticize people for all the bad things they do and say, let's switch to all the good things, and there is always more good than bad.

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Marie Plunkett is a long-time parishioner of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary and a Ministry Leader.