On Divine Mercy Sunday, the message at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral was clear: God’s mercy is stronger than doubt, stronger than division, and meant for the whole world.
“Atheism and apathy exist,” said Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks in his homily. “However, God’s love and mercy are even stronger, and today, with faith and hope, we celebrate that God’s love is unconditional and that his mercy is divine.”
That message is rooted in the life of St. Faustina Kowalska, the Polish nun who experienced visions of Christ in the 1930s. In those visions, which she documented, Jesus called for trust in His mercy and urged the faithful to extend that mercy to others. The devotion was later approved by the Church and spread throughout the world.
A fellow Pole, St. John Paul II played a central role in elevating that devotion. He canonized Faustina in 2000 and established Divine Mercy Sunday as a feast for the universal Church. An image of him was placed in the sanctuary, near the altar, for the Mass.
In his homily, Archbishop Hicks pointed to John Paul II as a model of faith in action, describing a leader who confronted the challenges of his time not with force, but with deep trust in God.
“He combated atheism, apathy, communism, secularism. He took it all on,” Hicks said. “He didn’t use the weapons of the world. Instead, he used the most powerful weapons that exist: his faith in God. Prayer. Trust. Surrender.”
A Polish celebration in the heart of Manhattan
The Mass, organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York, brought together clergy, diplomats, and the faithful for a solemn celebration of the feast that falls on the Sunday after Easter.
The liturgy included a procession of Polish scouts and cultural associations carrying flags through the cathedral, a visible expression of faith and national identity. The celebration also reflected the long history of Polish Catholics in the archdiocese, a community that is one of the founding pillars of the Catholic Church in New York.
“It was an amazing opportunity to be here today,” said Mateusz Sakowicz, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York. “For us, being Polish, Saint John Paul II is an icon in so many dimensions, not only a spiritual leader, but also on a political front.”
Sakowicz noted that John Paul II’s influence extended far beyond Poland, pointing to his role in shaping history.
“He was so instrumental to the changes in our part of the world, but he was an inspiration to the whole world,” he said. “His perception of the world, his kindness, these are all universal values that we probably need in a very divided and turbulent world.”
In a city that draws people from every nation, the celebration of Divine Mercy took on a universal dimension.
“We believe that having such a Mass on this special day, on Divine Mercy Sunday here in the heart of Manhattan, is extremely important,” Sakowicz said. “Because we also reach out together to the broader world.”
On this feast, the Church proclaims a message that extends far beyond the walls of the cathedral: that the Risen Christ continues to call every person to trust in His divine mercy and to share that mercy with others.