On 6 March 1996, at the Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, and in response to the request of Mother Paulina Słomka, Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, Archbishop of Kraków, established the “Faustinum” Association of Apostles of The Divine Mercy. The Association comes under both Church and Civil Law, that is it has both Church and Civil legal status. It operates in the diocese of Kraków and, with the consent of Bishops Ordinaries, also in other dioceses in Poland and abroad. The Association is for priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful from around the world who, under the leadership of the Congregation to which St. Sister Faustina the Apostle of The Divine Mercy belonged, and under the spiritual guidance of the priests of the Society of Jesus, wish to join in the work of proclaiming the message of Mercy to the world through their life witness in word, deed and prayer. The “Faustinum” Association has as its main task the running of a formation programme for these Apostles of The Divine Mercy, a course which is conducted in several languages.