Archdiocesan Congress on the Divine Mercy set on 17 July 2010

4 July - Malasiqui, Pangasinan. The 3rd Archdiocesan Congress of the Divine is set on 17 July 2010, Saturday at the Parish of St. Ildephonse, Malasiqui, Pangasinan.

  A letter of invitation was sent by Rev. Fr. Estephen Mark R. Espinoza, the Spiritual Director of the Apostles of Divine Mercy in Malasiqui, to all the parishes and chaplaincies in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan informing them of the upcoming event.

The first Archdiocesan Congress on the Divine Mercy was held in the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, last 22 June 2008. The Parish of St. Thomas Aquinas, Mangaldan, Pangasinan hosted the 2nd Archdiocesan Congress on 4 April 2009. The annual congress is attended by hundreds of devotees of the Divine Mercy.

The theme of this year’s congress is centered on "Divine Mercy and the Cenacle”.

Fr. Estephen Espinoza in his letter gives the following schedule:

Registration at 8AM; Bible Enthronement at 9AM.

Fr. Enrique V. Macaraeg, the Parish Priest of St. Ildephonse Church, will welcome the delegates. A Short Drama featuring the devotion to the Divine Mercy will be portrayed by the youth of the Parish of St. ldephonse.

The introduction to the whole congress will be delivered by Fr. Estephen. The first talk will be given by Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza on “Divine Mercy and the Eucharist”. Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, will reflect on “Divine Mercy and Confession” for the 2nd talk.

Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD will celebrate the Mass at 2,30 PM.

Delegates are advised to bring their own snacks and lunch for the occasion.

Mrs. Celia V, Lambino is the President of the Parish of St. Ildephonse Apostles of the Divine Mercy.

Parish joins in the Celebration of the 2nd Archdiocesan Congress on Divine Mercy

5 April - San Fabian. The Second Archdiocesan Congress on Divine Mercy was held recently in the Parish of St. Thomas Aquinas, Mangaldan, Pangasinan. It was celebrated last 4 April 2009, Saturday, a day before the start of the Holy Week. The 2nd Archdiocesan Congress came following the First Archdiocesan Congress on The Divine Mercy which was celebrated last year at the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr. Many devotees and the faithful of the parish who had been touched and transformed by the Mercy of God attended the one day affair.

The congress had three major talks on the Divine Mercy. The first talk on “Divine Mercy in Scriptures” was given by Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza. “Pastoral Implications of the Divine Mercy Devotion” was shared to the participants by Most Rev. Jesus A. Cabrera, DD. The third talk on “Celebration of God’s Mercy ” was given by Most Rev. Renato P. Mayugba, DD who also celebrated the Mass on that day at the Parish Church of St. Thomas Aquinas. More than five hundred devotees from the different parishes of the Archdiocese participated in the congress.

The Apostles of the Divine Mercy of the Parish of St. Thomas Aquinas (Mangaldan) led by Sis. Silvana de Vera and Sis. Lourdes Campued organized and prepared the hosting of this year’s congress. Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD during the mass also announced that the Third Archdiocesan Congress on Divine Mercy will be celebrated next year in the Parish of St. Ildephonse, Malasiqui, Pangasinan.

Hundreds of devotees and participants to the 2nd Archdiocesan Congress on Divine Mercy join Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD in celebrating the mass culminating the congress.

Bishop Mayugba invites devotees to the 2nd Archdiocesan Congress on Divine Mercy

In a circular letter addressed to the parish priests and chaplains of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, the Auxiliary Bishop, issued an invitation to the devotees of the Divine Mercy to the 2nd Archdiocesan Congress on The Divine Mercy. In his letter, the bishop, to show the significance of the octave of Easter, wrote that “on the octave of Easter, Christ appeared again to the eleven and, calling the attention of Thomas, showed his wounds that wrought our redemption”.

The 2nd Archdiocesan Congress is to be held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Mangaldan, Pangasinan on 4 April 2009, Saturday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The First Archdiocesan Congress on The Divine Mercy was celebrated last year at the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr.

The program will have three major talks on the Divine Mercy. The first talk on "Divine Mercy in Scriptures" will be given by Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza. "Pastoral Implications of the Divine Mercy Devotion" will be shared to the participants by Most Rev. Jesus A. Cabrera, DD. The third talk on "Celebration of God's Mercy " will be given by Most Rev. Renato P. Mayugba, DD who will also celebrate the Mass on that day at the Parish Church of St. Thomas Aquinas.

The message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, an uneducated Polish nun who, in bedience to her spiritual director, wrote a diary of about 600 pages recording the revelations she received about God’s mercy. Even before her death in 1938, the devotion to The Divine Mercy had begun to spread.

St. Faustina, the Secretary of Mercy

St. Faustina has been called the “Secretary of The Divine Mercy”. On October 5, 1938, Sister Faustina (Helen Kowalska) died in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Cracow, Poland. She came from a very poor family that had struggled hard on their little farm during the terrible years of WWI. Sister had had only three years of very simple education. Hers were the humblest of tasks in the convent, usually in the kitchen or the vegetable garden, or as a porter.

On February 22, 1931, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ appeared to this simple nun, bringing with Him a wonderful message of Mercy for all mankind. Saint Faustina tells us in her diary under this date:

"In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus said to me, 'paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.'"

Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her:

"The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross....Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."

The Second Archdiocesan Congress on The Divine Mercy

The theme of the 2nd Archdiocesan Congress is “The Flames of Mercy are burning!” It is a proclamation of the unfathomable mercy of Jesus on the whole world, and the need for us to propagate the message and devotion of the Divine Mercy. It also will help the devotees in the proper celebration in the parishes of the Divine Mercy Sunday which will be celebrated this year on 19 April 2009, the First Sunday after Easter.

Divine Mercy Newsletter Vo. 4,1

22 March – San Fabian. The “Divine Mercy Newsletter” is already out for distribution and for reading by the devotees. The newsletter is a publication of the Apostles of the Divine Mercy of the Parish of St. Thomas Aquinas, Mangaldan, Pangasinan. It is being distributed however for the whole Archdiocese. It usually comes out before Holy Week, and in time for the celebration of the Feast of Mercy on the first Sunday after Easter. This year, the Feast of Mercy is celebrated on April 19.

The newsletter highlights the following: updates on the celebration of the 2nd Congress on Divine Mercy as well as updates on the celebration of the Mercy Sunday.

To download and read the Newsletter, kindly click the link: Divine Mercy Newsletter Vol.4,1 It is in the .pdf format.

The Flames of Mercy are Burning!

21 March-San Fabian. The 2nd Archdiocesan Congress of the Divine Mercy has been scheduled on 4 April 2009, Saturday. The St. Thomas Aquinas Parish of Mangaldan, Pangasinan is the host of the congress. The theme of the congress is “The Flames of Mercy are Burning”, taken from the Diary of St. Faustina, when Jesus spoke to her with these words:

My daughter, speak to priests about this inconceivable mercy of Mine. The flames of mercy are burning Me-clamoring to be spent; I want to keep pouring them out upon souls; souls just don't want to believe in My goodness. (Diary, 177)

The First Archdiocesan Congress of Divine Mercy was celebrated last 21 June 2008 at the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr. During that congress, there were about 600 devotees who took part in the said congress. Majority of the delegates came from the host parish of St. Fabian and the neighboring parish of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Mangaldan, Pangasinan. These two parishes have the most number and active devotees of the Divine Mercy.

It is expected that more devotees and parishes will take part in the second congress. Three talks are to be shared during the day: Divine Mercy in Scriptures by Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, Divine Mercy Spirituality by Most Rev. Jesus A. Cabrera, DD and Divine Mercy and the Church by Most Rev. Renato P. Mayugba, DD. Registration starts at 7:30 AM. The program and activities will end by 4:30 PM. Participants are advised to bring their baon.

The Logo of the 2nd Archdiocesan Congress on Divine Mercy