On December 16 a novena to the Infant Jesus will start in all the convents of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, including the chapel of the miracle-famous Image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina in the Shrine of Divine Mercy. Traditionally, the antiphons sung and the Litany of the Infant Jesus recited there prepare the faithful spiritually for Christmas.

The very word for “eve” in Polish, wigilia, comes from the word “vigil”. This particular vigil is filled with prayer, fasting and other mortifications undertaken out of love for Jesus, as a direct preparation for the celebration of His birth in the human form. According to Christian tradition, when the first star appears in the sky (referring symbolically to the Star of Bethlehem, which heralded the birth of Jesus), Poles sit down to supper in their homes, religious orders and various other communities. The wafer that Poles break with their dear ones as they exchange greetings provides an opportunity for forgiveness and reconciliation and creates an atmosphere of love in which God is present. Saint Faustina described several Christmas Eves in her Diary. She commented on her last one, which she experienced in 1937 in Krakow: Before supper, I went into the chapel for a moment to break the wafer spiritually with those beloved persons, so dear to my heart, though far away. First, I steeped myself in a profound prayer and asked the Lord for graces for them all as a group and then for each one individually. Jesus gave me to know how much this pleased Him, and my soul was filled with even greater joy to see that God loves in a special way those whom we love. After I had gone into the refectory, during the reading, my whole being found itself plunged in God. Interiorly, I saw God looking at us with great pleasure. I remained alone with the Heavenly Father. At that moment, I had a deeper knowledge of the Three Divine persons, whom we shall contemplate for all eternity and, after millions of years, shall discover that we have just barely begun our contemplation. Oh, how great is the mercy of God, who allows man to participate in such a high degree in His divine happiness! At the same time, what great pain pierces my heart [at the thought] that so many souls have spurned this happiness (Diary, 1438-1439). May God be invited to every home, every Christmas table and every human heart! Only in Him and His Mercy will the world ever find peace and man will find happiness!

It is a tradition that a solemn Mass named Pasterka („Shepherds’ Mass”) is celebrated at midnight on Christmas Eve in Polish churches and chapels, including the ones of our Congregation. It is the first Eucharist of Christmas, which commemorates the expectation and prayer of the Bethlehem shepherds arriving to greet the Son of God born in flesh. A mystical experience of Sister Faustina described in her Diary brings us closer to the joyful mystery of Jesus’ coming to earth and living in clean hearts: As Holy Mass began, I immediately felt a great interior recollection; joy filled my soul. During the offertory, I saw Jesus on the altar, incomparably beautiful. The whole time the Infant kept looking at everyone, stretching out His little hands (Diary, 347).  After Holy Communion, she writes elsewhere, I heard the words: I am always in your heart; not only when you receive Me in Holy Communion, but always (Diary, 575). We would like to wish you all to experience the joy that comes from the presence of God in our souls during the Midnight Mass, throughout the holidays and on every day of the New Year!

During the fourth week of Advent, St. Faustina will lead us deep into our souls, which also became the birthplace of Jesus in us. Jesus came to this world to be born in every human heart and make it happy. “I seek no happiness except in my interior”, she wrote, “in which God abides. I rejoice in God within me. Here I dwell constantly with Him; here I am at my most intimate with Him; here I safely dwell with Him, here is a place beyond the reach of human gaze. The Blessed Virgin is encouraging me to abide with God in this manner” (Diary, 454). Let us try to make the last days of Advent a time of the new birth of Jesus not only in our hearts through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but let us strive to make sure that He finds a place in many human souls through our prayer and sacrifice.

Let us spend the third week of this Advent contemplating the mystery of Divine Mercy in the Nativity of Christ. Sister Faustina wrote: “And the uncomprehended miracle of Your mercy is accomplished, O Lord: the Word is made Flesh, God – the Word of God, Mercy Incarnate – has come to dwell among us. You have raised us up to Your Divinity by stooping down to us here is the surfeit of Your love, the infinite depth of Your mercy. The Heavens are astounded at the surfeit of Your love. No longer does anyone fear to approach You. You are the God of mercy; You take pity on our wretchedness; You are our God, and we are Your people. You are a Father unto us, and we are Your children by Your grace; may Your mercy be praised for Your gracious coming down to us” (Diary, 1745). Let us follow St. Faustina in considering the merciful love of God in the miracle of the Son of God being born in the stable in Bethlehem and in the soul of man. Let us thank Him for wanting to be so close to us from birth through all the events of life until death, to live with us in the Father’s house and make us heirs to Heaven.

This is the title under which the sisters of the Petropavlovsk community of the Congregation of the Mother of God of Mercy are conducting Advent preparations for Christmas on Instagram. The guide for the initiative is St. Sister Faustina. Each day, a different passage from her Diary is read in Russian, accompanied by a short commentary. The initiative has garnered significant interest and is being followed even by people who do not have an Instagram account.

In December, the young people’s meeting “Łagiewnicka 22” at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki will take place a day earlier, on Saturday, the 21st of the month. It will begin at 7:00 PM in the chapel with the miraculous image of the Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina. The meeting will be led by the sisters of the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The program includes a lecture by Sr. Tobiana Domiter on the spiritual childhood of St. Faustina, silent prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with praise of Divine Mercy, and an agape with delicious food and a Q&A session.

On Tuesday, December 17, a formation meeting for members and volunteers of the “Faustinum” association will take place in Sabinov, in eastern Slovakia. The group operates at the parish of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. The meeting will begin with communal prayer during the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The group will commence permanent formation in the rhythm of lectio divina, combined with sharing the Word of God. The formation is led by Sr. Mariela Lengyelová from the Košice community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

This is the theme of the Advent retreat in the series “Mercy in the Bible and the Diary,” which will take place on December 13–15 at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. The retreat will be accompanied by the words of St. Faustina: “I wait with great longing for the Lord’s coming” (Diary, 793) and St. Joseph, who will help participants deepen their Advent waiting and better prepare for Christmas. The retreat will be led by Sr. Maria Faustyna Ciborowska from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, a doctor of biblical studies. The organizer is the Association of Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum.”

This verse from the “Song of Songs” will serve as the motto for a women’s retreat in Kazakhstan, organized as part of the Samaritan project from December 13–15 at the parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the town of Konaev, Diocese of Almaty. The retreat will be led by Sr. Anastasis Omelchenko and Sr. Bakhita Voronava from the Pietropavlovsk community of the Congregation of the Mother of God of Mercy, as well as Sr. Kazimiera Wanat, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The program includes conferences, meditations on the Word of God, bibliodrama, and meetings with children and youth in orphanages located within the parish.

The community of sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in Camagüey, Cuba, together with the Project Esperanza, are organizing a retreat for women titled “Woman – Clay Vessel” on Saturday, December 14. It will be led by Sr. Filipa Bąk, along with psychologist América Santoya Arévalo and psychiatrist Eduardo Barranco Masías. The meeting aims to help Cuban women discover their dignity, beauty, and richness, and most importantly, their immense value in the eyes of God. The retreat is open to all women from the diocese.

On Friday, December 13, at 3:20 PM, the monthly Holy Mass for the Association of Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum” in Slovakia will be celebrated. The Mass at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Košice, in the KVP district, will be officiated by Fr. Tomáš Svat. Monthly Masses for the intentions of “Faustinum” in Slovakia have been celebrated since 2006. After the Mass, a traditional formation meeting for the local “Faustinum” group will take place, led by Sr. M. Benediktína Fečová from the Košice community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

On Friday, December 13, the last formation meeting of this year for members and volunteers of the “Faustinum” association will take place in Koprivnica (northern Slovakia). The group operates at the parish of St. Andrew the Apostle. The meeting will begin with a communal prayer during the Hour of Mercy. Conferences on the topic of Divine Mercy in the Bible and the “Diary” of St. Faustina will be delivered by Sr. Mariela Lengyelová from the Košice community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Slovakia.

The final formation meeting this year for members and volunteers of the “Faustinum” Association in Prešov, eastern Slovakia, will take place on Tuesday, December 10. The meeting will begin at 4:00 PM with conferences on the mission of Divine Mercy of St. Faustina, delivered by Fr. Jozef Heske and Sr. M. Clareta Fečová from the Hrušov community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The program will also include sharing the Word of God and the Eucharist at 6:00 PM, concluding the monthly meeting of the apostles of Divine Mercy.

On December 7th and 8th, Sr. Tymoteusza Kmiotek and Sr. Wincenta Mąka from the Roman community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will participate in the solemn introduction of the relics of St. Faustina to the Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption in Cagliari, Sardinia. On this occasion, they will share with the faithful the prophetic mission and spiritual heritage of the Apostle of Divine Mercy. The program also includes communal prayer during the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, as well as a fraternal meeting with the faithful.

On December 8, at the invitation of Fr. Czesław Las, pastor of the Parish of Divine Mercy in Żukowo, Sr. Diana Kuczek from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will share the message of Divine Mercy and the spiritual heritage of St. Faustina during Sunday Masses. After the Mass at 3:30 PM, a meeting will also be held to inaugurate the establishment of the community of the Association of Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum” in this parish. This year, the parish is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

From November 30 to December 1, 2024, a special gathering for women of various faiths outside the Catholic tradition will take place in Astana as part of the Samaritan Project. The event is themed “The Strength of a Woman”, inspired by the story of the Judean widow Judith. The program will feature conferences, meditations, and workshops. Leading the meeting are Sr. Anastasis Omelchenko from the Petropavlovsk community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy, alongside Sr. Kazimiera Wanat, Sr. Madlen Hofman, and Fr. Hans Peter Rainer.

Under this title, from November 29 to December 1, a retreat will take place at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki as part of the “School of Prayer with St. Faustina” series. She prayed: “Sweetest Mother, instruct me on the interior life” (Diary 915). In the pages of the Gospel, we meet Mary listening attentively to God’s voice, showing us how to listen to and accept the Word of God. Together with St. Faustina, the participants of the retreat will entrust themselves to Mary, the Virgin Listener, asking her to teach them how to faithfully listen to the Word and open their hearts to the God who comes. The retreat will be led by Fr. Dr. Marek Chmielniak SAC, a member of the Council for the Apostolate of the Laity of the Polish Bishops’ Conference and director of the Pallottine retreat house in Ząbkowice Śląskie, and Sr. M. Eliana Chmielewska of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, serving in the Board of the “Faustinum” Association.

On November 24, at the invitation of Fr. Bartosz Adamczewski, pastor of St. Faustina Parish in Warsaw’s Bródno district, Sr. Diana Kuczek from the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, along with members of the “Faustinum” association from the community on Żytnia Street, will share the message of Divine Mercy during Sunday Masses. Before the evening Eucharist at 5:00 PM, there will also be an inaugural meeting to establish the “Faustinum” community in this parish, a heartfelt desire of those who gather in this church.

The traditional three-day retreat for devotees of Divine Mercy will take place on November 22–24 in Dolný Smokovec in the Slovak Tatras. The retreat, under the theme: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (cf. 2 Cor 12:9), will be led by Fr. Miroslav Liška and Sr. M. Clareta Fečová ISMM from the Hrušov community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The program includes: Eucharist, conferences, prayer during the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, communal adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and veneration of the relics of St. Faustina.

This coming Sunday (November 24th), the Parish of St. John Paul II in Podsarnie (Archdiocese of Kraków) will celebrate the solemn introduction of the relics of St. Sister Faustina. The event will be attended by Sr. Norberta and Sr. Agnes from the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Łagiewniki Sanctuary. On this occasion, the sisters will share with the faithful of Podsarnie and Harkabuz the prophetic mission of the Apostle of Divine Mercy and her spiritual legacy.

The St. Faustina Youth Education Center in Krakow was honored with the Małopolska Voivodeship’s Veritatis Splendor award. This recognition highlighted the Center’s commitment to fostering cultural, social, and interfaith dialogue in line with the teachings and legacy of St. John Paul II. The award was presented during a gala at the Krakow Philharmonic.

The resolution awarding the honor states: “The St. Faustina Youth Educational Center provides a supportive and secure environment for young girls, many of whom come from challenging backgrounds and face serious emotional struggles. The Center’s approach is deeply personalized, focusing on each girl’s unique needs to help them rebuild confidence and self-worth. Educators prepare the girls for future roles as wives and mothers and equip them with professional skills. The Center’s success is evident in the many alumnae who, upon leaving, have returned to healthy educational and social paths and become involved in helping others. Educators place a strong emphasis on cultivating values championed by the Patron of Małopolska, St. John Paul II, including love for others, empathy, solidarity, responsibility, and mercy.”

The award was first presented in 2016. Each year, recipients are chosen by the Board of Directors of the Małopolska Region based on recommendations from the Veritatis Splendor Chapter, which includes representatives from intellectual, social, and cultural spheres.

Exactly 10 years ago, the first youth gathering “Łagiewnicka 22” took place at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. On this special anniversary, the sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kraków are returning to the original program of these meetings, summarized in three words: Word, Prayer, Community. We invite you to the chapel with the renowned image of Merciful Jesus this coming Friday (November 22) at 7:00 PM. Sister Gaudia Skass will deliver the Word, followed by a time of silent prayer and adoration of Divine Mercy during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Afterwards, there will be a gathering with some tasty refreshments and a Q&A session with Sister Gaudia.

From November 18 to 22, 2024, a retreat for priests will be held at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki under the theme: “The Merciful Gaze That Saves.” It will be led by Fr. Piotr Wieczorek, a pastor, retreat leader, spiritual director, and diocesan moderator of the evangelization community “Mamre.” In the Gospels, we often encounter Jesus, whose merciful gaze calls, forgives, sees people and their deepest needs, and restores their dignity as children of God. This retreat, experienced in silence, will be an opportunity for a personal encounter with the gaze of the Merciful Jesus, to once again accept His love so that He can transform and heal our hearts.

The retreat is organized by the sisters of the retreat community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. More information is available at: www.faustinum.pl

From November 15-17 of this year, the North American Divine Mercy Congress organized by WACOM will be held in Vancouver, Canada, under the theme: “Divine Mercy and Mary – Our Hope.” Confirmed participants include Archbishop Gintaras Grušas from Vilnius, Archbishop J. Michael Miller from Vancouver, Bishop A. Savarimuthu from the Diocese of Palayamkottai, Fr. Patrice Chocholski, Secretary General of WACOM, and Sr. Inga Kvassayova from the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Lakeville, USA, who will deliver a lecture on the spirituality of mercy, introducing Congress participants to the spiritual teachings of St. Faustina.

On November 15-17, 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 “Healed and Free”. It will be led by the Carmelites and Sr. Benediktína Fečová from the Košice community of the Congregation of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy.

On November 10, Sr. Martyna and Sr. Marlena from the Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kiekrz will share the message of Divine Mercy and the spirituality of St. Faustina with the faithful in the town of Góra (Lower Silesian Voivodeship). The church in this parish is dedicated to St. Faustina.

On November 3, as part of the preparations by the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Bolesławiec to receive the relics of St. Sister Faustina and to begin monthly services dedicated to Divine Mercy, Sister Tobiana and Sister Agnes from the Łagiewniki convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will share the message of Mercy and the spiritual legacy of the Apostle of Divine Mercy during Sunday gatherings at the Eucharist.

On October 28 of this year, Sister Tobiana from the Monastery of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Sanctuary in Łagiewniki will meet with the volunteers of the Felician Sisters’ Hospice, named after Blessed Hanna Chrzanowska, at Nowowiejska Street in Warsaw. The topic of the meeting will be discussions on God’s mercy in accompanying the sick and dying, based on the rich experience of Saint Sister Faustina and the writings she left in her “Diary” and Letters.

As part of the Samaritan Woman project, a women’s retreat will be held on October 25-27 at the diocesan retreat house Fides et ratio in Shchuchinsk. The retreat will take place under the theme: „My beloved is mine, and I am his”. This time, the figure of Mary Magdalene— a woman with a great heart, filled with God’s love—will accompany the participants. The retreat will be led by Sr. Anastasis Omelchenko from the Petropavlovsk community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, Sr. Kazimiera Wanat, and Fr. Hans Reiner. The program includes conferences, meditations on the Word of God, and bibliodrama.