External Site/Courtesy:https://www.learnreligions.com/epiphany-a-holy-day-of-obligation-542428

https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/9352/documents/2016/11/HOLY%20DAYS%202019-2020%20STMMR.pdf

The Roman Calendar for A.D. (2021) 
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December 

External Site. Courtesy: Roman Catholic Calendar for A.D. 2021 (romcal.net)

Courtesy Learn Religions, "Roman Catholic Liturgical Calendar:
 [  https://www.thoughtco.com/roman-catholic-liturgical-calendar-4120560 ]

Courtesy USCCB:
.....to plan ahead—especially when it comes to major liturgical feasts that change dates year-to-year! To help you keep track of everything coming up in the 2019 calendar year,. See list of the Holy Days of Obligation for the year, as well as solemnities and some other special celebrations within the Church’s calendar. This list is not exhaustive—you can visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website for the full liturgical calendar. Holy Days of Obligation are marked below, but remember, Sundays are always obligatory!....
http://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/liturgical-calendar/upload/2020cal.pdf 

A Few Catholic Sites   

EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network)

Sunday Mass:

Daily Mass

https://www.ewtn.com/

https://www.ewtn.com/tv/schedule/united-states/

https://www.ewtn.com/radio/podcasts/daily-mass-ENMASS

Vatican News: All Prayers

The Pope is Televising his Mass for those who cannot get to Church!

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/prayers.html

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Chiesa.messa.html

USCCB (Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

USCCB "Daily Readings" (English)

USCCB "Daily Readings" (Spanish)

http://www.usccb.org/

www.usccb.org/bible/readings/

www.usccb.org/bible/lecturas/

Mass Readings

https://www.catholicgallery.org/mass-reading/

Catechism of the Catholic Church

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/

Archdiocese of Washington

ADW TV Mass

https://adw.org/

https://adw.org/parishes-masses/sunday-tv-mass/

CatholicTV Mass [Watch (English)]

CatholicTV Mass [Watch (Spanish)]

Watch Mass at the Basilica of the Nat. Shrine (Wash. DC) via CatholicTV

http://www.catholictv.org/watch-live

http://www.catholictv.org/esne-live

http://www.catholictv.org/masses/national-shrine-mass

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington, DC)

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Wash. DC - Mass)

Basilicas in the USA

http://www.nationalshrine.com/

https://www.nationalshrine.org/mass/

 
http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/data/basUS.htm

Prayers (201)

https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=219

National Catholic Broadcasting Council
* Daily TV Mass *
P.O. Box 54035
Markham Ontario L3P7Y4
1-888-383-6277

www.dailytvmass.com

www.youtube.com/dailytvmass

Catholic Gallery

Catholic Gallery Mass Readings

https://www.catholicgallery.org/

https://www.catholicgallery.org/mass-reading/

Books of the Bible

http://usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm

https://stcatherinemd.org/library

Catholic Charities (Archdiocese of Washington)
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Catholic Charities (USA)
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Opportunities for Giving

https://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/
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https://catholiccharitiesusa.org/
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http://www.usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/index.cfm

The Catholic Faith. On demand: Get thousands of movies, programs, audio, and books instantly...Watch.....Learn.....Share

https://formed.org/#Home

 Parish Forms

Parishioner Frequently Request Forms

  This form can also be downloaded-- from: http://stjohnschurchmd.org/parish-forms

The Divine Mercy Sunday or the Second Sunday of Easter and this year, falls on: April 19, 2020. It is the time of great mercy. Our Lord’s promise is recorded three times in the Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska.  "The soul that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishments." (Diary 300). On this day, the floodgates of heaven will be completely open with an outpouring of extraordinary graces and indulgences.  A plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions. 

All are invited to celebrate with us this monumental day.

Divine Mercy Sunday and the Extraordinary

Grace Promised by Jesus

On April 30, 2000, His Holiness Pope John Paul II, in response to the wishes of the Christian faithful, declared that "...the Second Sunday of Easter henceforth throughout the Church will be called Divine Mercy Sunday." (cf. Homily April 30, 2000 and Decree: Congregation for Divine Worship and The Discipline of the Sacraments).  The desire for this celebration was expressed by Our Lord to Saint Faustina Kowalska and can be found recorded in her Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul:

...My daughter, tell the whole world about My incon­ ceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of grace upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion shall attain complete  forgiveness of sins and punishment.

On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are open. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity ...

The Feast of Mercy emerged from My vry depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary, 699).

Some Ways Individuals Can Prepare for

Divine Mercy Sunday

1. Deepen your Faith and Trust in Jesus

   Trusting in Jesus is the essence of the message of mercy. Anyone with a vessel/container can draw water from the fountain of mercy. The water is there for us, and no one is excluded. All we need is a vessel to obtain mercy. Trust in Jesus Christ is the vessel. The size of the vessel is proportionate to amount of mercy that will be received.

2. Make the 9 days Novena of the Divine Mercy, From Good Friday to the following Saturday, pray the novena of the Divine Mercy preferably at 3 PM.

3. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation

   Go to confession reguarly. It is one of the requirements  to receive the promises of Divine Mercy Sunday Celebration.

4. Celebrate the Divine Mercy Mass

   Participate in the Divine Mercy Sunday Mass and receive the Holy Eucharist. The Mass is celebrated at 3 PM.

5. Perform Works of Mercy

   Performing Works of Mercy is a Way of Christ and opening ourselves to become more like Him. There are seven Corporal and seven Spiritual works of Mercy.

6. Pray and Plead for Mercy

   God cannot force anything on us, not even his mercy. Ask and it will be given to you. Be bold & ask for  lots of mercy.

7. Pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy daily

The Divine Mercy Novena

Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy

which would begin on Good Friday.  He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:

"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy."

In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:

"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls."

The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:

DAY 1 (Good Friday)  - All mankind, especially sinners 

DAY  2 (Holy Saturday) - The souls of priests and religious

DAY 3 (Easter Sunday)  - All devout and faithful souls

DAY 4 (Easter Monday) - Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him

DAY  5 (Easter Tuesday) - The souls of separated brethren

DAY  6 (Easter Wednesday) - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children

DAY  7 (Easter Thursday) - The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy

DAY  8 (Easter Friday) - The souls who are detained in purgatory; 

DAY  9 (Easter Saturday) - The souls who have become lukewarm.

During the Solemn Novena leading to Divine Mercy Sunday,  the Chaplet of Divine Mercy should be offered each day for the  day's intentions.

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First Day
DAY 1 (Good Friday) - All mankind, especially sinners

"Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.                                     

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Second Day
DAY  2 (Holy Saturday) - The souls of priests and religious

"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious,

and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind."

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

* In the original text, Saint Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use.

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Third Day
DAY 3 (Easter Sunday) - All devout and faithful souls

"Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

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Fourth Day
DAY 4 (Easter Monday) - Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him

"Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me,

I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

*Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology.

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Fifth Day
DAY  5 (Easter Tuesday) - The souls of separated brethren

"Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church*,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

*Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that usage. Saint Faustina herself, her heart always in harmony with the mind of the Church, most certainly would have agreed. When at one time, because of the decisions of her superiors and father confessor, she was not able to execute Our Lord's inspirations and orders, she declared: "I will follow Your will insofar as You will permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus " I give priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with which You speak to me" (497). The Lord confirmed her action and praised her for it.

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Sixth Day
DAY  6 (Easter Wednesday) - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children

Today bring to Me the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children,

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

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Seventh Day
DAY  7 (Easter Thursday) - The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy

Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy*,

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

*The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit,"we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren.

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Eighth Day
DAY  8 (Easter Friday) - The souls who are detained in purgatory

"Today bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of Purgatory,

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice."

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

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Ninth Day
DAY  9 (Easter Saturday) - The souls who have become lukewarm.

"Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm,

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

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Courtesy: ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm
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Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987 Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.
2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
   Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
   For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):
   Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

• Each Monday after 8:30am Mass………………………………….......9AM – 12 Noon

• Thursday before 1st Friday of the month
  

• Holy Hour of Reparation(Third Fridays--as announced in "The Week Ahead" Section)................................................................................……...........3PM – 4PM

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

There are four elements of the rite of Benediction: Exposition, Adoration, Benediction, and Reposition. (Ref: “Blessed Sacrament Prayer Book” ISBN: 1936020409, pgs--42-45)