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We wish a blessed and joyful Easter to our entire SJB community.
At Easter, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the foundation of our faith and the source of our hope. Through His Resurrection, Jesus offers all people the gift of eternal life with God. As we hear in the Gospels (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20), the tomb was found empty, and the Risen Lord appeared to His disciples, calling them to share this message of joy, hope, and salvation with the world.
Like the apostles, we too are called to be witnesses of the Risen Christ in our daily lives—through our words, our actions, and our commitment to living out our faith.
The Easter season continues for 50 days, culminating in Pentecost. The first eight days, known as the Easter Octave, are celebrated as one continuous feast of Easter joy. This sacred time leads us to Divine Mercy Sunday, a powerful celebration of God’s infinite love and mercy, which will be celebrated on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
🌿 Divine Mercy Sunday: A Message of Hope and Forgiveness
Divine Mercy Sunday reminds us that God’s mercy is always available to us. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are invited to seek forgiveness, be renewed, and experience the healing grace of Christ.
This devotion was revealed to Saint Faustina Kowalska, who shared Jesus’ message of mercy with the world. Jesus said:
“I desire that this Feast be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, especially sinners… I will pour out a sea of graces for those who approach the fount of My Mercy.”
Those who receive Reconciliation and Holy Communion on this day are offered the grace of complete forgiveness of sins and their effects.
🙏 The Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a beautiful prayer that can be prayed using rosary beads. It includes:
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The Our Father, Hail Mary, and Apostles’ Creed
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A special prayer on each decade:
“Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity…”
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A repeated plea:
“For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
Jesus also asked that this Chaplet be prayed as a nine-day novena beginning on Good Friday, leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday.
The Divine Mercy image—marked with the words “Jesus, I trust in You”—reminds us of Christ’s love, with red and white rays symbolizing the blood and water flowing from His heart for our salvation.
⛪ A Legacy of Mercy in the Church
The devotion to Divine Mercy was strongly supported by Pope John Paul II, who canonized Saint Faustina and officially established Divine Mercy Sunday in 2000.
His legacy was continued by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, who proclaimed the Year of Mercy, inviting the world to encounter God’s compassion in a deeper way.
💙 Our Invitation to the SJB Community
As we journey through the Easter season, we are called to open our hearts to Christ’s love and mercy.
Let us:
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Be people of hope and compassion
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Seek forgiveness and extend mercy to others
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Live as witnesses to the Risen Lord in our school and community
Through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, may we grow in faith and trust.
Jesus is Risen. Jesus loves us.
Jesus, we trust in You.
Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
