STAMFORD—Hundreds of women gathered to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday with a Mass led by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano at the Parish of St. Cecilia-St. Gabriel followed by the first Connecticut Feminine Genius brunch hosted by the Sisters of Life.
“In the eyes of God all that is ordinary is to become extraordinary in Him,” Bishop Caggiano said during his homily.
Bishop Caggiano noted how the apostles were very ordinary men until chosen by Jesus.
“They were destined to become extraordinary,” he said. “We are here because Christ has called us; because in our ordinariness his grace is calling us to bring his grace, mercy and hope to our ordinary lives.”
Bishop Caggiano encouraged the women to have the courage, “to allow our love for him to shine through in this world that is becoming dark,” by practicing being more Christ-like in word and witness.
“You are already a genius in Christ,” he said, adding that the commitment to bring the message of Christ to others through love and courage in everyday life is a gift.
“Thank you for taking the time to be here today,” he said. “It is an Easter gift of encouragement and joy. Open your hearts to the message that comes to you this morning. May your work today begin to bear great fruit.”
The mass was followed by brunch at the Italian Center of Stamford and the topic for the day was, “Mercy, Love’s Second Name.”
“It’s very inspirational to see so many women,” said Marge Mullen, who attended the event with her sister Cathy and their mother, Sharon. “It’s a nice thing to do with other women,” she added.
The afternoon was filled with fellowship, friendship and faith with enlightened words and conversations about embracing what it means to give and receive mercy.
“Mercy is an undeserved love of God,” said Sister Faustina Maria Pia, one of the Sisters of Life to speak at the event, who also attended the morning Mass.
“I did nothing to receive this enormous gift of life,” Sister Faustina said, adding that trust is what allows us to receive God’s mercy. “God loves us just because we are his daughters. Our mistakes do not define us.”
“This inward healing of mercy is what we are aching for,” she said, adding that Divine Mercy Sunday, the second Sunday of Easter, is akin to baptism and the purity of restoration to better receive God’s love and mercy. “God’s mercy is for all of us. Pray for mercy in the whole world.”
Formed in New York by Cardinal John O’Connor, the Sisters of Life is a religious community of women who give themselves fully to the protection and enhancement of the sacredness of every human life, beginning with the most vulnerable.
“As women we have this unique capacity for love,” said Sister Virginia Joy, the keynote speaker at the inspirational brunch. “The cry of every human heart is love.”
“The most spectacular thing that happened to us is that we were loved into existence by God himself,” she said.
Sister Virginia Joy said depression, anxiety and unfulfillment could all be thought of as a divine invitation to look to God.
“Sin has made the heart tangled, hardened because of sin. Sin is its own punishment,” she said.
“Our job is to see the people God puts in our path and love them the way they need to be loved,” she said. “Mercy is both a gift we receive and a duty; something we receive and give to others.”
In 1995, Pope John Paul II wrote a Letter to Women, which emphasized the important role women play in society and the Church. The Pope spoke of the distinct attributes of women—receptivity, sensitivity, generosity and maternity—all of which make up the feminine genius. The namesake brunch borrows its name from those God-given attributes endowed upon women.
“He looked at all of creation and said it was not complete without you,” Sister Virginia Joy said inspiring women to be proud of their role in the church, the family and the world.
“It was a very moving speech and it was nice to see everyone come together,” said Kristin Schneider, a parishioner of The Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist in Stamford.
Fellow attendee Jennifer Marciano agreed.
“I love the fellowship and being around other Catholic women,” Marciano said. “It’s a great community with a shared purpose.”
Sister Virginia Joy challenged the women to, “leave here with a new resolve. Ask Him what His designs are for you,” she said, adding, “Saints are ordinary people with extraordinary openness to God.”
By Kathy-Ann Gobin
