Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti

On the vigil of the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday some of our young adults for Mass in our chapel.

On Divine Mercy Sunday we gathered at 3 p.m. the Hour of Mercy for a Holy Hour and praying the chaplet of Mercy.

“I am love and mercy itself. … Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. … My mercy is greater than your sins, and those of the entire world. … I let My Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you. Come then with trust to draw graces from this fountain. … The graces of My mercy are drawn by the means of one vessel only, and that is trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive.”

From our mango and papaya trees!

The day began with glorious sung Morning Prayer with those who live with us in the Haiti Mission. After the reading of the Word of God, we shared the power and meaning of Resurrection to us personally.

We then shared a festive breakfast together.

By most ancient tradition, this is the night of keeping vigil for the Lord (Ex 12:42), in which, following the Gospel admonition (Lk 12:35-37), the faithful, carrying lighted lamps in their hands, should be like those looking for the Lord when He returns, so that at His coming He may find them awake and have them sit at His table.

After the Liturgy of the Word, we had 30 people welcomed into the Church with Baptism, Confirmation and Communion.

We keep the tradition here in Haiti!

The afternoon was quiet and still when all gathered at 3 p.m. for the celebration of the Passion. The Word of God was proclaimed, the intercessions for the world prayed, the showing of the holy cross was adored, and all then received Holy Communion.

How do we respond differently to all this, how can we respond with love and mercy like Jesus shows us today? Jesus never fought back, he allowed the violence to touch him. “In a time like ours, so torn by hatred and violence, where even the name of God is invoked to justify wars and decisions of death, we Christians are called to approach the Cross of the Lord. We are to do so without fear and with full confidence, knowing that the “throne” from which one learns to reign, is that where we placing our lives at the service of others.” Fr. Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap

It began early in the morning when the city gathered beneath the cross.

Our kids from Faith formation gathered with us in their yellow and blue shirts to pray the Stations of the Cross.

We adore you, Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Jesus continues to stoop, to wash us, to serve us, to sanctify us, and to love us through the priesthood and the Eucharist.