filipinocatholiccommunityrotterdam
Sta. Faustina Community of Rotterdam
Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbour.
Amen
The formation of the community...
In 2017, the Filipino Catholic Community of Rotterdam (FCCR) answered the call by Sis. Malou Pimentel of the Divine Mercy Apostolate Holland to host the Feast of the Divine Mercy. The feast of the Divine Mercy falls on the Sunday after the Easter Sunday celebration, that year it was April 23.
While some of the FCCR volunteers were already devotees of Divine Mercy even before this event, the community started its journey in deepening its devotion to the Divine Mercy at the start of 2017. A post valentine party was organized to raise the necessary funds for the hosting of the feast. This was the “Dine me, Dance with me…a post Valentine’s party” on 18 February 2017 at Huis van de Wijk Pier 80, Rotterdam. To prepare spiritually, a Divine Mercy Recollection was held on March 5, 2017 at Karel Doormanstraat 337 in Rotterdam.
On the feast day itself of the Divine Mercy, devotees from all over the Netherlands gathered to celebrate at the St. Bavo Church in Slinge, Rotterdam. FCCR volunteers worked hard and in unison to have a meaningful and memorable celebration.
A year after, in 2018, still energized with our hosting of the feast the previous year, we answered the call to again assist in the preparation of the feast organized to be held in Cathedral St. Bavo in Haarlem. So, on April 8, 2018, a bus full of FCCR volunteers and some guests went to Haarlem with food, flowers, decorations, and other things to arrange the feast day in the cathedral. At that time, the community realized that devotion to Divine Mercy for us was not just a once in a year thing. The Sta. Faustina Community of Rotterdam fellowship of FCCR devotees to Divine Mercy was formed and was sent off by Bishop Hendriks the celebrant of the feast.
Our beginnings…
As a group, the devotees with the help of Sis. Malou of the Divine Mercy Apostolate Holland organized first Fridays of the month cenacles to the Divine Mercy at our parish in St. Bavo Church. We invited everyone from our church to join in Chaplet prayers and reflections.
In 2019, the group organized the feast day of Divine Mercy to cater for the devotees living in the south of the Netherlands, in parallel with the celebration in Haarlem by the Divine Mercy Apostolate Holland. The feast day celebration was held in St. Michael Church, Breda, in cooperation with the Agustinus Parochie.
In addition to that, we started organizing a Eucharistic celebration devoted to the Divine Mercy on months with a fifth Sundays, where Chaplet and Divine Mercy prayers are prayed before the mass.
Our Devotion in times of uncertainty (pandemic)…
The group was still on the path of growing and deepening our devotion to the Divine Mercy when the pandemic occurred. The movement and gathering of people were restricted and the church was no exception. But our faith was stronger and deeper at that point, so the group organized daily online Chaplet and Divine Mercy prayers at 1800H. It was the group’s best solution to the uncertainty at that time.
The daily online prayers prepared as to organize Sunday online mass with our priests and the whole community, continuing our Eucharistic service to the community.
Now, moving forward…
When things cleared up, and people were allowed to gather again in the church, we slowly restarted the things we did before 2020.
Mass for the Divine Mercy (on a 5th Sunday) has been re-instated.
We resumed celebrating the Divine Mercy Feast Day celebration in our own parish, with the aim to provide an accessible venue for devotees living in the south.
There is a plan to start cenacles at the house of everyone willing to welcome the Divine Mercy at their home.
The community has started to introduce Sta. Faustina, the “Secretary of Divine Mercy” whose diary containing apparitions of Jesus Christ proclaiming his Mercy to all inspired the devotion to the Divine Mercy. And the very saint which our fellowship/community was named from.
And on October 7, 2023, a Sta. Faustina Feast will be organized by the group to mark her feast day on October 5 (her death anniversary).
REFLECTIONS ON DIVINE MERCY
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy: 365 Days with Saint Faustina.
These short yet insightful daily reflections are based on the wisdom found in the "Diary of Saint Faustina" and will enable you to ponder that wisdom every day of the year.
www.divinemercy.life
Interested in the devotion to the Divine Mercy? We’re here to help!
Want to welcome the Divine Mercy at your home with the whole family and close friends, contact us so we can arrange one.
Or do you have general question about the devotion to the Divine Mercy, we can help you with that!