Divine Mercy Devotions Vary from Parish to Parish

By Eileen Dugan
The Sooner Catholic

Divine Mercy devotions take place at different parishes at different times and in different ways. Some parishes will have formal devotions on April 23, the Feast of Divine Mercy; others parishes celebrate the Divine Mercy regularly, some with formality, others in more informal ways.

Father Phil Seeton, pastor of Holy Family Church in Lawton, said Holy Family parish will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on April 23, Divine Mercy Sunday, from 3-4 p.m.

Christina Czelusniak added that Holy Family would start its Divine Mercy devotions with a Divine Mercy novena beginning on Good Friday. “It will be announced in the bulletin and information in the form of flyers will be passed out the week prior to the beginning of the novena. Additionally, we will display the Divine Mercy image on Divine Mercy Sunday,” Czelusniak said.

Warren Hengel, who is in charge of the Divine Mercy events at Saint John the Baptist Church in Edmond, said Saint John’s would also have Divine Mercy devotions from 3-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 23. Hengel said there will be an Hour of Adoration with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament beginning at 3 p.m., followed by recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Rosary. Then, there will be 15-20 minutes of private devotion. The Holy Hour will close with Benediction, Hengel said.

Every day many families from Little Flower parish in Oklahoma City have Divine Mercy devotions in their homes. They say the Divine Chaplet at 3 p.m. and venerate the image of Divine Mercy, Father Jenaro de la Cruz, pastor of Little Flower, said. He does not plan any special Divine Mercy devotions at Little Flower for April 23.

Christ the King parish in Oklahoma City is not planning any specific devotions on Divine Mercy Sunday either, but several people from Christ the King participate in weekly Divine Mercy devotions. Stella Lipsinic and several friends meet every Tuesday from 1:30-2 p.m. in the Church before the Tabernacle to say the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet. Some stay on from 2-3 p.m. for Scripture Sharing. The group uses a guide prepared by the Legionnaires of Christ, using the Sunday Scriptures for the following Sunday.

“We invite everyone who would like to come, to come join us at Christ the King. We’d love to have them,” Lipsinic said. “We pray for those who have no one to pray for them. We pray for the poor souls in Purgatory and for those at the end of their lives. And we ask God’s mercy on all of us.”

Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Oklahoma City plans a prayer service from 3-4 p.m. on Divine Mercy Sunday. The prayer service will begin with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, followed by quiet meditation and song.