17th Dublin International Divine Mercy Conference 2008

Held on the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of March 2008 Main Hall RDS. Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

The Theme for the Conference was:

"That they may all be one" John 17:21

Fr. Cathal Price C.C. Fr Cathal Price is a Curate in the Parish of Saint John the Evangelist in Kilbarrack on the North side of Dublin. He has been involved in organising these Divine Mercy Conferences from the beginning.
Sacrament of Reconciliation	Eucharistic Holy Hour
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Theresa Bonapartis Theresa Bonapartis has been involved in post abortion work for over 15 years. She currently directs Lumina, a post abortion referral service. Lumina refers those suffering from a past abortion to the help they need in order to heal. Theresa, along with Fr. Mariusz Koch, CFR conducts training seminars on post abortion for clergy. In 2002 the testimony of her personal abortion was included in the annual Conference of Catholic Bishops. She is active in Operation Outcry/ Silent No More, a group of women speaking out about their abortions in hope of getting others to come forward for healing. She begins the 12th year of working with The Sisters of Life in their co-authored healing ministry "Entering Canaan, a Sacramental Journey to the Inheritance of Mercy". Two years ago Theresa and The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal began "Days of Prayer & Healing" for men suffering from a past abortion.
First Talk	Second Talk
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Fr. Matt Mauriello Fr. Matt Mauriello, was ordained in 1988. He served as Chaplain of the Catholic University in the Diocese of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He is currently completing his STL thesis on the Theology of Mary at the International Marian Research Institute in Rome. He has been Pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Bridgeport since 2002. He was the United States National Co-ordinator for the World Congress of Mercy held in Rome from 2nd - 6th April 2008.
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Fr Brendan Purcell Fr Brendan Purcell was born in Dublin and entered Holy Cross College, the Dublin diocesan seminary, in 1960. He studied philosophy at UCD, and theology at the Pontifical Lateran University whiles a seminarian at the Irish College, Rome. Ordained in 1967, he returned to UCD where he was awarded a MA in philosophy in 1969. He then studied in Louvain for a doctorate in psychology which he finished in UCD. He was a Senior Lecturer in the Dept. of Philosophy at UCD where he has taught psychology .and philosophy since 1972. He has been Chaplain to the Sisters of Charity, Donnybrook, 1972-1989, and since then to the Little Sisters of the Poor, Holy Family Residence, Roebuck Road. Fr. Brendan is a member of the Focolare Movement that wishes to contribute to the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer 'that all may be one.' The movement's official name is "The Work of Mary", and its members wish to relive her work by bringing Jesus into every aspect of modern life, including economics, politics, art, education and medicine.
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Eddie Stones Eddie Stones with his wife Lucy have a ministry of healing in Clonfert, Co. Galway. He got a calling to start a house of prayer and his ministry is centred on the Eucharist. Thousands of pilgrims come each year to Clonfert to pray at this centre.	Fr Emmet O Hara Fr Emmet was the Mass celebrant on Saturday and gave this inspiring homily. He is a very enthusiastic young Pallotine priest. His talk is only available in audio format.
Eddie's Talk	Fr Emmet's Homily
Eddie's Talk for diallup	Mass Homily Audio
Eddie's Talk Audio

"That They May All Be One"

By Gerard Duff B.A M.A.

The Conference this year takes its theme from John 17:21 "that they all may be one". In his gospel St. John gives us a unique insight into the mind and heart of Jesus.

In this context Jesus is shown as the High Priest offering His prayer for unity for His apostles and all who would come to believe through them, effectively this means the whole church. The second line in the prayer goes on "As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." This line shows us the wondrous nature of the unity that Jesus prayed for, since the Church is to share in the very life of God.

The union that exists between the Holy Trinity is one of "essence and will¹". The essence is the love that is willed and shared between each member of the Trinity in a completely perfect way, and which we receive as Divine Mercy. In a similar manner the Mystical Body of Christ that is the church comprising of the Pope, Bishops, Priests and the faithful are to be united in three ways - "a union of life flowing through the sacraments, a union of faith, and a union of supernatural love²". In this way the church shares through grace the life Of God. Through Jesus this special union makes us part of the family of God. We are his adopted children, sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Christ, and heirs with Him of the Father.

The concern of Jesus is that there should be peace and harmony in the church so that it may grow and develop. This special relationship demonstrates to the world that Jesus is the Son of God and founder of the Church, and its members have the sonship of God and are loved by Him. From the very beginning the unity of the church has been challenged by the Church's enemies as evidenced in later times by the heresies that confronted her; and in our time by materialism, indifference, disobedience and religious syncretism (a la carte religion). As well there are philosophies that encourage us to think of God as dead, and those that advocate unique rights over the human body encouraging what the late Pope John Paul 11 referred to as a "culture of death" in our society. In this spiritual war no one should remain passive. We should combat these trends by being obedient to the Pope and clergy as well as embracing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

And by doing all that we can to preserve unity in the church: "Stand firm in faith, strengthen the weak, rise up the fallen and defend the persecuted³".

The Church is brought forth in the blood and water flowing from the pierced heart of Jesus and is a symbol of it. Devotees of Divine Mercy will note that the image of Jesus the Divine Mercy shows Jesus with His right hand extended in blessing and the left pointing to blue and red rays emanating from His breast. The blue stands for the water, which makes souls righteous and the red, is the blood, which is the life of the soul. The image is meant to remind us of the continuing mercy afforded to us by Jesus, neither should we forget as we gaze upon the image that this mercy is flowing through the Church.

The last part of Jesus' prayer expresses His desire to see all the faithful in heaven "Father I desire that those you have given me may be with me where I am".

I find myself humbled as I write this article having researched the meaning of unity and considered the gift that the Church is. I am wondering what more could Jesus do for me? And I think that the next time I pray, "Jesus I trust in you" I will have greater sense of hope and thankfulness.

Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul © 1987 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263. www.thedivinemercy.org Used with permission and gratitude.