LITURGY PLANNER – 2nd Sunday of Easter (A)

SUNDAY PREP

CATHOLIC WOMEN PREACHJEFF CAVINSBISHOP GOLKAKNOW BEFORE YOU GOONE MINUTE HOMILYPRIESTS FOR LIFESOCIETY OUR LADY OF TRINITYWORD ON THE WORD

↩️ ↪️ Catholic Women Preach

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Catholic Women Preach video series.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Words of the Presider God of infinite mercy, you look upon us and see the whole picture of our lives, loving us far beyond our weaker moments. With the courage of Saint Thomas, who sought a deeper understanding of your truth, we confidently bring our needs and the needs of our world before you.

Prayers of the Faithful

For the Church: That we may be a community that embraces difficult questions and critical thinking; may we never remain paralyzed behind locked doors of fear, but instead find the courage to step out into the world and continue the work of Jesus. We pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the World: In a time when the news is often filled with war and violence, we pray for an end to greed and the abuse of power. May God raise up leaders and citizens who are willing to think differently, challenge the status quo, and work for justice to build God's kingdom on earth. We pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For those in Special Need: For anyone struggling with despair, doubt, or the feeling that they are defined only by their shortcomings; that they may encounter the tender mercy of Christ, who lets us touch his wounds and reminds us that no single moment can ever break God's love. We pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the Local Assembly: For all of us gathered on this joyous Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday; that God will bless our imperfect efforts to care for our loved ones and grow in faith, empowering us to be ardent, courageous followers of Jesus in our daily lives. We pray to the Lord. R. Lord, hear our prayer.

Closing Prayer Loving God, you see our impatience and our fears, but you also see our growth and our sincere desire to do better. Hear the prayers we bring before you today. Give us exactly what we need to follow you faithfully, just as you did for your servant Thomas. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Jeff Cavins

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Sundays with Ascension video series "Encountering the Word."

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Words of the Presider: Let us come before our God, whose love and grace meet us in our suffering and fear. Trusting deeply in the gift of Divine Mercy, we offer our prayers for the Church and the entire world.

Petitions:

For the Church: That we may continue to draw deeply from the wellsprings of grace by devoting ourselves to the Apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer, just as the early Church did. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the World: For all people who are overwhelmed by the trepidations of life and locked behind closed doors of fear; that the Risen Christ may stand among them, speak "Peace be with you," and bring comfort to their hearts. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For all in Special Need: For those facing difficult life situations, suffering, or feeling trapped and unsure of where to turn; that they may encounter God’s amazing mercy and find profound healing, especially through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the Local Assembly: That our community, inspired by the legacy of Pope Saint John Paul II and the Lenten and Easter journey, may joyfully celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday by reaching out to experience Jesus in the sacraments and in one another. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.

Closing Prayer: Merciful Father, you sent your Son to breathe the Holy Spirit upon your fearful disciples and grant them the power of forgiveness. Hear the prayers we bring before you today. Pour out your divine mercy upon us, that we may be freed from our burdens and live confidently in your grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Bishop James Golka

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Diocese of Colorado Springs video series.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Words of the Presider: Gracious God, whose mercy endures forever, you come to us in our fear and breathe your life-giving Spirit upon us. With deep trust in your steadfast loyalty, we confidently present our needs and the needs of the world to you.

Petitions:

For the Church: That having encountered the Risen Lord, we may embrace our vocation to be sent forth into the world, sharing God's steadfast devotion and everlasting love with all people. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the World: For peace among all nations; that the shalom of Christ, which brings completeness and order as God intended, may overcome the barriers of fear, violence, and division. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For all in Special Need: For those who are paralyzed by fear, anxiety, or uncertainty, and who feel locked away from the world; that they may experience Jesus walking through their barriers to bring them comfort, healing, and his abiding peace. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the Local Assembly: That we may boldly pass the test of Saint Thomas, allowing the mercy of God to transform us so that our faith shows clearly in our hands, our actions, and the way we live our lives every day. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.

Closing Prayer: God of the new creation, you formed us in your image and continue to breathe your Spirit into us. Hear the prayers of your people, find us in our fear, and give us the grace to go out and do your will with confidence and humility. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Know Before You Go

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Dominican Friars, Province of St. Albert the Great.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Words of the Presider: God of New Life, in this season of Alleluia, you invite us to pivot from our Lenten obstacles and fears to the hope of the Resurrection. As we seek to experience the Risen Christ in our own lives, we confidently bring our needs and the needs of the world before you.

Petitions:

For the Church: That inspired by the early believers in the Acts of the Apostles, we may be a living testimony of hope, holding our gifts in common and ensuring that the physical and spiritual needs of every person are met with profound generosity. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the World: That leaders and nations may overcome the obstacles and rawness of our times, working together to bring forth visions of what is possible so that peace and justice are fulfilled before our very eyes. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For all in Special Need: For those who sit in unbelief, who struggle with doubt, or who are paralyzed by fear in their own locked rooms; that Christ may nudge them personally, allowing them to experience the healing touch of His love and an affirmation of faith. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the Local Assembly: That we may not bottle up the joy of the Resurrection, but rather embrace our honest questions, so that we may become authentic, bold proclaimers who share the good news of the Risen Christ in our homes, our workplaces, and our communities. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.

Closing Prayer: God of wisdom and hope, you see the spirit of Thomas within each of us. Meet us in our uncertainty, transform our doubts into a deep, personal faith, and give us the courage to not sit in unbelief, but to celebrate the joy of Christ’s new life wherever we go. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Dominican Friars, Province of St. Albert the Great.

↩️ ↪️ 1-Minute Homily

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and THE JESUIT POST.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Presider: Merciful Father, on this Divine Mercy Sunday, we celebrate the Risen Jesus, who enters the locked rooms of our lives to bring us Easter peace. With open hearts, let us present our petitions to him, trusting in his steadfast love.

Lector: Our response is: Lord, open our locked hearts.

For the Church: That, like the early disciples who huddled in fear, she may be opened by the Risen Christ; and that her leaders and people may invite the Risen Jesus into their locked rooms, receiving his gift of transformative inner peace. Let us pray to the Lord. R. Lord, open our locked hearts.
For Ourselves and All Seekers: That we may gain the courage to open the doors of our "Locked Hearts"; and that we may invite Jesus to heal our "Memories of Shame," break our "Bad Habits," comfort our "Vulnerable Parts," and free us to share our "Vulnerabilities." Let us pray to the Lord. R. Lord, open our locked hearts.
For Those Trapped by Fear: For all people in our world who are hiding behind locked doors of anxiety, trauma, or despair; that they may know the quiet entry of the Risen Jesus, who does not wait for doors to be unlocked, but enters gently to transform fear into "Transformation & Inner Peace." Let us pray to the Lord. R. Lord, open our locked hearts.
For Our Community: That as we celebrate this "Divine Mercy Sunday," we may experience "Inviting the Easter Peace" into the deepest places of our assembly; and that the light of Christ's mercy may radiate from us into our families and neighborhoods. Let us pray to the Lord. R. Lord, open our locked hearts.
For the Gift of Peace: For an end to violence and division in our world, that the Red Ray of Blood & Life and the White Ray of Water & Justification from the Risen Lord may wash away our hatreds and establish a true and lasting "Easter Peace." Let us pray to the Lord. R. Lord, open our locked hearts.

Presider: Lord Jesus, Risen Savior, you did not wait for the locked doors to open before showing your mercy. With praying and open hands, we ask you to enter into the locked places of our hearts and our world. Allow your Divine Mercy to bring the joy of your Resurrection to our deepest fears, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.nd keep us faithful to the path of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ Priests for Life

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and PRIESTS FOR LIFE.

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Words of the Presider: Let us bring our prayers before Jesus, our new and eternal High Priest, who has entered the sanctuary of heaven and now comes to us with healing in his wounds to proclaim the forgiveness of our sins.

Petitions:

For the Church: That she may continuously proclaim the boundless Divine Mercy of God, drawing all people to the cross and resurrection where the healing of Christ is poured out upon the world. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the World: That societies and nations may turn away from the darkness of sin—especially the sin of abortion—and be granted the grace, determination, and courage to build a true and lasting culture of life. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For all in Need of Healing: For those who carry the heavy burdens of the past, especially women and families who feel the pain of abortion; that through the intercession of Saint Faustina, they may confidently renew their trust in the Risen Lord and fully receive his infinite mercy and forgiveness. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For Our Local Assembly: That as we celebrate this Divine Mercy Sunday, we may be given the strength to repent of all our own sins and the grace to become dedicated instruments of God's steadfast love and forgiveness in our community. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.

Closing Prayer: Merciful God, under the New Covenant, your Son offered his own blood to secure our redemption and peace. Hear the prayers we bring before you today. Grant us the profound trust to receive your forgiveness and the resolve to cherish all human life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ SOLT Liturgy Prep

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and Society of Our Lady video series "Liturgy Prep."

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Words of the Presider: Brothers and sisters, humanity will never find peace until it trusts in Divine Mercy. As we stand before the Risen Lord who shows us his wounds and breathes peace upon us, let us bring our needs and the needs of the whole world to his heart.

Petitions:

For the Church: That we may be a community that moves from the "locked doors" of fear to the "overwhelming joy" of the Resurrection; and that we may be faithful to our mission to go forth and share our living encounter with Jesus with the whole world. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the World: That in the midst of all difficulties and unknowns, nations and their leaders may look to the Divine Mercy of God as the true source of peace, justice, and reconciliation for all people. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For all in Special Need: For those who, like Saint Thomas, find it difficult to believe or who are struggling to find energy for the journey of life; that they may be supported by our gift of faith and feel the rays of grace—the blood and water—flowing from the heart of Christ. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For the Local Assembly: That as we celebrate this Feast of Mercy, we may have the grace to say "Jesus, I trust in you" in every trial, releasing our burdens into his hands as his beloved children and friends. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.

Closing Prayer: God of Mercy, you revealed your heart to Saint Faustina and invited us to trust in you above all else. Hear the prayers of your people and grant us the courage to share the gift of faith with our families and friends, so that we may all walk together with the Living Lord. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

↩️ ↪️ The Word on the Word

Infographic/Bulletin Insert | Prayers of the Faithful

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 2.5 Pro. You are free to use the above infographic in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to TheWordThisWeek.net and EWTN video series "The Word on the Word."

Prayers of the Faithful

The following petitions are based on themes from the above video.

Opening Words of the Presider: Gracious and merciful God, as we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, we are reminded of your boundless forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that you look past our moments of doubt and see the good within us, we confidently bring our prayers before you.

Petitions:

For the Church and the Sacrament of Reconciliation: That as the Church continues Christ’s mission to forgive sins through the power of the Holy Spirit, she may always be a beacon of Divine Mercy, inviting all people to experience the healing grace of Confession. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For a Spirit of Grace Toward Others: That we may resist the temptation to define people by their shortcomings, mistakes, or moments of doubt, and instead, following the examples of Saint Thomas and Saint Peter, recognize and encourage the good they do as followers of Christ. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For a Renewed Outpouring of the Holy Spirit: That the same breath of peace Christ gave to his disciples in the upper room may fill our hearts today, acting as a constant Pentecost that empowers us to share the joy of the Resurrection. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.
For Those Burdened by Sin: That anyone who feels weighed down by guilt or afraid to ask for forgiveness may find the courage this week to seek God’s abundant mercy, trusting that Jesus is eager to offer them peace and reconciliation. We pray to the Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, you do not abandon us in our unbelief, but continually reach out to show us your love. Hear the prayers we offer you today. Grant us the grace to trust in your mercy and the strength to extend that same mercy to one another. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. us to be joyful witnesses of your Son. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

LITURGY PLANNING

Liturgy Notes

Divine Mercy Sunday (Year A)

2025 infographic based on Fr. Lawrence's 2017 column

This Sunday has a variety of names. It has been called Whitsunday, a reference to the old custom of the newly baptized wearing their white garments to worship today. It is, of course, the Second Sunday of Easter, but it used to be called the First Sunday after Easter. It is Divine Mercy Sunday, so designated by Pope John Paul II. And it is the Octave (eighth) Day of Easter.

The Octave is celebrated almost as though it is a repeat of Easter Sunday itself. We use the first preface of Easter, including the words “on this day above all,” just as we did last Sunday. We sing the double “Alleluia” at the dismissal, just as we did last week (and will do again on Pentecost to end the season). So the liturgy is suggesting that the joy of Easter Sunday should be so strong that we just can’t let it go.

But what is the source of that joy? Surely something more important than chocolate bunnies and colored eggs! Our readings offer us reminders. The psalm response proclaims, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.” That love is revealed through healing (first reading) and forgiveness (Gospel).

The newness of the Christian Gospel revolves around the love of God revealed in Jesus. Our God is not a condemning or threatening deity. Our God is love! That’s the good news that was revealed through Jesus. And that is what makes the Christian message attractive to people. Whether God’s love was revealed through the healing miracles of Jesus and his disciples or through the constancy of God’s forgiveness of our sins and failures, it is love that draws people into the church. That’s why Pope Francis keeps reminding us of the mercy of God that we are called to share.

The first reading says that “great numbers of men and women” were added to the church. That might remind us of our own responsibility to share the joy of God’s love with others so that they might come to share in the life of Christ today.

Look for Easter hymns today that support the continued joy of this Octave Day of Easter. See if you know any that also speak of freedom from sin through God’s mercy. This is not a day to focus on our sinfulness or threats of condemnation. It is a day to rejoice in God’s mercy that forgives and heals.

Petitions today might take a cue from Francis and pray that we will carry out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Remember that he added care for creation as an eighth work in each listing. Consider doing several petitions based on the different works of mercy (but not 16 petitions, instead combine or select).

Fr. Lawrence Mick was a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, columnist, workshop leader on parish renewal and the author of many books on the liturgy. He is a long-time contributor to Celebration and other national publications.

MUSIC - OCP