Issue 1.4 - May 12, 2025
This week, we're discussing how to participate in the Finding Hope Through Mercy Initiative throughout the year by exploring seasonal opportunities for mercy.
LITURGICAL CONNECTIONS
- Ordinary Time: Focus on the everyday nature of mercy in our lives
- Solemnity of the Sacred Heart (June): Emphasize Christ's compassionate heart through corporal works of mercy
- Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29): Highlight evangelization through spiritual works of mercy
- Assumption of Mary (August 15): Connect Mary's Magnificat to serving the lowly and hungry
- All Saints/All Souls (November 1-2): Focus on praying for the dead and honoring saints of mercy
- Christ the King (November): Reflect on Matthew 25 and serving Christ in others
- Advent/Christmas (December): Emphasize welcoming the stranger and caring for the vulnerable
MERCY TIP OF THE WEEK
Share the initiative with ministry leaders, discuss how their activities may already align with the Works of Mercy.
PROGRESS UPDATE
We've collectively completed over 250,000 acts of mercy! That's 25% toward our goal of 1,000,000, sharing hope through acts of kindness and service for others.
REMINDER
Link to the Diocesan webpage www.Mercy2025.org to facilitate the submission of Acts of Mercy.
What resources would help you share the initiative in the coming seasons?
Flyers
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Social Graphics
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Post Cards
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Posters
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Other (Email us your ideas.)
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SEASONAL MERCY ACTIVITIES
Each season offers unique opportunities for works of mercy! Here are seasonal ideas to engage your community throughout the remainder of the year.
Summer (June-August):
- Create a "Summer of Service" program for youth on break from school, list suggested service opportunities
- Create "Blessing Bags" filled with hygiene products for the homeless
- Organize neighborhood clean-up projects during longer daylight hours
- Collect school supplies for families in need before the new school year
- Host outdoor Mercy Events combining service with community building
Fall (September-November):
- Organize a "Harvest of Hope" food drive with fall-themed collections
- Create "Rake and Run" teams to help elderly neighbors with yard work
- Connect All Saints Day to learning about saints known for specific works of mercy
- Organize cemetery clean-ups and prayer services for All Souls Day
Advent & Christmas (December):
- Create an "Advent Calendar of Mercy" with daily acts of kindness
- Organize a giving tree with specific gift requests from local organizations
- Write get-well cards and prayers for those who are sick or homebound
- Make flower arrangements and notes for families who have lost loved ones, fulfilling the work of burying the dead
- Host a "No Room at the Inn" fundraiser for homeless shelters
Liturgical Feast Connections:
- Sacred Heart of Jesus (June): Host a blood drive ("giving drink to the thirsty")
- Assumption (August): Collect donations or create care packages for new mothers and babies (Can also be done during Respect Life in October)
- St. Vincent de Paul Feast (September 27): Organize a special collection for the poor
- All Saints/All Souls (November): Create a "Saints of Mercy" display highlighting different works
- Christ the King (November): Host a reflection on serving Christ in others
- Immaculate Conception (December 8): Focus on Mary's "yes" and our "yes" to serving others
CREATIVE APPLICATION
Consider creating a "Living Liturgical Calendar" display in your parish or school that visually connects the liturgical seasons with your mercy activities. This could be a bulletin board display or webpage that:
- Shows the current liturgical season with its colors and symbols
- Features photos of your community engaging in related works of mercy
- Includes upcoming mercy opportunities tied to feast days
- Incorporates QR codes linking to resources or sign-ups
This visual approach helps show how we already perform Works of Mercy and are living our faith throughout the liturgical year. You could invite different ministries to "adopt" specific feast days or seasons, organizing related mercy activities.
