“Only last week did we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus,” Bishop del Riego said during his homily. “He went through suffering and pain, but did he die because he deserved it? No. He died for only one reason: to bring us life. The will of the father was not for Jesus to suffer but to redeem us.”
Beginning on March 29 and continuing each day of the novena, one of the participating parishes hosted spiritual activities, including the recitation of the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and talks, music or Mass.
Participating parishes included: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Rancho Cucamonga; San Secondo d’Asti, Guasti; St. Peter and St. Paul, Alta Loma; St. Margaret Mary, Chino; Sacred Heart, Rancho Cucamonga; St. Joseph, Upland; Our Lady of Lourdes, Montclair; St. Paul the Apostle, Chino Hills and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
On Divine Mercy Sunday, the celebration began with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Eucharistic procession and benediction and concluded with a Mass celebrated by Bishop del Riego and a reception. A crowd of about 950 processed around the parish´s parking lot, praying the Divine Mercy chaplet before Mass.
The multicultural Mass featured readings and music in Igbo, Spanish and English. Bishop del Riego drew on the readings in calling the faithful present to be witnesses to Christ’s mercy. He showed how God’s mercy has been present throughout history and urged the participants to give thanks to God for his mercy through deeds and actions.
“Jesus is mercy incarnate,” Bishop del Riego said. “If we are going to witness to this, we need to do it in such a way that people will see and believe.”