St. Peter Chanel Church, 11330 Woodstock Road, will offer a Divine Mercy Sunday Mass on Sunday, April 18, at 2 p.m., followed by a video presentation on the life of St. Faustina.

In 1931 Jesus appeared to a simple Polish nun, Sister Faustina Kowalska, and instructed her to “paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus I Trust in You. By means of this image I shall grant graces to souls.”

As a further sign of his love, Jesus called for a feast of the Divine Mercy on the first Sunday after Easter. “On that day, the depths of my mercy will be open to all. Whoever will go to confession (within a reasonable time before the feast) and holy Communion on that day will receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment. Mankind will not enjoy peace until it turns with confidence to my mercy.”

Pope John Paul II has shown great interest in the writings on Divine Mercy of St. Faustina, who died at the age of 33. Although she wrote simply of God’s mercy, her diary is said to have inspired a papal encyclical on mercy. In 2000 she was canonized by the pope and proclaimed a saint “for the new millennium.” At the same time, the pope established the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.

In 2002 he approved a plenary indulgence to Catholics who fully participate in Divine Mercy Sunday.

A novena to the Divine Mercy, based upon St. Faustina’s writing, is prayed each year beginning on Good Friday, which is April 9 this year. The novena ends on the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday. Pamphlets for the novena and for the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy are available at St. Peter Chanel Church. All are invited to come to the parish Mass for the feast and are encouraged to pray the novena.