Catholics called to compassion as Divine Mercy Sunday observed

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Catholics in Uganda have joined others around the world to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on April 12, continuing to spread the unfathomable mercy of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins in these troubled times.

Hundreds of Christians thronged Uganda Martyrs Parish in Munyonyo to mark the day.

Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter, a feast that invites the faithful to contemplate God’s love as He reaches out to meet human needs and ease suffering.

The feast was declared an official day for the entire Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II in 2000, the same day he canonised St Faustina, who is known in the Church as the "Apostle of Mercy." The celebration falls on the second Sunday of Easter worldwide, making this year the 26th anniversary of the feast.

The Catholic Church began observing the day in 2000 after Pope John Paul II canonised Sister Faustina.

At the celebrations, many Christians carried images of Divine Mercy, while others were seen in queues to venerate the relics of St Faustina.

The holy mass was led by renowned preacher Fr Raymond Kalanzi, assisted by the parish priest, Fr Wojtek Ulman, also known as Male, and other clergy. He urged Christians to emulate Sister Faustina and show compassion to others.

Fr Kalanzi said Divine Mercy Sunday is commemorated in remembrance of God's message conveyed through Sister Faustina of Krakow, Poland, revealing a path of Christian perfection rooted in trust in God.

He explained that the significance of the day includes the promise of complete forgiveness of sins and punishment for those who receive Holy Communion, go to confession, and trust in God's mercy on that day.

He added that the origins of the feast are based on the diary of St Faustina, a Polish nun who received visions of Jesus and requested that the day be observed as a refuge for souls.

He encouraged the faithful not to abandon the sacrament of reconciliation, “as much as we put our confidence in Him and dwell with Him as we go about our daily lives, we are nourished and nurtured by His kind and loving heart.”

Call to compassion

Fr Kalanzi advised Christians to always show mercy to others, describing the devotion as one rooted in pure love, where God looks upon His creation with compassion and offers freedom from human limitations.

He stressed the urgency of understanding and accepting the gift of Divine Mercy.

Fr Kalanzi said that “we are asked to get the Sacrament of Confession, venerating the Divine Mercy image, praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and also performing acts of mercy towards others.”

“Pope Leo XIV invites all of us to reflect on our own encounter with the risen Jesus. He invited and asked us to recognise Jesus and to believe in him," he said, adding that faith needs to be nourished and sustained, but not to be like Thomas.

He explained that Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion based on the approved apparitions of Jesus Christ to Sister, now Saint, Maria Faustina Kowalska of Poland in the 1930s, before she died in 1938 at the age of 33.

He urged the congregation to emulate St Faustina by showing kindness not only to those they know but to all in need of God’s mercy.

“As a gift to humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness, and fear, the Risen Lord offers His love that pardons, reconciles, and reopens hearts to love. It is love that converts hearts and gives peace.”

He further explained that it was Pope John Paul II who canonised Sister Faustina in 2000.

Fr Kalanzi also told the congregation that, according to St Faustina’s diary, an image of the risen Lord was revealed to her, from whose heart shone two rays, one red representing blood and the other pale symbolising water, with the words “Jesus, I trust in you” at the bottom. Faustina wrote in her diary that Jesus told her, “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish.”

The Catholic Church has since observed the day globally, following Pope John Paul II’s proclamation that the Second Sunday of Easter be known as Divine Mercy Sunday, promoting devotion linked to Faustina’s visions.

Fr Male said the Divine Mercy chapel remains open 24 hours, allowing the faithful to visit and pray at any time.

He added that “if you have any burden, come to Divine Mercy will help you. Our target is to put a big image of Divine Mercy, and whenever someone passes on the express highway, they can see it, and those who pass by can recite their prayers. We are halfway, we are still looking for money to buy it from Poland in the county I came from, where the Divine Mercy devotion started. And I want to thank Fr Raymond for promoting Divine Mercy Devotion.”

“We have Divine Mercy prayers every first Saturday of the month, you are invited to join us,” he added.