The
COURIER
Easter Sunday, April 5
April 2015
www.dowcourier.org
Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona, MN
“W e
are the Easter P e o p l e a n d H a l l e lu ja h i s o u r s o n g ." - S t . J o h n P a u l II It was during his visit to Croatia in 1994, when Pope John Paul II boldly proclaimed, “Do not abandon yourself to despair. We are the Easter people and Hallelujah is our song.” St. John Paul II taught us many things, but persevering in hope despite suffering or challenging surroundings was one of his most pervasive lessons. From the moment he began his pontificate, he declared, “do not be afraid!” As we approach Holy Week and focus on the gift of selfless love that is the Holy Cross, the task of taking in the enormity of our Lord’s sacrifice can be overwhelming. So much so that we may dismiss it before it has a chance to reach our inner most being. We have heard the story before, like a familiar bedtime tale. We yawn, we smile, and cheer for our Savior. The pain can feel too much, too deep, too raw if we really meditated on the Cross; it’s easier to go through the motions and move right to the chocolate eggs … oh, I mean, the empty tomb. For in the eyes of the world, the Cross is ridiculous. It is suffering; it is hardship; it is pain. And in many eyes, it is needless pain. Our world continues to do everything it can to rid itself of any type of suffering. For the world, suffering is discouraging, despairing, unbearable. Indeed, John by: Theresa Martin, Associate Editor
Divine Mercy Sunday, April 12 Our Lord made it clear through St. Faustina, "Mankind will have no peace until it turns with trust to my mercy." For the 21st year, Divine Mercy Sunday being celebrated in Winona. Just what is Mercy Sunday and how do we prepare for it? In the 1930s a devout nun from the submitted by: Mary Zimmerman
Mercy Sunday, cont'd on pg. 5
The Crucifixion, by Cano Alonso
Paul II taught us that without Christ, suffering is hell. Yet, God does not operate with the world’s eyes. God sees eternity. God sees the effects of evil on the world: sin and eternal death. God is so great, so powerful, so loving, that He has taken suffering, Satan’s greatest tool of despair, and used it to bring eternal hope. For it was only through suffering that Christ redeemed the world. God conquered eternal suffering with Christ’s suffering on the Cross. Through this one Easter People, cont'd on pg. 17
INSIDE this issue
Married Couple to be Canonized read more about the holy parents of St. Thérèse of Liseux on page 4
The Rite of Election read how the diocese welcomed 127 people in this Rite on page 15
Giving Teens InterMISSION
a
Break
with
read about this event for youth on page 10