‘Mercy Rocks’

Parsippany parish gets churchgoers ready for the Year of Mercy, WYD with worship concert

PARSIPPANY  Bishop Serratelli joined many Catholics from the Diocese and beyond, especially young people, on Dec. 5 at St. Christopher Parish here for “Mercy Rocks,” a worship concert to got them “fired up” about the Jubilee Year of Mercy and upcoming World Youth Day (WYD) 2016. It did so by presenting a mixture of media — music, video and witness presentations — and devotion — Benediction, Adoration, veneration of holy relics and a procession.

Guided by the theme of Divine Mercy, “Mercy Rocks” began with a procession of young people carrying the Cross of WYD and relics of St. John Paul II and St. Faustina Kowalska, both considered “apostles of Divine Mercy.” Then during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, people praised the Lord, singing and praying Divine Mercy Chaplet and taking the opportunity to receive Penance, which was heard by priests from St. Christopher’s and elsewhere. Members of the St. Pope John Paul II Society provided the music, said Father Jakub Grzybowski, parochial vicar of the Morris County parish, who organized the worship concert.

Following Adoration, two religious sisters gave short speeches about their vocations in Consecrated Life. Also, Father Miroslaw Krol of the Pope John Paul II Shrine in Linden in the Newark Archdiocese, who brought the relics, also spoke about the two saints. In addition, Bishop Arthur Serratelli led the Adoration and Benediction, spoke about the importance of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, blessed the congregation and then attended the concluding concert — a performance of charismatic by a group of four young people. During the concert, the faithful had an opportunity to venerate the relics of St. John Paul II and St. Faustina Kowalska, followed by a social, Father Grazybowski said.

“We are so grateful to Bishop Serratelli and the priests, deacons, seminarians, sisters and lay people for coming out and helping us to prepare this worship concert, which was sign of unity and community that had one goal: to praise our Lord for His Mercy. We want the young people to experience God’s forgiveness and get closer to God,” said Father Grazybowski, who was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Serratelli this past May.

Divine Mercy is based on the writings of St. Faustina, a Polish nun who followed Jesus’ command to spread the following message of the devotion before her death in 1939 — to ask for the Lord’s mercy, praying constantly, repenting for our sins and asking Him to pour out His mercy on the world; extend that mercy to others; and trust in him completely. During his pontificate, John Paul, also a native of Poland, established Divine Mercy Sunday on the Sunday after Easter.

“Mercy Rocks” also helped participating Catholics get ready for WYD, which next time will be held in Krakow, Poland, from July 25 to 31, 2016 with Pope Francis. Two video screens in the church displayed the lyrics to the spiritual songs and images of the Holy Father during the last WYD in Brazil. St. Christopher’s plans to display the WYD cross during the much-anticipated international event, said Father Joseph Buffardi, pastor.

“ ‘Mercy Rocks’ mixed together two cultures: technology and contemporary Christian music and traditional religious experiences, such as Benediction and Adoration,” Father Buffardi said. “Even the older people who came enjoyed it. It made an impact. It was well done,” the pastor said.