On the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes (11 February), we will be celebrating the World Day of the Sick. On this occasion, the Shrine of Divine Mercy will host major diocesan events for patients and their caregivers. In the basilica, at noon, solemn Holy Mass combined with anointing of the Sick will be celebrated by Bishop Janusz Mastalski. The live broadcast of the ceremony will be available at the Shrine Rector’s website: www.milosierdzie.pl.
Following the invitation of Bp. Stefano Rega, the first Italian bishop belonging to the Faustinum Divine Mercy Apostles Association, Sr. Wincenta Mąka and Sr. Amata Strzepek of the Roman community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy will share the message of Mercy with the faithful at the parish of San Nicola di Bari-Giugliano in Naples on February 10. The visual sign of this message is the image of Merciful Jesus, which on the one hand shows God’s merciful love revealed most fully in the life, death and resurrection of His Son, and on the other hand it reminds us to respond to this love, which is contained in trusting Him and actively loving our neighbor. The Sisters will also share their personal testimonies of entrusting themselves to Merciful Jesus and praying with trust at His image, which He Himself asked St. Faustina to paint.
In 2022, the “Diary” of St. Faustyna on the website: www.faustyna.pl and its 7 language versions was read by almost 234,000 people, including 40,324 in English. All language versions are now available also for tablets and smart-phones.
The words of Jesus said to Sister Faustina are coming true: Secretary of My most profound mystery know that you are in My unique confidence; your task is to write down everything I let you know about My mercy, for the benefit of souls, who on reading thee texts will receive comfort in their souls and draw courage to come up to Me (Diary, 1693).
On February 5 (Sunday) at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Plock at the Old Market Square, another formative meeting of the Faustinum Divine Mercy Apostles Association community will be held, the topic of which will be God’s mercy in the Bible and the Diary of Sister Faustina. It will begin at 2:15 p.m. with communal adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, to be continued with prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, followed by a conference and Holy Mass at 5 p.m. The meetings are hosted by Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy and priests.
The Patron draw is a very good idea, every draw wins, Łukasz wrote after drawing his Patron of the year at www.faustyna.pl. Until 18 January 2023, nearly 300,000 individuals have participated in the annual Patron draw. Many participated again, while others took part for the first time. Some of their testimonies are available at Faustina.pl:
Today I found the draw for Patrons, January 6, 2023 on Epiphany. At first I did not believe that it was more than coincidence, fate, statistics, just such a spiritual lottery. At first I didn’t know what number or digit to write, but I prayed the Lord’s Prayer that I would draw not what I wanted, but what God wanted. I wanted to enter a favorite digit, but something inspired me to enter a digit I don’t really like. I drew my Patroness – Mary, Queen of Martyrs with words from the Diary: “Suffering shall be the sign for you that I am with you” (Diary, 669). And for 30 years I have suffered from a neurological disorder, humanly incurable. The intention is to pray for all persecuted Christians in the world, that they may be valiant and persevere. Amazing!
There are no losers in this draw, everybody wins. You can draw your Patron throughout the year, whenever you need some assistance from Heaven.
Starting February 1, the Vienna-based Polish Droga Radio will begin daily broadcasts of morning Mass from the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewnikis’ chapel of the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina.
Radio Droga is an online Catholic broadcaster operating since 2010, whose patron Saint is St. Stanislaus Kostka. The founders of Radio Droga include lay people involved in the pastoral life of various parishes in the Archdiocese of Vienna. Currently, Radio Droga is operating at the Austrian parish of St. Severin’s Church in Vienna’s 18th District, where Polish priests from the Congregation of St. Vincent de Paul Mission minister. Poles (laity and clergy) living both in Vienna and Poland work with the radio team. The fundamental goal of the station’s editors is prayer, evangelization and integration of Poles living abroad.
The morning Mass from the Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in the Łagiewniki Shrine has also been broadcast by Doxa radio from Opole for several years.
In 2022, the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, who are the sole custodian of the relics of St. Faustina, sent 116 particles of these relics (111 ex ossibus relics – bone – and 5 from her religious habit) to 17 countries around the world. In Europe, the Apostle of Divine Mercy in the sign of her relics went to 6 countries. In addition, to India, Lebanon, USA, Canada Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, Peru, Australia and Papua New Guinea. Saint Faustina in the sign of her relic is now present in 128 countries of the world on all continents, in 5,698 churches, shrines and chapels, where Divine Mercy is revered in a special way.
On February 5 at 3 pm, prayer at the Hour of Mercy and Holy Mass celebrated under the presidency of Bp. Grzegorz Ryś, the Archbishop of the Łódź Diocese, will begin the last event in the centenary cycle of St. Faustina’s stay in Łódź and the 5th anniversary of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy’s ministry at Krośnieńska street, in the house where the Apostle of Divine Mercy lived. On that day, after the Eucharist and Agape, there will be a cello classical music concert performed by Krzysztof Łatwinski.
The event is held under the honorary patronage of Archbishop Grzegorz Ryś, the Metropolitan of Łódź, and Mother Miriam Janiec, Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.
On 3-5 February, a vocational retreat for women of different ages will take place in the Discalced Carmelites monastery in Lorinčík near Košice in the south of Slovakia. The theme of the event will be “Come, rest and draw from the source of life”. It will be led by Fr. Andrej Valent, O.C.D., and Sr. Benediktína Fečová from the Košice community of the Congregation of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy.
“I betroth you to Jesus Christ”. These are the words 3 sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy will hear from Bishop Jan Zając on February 2nd during their perpetual vows at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place in the chapel with the famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki. The vows of chastity, poverty and obedience will be made in the presence of the Superior General, Mother Petra Kowalczyk. The ceremony will be attended by sisters, priests, families and friends. It will be one of the most important days in the lives of these sisters, the Congregation and the Church—the espousal of God and the human soul.
On February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the World Day for Consecrated Life will be celebrated in the Church. On this occasion, we can learn more about the gift of God’s mercy that is the vocation to live according to the values of chastity, poverty and obedience. It is a day of thanksgiving for each call to religious service and for the many gifts with which institutions of consecrated life have been bestowed. The Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy, thanks to the gifts received from the founder, Mother Teresa Potocka and the spiritual co-founder, St. Faustina Kowalska, are participating in the life and salvific mission of Jesus Christ by proclaiming the merciful love of God towards every human being by the witness of their lives, deeds, words and prayers. Priests and the laity also participate in this spirituality and apostolic mission of the Congregation in various ways. In particular, members and volunteers of the Association of the Apostles of Divine Mercy, “Faustinum”, who come from more than 90 countries worldwide, are involved in this mission.
February 1st is the 60th anniversary of Fr. Józef Andrasz, the Krakow confessor and spiritual director of St. Faustina’s passing away. He was a great Apostle of Divine Mercy who initiated the Divine Mercy services at the Shrine of Divine Merci in Krakow-Łagiewniki and whose writings expanded the devotion in the forms provided by St. Faustina in many countries of the world.
In connection with this anniversary, on February 1st, Holy Mass will be celebrated in the intention of the Confessor of St. Faustina’s beatification at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki at 6.30 am, at the Sacred Heart Basilica in Krakow at 6 pm, and in Królowa Górna, Tarnow Diocese, at 5 pm.
Recently, a historical and theological commission has been assembled to conduct the beatification proceedings for Father Józef Andrasz.
From the heart of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, that is, the chapel of the grace-famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina, TVP3 television channel has broadcast Mass on Fridays since 1993 and for more than twenty years TVP 1 has additionally broadcast Sunday Mass.
Every day for the past three years, the Hour of Mercy prayer and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy led by the Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy have been broadcast nationwide on TVP 3. Around-the-clock online video stream of the chapel is available at www.faustyna.pl and the 7 subsites in different languages, as well as at the Faustyna.pl YouTube channel and the Faustyna.pl mobile app, which offers 6 different languages for the users. It had nearly 1,800,000 unique users in 2022 alone. As many users or more have viewed the YouTube channel.
Television stations (including Shalom TV) and radio stations also retransmit our online broadcasts. The morning Mass is broadcast by Doxa radio, while the prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Divine Mercy Chaplet are broadcast by more than a dozen radio and television stations. Thanks to these radio, television and Internet broadcasts, millions of people may cry out to God every day or week at the same time with one voice: “Please have mercy on us and the whole world”.
Such is the title of the 32th episode of our short film clip series about the Message of Mercy from Jesus, based on the Diary of Sister Faustina. Every episode contains a dialog between Jesus and St. Faustina. In this episode, Jesus is saying: “Tell the world of My mercy; let all mankind learn of My unfathomable mercy. It is the sign for the end times; after that will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them seek refuge in the fount of My mercy;” (Diary, 848). Saint Faustina responds: “I want to traverse the whole world and tell souls of God’s great mercy. Priests, help me in this” (Diary, 491).
The script for a series of short films featuring Jesus’ message of mercy was written by Sr. M. Elżbieta Siepak, ISMM. This message reveals God’s merciful love and calls us to respond to it with an attitude of trust in God, that is, by doing His will, and by doing good to others through deeds, words and prayer. The narrators are Fr. Canon Jason Ashleigh Jones and Sr. M. Teresa de la Fuente ISMM, and the music was written by the Krakow composed and musician, Paweł Bębenek. The one-minute film clips with beautiful outdoor scenes are produced by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in cooperation with TVP. You can watch them all on you YouTube channel: Faustina.pl.
The Sisters from the community of our Congregation in Washington, D.C., organize the next “Evening with Merciful Jesus” on January 22nd at the John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. This month’s conference titled “This Prayer Is Always Answered” will be delivered by Sr. M. Faustia Szabóová ISMM. You can join the event online atwww.jp2shrine.org/youtube. The lecture will be followed by Adoration of the Lord Jesus and a meet-up with refreshments.
“Evenings with Merciful Jesus” are organized for young people who want to follow St. Faustina and St. John Paul II to discover the new quality of life in friendship with the merciful Lord Jesus.
Faustyna.pl and the website’s other language versions were viewed more than 9,500,000 times and by over 2,200,000 visitors in 2022. 79.3% accessed the website from mobile devices. The Polish language site was used by 1,022,000 unique users; English by 415,050; Spanish by 415,050; Italian by 104,680 unique users; French by 82,900; German by 55,000; Slovak by 60,600 unique users and Russian by 7,400.
The maximum number of visitors on one day on all the sites was 83,909.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy would like to thank all Collaborators, Contributors, IT Specialists and Translators, without whom this work would not be able to develop, and all Internet users, without whom this wonderful exchange in the provision of good and bringing the message of Mercy and the entire spiritual heritage of St. Faustina to the world could not be taking place.
Such is the title of the 30th episode of our short film clip series about the Message of Mercy from Jesus, based on the Diary of Sister Faustina. Every episode contains a dialog between Jesus and St. Faustina. In this episode, Jesus is saying: “At three o’clock, beg for My mercy, especially for sinners, and immerse yourself, even for a short moment, in [contemplation on] My Passion, particularly when I was left forsaken at the moment of death. That is the hour of great mercy for the whole world” (Diary, 1320). Saint Faustina responds: “You died, O Jesus, but a spring of life flowed out for souls, and a sea of mercy opened up for the whole world. O spring of life, unfathomed Divine mercy, engulf the whole world and pour Yourself out upon us” (Diary, 1319).
The script for a series of short films featuring Jesus’ message of mercy was written by Sr. M. Elżbieta Siepak, ISMM. This message reveals God’s merciful love and calls us to respond to it with an attitude of trust in God, that is, by doing His will, and by doing good to others through deeds, words and prayer. The narrators are Fr. Canon Jason Ashleigh Jones and Sr. M. Teresa de la Fuente ISMM, and the music was written by the Krakow composed and musician, Paweł Bębenek. The one-minute film clips with beautiful outdoor scenes are produced by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in cooperation with TVP. You can watch them all on you YouTube channel: Faustina.pl.
The patrons for 2023 are being drawn on the website www.faustyna.pl and its 7 language versions. By January 6, almost 223,000 people had already selected their patron. On the website www.sainta-faustina.org almost 2800 people drew their patron. As we know from their testimonies, the random Patrons are extremely responsive to the needs and life situations of people. It is worthwhile to have such a holy Company, as the Dwellers of Heaven are willing and helpful if we ask them to be so.
Every day tens of thousands of people leave this earth due to illness, old age, wars, disasters, violence or other reasons. Hunger alone kills 11 people every minute, and every 40 seconds someone in the world commits suicide. Jesus asks through St. Faustina that we pray for the dying with the words of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Therefore, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki runs the Chaplet for the Dying. In 2022, people from Poland and many other countries around the world who declared their willingness to help the dying on a selected day and time zone more than 41,800 people supported with prayers whose names were sent by text message to the following phone number: +48 505 060 205 or by e-mail.
Anyone can join in this work of mercy and rush to the aid of those most in need of support, as they make their last and most important decision, which concerns eternity, at a time when they are most vulnerable and under attack from Satan. When filling out the entry form, choose the day of the week and the time of your vigil, as well as how information about the dying will be notified by text message (only in Poland) or e-mail.
Other participants in this project are donors who support this work financially, doctors, nurses, volunteers in hospitals and hospices, and all those who send text messages with the names of the dying, by which they show that they care for their salvation.
Such is the title of the 31th episode of our short film clip series about the Message of Mercy from Jesus, based on the Diary of Sister Faustina. Every episode contains a dialog between Jesus and St. Faustina. In this episode, Jesus is saying: “I want the whole world to learn of My mercy. Whenever you want to make Me happy, tell the world about My great and unfathomable mercy” (Diary, 687, 164). Saint Faustina responds: “O my Creator and Lord, I feel I am going to draw back the veils of Heaven a little, so that the Earth should not doubt in Your goodness. Let no soul, be it ever so miserable, have any doubts that for as long as it lives it has the chance to become a great saint, for great is the power of God’s grace” (Diary, 483, 283).
The script for a series of short films featuring Jesus’ message of mercy was written by Sr. M. Elżbieta Siepak, ISMM. This message reveals God’s merciful love and calls us to respond to it with an attitude of trust in God, that is, by doing His will, and by doing good to others through deeds, words and prayer. The narrators are Fr. Canon Jason Ashleigh Jones and Sr. M. Teresa de la Fuente ISMM, and the music was written by the Krakow composed and musician, Paweł Bębenek. The one-minute film clips with beautiful outdoor scenes are produced by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in cooperation with TVP. You can watch them all on you YouTube channel: Faustina.pl.
A formation meeting of members and volunteers of the Faustinum Apostles of Divine Mercy Association will be held at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki on January 21st. The meeting agenda includes: Biblical conference titled “Job’s Confidence”, which will be delivered by Sr. M. Eliana Chmielewska, I.S.M.M., Prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, announcements and sharing in groups, Holy Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by agape with a carol meeting and drawing of patrons for 2023. For more information, go to www.faustinum.pl.
This is a translation of the Polish title of a book by Sister Elżbieta Siepak from the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Łagiewniki Shrine, which was published several years ago by the Misericordia publishing company. Now an exhibition has been set up on the wall separating the Shrine from the parking lot at ul. Motarskiego. Twenty six large posters are showing citations from the Diary of St. Faustina describing events and also revealing their exact locations within the Shrine. The exhibition includes Polish and English descriptions and the drone images were selected so that they show the general location as well as their details.
Sister Faustina had more than 280 various mystical experiences while staying at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, which she recorded in her Diary. Each of these sites witnessed her encounters with heavenly dwellers, her conversations with Jesus, the Holy Mother, angels or souls in Purgatory.
Such is the title of the 29th episode of our short film clip series about the Message of Mercy from Jesus, based on the Diary of Sister Faustina. Every episode contains a dialog between Jesus and St. Faustina. In this episode, Jesus is saying: “All the time keep saying the Chaplet I have taught you. Whoever says it shall be granted great mercy at the hour of death” (Diary, 687). Saint Faustina responds: “I am realising more and more how much every soul needs Divine mercy throughout the whole of its life, but especially at the hour of death. This Chaplet is to assuage God’s wrath” (Diary, 1036).
The script for a series of short films featuring Jesus’ message of mercy was written by Sr. M. Elżbieta Siepak, ISMM. This message reveals God’s merciful love and calls us to respond to it with an attitude of trust in God, that is, by doing His will, and by doing good to others through deeds, words and prayer. The narrators are Fr. Canon Jason Ashleigh Jones and Sr. M. Teresa de la Fuente ISMM, and the music was written by the Krakow composed and musician, Paweł Bębenek. The one-minute film clips with beautiful outdoor scenes are produced by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in cooperation with TVP. You can watch them all on you YouTube channel: Faustina.pl.
Every year on January 1st, in the convents of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, a drawing of annual patron Saints takes place. The Diary tells us how important this was for St. Faustina. Her desire was to be accompanied and supported by Someone from Heaven on all her days of the new year. In the morning during meditation, she wrote, there arose within me a secret desire that the Eucharistic Jesus be my special Patron for this year also, as in the past. But, hiding this desire from my Beloved, I spoke to Him about everything else but that. When we came to refectory for breakfast, we blessed ourselves and began drawing our patrons. When I approached the holy cards on which the names of the patrons were written, without hesitation I took one, but I didn’t read the name immediately as I wanted to mortify myself for a few minutes. Suddenly, I heard a voice in my soul: “I am your patron”. Read. I looked at once at the inscription and read, “Patron for the Year 1935-the Most Blessed Eucharist.” My heart leapt with joy (Diary, 360).
People associated with the Congregation: priests, collaborators, Faustinum members and volunteers, friends, guests… etc. albo participate in the Patron draw, as do our online visitors at www.saint-faustina.org. Along with the Patron, they receive a message, most often from the Diary of St. Sister Faustina, and a practice of mercy, most often an intention to pray.
May the Patron Saints aid us, may they help us more and more fully; participate in the life and mission of Jesus; revealing the merciful love of God to the world!
Patron Saints for 2023 – the Draw
Sister Inga, Sister Faustia and Sister Grace from the convent of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in Washington, D.C., will participate in the meeting of young people SEEK 2023 to be held in Missouri – St. Luis on January 2-6. The five days with youth of different faiths and seeking will be filled with conferences, prayer, concerts and other initiatives. During these days, various religious organizations, including the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, will be displaying their stands there.
Although the dates for these visits can change from year to year, the priests traditionally visit the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy on the Solemnity of the Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day). On that holiday, priests acting as chaplains for the Congregation, accompanied by Christmas carolers, visit the convent’s assembly halls and other common areas, the sisters’ cells, workshops and guest rooms to bless them with holy water and incense, praying for God’s blessings for all the residents and guests in this next year of their apostolic ministry.
I too came down from heaven out of love for you; I lived for you, I died for you, and I created the heavens for you, said Jesus to St. Faustina, addressing these words to every human being as well. On the occasion of Christmas and the approaching 2023, we would like to express our heart-felt wishes to our collaborators, benefactors, donors, all those involved with various apostolic works of the Congregation (such as our Chaplet for the Dying and Perpetual Chaplet), online visitors to our website. May you continually discovery the presence of Immanuel – God with us – and recognize signs of His merciful love in all circumstances of your life. May you share your everyday life with Him. We also wish you all the temporal favors so that they bring you joy and lead you to an even greater love of God and fellow human beings. May the New Year be rich in God’s graces and human mercy provided to those in need. We embrace you all in our prayers. May God’s Mercy be praised in us and through us!
Merciful love of God revealed in the nativity of Jesus is sung in liturgical hymns, and also in Christmas carols that are more secular. A particularly rich repertoire of hundreds of Christmas carols is inscribed in Polish national and religious culture. They are sung in every home, not only at the table on Christmas Eve, but also during Christmas time in churches, accompanying the liturgy and at various festive meetings. Many of these songs have lyrics and music composed by recognized poets and composers, and each year new are created. Christmas carols create a unique atmosphere of the holiday season, helping in prayer, contemplation and living the mystery of God’s Mercy revealed in the fact of the incarnation and nativity of the Son of God.
As is tradition, on December 31 at 9:00 pm at the Shrine of Divine Mercy, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will begin in the chapel of the famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina. Adoration this year will be led by the sisters and will conclude at midnight with the celebration of the first Mass. Those unable to come to the shrine can join us by watching our online broadcast beginning with vespers at 7:00 pm and continuing with adoration and Mass. Please visit www.saint-faustina.org for more information.
People from many countries of the world participating in the work of the Perpetual Chaplet of Divine Mercy are praying not only in their own intentions, but also asking for “mercy on us and the whole world”. Specific intention for December: For a spiritually fruitful experience of Advent and Christmas for us and our families, as well as for the grace of conversion and confession for those who have long not used this sacrament to make Christmas happen in their hearts too.
The work of Perpetual Chaplet is a response to the request of Jesus to constantly implore for mercy “for us and the whole world”. The work has been operated by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at: www.faustyna.pl since 2011. Anyone can participate in it by filling out a short form and declare to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which Jesus dictated to St. Faustina—at least once.
