Divine Mercy Conference, Sacramento, CA

I am just returning from the Divine Mercy conference held in Sacramento on this September 12. For some the high point of the conference was the survivor of flight 1549, Mr. Fred Berreta. Although Mr Berreta's story is very inspiring, it was not the high point of the conference for me. The conference itself was well done, taking up most of one day, with guest speakers, a processing to the State Capital, deserted on a Saturday, yet with memorial to the sisters of mercy. I was surprised to see this statute and plaques commemorating the role of Catholic nuns during the gold rush days and in the settling of the west. It was particularly heartening to see the depiction pf one of the nuns in full habit as part of the scene, right on the grounds of the state capital.
And image of our lady of Fatima was brought up the steps and a rosary prayed, for all those involved in state law making.

Of particular concern to me was the rosary for our current governor, a nominal catholic himself, much like Mr Berreta prior to his Divine mercy experience, who is said to attend Mass at St. Monica's Parish, in well, Santa Monica, continues his support for pro-choice, government sanction of homosexuality and marriage, and seems to have no understanding of Catholic Social doctrine when it comes to service to the poor. Perhaps he may support the poor individually and privately. I must say though I do enjoy his movies, and for one will be glad when he returns to what he does best -- acting.

Mr Berreta had been a lapsed Catholic and returned to his faith, although lukewarm or nominally several years before that fateful flight.

His story is thus most inspiring and perfectly appropriate for this conference, which should have been better attended.

The night before boarding flight 1549, Mr Berreta had purchased a copy of the 7 Secrets of the Eucharist by Vinny Flynn, and oddly enough decided to beginning reading it during the flight. The afternoon before the flight he also prayed the chaplet of the divine mercy, a version of the rosary given to us by Jesus himself through St. Faustina. I also picked up a copy of St. Faustina's diary at the conference.

St. Faustina from Poland, was canonized by her countryman Pope John Paul II, who also initiated the feast day known as divine mercy Sunday. Our Lord gave St. Faustina the message to us all of the great mercy that Jesus has for us. Mercy is desired more than sacrifice, Mercy triumphs of judgement. Mercy is what Jesus demonstrated to us via his birth, foundation of His church, the kingdom of God/Heaven on earth -- the Catholic church.

Our Church, the kingdom that Jesus came to found, by choosing and training it;s first bishops and instituting the sacraments for our salvation is illustrative of His great His divine mercy. He also gave to St. Faustina the Divine mercy chaplet as well as designating 3:00pm each afternoon as the hour of mercy.

Thus Our Lord spoke to and through this wonderful Saint a word which is synonymous with prophet, in St. Faustina's case in that words many senses of understanding.

So, I was not surprised at all by Mr. Berreta's story -- not the lapsed part, not the nominal part, and certainly not in the events leading up to the miracle in the Hudson, which by the way is the name of his book, which can be ordered online from Easter's book story in Sacramento at http://www.eastersbooks.com/.

It turns out that Mr Berreta, and the rest of the passengers of flight 1549 not only survived the plane crash, but the icy cold water of the Hudson river. As Mr Hudson, explained, he does not fully understand why he was spared, while so many have died in plane crashes recently. This includes private and large airliners like Air France and Yemen Airlines. Why were these people spared, or why ask why? Why not just accept God's mercy? and carryout the responsibility that comes with that mercy telling the story to uplift the faith of others and give room to the Holy Spirit to convert.

This is exactly what Mr. Berreta is doing, by simply telling his story, of writing about what happened the afternoon before the flight "the hour of mercy" given to us by Jesus through St. Faustina, and he Reading of the 7 secrets of the Eucharist. By telling this story Mr. Berreta is sharing a secret, with which we Catholics are familiar -- the power and mercy of God -- and of which the world needs examples. This is a powerful example of the mercy of God.

The most important part of the conference for me was of course the Mass and the chance to partake of the Holy Eucharist. This Mass was all the more special to me for two reasons. First Saturday is the day I set aside to go to Mass and dedicate it exclusively to the release fo souls from purgatory, it being at the Devinne mercy conference; I asked fro His Divine mercy to be poured into these souls for their release. Second the Mass was presided over by
Fr. Sylvester Kwiatkowski, himself from Poland and devoted to St. Faustina.

Father Sylvester's homily included a story of his pilgrimage in Poland to St. Faustina's shrine. Further, although Father Sylvester now pastors three parishes in the foothills near Sacramento, Auburn, Nevada City, five years ago, when I first met him he was an associate at Sacred Heart Church in Sacramento on J Street. It was there that he took the time to introduce me to St.Faustina, and to provide me with a medial of her's, which he himself blessed, and which I wore until the image wore off. I still have the medal at my home alter area, much has changed for me since that time of extreme anxiety, when he provided me with that medal.

It is good to remember divine mercy, and hope, and St. Faustina; and of course during this year of the priest Father Sylvester, who made a difference in my life -- Jesus through St. Faustina through Father Sylvester; and the faith that we all share along with the sacraments; and apostolic sucession that links us directly to Our Lord Jesus.

Peace be with you.

I finish this as I ride an amtrak bus down the grape vine during an overcast and damp afternoon back into LA's union station and then home to Pasadena. Having been blessed by the grace from the conference.
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