Catholics mark Divine Mercy Day

RELIGION

KAMPALA -Hundreds of Catholics braved the chilly Sunday morning and thronged the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in the city suburb of Munyonyo to mark the Divine Mercy Sunday.

Christians made a pilgrimage to the Martyrs Shrine to venerate Sister Faustina's relic and also to attend Mass.

 In the morning hours,  the shrine was filled to capacity with excited Christians, many of whom had made the pilgrimage.

The ceremony started with a talk, then later Holy Mass led by Fr Raymond Kalanzi assisted by the parish priest of Munyonyo Parish, Fr Ulman Voytek a.ka Male from Sister Faustino's country (Poland) and others from different parishes.

Fr Raymond tasked Christians to emulate Sister Faustina and show compassion. 

He encouraged Christians to always receive sacraments as they are church obligations.

He added that the Catholic Church started celebrating this day in 2000 after Pope John Paul II announced sister Faustina, as a saint. 

Some of the religious attend Divine Mercy Sunday at Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine on Sunday. (Photo by Juliet Lukwago)

Divine Mercy day is commemorated in remembrance of God's great message conveyed through Sister Faustina of Kraków, Poland, as God revealed the pattern of Christian perfection based on trust in God.

Catholics in Uganda treasure  the Divine Mercy devotion, and every first Saturday of the month hundreds gather at Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine for prayers.    

The Catholic Church worldwide started celebrating this day in 2000 after Pope John Paul II announced sister Faustina, a saint.

Relics of Sister Faustino in Uganda

Four years back, Kampala Archdiocese in Uganda received the relics of Saint Faustino at the Rubaga Cathedral.  Archbishop, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga declared Rubaga Cathedral Parish the home of the Divine Mercy in Kampala Archdiocese.

Since then the relics of Sister Faustino are placed in  glass inside Rubaga Cathedral and near the portrait of Divine Mercy, near the Virgin Mary portrait where many devotees go for private prayers.

Divine Mercy (Jesus Christ) conveyed God's great message through Sister Faustina Kraków of Poland to the world revealing the pattern of Christian perfection based on trust in God.

"Divine Mercy Sunday was made an official feast day for the entire Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II in 2000 on the day he canonized St. Faustina, who is known in the church as the "Apostle of Mercy."

The feast day has been celebrated on the second Sunday of Easter in the worldwide church since 2001, making this year the 16th anniversary of the feast," he said.

"Sister Mary Faustina, an apostle of the Divine Mercy, belongs to the group of the most popular and well-known saints of the Church."

Through her the Lord Jesus communicates to the world the great message of God's mercy and reveals the pattern of Christian perfection based on trust in God and on the attitude of mercy toward one's neighbours,"  he said.

Many Christians in Uganda have received their petitions after reciting prayers through Divine Mercy; and many have named their children, businesses, restaurants, schools, shops, institutions through Divine Mercy.