Swansea: Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy established

In the presence of an overflowing Church of the Sacred Heart at Morriston Swansea, Bishop Tom of Menevia Diocese officially read the Canonical decree establishing the Church as a Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy. After reading the decree, the 1st class relics of St Faustina, St John Paul II and St Theresa of Kolcutta (Mother Theresa) were venerated.

The morning began with the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy led by the parish groups who are involved in the Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy - the parish sisters -Daughters of the Sacred Heart and the Missianries of Charity, the parish SVP, the parish Legion of Mary, the parish youth to Lourdes group and the SOS Divine Mercy Chaplet Association for the sick and dying.

The initial idea of the Chapel of Mercy began in time for the Year of Mercy and became a focus of prayer and outreach to those imploring mercy for themselves and by showing mercy to others. Having the popular Chapel which is open each day approved as a Diocesan Shrine came as a result of the enthusiasm of the parish priest Fr Jason and the assistant priest Fr Andrzej. Both priest have a strong devotion to the Divine mercy and take an annual parish pilgrimage to the Shrine at Kracow. The priests also are chaplains at the local general hospital which has a 24 hr A and E department and began an SOS Chaplet association now comprising of 100+ parishioners who promise to pray the Chaplet when they receive a text message of the name of a person who has been given the last rites.

The beautifully decorated Chapel with the Divine mercy image and statues of St Faustina and St John Paul II, is home to two large Reliquaires to display the relics of the saints. Fr Jason met Mother Theresa when she came to Swansea in 1996 ad with her canonisation in the Year of Mercy and his previous involvement with the Missionaries of Charity was able to obtain a 1st Class relic of Mother Theresa which is now locvated int he Chapel.

The parish of the Sacred Heart has an active SVP Conference who in the year of Mercy initiated a voucher scheme with the local Fish and Chip shop to provide a hot meal for callers. The Parish SVP is involved with the hospital visiting The parish has many Filipino and Kerelite families who work in the hospital and it is hoped that Nurses for Divine Mercy can be established to further the annual celebration of the World day of prayer for the Sick each Feb 11th.

During the close of the Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis wanted there to be permanent reminders of Mercy in each Diocese these would serve as a focus for mercy. One fruit of the Holy Year was the Day of the Poor, and so it was a fitting way on its first celebration to designate the Church of the Sacred Heart as a Shrine of Divine Mercy for the Diocese of Menevia so as to serve as a continuous reminder of the Holy Year and for the need to pass on Divine Mercy to others through the works of Mercy.

Donations for the Chapel and various initiatives have been received from various individuals who wish to promote the Divine Mercy and by extension the works of Mercy. The petition book placed within the Chapel will be used each Friday during the Hour of Mercy celebration at 3pm.

To make a donation to the shrine and to works of mercy or request prayers at the Hour of Mercy devotion or to have a name of a Dying family member prayed for by the SOS Chaplet then email Fr Jason corjesutreforys@yahoo.com

The text of the Decree follows:

ESGOBAETH MYNYW - DIOCESE OF MENEVIA
THE RIGHT REVEREND THOMAS MATTHEW BURNS
By the Grace of God and the Authority of the Apostolic See
BISHOP OF MENEVIA

DECREE

DESIGNATING AND APPROVING THE CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART
AT MORRISTON AS A DIOCESAN SHRINE OF THE DIVINE MERCY

With the Year of Mercy 2015-2016, the Parish of the Sacred Heart at Morriston became a focus of prayer and good works resulting in the increased veneration of the Image of the Merciful Jesus and the fulfilment of the works of Mercy. The Holy Year of Mercy gave rise to many initiatives within the parish so to deepen trust in the Lord, especially in moments of despair and difficulty, and to encourage the faithful to become instruments of Mercy in various situation. In addition, with the presence of Morriston Hospital and Ty Olwen Hospice within the parish, there arose a special outreach to the sick and the dying.

During the Holy Year of Mercy, a first class relic of St Faustina was presented to the parish from the Shrine at Krakow Poland and also within the Holy Year the canonisation of Mother Teresa of Kolkata was celebrated, allowing a further witness to the importance of Works of Mercy. The Chapel of Mercy is open each day and has become an increasingly popular place of prayer for parishioners, for nurses and patients, and indeed the wider community who come to nourish their faith, to ask for the gift of God's mercy and to implore mercy for themselves, their loved ones and for the whole world. In this Chapel the relics of St. Faustina, Mother Teresa and St John Paul II, together with the Divine Mercy image, are kept and venerated, and the various feasts and events connected with the Saints and devotions are celebrated.

Wherefore, having carefully considered the law and the facts and having carefully studied the Statutes of the Shrine, and for the greater glory of God in His ineffable mystery of the Divine Mercy, on the first celebration of the World Day of Prayer for the Poor, I hereby approve, by means of this Decree, the Statutes of the Shrine in accordance with the norms of canon 1231 1-2.

Furthermore, for the good of souls, I, the undersigned Bishop of Menevia, do hereby by means of this Decree, designate and approve the Church of the Sacred Heart at Morriston as a Diocesan Shrine, in accordance with canon 1230.

At this Shrine, the means of salvation are to be supplied more abundantly to the faithful by the diligent proclamation of the word of God, the suitable promotion of liturgical life especially through the celebration of the Eucharist and of penance, and the cultivation of approved forms of popular piety (Canon 1234 1 of the Code of Canon Law).

A duplicate copy of this Decree is to be hung at the Shrine in an appropriate place where it can be easily seen and read by the faithful.

Given on this 19th day of November, in the Year of Our Lord 2017.

Bishop of Menevia Chancellor