April 5, 2024

ST ANTONINUS CATHOLIC CHURCH

337 S. ORANGE ST, NEWARK NJ 07103

SaintAntoninusChurch@gmail.com ~ 973-623-0258

What's happening at St Antoninus?

This Sunday, April 7:

Second Sunday of Easter

is Divine Mercy Sunday!

Masses: 8am & 10am

Eucharistic Adoration & Confessions at 9am

√ In preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday and to avail of the extraordinary graces of this Sunday, please come to the Sacrament of Confession.

Confession is a big part of the requirement, within 8 days of the great feast of Mercy. Do not wait till the last minute.

( Read more inside)

We will have 4 big opportunities for Confessions this week:

• Today, Friday, April 5, First Friday. Hours from 2:30pm to 5pm in the rectory

• Tomorrow, Saturday, April 6 , before the healing Mass. Hours from 2pm- 3pm

• Tomorrow, Saturday, April 6 , during the Eucharistic Vigil for Divine Mercy. Hours from 8:30pm to 9:30pm

• Sunday, April 7, before Divine Mercy Mass Hours: from 9am to 9:45am

• Or call for an appointment during the day.

√ Our First Friday Mass is today Friday, April 5 @12 noon. Following Holy Mass, we will have a quick simple lunch, and then proceed with Alliance of Two Hearts: Communion of Reparation - with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament from 2pm to 5:30 pm. Confessions will be available from 2:30-5pm.

√ Our Monthly Healing Mass is this Saturday, April 6.

• 2pm- Holy Hour: First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart . Confessions 2pm-2:45pm
• 3pm - Charismatic Healing Mass

Note: Following our Mass and Healing Service at around 6:30pm, we will celebrate Fr Joseph's birthday which happens to be on this day! This will be a potluck celebration.

√ Eucharistic Vigil for Divine Mercy - on Saturday, April 6, from 8pm to 10pm. This will be in the rectory chapel. We will be praying some very special prayers written by St Faustina. Confessions will be available from 8 to 9:30pm.

√ Following our 10am Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, we will have an afternoon of inspirational reflections and witness sharing on the amazing gift of Divine Mercy. This will be in the rectory chapel. Before the presentation, there will be potluck lunch for those attending.



A message from Father Joseph:

Brothers and sisters,

Good portions of our lives are spent like the Israelites in the desert. We are doing what we need to do to accomplish the task at hand, as we (hopefully) put our trust in the Lord for his daily provision for our lives and the lives of our loved ones. 

But, by God’s design, there are seasons of increased grace for breakthroughs and for that encouragement we most need in the Lord. The Octave of Easter we are now in is one of those unique opportunities of grace. 

This is most clearly seen in the unique baptismal grace lavished upon all those who come to Mass this coming Sunday - Divine Mercy Sunday.

They have only to fulfill these simple requirements. They are to receive our Eucharistic Lord in a state of grace (ie, having repented of all serious and venial sins, having gone to confession within the Octave of Easter), place their full trust in Jesus' unfathomable mercy and venerate the Divine Mercy image that day (which we will do this Sunday at Mass). Of course, this Divine Mercy must then be shared with others in our words and deeds of mercy. For those fulfilling these simple requirements, it will be as if they were re-baptized. All is made new!

Jesus, I trust in you!

In Jesus thru Mary & St Joseph,

Fr Joseph



Why the Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday?

In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by Pope St. John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000. 

The Lord expressed His will with regard to this feast in His very first revelation to St. Faustina.



The Lord's explicit desire is that this feast be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. He joins the feast to the designated Sunday in eight revelations: Diary, 49, 88, 280, 299, 341, 570, 699, and 742. He also implies a connection between the feast and that Sunday on some other occasions recorded in the saint's Diary (see Diary, 420, 89).

The most comprehensive revelation can be found in her Diary 699: ( Please read following slowly...)

In all, St. Faustina recorded 14 revelations from Jesus concerning His desire for this feast. 

Nevertheless, Divine Mercy Sunday is NOT a feast based solely on St. Faustina's revelations. Indeed, it is not primarily about St. Faustina — nor is it altogether a new feast. The Second Sunday of Easter was already a solemnity as the Octave Day of Easter.

The title "Divine Mercy Sunday" does, however, highlight the meaning of the day. 



Why Divine Mercy Sunday is Better Than a Plenary Indulgence

Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter Sunday) might be the greatest day of the year due to the immense amount of mercy that Christ pours out upon the earth.

As stated above, Jesus said to Saint Faustina:

Our Lord Jesus said, “The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet…Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.”

What makes our Lord’s Divine Mercy Promise different and more generous than a plenary indulgence?

With a plenary indulgence the usual conditions are:

1) Receive Holy Communion

2) Make a good Confession within 20 or so days

3) Pray for the Pope

4) Be fully detached from all sins

The last one (4) is the most difficult and most subjective. No one knows if they have attained full detachment from all sins. This is the interior disposition in which there is no sin, even a venial sin, that is not renounced. Such a detachment would be lacking if for example, one is unwilling to change, or if there is a particular disposition one is unwilling to amend.

Hence, plenary indulgences are difficult and uncertain.

The amazing thing about Christ’s promise to us on Divine Mercy Sunday is that the condition for detachment from sin is not a requirement. Mainly, what is needed is simply a sincere contrition for our sins and trusting in the supreme mercy of God.

This means that if we make a good confession (within the past 8 days) and receive Holy Communion devoutly, and do two other tasks (listed below), we will receive full remission of all temporal punishment.  

Summary of requirements for the extraordinary Divine Mercy grace:

1. Repent and go to confession, preferably before Sunday.
2. Receive Holy Communion
3. Venerate the Image of Divine Mercy
4. Be merciful to others through your actions, words and prayers.

If we fulfilled all these four requirements and died after receiving Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday we would not spend one single moment in purgatory!!!

But even if we don't die on Divine Mercy Sunday, we are starting on a clean slate, with the full remission from temporal punishment of past sins.

Saint Faustina’s vision was originally doubted by the Holy Office and her writings were censured because it was assumed that such a merciful and generous promise would be impossible. This doubt was later overcome and the Catholic Church universally embraces this promise of mercy.

Christ’s promise essentially offers all the graces of a second baptism! Of course, it should not surprise us that Our Lord is so merciful and loving toward us.

Saint Paul wrote that:

the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles and will sing to thy name.” (Romans 15:9, D-R)

The nations of the earth shall be greater glory to God for His divine mercy. That’s a promise.

---------------------------

More on Divine Mercy Sunday here



Healing Mass tomorrow, Saturday:

In preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday, join us at our monthly Healing Mass tomorrow Saturday, April 6.

 Confessions are available from 2pm- 2:45pm.

(This day is also Fr Joseph's birthday, which we will celebrate with a potluck dinner after the Mass. )

This Sunday...

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

Holy Mass: 8am & 10am

9:00 am Holy Hour- with Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Confessions available before Mass.

During this Mass, those who had been doing the 33 days to Eucharistic Glory retreat on zoom will be consecrating themselves to Jesus in the Eucharist. Everyone will be welcome to join in the consecration prayer.

 Following Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, we will have an afternoon of inspirational reflections and witness sharing on the amazing gift of Divine Mercy. This will be in the rectory chapel. Before the presentation, there will be potluck lunch for those attending.

For those who truly cannot come to Mass on Sunday, livestream of the 10am Mass is available. Livestream does not fulfill one’s obligation, but when a person is truly unable to come to Mass, it does provide spiritual benefits.

To watch the 10am livestream on our YouTube Channel: go to https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintAntoninusChurch

Or go directly to the links below:

We are currently on Day 8 of the Divine Mercy Novena which started on Good Friday. The last day is on Saturday, April 6. Never too late to catch up.

For those who don't have access to the novena, here it is

click here.



33 DAYS TO EUCHARISTIC GLORY

(Online Retreat)

ends on Divine Mercy Sunday

This Sunday is the day of our Eucharistic Consecration, as we consecrate ourselves to Jesus, along with the whole parish.

If you will not be with us at St Antoninus during our Divine Mercy Mass, please pray this Consecration Prayer on your own after receiving Holy Communion, wherever you would be, before Jesus in the Eucharist.

Here is the Eucharistic Consecration Prayer

For "good redundancy" and to pray collectively as we have been doing, we will pray the same Consecration prayer on that same day, Divine Mercy Sunday at 7pm, prior to our Rosary on Zoom.

Click here for the zoom link



This Sunday's Bulletin.

Read and download by clicking on image

St Faustina's Prayer for a Merciful Heart

Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbor's souls and come to their rescue.

Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors' needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings.

Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.

Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.

Help me, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.

Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor.

I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those who, I know, will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the most merciful Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me.

Amen.



√ Please make your EASTER OFFERING to Jesus on behalf of St Antoninus Church. Your offering is important and deeply appreciated. We need it for our parish to continue our mission. Offering links below. Thank you and God bless you.



Tomorrow!

Mark Mattheiss & his sister Kelly Sullivan are inviting us to attend this seminar on how to hold a Family Retreat, an Encounter School of Ministries project.

Events in May



Our May Procession in honor of our Blessed Mother Mother is on Sunday, May 5, following the 10am Mass. This is also the glorious day of the First Holy Communion of our children.



Inspirational

VIDEO TEACHINGS

On the Divine Mercy and St. Faustina Kowalska |

with Sr. Gaudia Skass (Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy)

Fr Chris Alar. MIC

Explaining the Faith - The Feast of Divine Mercy: What St. Faustina Said

!

AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE

Interested in becoming Catholic?

Call the rectory office to register

or email at saintantoninuschurch@gmail.com:

Tuesday - Saturday 9-3pm

This class part of what is called RCIA.   RCIA stands for: “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.”

This program is for:

- Those adults 17 years old and older who are not baptized and want to inquire about becoming Catholic OR

- Those who are baptized non-Catholic Christians who want to consider becoming Catholic. OR

- Adult Catholics (17 years or older) who have not received Confirmation or Holy Communion.

Daily Mass at 12 Noon in Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel - Tuesday to Saturday.

Petitions for Daily Mass are available. Note: One petition offering per Mass. Call or email to schedule petition offering. Please provide the name of the person and reason for petition and indicate if living or deceased.

Daily Rosary at 7 pm on Zoom. 

Zoom link: Click here

Sharing on Marian Apparitions with Eileen O'Hara every Saturday at 8am in Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel.

Men's Praise & Fellowship every Saturday in the rectory at 8am. Praise & Worship, men-to-men sharing and breakfast.

Come to our two weekly Prayer Meetings:

-  Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting at 8pm in the Rectory Chapel

-    Divine Adoration Prayer Meeting at 3pm every Saturday.

Monthly Prayer Meeting with Real Love Ministries every last Saturday of the month. In person & Zoom. Enjoy inspirational preaching & fellowship.

Young Adults of St Antoninus meet every last Wednesday of the Month at pm.

More below:

Please consider making an offering to the Lord on behalf of St Antoninus, that we may continue our mission. Thank you and God bless you!

We are accepting Zelle for online contributions. 

All you need to do is enter on the Zelle info:

Name: St. Antoninus Catholic Church

Email: saintantoninuschurch@gmail.com

This means that you can open a Zelle account and put St Antoninus as a recipient.

If you don't have a Zelle account yet, it is easy to do this one time setup: https://www.zellepay.com/get-started

When you sign up, please include your email or phone number. Thank you.

You can click below to choose other convenient online options.

You also have the option to mail in your contribution:

St Antoninus Church

337 S. Orange Ave, Newark NJ 07103

Thank you and God bless you!"