Dear Parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish,

Greetings from Father Fullum, Deacon Peter and the Sisters of the convent! I would like to happily report that Father Fullum and I have both tested NEGATIVE and have been cleared of the coronavirus. He was retested last Tuesday and I was tested for the first time. I am so relieved and grateful! Although I never knew if I had it, I still experienced some anxiety living in the rectory with Father Fullum these past thirty days, and I know he was also worried not only for his own health, but for mine as well. We will continue to follow the guidelines until everyone is healthy again!

Unfortunately, I must also report on some sad news…Sacred Heart Parish has lost several cherished parishioners during this time of isolation, who I would like to acknowledge: Erwin Petschauer, Robert Borger, Gary Jaegar, Janet Delfino, Frank Yonke, Juana Caso, and Cathy O’Sullivan. Cathy was a devoted and inspiring catechist and Girl Scout leader of Sacred Heart Parish. For over 30 years she patiently and cheerfully taught children the Catholic Faith, particularly those with special needs. Even as she endured many physical sufferings over the years, Cathy’s ever-present smile and good nature always shone forth as she made her way in her wheelchair at home, in Church, and wherever she went. May she and all our loved ones who have died hear Our Lord Jesus lovingly say to them, as He did in the parable, “Well done good and faithful servant…Come and share your Master’s joy!”

This Sunday, April 19th, is the 20th Anniversary of the canonization of Saint Maria Faustina (the visionary of Jesus the Divine Mercy), and the establishment of the Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday by Saint John Paul II. What a blessing this “new” devotion and feast day have been for the life of the Church throughout the world and in our own individual lives. The simple, yet central, profound message and command of the Lord Jesus to us of the Divine Mercy devotion, “Jesus, I trust in You,” brings us comfort and increases our faith in Him when we truly embrace it and internalize it into our lives. Trust is “the firm belief in the reliability and strength of another.” However, when that Other is the Lord Jesus, then we have no reason to fear anyone or anything at any time. We have faith in His steadfast reliability. We can confidently cry out with Saint Thomas the Apostle in Sunday’s Gospel, “My Lord and my God!”

Mercy is “compassion shown to one who offends another.” It is always a struggle to be faced with that challenge in our personal lives. Sometimes we may hold onto an offense by another throughout our whole lives, and can’t imagine showing that person compassion. But then imagine that our dear Lord is faced with that challenge at every moment extending His Divine Mercy to each of US who offend Him by our lack of love for one another, by surrendering to our doubts, and by our sins. Jesus truly is faithful to US! May we accept Our Risen Savior’s intimate invitation in the Gospel to touch him and, “…do not be unbelieving, but BELIEVE!” How truly blessed are we who have not seen, but have believed.

With love and blessings.

Fr. Fred

P.S. A prayerful reminder that you are all invited to join Deacon Peter and me for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the solemn chanting of the Divine Mercy chaplet, and Benediction at 3:00 p.m. (The hour of Divine Mercy) online at the Sacred Heart Church Glendale Facebook Page this Sunday, April 19th.
The following is a link to The Divine Mercy Chaplet solemnly chanted at the Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.