The message of The Divine Mercy is simple: God loves us – all of us. He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.

This message and devotion to Jesus that is known as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who wrote a diary 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.  Today, we know this as “Divine Mercy Sunday,” named by Pope St. John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina in the year 2000.  Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on The Second Sunday of Easter as the Feast of the Divine Mercy (April 27, 2025).

Learn more about Divine Mercy Sunday here

The Divine Mercy Novena is prayed nine days prior to the to Divine Mercy Sunday, beginning on Good Friday, April 18.  Our Catholic Daughters of the Americas #2605, Sisters of Pauline, will lead the novena prayers at the church.  They will also provide Divine Mercy Chaplet booklets to aid participation.  

Unlike other novenas, where people ask for something from God through the intercession of His Holy Saints, the Divine Mercy Novena is prayed with special intentions for graces and salvation to be given to other people.  The Chaplet of Mercy is prayed using a rosary of five decades, preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina, and followed by a closing prayer.  

Learn how to recite the Chaplet here

Click here for guide to the Divine Mercy Novena

Below is the schedule for this year’s Divine Mercy Novena at St. Mary Star of the Sea:  

We hope you will join us. If you want to participate, but cannot participate in person, the novena can be prayed at home or wherever you can find a place to pray.  If you have questions, please reach out to Melinda Ploch, Regent, at 361-332-2418.