With hearts full of sorrow, but joy in the Resurrection, we unite in prayer to mourn the death of Pope Francis. As Catholics, we join in praying for the repose of his soul. The Church has a traditional nine-day period of mourning called Novemdiales, which begins with Pope Francis’ funeral, April 26, and concludes on May 4. During this period, the faithful are called to intentional prayer through adoration, the recitation of the rosary, and other devotional prayer. Bishop Walkowiak has asked the priests of the diocese to offer a special Mass for the Dead for Pope Francis on April 28 and/or 29.
Bishop Walkowiak will celebrate a special Mass for Pope Francis on Monday, April 28 at 12:05 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. All are welcome to join him as we pray for our Holy Father’s eternal reward. This Mass will also be livestreamed on the diocesan YouTube channel and website for those who are unable to join in person.
In the spirit of Christian unity, we invite all members of the Christian faithful to join us in these devotions. Listed below are opportunities for prayer at parishes throughout the diocese:
April 24
6 p.m. – Rosary at Holy Spirit, Grand Rapids (Chapel)
6:30 p.m. – Rosary at Holy Redeemer, Jenison
April 25
8:30 a.m. – Mass at Holy Redeemer, Jenison
8:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. – Divine Mercy Chaplet at Sacred Heart of Jesus, Grand Rapids
9:30 a.m. – Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids
6:30 p.m. – Rosary at Holy Redeemer, Jenison
April 26
5:45 a.m. – Men’s Holy Hour at Sacred Heart of Jesus, Grand Rapids
9:45 a.m. – Rosary (followed by confession until 11 a.m.) at Holy Trinity, Comstock Park
10 a.m. – Holy Hour at St. Patrick, Parnell, Mass followed by one hour of adoration at Holy Redeemer, Jenison, Rosary and Holy Hour at St. Joseph, Pewamo, Mass at St. Mary, Spring Lake
1:30 p.m. – Bilingual Mass at Holy Name of Jesus, Wyoming
3 p.m. – Holy Hour/Adoration at St. Mary, Big Rapids
3:30 p.m. – Holy Hour at St. Bernadette, Stanton
3:45 p.m. – Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids
4:30 p.m. – Mass at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids
April 28
7 a.m. – Mass at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Belmont
8 a.m. – Mass at St. Stephen, East Grand Rapids
8:30 a.m. – Mass at St. Paul the Apostle, Grand Rapids, St. Simon, Ludington, St. John Vianney, Wyoming
9 a.m. – Mass at Sacred Heart of Jesus, Grand Rapids, Holy Family, Caledonia, and Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids (Chapel)
12 p.m. – Mass at St. Paul, Big Rapids, Christ the King, Howard City, St. Mary, Marne
12:05 p.m. – Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew with Bishop Walkowiak
12:10 p.m. – Mass at SS. Peter and Paul, Ionia, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Muskegon
6 p.m. – Mass at St. Michael, Brunswick
6:30 p.m. – Mass at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids, and St. Francis de Sales, Holland
7 p.m. – Spanish Mass at Holy Name of Jesus, Wyoming
April 29
8 a.m. – Mass at St. Bernard, Irons, the Basilica of St. Adalbert, Grand Rapids, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Grand Rapids, Adoration and Rosary at St. Pius X, Grandville
8:15 a.m. – Mass at St. Patrick, Parnell
8:30 a.m. – Mass at Holy Spirit,Grand Rapids (Chapel) and St. Jude, Grand Rapids
9 a.m. – Mass at Holy Trinity, Comstock Park, Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids (Chapel), Mass at St. Pius X, Grandville, Mass at St. Edward, Lake Odessa
12 p.m. – Mass at Holy Family, Sparta, English Mass at Holy Name of Jesus, Wyoming, Our Lady of the Lake, Holland
5 p.m. – Rosary followed by Mass at 5:30 p.m. at SS. Peter and Paul, Grand Rapids
5:15 p.m. – Mass at the Basilica of St. Adalbert, Grand Rapids
5:30 p.m. – Mass at St. Luke University Parish, Allendale, SS. Peter and Paul, Grand Rapids
6 p.m. – Mass at St. Sebastian, Byron Center (Main Church), St. Patrick, Portland
6:30 p.m. – Mass at St. Robert of Newminster, Ada, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Grand Rapids, St. Joseph, Pewamo
7 pm. – Mass at St. Michael, Remus
April 30
9 a.m. – Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids (Chapel)
6 p.m. – Mass at St. Isidore, Grand Rapids
6:30 p.m. Mass followed by one hour of adoration at Holy Redeemer, Jenison
May 1
8:30 a.m. – Mass at Holy Redeemer, Jenison
9 a.m. – Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids (Chapel)
12 p.m. – Holy Hour at Holy Redeemer, Jenison
May 2
9:30 a.m. – Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids
May 3
3:45 p.m. – Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua, Grand Rapids
May 29
7 p.m. – Mass at Sacred Heart of Jesus, Grand Rapids
Novena
A novena (English and Spanish), prepared by the USCCB, can be found by clicking the link and on the diocesan social media channels.
Pope Francis’ funeral
Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. CEST (4 a.m. here in Michigan). All events from St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican, as well as the Holy Father’s funeral Mass will be carried in real time through Vatican News, and on EWTN’s television channels, live on YouTube, and through its on-demand app and digital platforms.
