Thousands of faithful from different dioceses gathered at Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine on April 12 to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.
The feast, instituted by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000, is observed on the Sunday after Easter, in line with revelations recorded in the diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska.
During Mass, Fr Raymond Kalanzi reminded the faithful that the Feast of Divine Mercy is intended as a refuge for all, especially sinners. He noted that those who went for the sacrament of confession on the day specially honoured the Lord.
He reflected on the life of St Faustina, describing her as a humble and uneducated woman who nevertheless encountered Christ. He contrasted this with modern believers, noting that despite advanced education, many have not had such a personal encounter with Jesus.
Fr Kalanzi also referenced St Faustina’s diary, where Jesus instructed her to have His image painted with the inscription, “Jesus, I trust in You,” as a sign of devotion to Divine Mercy.
He cautioned that in today’s context, particularly in Uganda, where some voices challenge Catholic traditions such as devotion to the saints, the rosary, and prayers for souls in purgatory, the message of Divine Mercy remains especially relevant.
“The message of mercy is more real now, at a time when we are facing confusion and contradictions from those claiming to be righteous and prophetic, yet undermining traditions handed down by Christ,” he said.
He encouraged the faithful to recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, emphasizing that it is not merely a devotional exercise but the beginning of a journey of conversion, even for the most hardened sinners.
Fr Kalanzi also urged prayers for priests who spread the Divine Mercy message, particularly those serving at Munyonyo and across various dioceses. He underscored that the devotion is deeply rooted in Catholic teaching, especially through sacraments such as confession, Holy Communion, and indulgences administered by priests.
He commended the Conventual Franciscan friars at Munyonyo for developing and maintaining the shrine, a sacred site associated with the martyrdom of the Uganda Martyrs.
The priest further reminded the congregation of the authority given to priests to forgive sins in confession, acting in the person of Christ. He called on the faithful to practise works of mercy, citing St Faustina’s example of caring for the poor.
He also encouraged the use of sacramentals such as the Sign of the Cross as a source of spiritual strength against evil.
Meanwhile, the Shrine Rector, Fr Male, revealed that construction of a 15-metre Divine Mercy statue is ongoing in Poland and is now halfway complete.
“We believe that, with adequate funding, the project could be completed by the end of the year. The statue will then be transported to Uganda and assembled here, becoming the largest Divine Mercy statue of Jesus in Africa,” he said.
He called on the faithful to support the project financially and to encourage others to contribute towards the spread of the Divine Mercy devotion.
Munyonyo hosts two Divine Mercy programmes: a weekly session held every Saturday that focuses on counselling, and a monthly retreat conducted on the first Saturday of each month, which offers a deeper reflection on the diary of St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy devotion as a whole.
Jesus I Trust In You.
