New Divine Mercy

Baptism of Benjamin's Video in our Chapel

2012-01-19T16:06:00.000-05:00

Recently we had the pleasure of performing the Baptism of Benjamin in our chapel.

In case you have not had the experience of witnessing the introduction of a new soul into the American New Catholic Church, we are going to give you the chance to watch. Below is the video of the celebration of this new life and you can watch.

If you enjoy this celebration, you can also come and visit us here at our chapel in Wilton Manors. We would love to meet you, new friends. You can also visit us on our home online at www.newdivinemercy.org for all of our up to date information.

Hear what?

2012-01-18T14:26:00.000-05:00

Speak , Lord, for you servant is listening 1 Samuel 3:36-10,19.   Are we listening and what are we listening for? Do we daily ask God to take our life and will and then during the day listen to what God is asking us to do?

Some people are into meditating, being quiet for a period of time and open the mind and heart to hear what God may be saying to them.    One method is to repeat over and over a mantra such as Jesus I am love you, other use words like peace, Mary, God, God is love.    As they repeat the mantra over and over they attempt to clear their mind of lifes distractions and go to that quiet place to relax and listen for God to speak to them.   For me I meditate for about 20 minutes.   This practice does not come easily to some of us. But the accent is on practice and with time we will be able to do it.

I try to listen with my "gut" when I need to make decisions, sometimes I dont get answers ( thats like not yet) and other times God leads the way (once I get out of the way.)    If I have turned my life and will over to God (and many times I take it back) answers come easier.

The question today is what is God trying to tell you to do with your life.    If you dont know, how about asking him?   He is waiting to help you.
In the Chapel of Divine Mercy, American New Catholic Church, 2749 NE 10 Ave., Wilton Manors Fl. we have Holy Hour at 7:00 PM on Fridays and this includes meditation time. Come and join us and see what comes up for you.   954-567-1930 , Chapel of Divine Mercy, FAther  Father John Joseph Reid www. newdivinemercy.org

Help people find jobs

2011-12-20T15:57:00.000-05:00

Last week I went with a friend of mine Michael to get a fresh flower church arrangement for the Christmas/winter season. We went to Pottery Barn, Fort Lauderdale . Got the fake flowers and then started walking around the big box store....every item I picked up was manufactured in China the only thing I could find that wasn't made here was the bar of candy at the check out register. I looked at dishes, none made by our workers here, chairs, same thing, on and on.

Just recently a politician running for federal office berated black poor kids because of their work ethics.
He claimed they didnt have any. What are we to do export all our youth to china to be able to help them find jobs?    Yesterday I went to Moroney's Religious Art Store, in Fort Lauderdale to buy the new renewed Roman Missal to use at the altar during our Mass. The clerk told me the Missal was published by the Catholic Book Publishing Corp, New Jersey. Good deal I said because I am not buying anything that has contributed to our people not being able to find work or being forced to work for minimum wages. Lo and behold I tear off the cardboard packaging and read the first page and then turn over to the second page and what jumps out to me is that this 1341 page book was not printed by anyone in New Jersey, or let alone in the United States. It was printed in Korea (it didnt say north or south).

And now i am finding the black clerical shirts that priests are putting on their back are being made in China as well as vestments too.    The Pope yesterday came out talking abut distribution of wealth...there is really only two classes of people here the super rich and the upper poor (which used to be called the middle class). and of course those at the bottom of the barrel the poor who never have a chance to make life better for themselves or their children.

My fellow church people have to make a stand now and reach to help those who are mentally physically and spiritually suffering because our jobs have been taken away and sent off shore , the biggest of which is China.    I personally wont buy any goods made in China. I went to the less than a year Frigidaire refrigerator in my kitchen and looked on the inside and saw it was made in Mexico, the Whirpool Microwave read made in ROC (sneaky for the Republic of China) Mr. Coffee Maker as well as the filters took more jobs away from us, made in China.    Been asleep all these years but not any more I dont buy anything unless it is made in the USA that includes cars, everything and if I cant find something made here I will be yelling and screaming. Why dont you join me and help our brothers and sisters get back on their feet.....       Father John Joseph Reid

Mariage Equality

2011-06-17T11:40:00.000-04:00

And what do you know about marriage, Fathers? Well for one thing Father Larry and I are married according to the rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Over 38 years we have been living in a loving relationship, and that includes the time we have been legally married . We declared out love before God and for the past 38 years he has continually blessed us. How do you like them apples. There is a clergyman I know who now refuses to marry in his church unless all can marry and that means same and opposite genders.

I marry opposite gender couples here in Florida, they appear with their license issued by the state and declare their love before God and all their family members and friends. I bless their love and sign their legal papers. Same gender couples also ask me to bless their love and legally we call it a Holy Union. Of course this does not give them all the many many rights that opposite couples receive when they marry. That is in the State of Florida. Now if they were married in many other states these same gender couples would receive all that the state offers.

I say to those religious groups who are on the opposite side of gay marraiges, then dont marry them. And dont worry you wont be getting many gay couples coming asking for it. After all you have chased them
away from God's love because of your naming them evil and bad people. There are more and more religious organizations now willing to marry same gender couples and they are reaching out to help them see God loves them as he made them, gay. And we will take in all those that you kick out. Bring them on.

So Father Larry and I can talk about love in a long term loving relationship. We cant share with you the joys of giving birth but we sure can tell you about love, the love that God has for us and for others and the mandate he gave to us to love everyone (and that includes those religious groups who put down gay people). So if you dont want to see love in action, dont come to us. If you want to see loving people, both straight and gay, then come to Divine Mercy Chapel, 2749 NE 10 Ave., Wilton Manors, 954-567-1930 http://www.newdivingmercy.org/

St. Blaise Blessing, Feb. 3, what happens there ?

2011-02-03T14:48:00.000-05:00

Growing up in Boston, the seat of Irish Catholicism, the kids in my block, on Feb. 3 would always be saying "you going to get your throat blessed?" We heard about this Saint Blaise and he cured someone who choked on a fish bone. Of course we Catholics ate fish every Friday, 52 times at least and then we had days during the 40 days of Lent when we didnt eat meat but instead it was fish again.   And  now if St. Patricks Day fell on a Friday the Cardinal (an Irishman from my neighborhood) would give us a dispensation and we could eat cornbeef and cabbage.

So this little catholic boy was not taking any chances of choking on fish bones and so did the other kids. Off we all went into the church and there were lines of people standing in front of the Priest. He held two candles crossed up against our throats and said a prayer that St. Blaise would intercede for us to God and protect us from choking on those fish bones. Of course the candles were not lit so we werent sacred of getting burned.    And that was back then.

And now. We here in the Chapel of Divine Mercy, will conduct the age old blessing attributed to St. Blaise, the 4th century Bishop, who was martyred for this faith and who while in prison perfomed a miracle of saving a young boys life who was choking on a fish bone.    Father John Joseph will hold two gold candles (not lit) crossed against your throat and say "Through the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness, in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit. He will also bless you with holy water. You wil be holding a small white candle in your hand and you then take this candle home, as a reminder of the blessing you received today.   You might later also lite this candle should you be coming down with the flue, etc.     Father John Joseph Reid, Divine Mercy Chapel, 2749 E 10 Ave, Wilton Manors, Fl. 33334   954-567-1930     http://www.newcatholic.us/

SAINT BLAISE THROAT BLESSINGS

2011-01-31T14:20:00.000-05:00

On February 3, 2011, from 7 PM to 8 PM in the Chapel of Divine Mercy, 2749 NE 10 Ave., Wilton Manors (954-567-1930) St. Blaise throating blessings will be offered to all.

Heres a little history of St.Blaise, whose feast day we celebrate February 3. St. Blaise was the Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and suffered martydom A.D.316. While the persecution of Christians was going on. St. Blaise moved from town to town and also lived as a hermit in a cave. Wild animals, according to tradition, visited him and he healed many that were sick and wounded, After he had been captured and was being taken to prison St. Blaise encountered a woman whose pig was being seized by a wolf, St. Blaise commanded the wolf to release the pig and it was freed unhurt.

While he was in prison and before he was tortured and beheaded, he miraculously cured a small boy who was choking to death on a fishbone lodged in his throat. By the 6th century, in the East, his intercession was invoked for diseases of the throat. In the 8th century records attest to the veneration of St. Blaise in Europe and he became one of the most popular saints in the spiritual life of the Middle Ages. One reason St. Blaise's popularity arose was the fact he was a physician who cured , even performed miraculous cures . Eventually the custom of blessing of throats arose whereby the priest held two crossed candles, touching the side of the throat and invoking the prayer of the saint and imparting God's blessing.

Please come to St.Blaise Blessing,, Thursday, Feb. 3, 7-8 PM, Father John Joseph Reid, Fathers of Divine Mercy

We find Christ and He finds us.

2011-01-27T21:10:00.000-05:00

Teaching An Older Priest New Tricks

2011-01-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

At age 78 it was learning how to use the computer. Thanks God the nuns in high school prevailed upon me to take a course in typing. (A special thanks to Sister Wilma, Sister of St. Joseph, Gate of Heaven High School South Boston, Ma.) So armed with the typing knowledge I muddled through learning the computer, the internet, deleting when I should have not and every few years getting a new computer as technology grew by leaps and bounds.

Now we are blogging, trying to make Constant Contact work for us, building on our web page NewDivine Mercy.org, (thanks to Bill Woeppel of Wilton Manors guiding us along, )having a video  view of our Sunday Mass uploaded to you tube and reaching out on Facebook. And learning how to be sociable in our social networking . More New Speak.

Jesus invited and used fishermen, the uneducated, former prostitutes, the despised, the rejected and sinners to help him get his message out: The message of love, acceptance and forgiveness.    No computer stuff for him back then. Of course his miracles thrown in now and then helped. But I marvel today how his message travelled all over the world.    In todays world a click of the computer key can be seen eveeerywhere. But yet, with all the magic of today, his message of love, acceptance and forgiveness gets lost .

May this priest in a small mission in Wilton Manors do his best to spread His message. Love to you all.    A Servant of Divine Mercy, Father John Joseph Reid

Letting Go and Letting God

2011-01-04T11:26:00.000-05:00

A very long time ago I thought I learned how to Let Go and Let God. That is, get out of the way and let God run the show. It seems my sometimes big Ego gets in the way and wants to do what it thinks is best.
Its then I get frustrated, angry with myself ,because it doesn't turn out just how I wanted it.

A case in point: my ego says that after all this time I should be running a church, the size of course of a cathedral. After all I know how to run things. The key word is run things. Then God steps in and says wait a minute. You want all the headaches of running a big church. After all, there are just two of you and today a newspaper salesman try to sell you an ad for $50..00 and you don't get anywhere that in donations in your weekly Mass. Then the lesson of being humble and accepting humility kicks in.

Someones once said to me that humility is knowing what you should be doing, when you should be doing it and how you should be doing.    Lesson learned, for today anyway, that by myself I have to let go and let God show me what, when and how. And for me this has to be a daily petition to God as I look at the big mega churches and the voice says why haven't you accomplished this yet.? After all, you are 78 and you shcould be sitting back and enjoying a nice fat liturgical pension instead of getting a social security check every month. And you really deserve a big crew of helpers out there to make the big show a reality.

I am laughing now as the salesman just called back and said what can you pay and I said $10.00, he is going to his publisher and see what he can do.

In the meantime I will take some time and spend it quietly in the Divine Mercy chapel and continue to learn more lessons. And then be ready to get to work again.   Keep going I am hearing.

Wilton Manors deleted scenes

2011-01-02T00:05:00.000-05:00

Wilton Manors deleted scenes

Please take a moment and watch this. Thanks Father John Joseph Reid

Questions.

2010-12-11T10:33:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I would like to ask God why he allows poverty, suffering and injustice when He could do something about it. But I'm afraid he would ask me the same question.

ADVENT

2010-12-10T14:03:00.000-05:00

Its getting ready to get ready time. Getting ready to welcome the baby Jesus.
Lets start out by saying that the Christmas Holyday (holiday) that we celebrate does not begin the day after Thanksgiving and end Christmas Eve. Rather our Holyday begins Christmas Eve and we celebrate until January 6, Little Christmas.   The Seasons Greeting Holiday celebrates the ringing of cash registers and the singing of, after the first day of Christmas, as they count the money, "what a friend we have in Jesus"..... we don't believe in him but boy does he help us get richer.

So getting ready for his followers involves looking into our hearts, cleaning up up our acts and giving of ourselves to him on Christmas morning. This is the exchange of gifts that matters and carries no price tag.

Consider during the Christmas Holyday Season..December 25 to January 6, to go into your immediate neighborhood, find those who are needy and give them cash not material things, cash so that they can use it to help themselves. Many people are without work, losing their homes and there is a lot of stress in their lives.   I know a lady whose business takes her in daily contact with a lot of homes in my neighborhood, she is aware of the tough times people go through. Out of her own pocket, when she receives gifts, she quietly passes it on to those who she finds needy. It goes right into their hands no middle man.  This is what we are going to do this year, hand it to her and she can be the angel.  She is an angel already and she goes about her work quietly.

If you dont want to be seen giving money, put it in an envelope and slip it under their door when they are not around.

We are getting ready to get ready.......We are getting the best gift of all. Jesus and his love.

Veterans Day

2010-11-07T13:57:00.001-05:00

Seems Like Halloween was yesterday and All Saints and All Souls days were just last week. Here we are approaching Veterans Day, November 11. For the past three years I have been giving the invocation at the annual Veterans Day Ceremony here in Wilton Manors, Florida. Being a veteran of the Korean War, Army and Father Larry also a veteran of the same War, he being Navy, I can remeber when this Holiday was called Armistice Day. Armistice Day , was the anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty of Word War 1, 1918.. My father was a prisoner of war in Germany during that war .w
I also remember the ending of World War 11 and as a young , not yet teenager, glad the War was over. Lo and behold I was called to go into the Army, at Age 19, because we were in another war to save us from Communism in a far away land called Korea. Most of us young men from the working class neighborhoods were drafted while those who had the money went off to college and never saw battle. The day after I set foot onto the soil of Japan, destined to go to Korea, the war ended and Korea was left a divided country.
Peace did not last too long because America was now off to Vietnam to fight another war against Communism and the working class men from my neighborhood were sent there and died there. Father Larry's brother Donald got into a legal scrape and the judge said either prison or go into the Marines. He chose the Marines and died in Vietnam. Here we are now fighting two other wars, the country is angry about the high cost of taxes and we do not see Peace anyway soon Jesus forgive us.
.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars in my old neighborhood sponsor the St. Patrick's Day Parade and legally ban Gay people from marching. Imagine Veterans who gave their life for others have their sisters and brothers banne dfrom marching by other Veterans.. Its OK to put yourelf in harms way and also give up your life but not OK to march in a St. Patricks Day parade and that by your fellow Veterans.

The St. Patricks Day Parade is the reason I left South Boston. The one time a small group of Gay people marched,, surrounded by a heavy presence of Police, I saw mobs throwing bottles at them, ready to come out as a group off the sidewalks and attack them let alone the hateful name calling. The Police put the small group of marchers into a truck with closed doors for their safety and never again did Gay people, to this day, ever march to honor theirSaint too, St. Patrick This had become Selma - South Boston and I could no longer ever remain in a sea of Hate I will talk again about life here in Wilton Manors. .

SPIRITUAL COVER LETTER

2010-10-24T14:46:00.003-04:00

I ran across an article in today's print newspaper written by Deb Dib, author of the Twitter Job Search Guide and she proposed that modern cover letters should be brief and attention getting. Hmm I thought how could her concept be applied to our reaching out to those catholics who feel fed up, hurt and betrayed. So, here goes. Oh by the way, she says, each sentence should be less than 140 characters.

1. I am very aware of the many Roman Catholics who have left or on their way out the door
.
2. I found the solution of holding fast to those wonderful spiritual gifts we had received without giving it all up
cause "they" said so

3. I have been there, struggling with what I was hearing from the Pope and what I was not feeling in my heart.

4. I faced there was no place left for me in the Roman Catholic Church but knew I could not stay any longer.

5. I had to face that I didn't abandoned the Catholic Church that it had abandoned me and it hurt
.
6. It was when God led me to the Divine Mercy Chapel of the New Catholic Communities that healing began.

7.. Deep in my core I now felt safe, whole and believed that I truly was loved by God and I was OK

8. I continued going to the Chapel, talking to other ex Roman Catholic orphans like myself and that we
supported each other
.
9. Another thing that really worked well for me was to remind myself to always "Let Go and Let God", that
He would never really abandon me.

10. I am still catholic (not roman), I value myself and who God made me , and I now can help others heal too.

Thank you Deb for your help

A God Moment

2010-10-10T14:40:00.000-04:00

As I am preparing for the 10:30 Mass this morning, the thought came to me that I never apologized to Gerry M. who 37 years ago worked with me in Boston. It seems, in the final stages of my alcoholism, I spent too many Fridays and Mondays calling in sick and when there I wasnt able to give my 10% to the job. Gerry stepped in and literally ran the job till I was admitted to a hospital for my alcoholism.

As part of my recovery program I was taught to make amends when able and I lost toch with Gerry. But the voice was strong this morning urging me to try to find out where she might be. Getting on the computer I typed in her name and up came a funeral notice covering her mother's death and included was her name, now she was married and she was living in Florida. The next step I searched out her name, address and phone number on the computer and lo and behold found that she was living about an hour away from me, she in Miami and me in Wilton Manors.   With 20 minutes to go before Mass I picked up the phone, got an answering machine, left my name and phone number and told here the nature of my call, that I was sorry for not being able to be there on the job 37 years go and the reason for it

Shortly after the phone rang and on caller ID I saw her name. She wondered how I was able to find her after all these years and I explained it was what I called "God Moments" when God steps in and does what we are not able to for ourself. Right away at the begininng of the conversation she told me that she was one of us and I said "you became a priest" No she says I have been sober for 8 years. and it was then I said "Wow"   So thats what all this pushing to find her was all about this morning: for her to share the great things that ultimately happened to her as it had for me years before. She had married, had two sons, a loving husband and is doing good. I left it, that we one day would have to have a cup of tea together, the old irish ways from the old neighborhood.

I went into Mass very grateful for what I had experienced and what I experienced in Mass was another God Moment . This will be the text of my next blog. In the meantime.   God Bless You all till we meet again.

IMPORTANT DATE CHANGE

2010-10-07T18:32:00.001-04:00

Due to unforseen circumstances, over which we find we have no control, we will have to push forward the re dedication of our Chapel from Sunday, October 10 to Sunday, October 17 at 10:30 AM. You certainly are still welcomed to attend Mass with us this coming Sunday, October 11 ,10:30 AM.

Divine Mercy Chapel, New Catholic Communities, 2749 NE 10 Ave., Wilton Manors, Fl. 954-567-1930

A View of our Chapel Blessed Objects

2010-10-06T08:00:00.003-04:00

Crucifix behind our Altar

This is the 300 year old crucifix from a Monastery in France which was donated by Metropolitan Nicholas Poulas. This Crucifix is featured behind the altar, on the wall in the Chapel. This is the construction work and the design of George Molina of Fort Lauderdale.

This picture illustrates the Monstrance which is a sacred vessel for the Blessed Sacrament. It is used during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament Wednesday at 7PM.

Chapel Rededication

2010-10-05T15:02:00.004-04:00

We are happy to finally be able to have you visit our liturgically redesigned chapel. The re dedication ceremony will take place Sunday. October 10 at 10:30 AM. Our address is 2749 NE 10th Avenue, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 and the chapel is attached to the Residence of the Fathers of Divine Mercy.

You can read more information about our mission at www.newdivinemercy.org

You may view the renovated chapel during our celebration of Mass at that time. We would welcome the opportunity to have you stay afterwords for light refreshments.

After a lengthy redesign, we have finally pulled the wraps off of the new chapel featuring new lighting, new color scheme, and new ceilings with bright golden beams. The space behind the altar has been completely redone centering on the 300 year old crucifix from the monastery in France donated by Metropolitan Nicholas Poulas, R.I.P.

We hope that you will consider making our chapel the center of your spiritual life.

Grand New Look

2010-09-29T11:11:00.002-04:00

The NEW in the new divine mercy means just that. We are almost ready to show you the new look in our renovated chapel. We will be putting up a photo very soon. What can I say, its gorgeous and very fitting for a place of worship dedicated to Divine Mercy, the love given to us all.

And then Bill Woeppel is hot on the trail in redesigning our website to bring it into the 22nd century. Oof course along with this it will be changing with new pictures, ideas and news . And, I have to be more active in adding to the blog every week (he is pushing for every day). We do what God directs and he puts people into our lives to help us along the way. Life is grand, you are grand and until the next time You are loved. Father John Joseph

Matt Talbot -Qualified to be a Saint.

2010-09-01T15:28:00.003-04:00

Last Saturday night I received a phone call from a friend who is in a 12 step recovery program. He asked if I would meet with a Priest who also was in recovery. I suggested this Priest, Father Richard , join me and Father Larry for Mass at the Chapel the folowing day, Sunday at 10:30 am. On Sunday, after Mass we spent sometime talking with Father Richard and a friend who came with him. It seems that Father Richard has long time sobriety, he is near 80 years old and lived and worked for many years at a half way house. He longer is associated with this half way house here in the Fort Lauderdale Area.

The four of us, Father Larry, Father Richard, myself and the friend who came along with him spent time talking obout our experiences in the various recovery programs. Our group spiritual thinking fell along similar lines. I shared with the group that I had been thinking of initiating a Matt Tablot style Mass on Monday evenings; a Mass reaching out to those in recovery programs. I invited Father Richard and others to join with me in pulling together the workings for this Mass. We sincerely hope that he will. But now onto Matt Talbot. Who is he and why did we choose him.

Matt Talbot was born May, 1856 in Dublin, Ireland of 12 children. Six of them grew to adulthood. Matt Talbot grew up in an alcoholic home, his father abused alcoholic and the rest of the family suffered from poverty as the result of this. Schooling was out of the question for him, he only had 2 years of formal education and thus was not able to read or write.

At 12 Matt had to go out and work and he found a job at a beer bottling company ; he started his drinking there. By sixteen he had graduated from beer to whiskey and would be seen coming home staggering. When he reached twenty all his time was spent in a Tavern where he spent all his wages . The neighbors now saw Matt as a habitual drunk or as today we might have called him a chronic alcoholic. He resorted to pawning what little he had and also stealing . At one time he stole a violin from a blind man. After having stayed out of work for a whole week, he ended up penniless and was in debt to all the local pubs. Not able to go into the pubs anymore to drink, he stood outside watiing for his friends to buy him a drink...he had spent a lot of his paycheck buying them drinks. But, they didnt even want to know him.

So he stood outside, a shamed man, He went home and thought about his life and what alcohol had done to him. He had tried years ago to hold to the Pledge of Sobriety in a local catholic church but was only able to stay sober for 3 months. And now here he is trying to stay sober, having halluciations,nausea and depression as he was self detoxing. He sought solace by attending an early morning mass and was able to go back to work. He took another 3 months pledge, then a 6 month one and final a pledge for life.

His sister Susan reported that when he wasnt at work or at church, he would spend numerous hours on his knees praying. His fellow workers reported that he was a hard worker, strong yet had a very gentle side to him. And the wages he received would be shared with his poor neighbors or charities. He only kept 300 pence ofr his own small needs.

When he reached age 67, in 1920 he was taken to the hopsital with a heart condition. He was able to continue working but on a lighter scale. He dropped dead on a Dublin street June 7, 1925 and was taken to the hospital where they found that Matt had a heavy chain wrapped around his waist, another on his arm and another on his leg. This he kept hidden as a remainder that he was a slave to Jesus and Mary. Upon seeing this some people became very intereted in this man.

They found his room looked almost like a monastic cell, a iron bed, a wood mattress, a pillow and a light blanket. There was also one chair and table upon which was a crucifix. The family reported his meals consisted of dry bread and cold tea and some times cold fish. He lived a model life of faith, hope and charity in addition to self denial, the spiritual principles of emotional sobriety. He saw God's way of life, not the self-indulgent way.

May we all learn to let go and let God and trust in his goodness. And may all of us who have hit bottom be there to reach out and help those or have not yet hit it.

Peace. And till the next time, may God bless us all. Father John Joseph

Lights, Camera, Action

2010-08-22T13:29:00.002-04:00

Friday, August 21, 2010 we received a visit from the producers of One Square Mile, a documentary which has been covering various cities and small town through out the United States and Hawaii. The producers were interested in our mission of being inclusive to the residents of Wilton Manors, which now it seems is openly split between same gender and opposite gender residents.

During the interview and filming , Father Larry and myself both shared that we had gone to Boston to get married after having been together almost 39 years. You see we believe in married priests. Both of us can share our experience, hope and strength in a committed loving relationship and all that couples have to work through to keep that love on the front burner.

For a long time we kinda kept our marriage quiet although other married priests used the experience to help struggling couples deal with their relationships. Of course now, we will be openly sharing ,that is maybe, if they choose to use our interview, as a part of the fabric that makes up Wilton Manors. And then again I dont know who reads this blog, but its now out there .

So the next time someone says what do you priests know about marriage and its ups and downs,
we will indeed have the makings of a a good discussion. I will keep you informed when the documentary is up and running,

God loves you and so do I. Father John Joseph Reid

newdivinemercy.org.

Our Website. newdivinemercy.org

2010-08-18T11:23:00.002-04:00

When we first had the thought of putting together a website devoted to Divine Mercy, we never expected how far reaching it would become. People from not only all over the United States and Canada but all over Europe and Asia visit this site and leave their prayer requests. In addition they can read a daily prayer, listen to a daily bible reading, pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. and of course the popular Light a Candle.

We would like to encourage you to tell your friends about this website and encourage them to use its many features. They can also email us if they have any particular questions . So this blessed Chapel of Divine Mercy in Wilton Manors is reaching out all over the world. Another miracle in Wilton Manors.

Small and Large

2010-08-16T19:19:00.002-04:00

Our chapel here in Wilton Manors can be considered, in many eyes, small. But I would like to tell you of some of the miracles that have been happening to those who come to our Chapel. Four weeks ago Michael C. came to Mass for the first time (after having moved from California) and upon leaving said that he would no longer be smoking. He had tried before to stop but he had a feeling that this time it would work. The following Sunday he returned to the chapel and announced that he had not had a cigarette since his last visit to the chapel. And as of now he has been nicotine free. Miracle? Some People might call it one, especially those who have been trying to get off cigarettes for a long time.

And today, in this some times bleak looking economic world , Michael C. told us that he had landed a subsantial business account with a large national candy company. You see Michael came here too, never expecting to start a new business but rather to work for one that is still struggling to get off the ground. We all prayed yesterday at Mass for Michael C. and within the next few weeks Father Larry and myself will be offer a blessing at the official opening of the business.

Our chapel might be small but our outreach is indeed large. Our websitge is viewed all over the world and people come to the site and place their prayers in the "light a candle" section. I never hear back the results of their petitions but I am going to put a reminder in the website asking them to let us know the outcome of their prayers. My gut tells me there are little miracles happening as a result of the website.

Till the next time. May God watch over you and keep you and yours well.

Father John Joseph

Get Going Father

2010-08-15T22:39:00.002-04:00

This evening I received an Email from a Pete who lives in Pensacola, Florida. He reminded me that there hasnt been an entry into the blog column since last April, that he comes to the site to get up to date information and that the Website has had the same old stuff on it for a while. Thank you Pete. I am gong to get together with my web advisor and bring the web site into the here and now and also will be doing more blogging about life here with the New Divine Mercy Community. Pete, next time you get down this way lets have dinner (on me)

SERENITY

2010-04-29T11:36:00.005-04:00

Its 10:00 am on a Thursday morning in a local Gay and Lesbian Center as 60 Gay Men and Women hold hands, at the closing of an anonymous 12 step meeting, and together recite the Serenity Prayer: God grant me tne serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Earlier during the meeting my mind wandered, as I looked around the room and thought of the many miracles that I saw in front of me . Those who, through the grace of a loving God, were living sober a day at a time and reaching out to help otheers. Yet, these very same men and women were also being condemned by another God...a God claimed by those who read their interpreation of a bible which condemened the Gay Men and Women as abominations. I said I want the God in AA, a loving kind God who accepted all as his children and gave them his grace and strength. I see God's love in action.

On my own I can not change the rantings of some evangelicals, but ask for the courage to speak up as needed and pray for the wisdom the know the difference. I am grateful today.

God Sends Them

2010-03-31T11:42:00.006-04:00

This morning I was favoring a back problem and taking it easy around the house. The dogs start barking and I go to the door and find an older woman standing there, asking if I was a priest ( dressed in my irish rugby shirt, shorts and no shoes..why couldnt you tell?) but saying to her yes, I was. She asked if she could pray in our small chapel. I said certainly, got the key and she and her daughter came in and prayed before the Blessed Sacrament which we keep exposed in front of the painting of Divine Mercy.

She shared with me that she and her daughter were keeping a promise they made to Divine Mercy for prayers being answered and they were making a novena by visiting 21 churches. The Mother then asked if I would bless her other family and four others got put of the car and came into the Chapel, we now have six, two other adults and two young girls.
They all made a general confession and I gave them Holy Communion and we prayed together.

I found out that they were from Canada, of Fillipino descent and very spiritual. Their appearance at 10:30 this morning brought to mind that I am a priest and God sends people from all over to our chapel and they bring blessings to us by their presence. I do not expect to see them ever again, I gave holy cards and my business card as they continued on their way.

Sometimes I wonder what I am doing and who am I really touching. Today was an example that God wants me to be there for whomever he sends. Those who live under the bridges, those who are struggling with mental problems and those pilgrims, like today, who come into our lives along their journey.

Tonight during Mass devoted to Divine Mercy and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, I will pray for all of us in need and thank God for this experience today.

Father John Joseph

Home Sweet Home

2010-01-18T09:35:00.004-05:00

There is something comforting in "Coming Back Home". We hear this many times when people join us for our liturgies, after having been away from "church" for a long time. We have seen tears after those who have received communion.

And so too, we feel right about coming back to our Shrine Chapel, looking around at the altar, the stained glass windows, the Large Painting of Divine Mercy and other Sacred Pictures. And coming back does not mean being stuck in the past, but regrouping and strenghtening; being open again to the voice of the Holy Spirit to guide us further along our spiritual journey. As we pray in the Shrine Chapel, whether at Mass, during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament or the Divine Mercy Novena, we are sending out to the world healing spiritual energy.

The motto of our Church is "Jesus I trust in You". It is now the right time to really practice what we preach. No longer will we be advertising through fliers, ads in newspapers, etc. Rather we will reach out personally through attraction rather promotion. Jesus will be in charge, we will depend solely on Him for his guidance as to where we, as a community are to serve him.

I can tell you that since we have returned back to the Shrine Chapel, Jesus has been sending mostly those who are unemployed, one living under a bridge and one who recently found a room, with the financial help of the Missionaries. Right now, we do not push the river, we go with the flow.....Jesus is guiding us.

Letting Go and Letting God.....Lesson to constantly learn.

Peace and Love to you all. Father John Joseph and Father Larry and our other brothers and sisters send their love.

CHRISTMAS MORNING GIFTS

2009-12-25T09:33:00.002-05:00

Its 9:30 A.M., Both Father Larry and I got back into the house a little after 2 A.M. We had to clear up the rented space where we had our Midnite Mass, in a large auditorium that seated 400. We had spent weeks before running ads, placing announcements in store windows, putting flyers on cars, going to large events and passing them out and talking to people along the way. Between ads and renting of the space it cost us nearly 1,000.00; maybe more I havent kept count. We were not permitted to advertise on a billboard of the church so it had to be by press and out on the street.

Well midnight came, the space looked beautiful, the music was grand, a friend Doug Blevins' singng voice added that special touch. I looked around amongst the 400 seats and saw 8 people. My heart sank and I must admit for the first part of the Mass, I was nervous and didnt feel right in the space. I just couldnt concentrate, But we very grateful for those 8 who did attend.

It also says that God does not want us in that space. We spent over 2000 initially when we had our first Mass in their chapel People did not want to come at 1:30 in the afternoon, the only time we were permited to be there. We pushed and tried even asking if maybe we could move it up to around 12.00. We learned the hard way but both of us, in our late 70's are still open to learning. I am hearing that God wants us back in a appropriate Catholic oriented space. We have a wonderful chapel that people, if they seek out, will find us

We return to being Fathers of Divine Mercy and not church builders. We will be there for the spiritual needs of the community. People will see us on the street dressed in clerical clothes, celebrate Sunday morning Mass at 10, a Serenity Mass on Monday evening and a Divine Mercy Healing Mass with benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday. We wont have to make other spaces look like a church and then have to strip them down again. What a relief.

If others some time ask us to serve their community in the space that they create and maintain, we will do that. In the meantime, no more money spent on ads or rented space that does not have our name on it. If God so ordains, people will seek us.

God has already blessed us with the best gift he can give us. Our own place to pray and worship, a place that looks and feels like a Catholic Chapel.

Our love, from our hearts, goes out to all. It is indeed a Happy Christmas. We have each other . Father Larry has taken in temporarily a man who does not have a home We will help him get settled in a place of his own. And thats what Christmas is about.
All is calm, all is bright.

GETTING READY TO GET READY

2009-12-11T13:09:00.005-05:00

Can you imagine the Christmas Season will soon be upon us. Here it is December 11 and the Chrismas Season begins on December 25. Right now we are putting together our Christmas Eve Candlelit Midnight Mass program Flyers passing out, store placards being distributed, ads in two newpapers, soloist found, candles to be obtained, etc. etc. etc. We are getting ready to get ready, Going from Celebrating Mass in a chapel which seats 16 to a large auditorium is that seats over 300 is a big jump for us ( a big leap of faith). And, as we get closer and closer, the more excited I get, trusting that God knows what he is doing although sometimes I dont have a clue. Then there are times when I go Whoa, do you know what you have really bitten off here. Now that part can be scarey.

So we trudge along the path of happy destiny knowing that God did not carry us this far to drop us down. Come dance along with us on this path. Nol body leads and no body follows, God leads the band. Cha cha any one?

Newdivinemercy.org. referrals welcome

Christmas Midnight Mass

2009-12-01T19:00:00.002-05:00

DIVINE MERCY CHAPEL
New Catholic Communities

Serving the Catholic Community of Wilton Manors for the past 11 years!

Come Home For Christmas!
We warmly invite you to worship with us as we celebrate the Birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you’ve been away from church for a while,
or if you’re looking for a church to call your spiritual home, we might just be what you’re looking for!
You are welcome here,
no matter what else you may have experienced,
no matter what else you might have thought possible.

The Celebration of
Christmas

Join us for a traditional, candlelit Midnight Mass on December 24th. We’ll begin at 11:45 p.m. with some carols, and then we’ll celebrate the Lord’s birth with a joyous Eucharist beginning at midnight. We so hope you will choose to be with us for this festive celebration!

We are gathering at 1550 NE 26th Street in Wilton Manors
(the Center for Spiritual Living).

If you’d like more information, contact us at 954-567-1930 or www.newcatholic.us

We are here for you.

LITTLE FISH IN A BIG POND

2009-11-26T19:25:00.002-05:00

Jesus told his apostles "I will make you fishers of men". Father Larry and I have been servicing Wilton Manors for the past 11 years. By some standards we should have burned the mortgage on a large church, have church committees doing all kinds of work, asking for donations for new stained glass windows in the church and paying soloists to sing in our large choir, etc. etc. etc.

Yet here we are , 11 years later in a home based chapel in Wilton Manors, once again trying, this time , by renting space in a large church , with our congregation that runs between 15 and 5. It cost over 125 a week between rent and ads and Father Larry and I have been covering the expenses and our collections run between and 10.00 and 38.00. We have never been able to attract the heavy hitters in the Wilton Manors area to help us financially. We don't go to the right places, nor seen at the best parties or have the luxury of paid public relations/fund raisers.

It could be we have not devoted enough time for us to be visible to the average person on the street. We haven't been dressing as priests and thus physically hiding who we are. This we are going to change....Both Father Larry and I will be wearing clericals so that people will identify us as priests and I hope ultimately get to know us as Fathers of Divine Mercy in the New Catholic community movement.

We know we have tough hurdles to overcome. Many people are still very angry with the Roman Catholic church. The Roman Catholic church has taken ownership to the name catholic. So when we say we are catholic, all the anger and disappointment that they have experienced . over the years .is projected upon us and its not easy to break down the walls put up and the judgements they automatically put upon us. But we chip away. I

But, we love the liturgy of the Mass and the sacraments instituted by Jesus and passed on to us by the early apostles, the true message of love as taught to us by Jesus himself and the call we constantly hear to go out and help people know that they are indeed loved and deserving of being a
member of Christs family, a son or daughter. Mother Theresa didn't ask for any ones permission to go out and pick up the dying and those who had been rejected by society. She left the comfort of teaching wealthy Indian girls in a convent and chose the rejected on the streets There are so many people in the Wilton Manors - Fort Lauderdale area who have been kicked aside. And I am talking about rich , poor, straight , gay , black ,white and all colors in between .

We pray that God uses us, in whatever way he wants, to reach those people
who feel unwanted, who use drugs, alcohol and other excesses, including more and more and more money, to cover up their hurt inside feelings. And like Mother Theresa, he wants out out amongst his people, not only those who are hungry and homeless but those who are also hungry for love, the love that lasts forever, the love of God.

I ramble today, on Thanksgiving Day But I think of the wonderful program of Alcoholic Anonymous, it was started by two men in Akron Ohio for those who had been ravaged by the disease of alcoholism Those two men, over 74 years ago, listening to their higher power, introduced the Program of Alcoholic Anonymous to the world. I guess my role models are Dr. Bob and Bill Wilson and my guide Mother Theresa. Also some of you too who have shown Father Larry and I the meaning of love. And we have so much more to learn.

Yes we are little fish in a big pond, but you know we are out there swimming. Jump in with us, the water is fine

Father John Joseph and Father Larry, Fathers of Divine Mercy
Newdivinemercy.org.

THANKSGIVING WHAT IT MEANS TO US

2009-11-23T10:00:00.004-05:00

It means being grateful for love, love that has and is being given and love which we give. At the very top of the list of love received is the love that God gives us each day.

Many of us can recall, when in the darkest of our hours, God steps in and shows us the way out either through our actions or through the guidance of an angel that God sends to us. Some day I will talk about my alcoholism and God giving me these past 36 years of sobriety. And through my sobriety meeting my partner Larry.

Then there is God working through us in our every day life. Sometimes when I feel low and don't know what God wants of me in gathering people together to build a community church, I will get a burst of energy (not bad for a 77 year old ) and go on, reaching out to his people, and someone will come into my life, showing me its the right thing to do

And again, the love which I receive from people, those from the past and those in the present. My partner of so many years, my birth family, my adopted family here in Wilton Manors, and the ordinary people I run into every day, whose face slights up when they say hello, how are you. Those who come to church and sing the new hymns and don't know the words yet.
Those who so much want to help make the church grow.

Life here on earth has shown me so much love and I know that when I go home, back to God, there will be a love which I can not describe here.

I love you all........At Thanksgiving pray for Father Larry and I. We will pray for you at Mass, here in a little shrine, Thanksgiving morning.

2009-11-22T15:50:00.006-05:00

Beautiful Mass today Feast of Christ the King. How lucky we are to be a part of New Catholic communities to welcome all. you want more information about who we are (we are wonderful) Newdivinemercy.org. We are looking for other opened minded priests to join up with us. Call 954-567-1930. Bishop John Joseph Reid.

Veteran's Day Thoughts

2009-11-13T12:53:00.002-05:00

City of Wilton Manors did a fine job in creating a tribute to all veterans of all wars. I did the invocation, as a veteran of the Korean War.

As I looked around the room at those attending, I was struck with I know almost all the people here. The City Commissioners, the Police, the City Employees, the Veterans and the Residents of Wilton Manors. What clicked is that Wilton Manors is my home, I choose to live here, work as a Priest with the Chapel of Divine Mercy here and feel very comfortable here. I grew up in Boston, lived and worked there but honestly never felt comfortable and at ease there as I do here. Hats off to you Wilton Manors.

I also checked out that the largest group of veterans in attendance was a gay group of veterans, they also served for all of us. Many of them served under the fear they could have been kicked out, disgraced and not allowed to receive any veteran benefits. And hats off to them too. Strong people those men and women.

ITS ALL WORTH IT

2009-11-10T10:54:00.003-05:00

On all Saints Day, November 1, 2009 Jeff Augustino was baptized, confirmed and received into the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church at the Divine Mercy Chapel, Wilton Manors, Florida. Jeff's partner James was in attendance and Jeff's friend John, along with Father Larry acted as his Godparents. John also presented a Gold Cross to Jeff and we all gathered after Mass at the Fathers of Divine Mercy Residence here in Wilton Manors to celebrate. It was a wonderful and blessed day.

ITS ALL WORTH IT

2009-11-10T10:46:00.003-05:00

2009-10-24T14:44:00.003-04:00

YOU NEVER KNOW, DO YOU?

There are times, as you plug along, when you wonder to yourself, am I making a dent here. As a priest, I have seen so many people who I have grown to love and respect, show their enthusiasm for the church and then they just stop coming. And I find myself alone at the altar wondering : Lord is it something I said or did. And I am never really sure what makes a person show up, stay for a while and then leave, to not see or hear from them again. So its when incidents happen, such as this past week, that I am instilled again with zeal and joy in helping people gather , see God working in their lives and in others lives and coming together as a worshipping community.

Michael (no last name please) grew up Catholic in the mid west and for a long time has not been attending church. We met Michael here in Wilton Manors as he had been working tireless in helping a friend of his get a business venture up and running. It has been indeed a very difficult time
for both of them. Father Larry and myself offered our prayers and blessings. It had been over two months when we ran into Michael at a Coffee Shop, told him of our move to a new location for Sunday Mass and invited him to come. Low and behold he showed up the next day, and with tears in his eyes, he said after Mass that he had been missing it so much.

Two days later Michael came to the rectory for coffee and he confessed his past and received absolution in confession. The change in Michael is like night and day and there is now a radiance about him that not only Father Larry and I see but so do others.

And then there is Jeff, a man who was led to us from the internet and began attending Mass and after his fourth Sunday he asked if he could be baptized and receive confirmation. He never received these sacraments while growing up. He expresses gratitude and joy and he will be baptized and receive confirmation on Sunday, All Saints Day, November 1, 2009. We will all come back , after Mass ,to the Rectory and have a celebration, cake, food and drinks. Father Larry and Deacon Gregory will perform the Baptism and Father John Joseph (Bishop) will officiate at Jeff's confirmation.

To be part of Jeff and Michael's lives and to see the New Catholic Community of Divine Mercy grow, gives me a good feeling and as I write this, I thank God for for the blessings that he has bestowed upon me, Father Larry and Deacon Gregory. More will be revealed.

PUBLICITY ETC.

2009-10-14T11:14:00.004-04:00

Its amazing the numbers of people who have seen our ads in the Pelican and the Blade as well as the pictures and articles in both newspapers and tell us about it. Each time I hear that , I in turn use this as an opportunity invite them to come and worship with us.

We never know. by keeping our name out there, whether in print, by our website or talking to people , what effect it has. We just keep letting people know that our Chapel is a place of love and in God's time, He will lead people to the Chapel door.
\
Of course, you know we are going to have fun at Wicked Manors, Halloween night on Wilton Drive. As I mentioned before, we have been offered space for a table and we are taking the producers up on their generous offer. Now Father Larry, Deacon Gregory and myself will be wearing our usual clerical garb. I hope they dont confuse us with some kind of costume because on Halloween you see lots of Firemen, Nuns with mustaches and oh so pretty (and some not so pretty) "ladies". Heres a good example of us getting out where the people are .... Letting them get to see us and also know us.

Somewhere, and my very dear friend Celeste knows this, there is an old nuns habit, hanging in the back of some closet. Think the Fathers will pass on this though. If you want to borrow it and you wont disrespect it, then you are welcomed to borrow.

Last Sunday I got inspired, guess by the Holy Spirit, to adjust certain prayers in the Mass. For instance just before Communion we asked God's Mercy, Penitential rite, shared The Kiss of Peace right after and then gave Glory to God. We then moved onto to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. At the beginning of the Mass we received the Blessing by the Priest, shared our profession of faith (who we are) prayed our general Intercessions and then were ready for the Liturgy of the Word and Fathers homily. It seemed to flow easier and as we prayerfully moved along in the mood of sacred worshiping We will do that again this Sunday.

I love the beauty and the sanctity of the pre Vatican II Latin Mass, with the Gregorian chants. But I have come around to see also the liturgical music of today with its spirit filled energy. A mixture of the old and new
makes a good fit for the New Catholic Communities.

See you at Church Sunday, 1:30 PM

Father John Joseph

Last Sunday at Mass 11/5/2009

2009-10-06T15:20:00.002-04:00

Well we were pleasant surprised to see 5 more people attend our liturgy Sunday. . Two couples from Wilton Manors...Ruth Ann and Skip and also a new resident couple Denise and Emilio. Denise and Emilio brought along their little white terrier "Murphy" and we gave "Murphy" a special blessing. Billy, a man who helped us . many years ago, to drum up attendance at another church, found his way to us also.

Patrick, who used ot have a restaurant in Spain, cooked up a fig and apple pie for us to have with coffee. It was gone in a few seconds.

We are praying for Jeff, he is going on two job interviews this week and we hope one of them is the job God wants him to have.

Deacon Greg is going to Michigan this weekend to attend a wedding and will be driving Diane, his wife, back with him. We will be happy to see both of them back with us

Halloween Wilton Manors florida

2009-10-03T13:08:00.004-04:00

We have been offered free space for our information table on Wilton Drive during the Wicked Manors Festival, October 31 from 6 PM to Midnight. We can staff our table, interact with the many who will be attending the Festival and also have some fun ourselves gawking. Come join us at our table...we could use some help. Father John Joseph Reid, Newdivinemercy.org

Serenity Mass

2009-10-02T20:35:00.004-04:00

Father Larry Turner, Divine Mercy, New Catholic Communities, Wilton Manors is pleased to announce the first Serenity Mass to be held at the Shrine on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 7:30 PM. Father Larry is inviting all members of the recovery community as well as others in the 12 step programs . Divine Mercy Shrine is at 2749 NE 10th Ave., Wilton Manors, Look for the Lighted Statue of the Blessed Virgin on the lawn in front of the Fathers of Divine Mercy Residence. For further informtaion please call Fther Larry at 954-567-1930

2009-10-01T17:51:00.000-04:00

Sister Marcia plays her guitar at Mass last Sunday

2009-09-30T15:30:00.001-04:00

Sister Marcia is a member of the Come Follow Me, Servants of Divine Mercy . The sisters reside in Tequesta, Florida and she came down for our first Mass in the new location. She plays a great guitar and is very dedicated to spreading the message of Divine Mercy. We are very appreciative of her joining up with us this day and we welcome her back when ever she, and the foundress of the order, Mother Kay, can fit it in their schedule.

Our New Mass

2009-09-29T14:13:00.001-04:00

What a great day we had at our first mass in our new location in the very welcoming Center for Spiritual Development, 1550 NE 26 St., Wilton Manors, Florida. Our next mass will be Sunday October 4, 2009 at 1:30PM.

Check out our website www.newdivinemercy.org and you will find out who we are and see some more pictures of us.

Vocations within the Divine Mercy community:

2009-05-03T18:01:00.003-04:00

We are actively seeking future priests, brothers and sisters to become respected and loved members of our community and to join hands with us to expand our mission .

There are now three of us, two priests and one deacon. At present we touch over 150 people weekly both in our homeless feeding program, three masses at assisted living facilities, three masses at the shrine and those who come to us for spiritual guidance.

We are speaking to you, priests and/or religious who are no longer active in their communities for whatever reason, to talk with us. Let us help you work through the hurt. betrayal and pain you might have felt from the institutional roman catholic church. Accept our invitation to share your love for Christ within a warm, nurturing and accepting community .

Knowing us is seeing what we do. Come check us out. 954 567 1930 Father John Joseph

New Artwork

2009-05-03T18:01:00.001-04:00

The famous painting, "The Back of Christ" , by Thomas Fundora, has been hung in the Chapel of Divine Mercy here in Wilton Manors for all to venerate and petition for God's Healing. For more Information. Father John Joseph Reid, Fathers of Divine Mercy, 954-567-1930

Homesless Outreach

2009-05-03T18:00:00.002-04:00

As the financial situation in America looks bleaker, we are finding more and more people becoming homeless. Our feeding has now increased to 80 people and we are doing the best with what we have. The last two weeks we ran out of food. People are hungry and in need of clothes and we give to them what we receive.

Please take a moment and 1. Pray for the ever increasing poor and 2. Make a donation by using Paypal through our website or mail us a donation at Divine Mercy Shrine, 2749 NE 10 Ave., Wilton Manors, Fl. 33334 954-567-1930 Thank you.

We are pleased to announce that 5 high school students have signed up to assist with our Adopt a Grandparent Program at the 3 Assisted Living Facilities we serve. The Adopt a Grandparent program is another part of our "Spread God's Mercy" outreach. We would be pleased to talk with youabout this program.

New Divine Mercy is 501c3 Approved !

2009-05-03T18:00:00.001-04:00

The Federal Government Internal Revenue Service has approved us as a 501c3 organization and you are now able to officially deduct your contributions to us on your Tax Return.

Do we need money, you bet we do. And we are not ashamed to tell you that we are in need to continue all the work that we do. We dont have a big parish and no big time contributors. We dont have any professional fund raisers drumming up money for us either.

Funny how we have kept our eyes on helping the poor rather than building cathedrals, buying fancy cars or living in palaces. If you have a few extra dollars that you know will be put to good use, rather than lining someone else's pockets, send it along . We thank you.

Ordination to Diaconate

2009-05-03T17:59:00.002-04:00

Brother Gregory Marciszewski, D.M. was ordained to the Diaconate by Archbishop John Joseph Reid, at the Shrine of Divine Mercy, on Sunday January 11, 2009. His wife Diane, Daughter Lindsay and her husband Bobbie Dippold , from Flint, Michigan, attended the ceremony. Deacon Gregory, (Rev. Mr. Gregory ) will continue advancing to the Priesthood, a life long dream of his. He, as well as his wife Diane, is a wonderful asset to the Mission of the Divine Mercy New Catholic Communities.

First year anniversary of the death of Metropolitan Nicholas Poulas:

2009-05-03T17:59:00.001-04:00

On Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 7 PM an Anniversary Mass will be held in the Shrine Chapel remembering the death of Metropolitan Nicholas. All are invited to attend the memorial Mass.

Lent, 2009

2009-05-03T17:58:00.000-04:00

Each Friday, 7 PM, during Lent, we celebrate Mass in the Shrine chapel as well as the stations of the cross. Come join us.

DIVINE MERCY MASS CARDS

2009-05-03T17:55:00.000-04:00

WE WILL PRAY FOR YOU AND YOUR SPECIAL INTENTION DAILY AT MASS AND OUR OTHER RELIGIOUS SERVICES. WE HAVE 6 MASSES WEEKLY. PLEASE SEND US THE NAME AND ADDRESS WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MASS CARD SENT AND ALSO THE NAME OF THE PERSON REQUESTING THE MASS CARD.

WE DONT SELL MASS CARDS . IF YOU CAN SEND US A DONATION FOR THE COST OF THE CARD AND MAILING, IT WOULD HELP US. AND IF YOU CANT AFFORD TO, WE WOULD NEVER SAY NO TO YOUR REQUEST.