April 29, 2019

Westfield parish hosts Divine Mercy Sunday celebration

REGIONAL
By Kathleen Harrington

Maureen Digan, whose miraculous healing led to the canonization of St. Faustina, was a featured speaker at the Divine Mercy celebration at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield. (IObserve photo/courtesy of Transitional Deacon Duy Lee)

WESTFIELD – The joy and excitement of Easter gave way to Divine Mercy Sunday with a unique celebration at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Westfield.

A carefully planned afternoon program allowed people the opportunity to take part in eucharistic adoration, confession, a talk by Maureen and Bob Digan, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and veneration with a relic of St. Faustina.

The international feast day activities began as the 11 a.m. Mass came to a close with the start of adoration. While the Chaplet in song filled the church, Mass participants knelt in silence.

“St. Faustina wrote that Jesus wants to grant complete forgiveness of sins for the souls who go to confession and receive holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday,” explained Father Daniel Pacholec, pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish. “The opportunity drew 43 people into the confessional.” 

It was a steady stream of people visiting the chapel for confession.

“There were twelve people ahead of me,” said Bob Ragone, parishioner at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. “The wait was worth it,” he added with a smile.

Adoration in the main church was followed by a talk by Maureen and Bob Digan. Diagnosed as a teenager with lymphedema, the incurable disease caused swelling in Maureen’s legs. Enduring surgeries and the amputation of one leg, Maureen told the audience, she was angry with God. Over the hour, the couple used photographs to share the story of their love, marriage, and the trials and heartbreak of their family.

It was an old film about Sister Faustina and her diary, and the message of God’s Divine Mercy, that inspired Bob Digan to take his family to Poland and the tomb of Sister Faustina. “I knew Maureen and Bobby (their son) would be healed,” said Bob. They made the trip in 1981, the first of several such journeys.

Maureen’s miraculous healing at the tomb of Sister Faustina led to the nun’s canonization in 2000.  

“We returned to Poland the next year in thanksgiving,” said Bob. The couple also attended Faustina’s elevation to sainthood by Pope John Paul II. They sat with St. Faustina’s biological sisters that day.

St. Faustina is called an “Apostle of Divine Mercy” by the Catholic Church.

“Intercessory prayer is important,” said Maureen. “If it wasn’t for my husband praying for me, I wouldn’t be here. Suicide ran through my mind,” she continued. “Pray for others. God’s divine mercy is for everyone.”

Following the talk and a brief question and answer session, the Eucharist was exposed and it was time for the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The prayer was begun by Bob, a deacon at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish in Lee. Sarah Miller, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish led the audience in the singing of the Chaplet.

“I thought it was beautiful,” said Lisa Stawasz, a parishioner and religious educator at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. “Actually, the singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet is one of my all-time favorite things. I just feel so at peace.”

“It always moves me to tears,” said Melissa Taylor, a member of the Pastoral Council/Evangelization team that planned the day.

“I think the Divine Mercy celebration here is important for our parish,” said Sue Fratini, another member of the Pastoral Council/Evangelization team. “There’s always big crowds in Stockbridge and here you can hear in the quiet, you can hear the message. It’s good to have a choice.”

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22NEWS and in the Berkshires on Sunday mornings at 5:30 a.m. on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA.