GIBBSBORO – St. Andrew the Apostle Parish will host a Divine Mercy Feast on Sunday, April 27, celebrating the canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII. The liturgical celebration will begin with the 11:30 a.m. Mass followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the sacrament of reconciliation, recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction.
Last year, Pope Francis announced that he would declare Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II as saints at a single ceremony on April 27, the day Pope John Paul II instituted Divine Mercy Sunday worldwide in the year 2000. Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has continuously emphasized God’s mercy and readiness to forgive, particularly for those who recognize their need for pardon.
Msgr. Louis A. Marucci, pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, noted that earlier this year the parish restored a pulpit where Pope John Paul II stood when he delivered his address in Washington, D.C. in 1979.
After the ceremony, when the stage was disassembled, parishioner Master Sergeant John Delaney of the White House Communications Agency, (now deceased), requested that the pulpit be given to St. Andrew the Apostle parishioners, who were considering building a new church at the time.
The pulpit was used for approximately 10 years and was subsequently placed in storage. During the recent renovation of the church sanctuary earlier this year, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of St. Andrew as an independent parish, Msgr. Marucci and the parishioners had the pulpit restored and marbleized for posterity. The restored design intentionally exposed the portion of the pulpit touched by Blessed John Paul during his address. Pilgrims will be invited to lay their hands on the pulpit as they offer intercessory prayer on the Feast of Divine Mercy.
All are welcome.
St. Andrew the Apostle is located at 27 Kresson-Gibbsboro Road in Gibbsboro. For more information go to www.ChurchofStAndrews.org or call the parish office at 856-784-3878.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”