{HOME}
{ CONTACTS} {GIFT
SHOP} {MEDJUGORJE}
{ABOUT US} {APPARITIONS}
{DEVOTIONS} {SPONSORS}
{PICTURE GALLERY} {PICTURE
OF THE MONTH} {GOSPA'S
CORNER} {POW GROUP}
{PRAYER ROOM} {RESOURCES}
{WHAT'S NEW}
Divine
Mercy Billboards
By
Jean Mark
Divine Mercy For All
Divine Mercy For All (DMFA) is a Sacramento based committee whose sole purpose is to get the message of Divine Mercy out to the community through outdoor billboards and Parish presentations.
What is Divine Mercy?
The message of Divine Mercy is simple. God loves us -- all of us, and He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins… …so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.
St. Faustina
This message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on writings of St. Faustina an uneducated Polish nun. In obedience to her spiritual director, St. Faustina recorded the revelations she received about God’s mercy.
St. Faustina’s Diary records Jesus’ own words on the importance of the Divine Mercy image:
Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and throughout the world.
I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over its enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I myself will defend it as My own glory. (Diary 48)
I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature" :Jesus, I trust in You." (Diary 327) “By means of this Image I shall be granting many graces to souls…
…so let every soul have access to it.”
Our Lay Group Divine Mercy For All (DMFA)
“…so let every soul have access to it” the quote above is the heart of our mission. The Divine Mercy For All (DMFA) goal is to reach out to the community at large and also to increase devotion and awareness to Divine Mercy within the Catholic church. The DMFA billboard campaign is a unique opportunity to bring His message of Mercy out to everyone in the community…even to those outside of the church. The DMFA parish talks teach parishioners about Divine Mercy and its devotional practices and through contributions, it provides an opportunity to for parishioners to get on board and help to evangelize to others!
People are really excited to be a part of the billboards. We’ve had many individuals sponsor a billboard for a month and even several prayer groups sponsor several billboards!
With 10 billboards running every month, we reach anywhere from 80,000 to 120,000 people per DAY! This is a great way to evangelize!
DMFA’s goal is to continue this campaign through Divine Mercy Sunday 2008. If billboards and funds are available, we hope to increase our exposure throughout our diocese the month just before Easter.
How DMFA Began
This project began one day after Eucharistic Adoration when my dear friend Alice excitedly shared a Marian Helper Magazine article about a man, Joe Cannon, who was putting up billboards on the East Coast. Alice thought we should do something here on the West Coast and she insisted I look into it. Normally, she is not that persistent, but I felt her urgency. Researching vendors and prices, I hoped to appease both Alice and my friend Jean, who had also gotten excited about this article. The next day, I brought the magazine to my spiritual director’s attention, ready for it to be rejected. To my surprise, he thought it was a great idea! He was also certain it was something the Bishop would endorse. As we left our meeting, I was feeling a bit daunted as to how to proceed. That's when we noticed Deacon Don DeHaven in the lobby engaged in conversation. The priest grinned and said, “There’s your man. He gives parish missions on Divine Mercy all over the diocese!” I was amused at this God-incidence and waited for Deacon Don to finish his conversation with another parishioner.
After introductions, I gave the article to Deacon and stated, ”Here, I think God might want us to do this”. After a long silence, Deacon looked at me squarely and said, “As it turns out, I am carrying a First Class relic of St. Faustina in my hand and I was anxious to end my conversation so I could put it away for safe keeping.” St.Faustina was there interceding! Deacon Don then added, “Did you know I was in the billboard business?” I knew then this was God’s plan and I felt blessed to be a messenger. We both laughed with joy at God’s wondrous plan.
Deacon took the magazine home and we both investigated billboard companies. CBS, an international company, was the most accommodating. My friend Jean, who originally urged me on, inquired about the status and when I told her all that transpired, she enthusiastically joined our little family. She blesses us with her zeal and efficiency to get things done. By the grace of God, and with the approval of Bishop Weigand effective September 11th, we had 10 billboards ready to go up! Since that time over 32 more billboards have run in northern California reaching well over 1.5 million adults. We are now seeking additional funding in hopes of running the billboards through Easter 2008.
If you feel called to send His Message of Mercy out into the community, you can mail donations to:
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
c/o Deacon Don DeHaven (DMFA)
1017 11th Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Both Bishop Weigand and Monsignor Murphy from the Sacramento Diocese support this program.
With the help of our faithful community, these billboards will continue showing. We hope you can help us to be His instrument in getting His message of mercy out to the community. All prayers and or donations are greatly needed.
If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to call (916) 801-1242
In Christ,
Jean Mark
DMFA Committee
If you would like to write Medjugorje USA, I welcome your comments:
email:info at Medjugorje USA