Celebrating Divine Mercy: A week of hope, faith, and healing

May 09, 2025

PENANG: With devotion, hope, and enthusiasm, they walked through the main streets of Jalan Kenari, Sungai Ara, undaunted by the blazing sun as they proclaimed Jesus’ mercy and bore witness to His boundless love. The Divine Mercy Sunday procession through the neighbourhood surrounding the Church of Divine Mercy marked the joyful culmination of the parish’s annual Feast Day and weeklong celebrations.

Newly baptised parishioner Eric shared his experience: “Being involved for the first time as a Divine Mercy image bearer, I naturally found it heavy at first. But it made me reflect on how much heavier it must have been for Jesus to carry the weight of our sins on His shoulders. As the procession continued, it truly felt as though the Lord was carrying it with us. We were all filled with joy and felt truly blessed.”

The Feast began on a gentle note with the nine-day Novena starting on Good Friday, gradually building in spiritual momentum through the joyous celebration of Easter and culminating with great fervour on Divine Mercy Sunday. On Easter Monday, the Church was struck by sorrow with the passing of its chief shepherd, the beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, a true disciple of Divine Mercy, whose death was mourned by the faithful around the world.

In honour of the late Holy Father, each day of the Divine Mercy Novena Masses included special prayers for his soul. A table bearing his image and a lit candle was placed beside the altar as a tribute to his life, legacy, and unwavering witness to Divine Mercy.

In alignment with the Universal Church’s milestone Jubilee Year theme, Pilgrims of Hope, celebrated by over a billion Catholics worldwide, the parish adopted the theme: Divine Mercy: Inspiring Hope Against All Hope, taken from the final verse of the Litany of Divine Praises. Throughout the week, the main celebrant, Fr Raymond Raj, expounded on daily Mass themes that reflected the core elements of the Jubilee. These included: (i) Be Awakened: Pilgrims of Hope, (ii) Be Healed: Hope through Reconciliation, (iii) Be Nourished: Hope in the Eucharist, (iv) Be United: Hope in the Gospel, and (v) Be Other-Centred: Missionaries of Hope.

Breaking it down, Fr Raymond shared, “The words mercy and hope are inseparable. The Feast of Divine Mercy invites us to reflect on and embrace the virtues of hope and mercy toward one another. I hope and pray that this feast has inspired the faithful to become instruments of God’s love and mercy.”

Throughout the week, various parish ministries organised activities based on the daily Novena intentions, helping devotees fully embrace the teachings of Divine Mercy. On Divine Mercy Monday, the congregation paused between decades of the Chaplet to pray for those yet to know God, reflecting the group whom Jesus instructed St Faustina, the “Apostle of Mercy,” to bring to “His ocean of mercy.”

On Tuesday, each decade of the Chaplet was prayed for those separated from the Church. Short audio clips of individuals who feel alienated, representing groups such as divorcees, LGBTQ individuals, migrants, parents of special needs children, and those with mental health challenges, were interspersed between each decade. This helped bring the plight of marginalised groups to life, making their struggles more real and relatable.

Wednesday saw many families bringing their children for a special blessing, as the church prayed for the meek and little ones. After Mass, attendees received origami hearts prepared by the Catechism classes as a token of blessing.

Devotees were also encouraged to spend time in quiet adoration at the JPII Adoration Room and to write notes of thanksgiving in line with Thursday's intention for those who especially venerate God’s mercy. A special blessing for the sick and elderly was offered at the end of Mass that day.

On Friday, the faithful gathered to remember their deceased loved ones, whose names were offered during Mass as part of the Novena intention for souls in purgatory.

The Novena concluded on the ninth day with a prayer for lukewarm souls, whom Jesus said “cause me more suffering than any other.” Over the final four days of the Novena, attendees were encouraged to pray for themselves and others struggling with a lukewarm faith, urging them to reignite and make their faith vibrant and alive.

Throughout the week’s Novena Masses, attendees were given special prayer cards. When collected over six days, the cards formed an image of Divine Mercy on the reverse side. Leading up to the 3.00pm Mass on Sunday, exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament were held, along with opportunities for confession, all in preparation for the grand celebration that followed.

In his inspiring weekend homilies, Bishop Bernard Paul of Malacca Johore spoke about three distinct groups of people.

First, those without hope, those who have given up on life, the lost, and the aimless. Second, those with false hope, those who seek comfort in lies, half-truths, and “build on sand.” Finally, he addressed those who hold fast to true hope, returning to the “written word,” listening to the Holy Spirit within them, and building on a foundation of genuine hope.

He shared three ways God inspires true hope in us. First, Christ-centred communities, similar to the early Christian communities, which became beacons of hope for others. Bishop Bernard encouraged us to be like little lights, guiding those in need of hope. The second way is through the “written word.” It sustains and ignites our faith and love. The third way he mentioned is “mercy encounters,” powerful moments of God’s presence that bring deep, freeing peace. God is merciful, gentle, and forgiving. These mercy encounters transform lives, filling individuals with new purpose. Ultimately, our only true hope is Divine Mercy, the resurrected Christ — hope that never disappoints.

Visitors from other parishes and even from different states, including a busload of pilgrims from Our Lady of Lourdes in Ipoh, joined in the feast day celebrations. Overwhelmed by the enthusiastic participation throughout the week, Parish priest, Fr Michael Raymond OFM Cap shared, “Mercy is the name and the face of God.” His words perfectly captured the sense of God’s abundant grace flowing freely, available for all to receive.