Suggestions for PARISHES to encourage YOUTH to
celebrate the Year of Mercy

Pilgrimage – encourage YOUTH to pilgrimage with your parish, their family, or your parish youth
ministry, to St. Mary’s Cathedral to visit the Holy Door. The Pilgrim Prayer Book for School Visits is on
the archdiocesan website. Details on pilgrimage visits also on the website.

Reconciliation – Encourage YOUTH to receive the sacrament of reconciliation in your parish or at a
reconciliation service. There is an Examination of Conscience for Young People in The Pilgrim Prayer
book for School Visits in section 3.

Help YOUTH learn more about and engage in the Corporal Works of Mercy & Spiritual Works of
Mercy. See 2 summary handouts enclosed that explain the works and give suggestions on how to live
them out. YOU CAN COPY FREE OF CHARGE for youth and families in your parish / school / groups.
Include in your bulletin, hand out after masses, etc. License was paid for through Youth Office.

Encourage YOUTH to do service work where they can live out the works of mercy in your area. There
are probably already lots of great service / ministry that your parish engages in and that your
community offers for those in need. The Youth Commission came up with a list of organizations in
the Kingston area that receive donations (physical items and financially) and some are open to having
youth/young adult volunteers come and engage in corporal works of mercy. If you are interested in
more information on this list please contact the youth office at youth@romancatholic.kingston.on.ca

CHILDREN – COPY FREE OF CHARGE the handouts enclosed for children to colour. Hand out after
Mass to children. Invite grandparents, parents to take home for their children.
 Corporal Works of Mercy & Spiritual Works of Mercy Colouring Pages
 Corporal Works of Mercy Mini Booklet with Scripture Passages
 Spiritual Works of Mercy Mini Booklet with Scripture Passages

EVENTS: Invite and encourage youth (teens and young adults) in your parish to attend:
 Year of Mercy & World Youth Day Presentation by Sebastian Gomes from Salt & Light. (Fri.
May 13, 2016) at St. Mary’s Cathedral. All are welcome! Free will donation will be collected.
Refreshments to follow.
 St. Luke’s Production of Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy (Tues. Oct. 4, 2016) - a 90
minute dramatic presentation based on the life and message of St. Faustina at St. Mary’s
Cathedral. $20 per ticket. Here is a video to preface this drama event: What is Divine Mercy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj2pq7dhLzI&list=PL5sexwzkyqUXgYK9AJZTgt2cRcJBY0
hJR&index=13
 SHINE LIKE THE SON ANNUAL YOUTH DAY (Sat. Oct. 15, 2016) For Confirmandi and teens 1318 years of age. Theme this year is “Merciful Like the Father”. Held at Holy Cross C.S.S.

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET
 Teach YOUTH how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Invite them to the Church to pray it
together, invite families, teach them at a youth event or in your classroom visits.
 Enclosed is a handout on how to pray the chaplet that is easy for youth to follow.

Contemporary Christian Music with Theme of Mercy
 Use in prayer services, post to your social media pages, website, etc.
Most can be found on www.spiritandsong.com. You can also try searching Youtube for these
titles/artists. Pass along to your music ministry leaders too!
o All Creatures of our God & King (Arranged by Rick Modlin)
o As It is In Heaven (Matt Maher)
o Be Forgiven (Tom Booth)
o Come To Jesus (Josh Blakesley)
o Healing Waters (Trevor Thomson)
o Many and One (Steve Angrisano)
o Mighty to Save (Reuben Morgan & Ben Fielding)
o You Alone (Sarah Hart & Dwight Liles)
o Mercy (Matt Redman)
o Lord Have Mercy (Michael W. Smith)
o When Mercy Found Me (Rhett Walker Band)
o Amazing Grace (Chris Tomlin)
o Hymn for the Year of Mercy – can be found on youtube & googled

Online Videos on Mercy
 Share these videos on your parish social media outlets. Include a link on your parish website, or
show at a youth event in your parish or when you visit one of your parish schools.
 Beatitudes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxWCspyE7lg&list=PL5sexwzkyqUXgYK9AJZTgt2cRcJBY0hJR&index=4
 The Power of Confession - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C4hGM3ItKk
 How Do I Go to Confession? ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib8pzvnnL20&list=PL5sexwzkyqUXgYK9AJZTgt2cRcJBY0hJR&index=5

What is Divine Mercy? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj2pq7dhLzI&list=PL5sexwzkyqUXgYK9AJZTgt2cRcJBY0hJR&index=13

Crafts & Activities for Year of Mercy
 If you have someone in your parish who works with children / youth. Share these links if they
are interested in some artistic crafts and/or activities on mercy.
o Look To Him & Be Radiant Blog - http://looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.ca/2015/08/yearof-mercy-resources-all-ideas.html
o Mother of Mercy Messengers – has a CD Rom with activities to purchase but there are free
downloads on the website as well! - http://www.thedivinemercy.org/momm/worksheets.php
o Catholic Icing – tons of great craft ideas on mercy! http://www.catholicicing.com/?s=mercy

Youth Ministry Access – Centre For Ministry Development
 We have a diocesan subscription to this online resource. Prayer services, retreats, activities, etc.
on all sorts of topics including MERCY are available to download and use in parishes. For access
contact youth office. See monthly updates for recommended resources too!
All resources are available on the archdiocesan website on the Youth page & Year of Mercy page. More
resources will be added as they become available on the website and in the youth office updates.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF I CAN BE OF ANY HELP AT ALL IN YOUR PARISH PLEASE CONTACT
NADIA GUNDERT AT YOUTH@ROMANCATHOLIC.KINGSTON.ON.CA OR CALL 613-484-2446