As part of the Samaritan Woman project, a women’s retreat will take place from March 21-23, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Parish in Makinsk under the theme: “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” The program includes meditations on Gospel events: the healing of the woman suffering from hemorrhage and the raising of Jairus’ daughter, conferences, and workshops. The retreat, led by Sr. Anastasis Omelchenko from the Petropavlovsk community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, Sr. Kazimiera Wanat, Sr. Madlen Hofmann, and Fr. Hans Reiner, conveys the message that “you are a daughter of God. Beloved. Until you discover this within yourself, everything may have power over you. You can give everything away and still bleed, trapped in self-rejection. But one touch of Jesus – with faith – can change everything, lift you up, and give you strength to live.”
This is the theme of a new retreat cycle organized by the “Faustinum” association at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. The first retreat in this cycle will take place from March 21st to 23rd and will focus on the Samaritan woman, who, after her encounter with Jesus at the well, left as a transformed woman, changed by mercy. The key to this transformation was her honesty. “Tell Me everything,” Jesus says in His dialogue with a suffering soul, “be honest with Me, reveal all the wounds of your heart, and I will heal them” (Diary 1487). The retreat will be led by Fr. Marcin Ciunel MS, a biblical scholar, spiritual director at the Higher Seminary of the Missionaries of La Salette in Kraków, and Sr. M. Eliana Chmielewska ISMM from the “Faustinum” community in Kraków.
More information at: www.faustinum.pl
Meditating on the Passion of Jesus. During Lent, we consider the suffering of Jesus, which He took upon Himself out of love for us and for our salvation, more often than in other times of the year. We participate in the devotion of the cross and Bitter Lamentations, and we read the Scriptures that announce and describe the paschal events. Jesus instructed Faustina, and through her all of us, to consider His Passion in such a way as if it took place only for her sake (cf. (Diary, 1761). He explained: There is more merit to one hour of meditation on My sorrowful Passion than there is to a whole year of flagellation that draws blood; the contemplation of My painful wounds is of great profit to you, and it brings Me great joy 369). My daughter, meditate frequently on the sufferings which I have undergone for your sake, and then nothing of what you suffer for Me will seem great to you. You please Me most when you meditate on My Sorrowful Passion. Join your little sufferings to My Sorrowful Passion, so that they may have infinite value before My Majesty (Diary, 1512). Following these indications of Jesus, Sister Faustina penetrated deeply into the mystery of the merciful love of God for every man and thanked Jesus for the Book from which she learned to love God and people. That book is Your Passion which You underwent for love of me. It is from this book that I have learned how to love God and souls. In this book there are found for us inexhaustible treasures. O Jesus, how few souls understand You in Your martyrdom of love! Oh, how great is the fire of purest love which burns in Your Most Sacred Heart! Happy the soul that has come to understand the love of the Heart of Jesus! (Diary, 304).
On March 22, at 5 p.m. at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, Holy Mass will be celebrated at the grace-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina for all the donors and contributors supporting the www.faustyna.pl website, including its 8 language versions, on top of all the apostolic works the website manages, particularly the Chaplet for the Dying and the online video streaming from the Krakow-Łagiewniki Shrine. Thanks to the apostolic work, commitment, and financial support of many people, through these efforts we bring the gift of the message of Mercy to the world and provide concrete help to those in greatest need. We repay this support with prayer, which we offer daily to Divine Mercy through the intercession of St. Faustina, for the intentions of all Benefactors and Donors.
On March 22nd, there will be a meeting for young people “Łagiewnicka 22” at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. It will begin at 7:00 PM in the chapel with the famous image of Jesus the Merciful and the tomb of St. Faustina. The meeting will be led by the sisters from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The program includes: a lecture by Sr. Gaudia Skass on the topic of contemplation in daily life, based on the life of St. Faustina, silent prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and a fellowship with something delicious and a Q&A session.
On March 22, 2025, the traditional “Evening with Merciful Jesus” will take place at the National Shrine of St. John Paul II in Washington, USA. It will be led by the sisters from the Washington community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The program includes the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet, adoration with the worship of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and intercessory prayer, the Sacrament of Confession, and a conference. Sister Caterina Esselen will speak about Jesus’ words: “Believe in My wounds,” recorded in St. Faustina’s “Diary,” no. 379. “Evenings with Merciful Jesus” are organized for young people who want to follow in the footsteps of St. Faustina and St. John Paul II and discover a new quality of life in friendship with Merciful Jesus.
The conference by Sister Faustyna Szaboová ISMM from the previous meeting: “The Struggles of St. Faustina on the Path to Holiness.”
On March 22, the church of Santo Spirito in Sassia in Rome will host another community meeting of the “Faustinum” association, during which the topic of trust in the Bible and in the “Diary” of St. Sister Faustina will be discussed. The meeting will be led by the sisters from the Roman community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy and Fr. Łukasz Brus, and the topic will be: “Jesus’ encouragement to trust the Father”. The program includes: Prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which will begin the meeting, Holy Mass, conferences, Eucharistic adoration, praying the rosary and a fraternal meeting. You can also participate in the meeting via Google Meet.
From March 19 to 21 of this year, Sr. Donata Farbaniec and Sr. Faustia Szaboóva from the Washington community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will lead a retreat at All Saints Parish in the city of Butler, Pennsylvania. The theme of the retreat will be the unfathomable mercy of God, most fully revealed through Jesus Christ and recorded in the Holy Scriptures, and recalled in the message given to St. Faustina and written in her “Diary.”
From March 10th, before the feast of St. Joseph, all the convents of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will be celebrating the traditional novena to St. Joseph.
The Saint is among the patrons of the Congregation and has enjoyed great reverence since its beginning. His images decorate all the convent chapels. Usually, St. Joseph has a separate altar devoted to him on the right side of the presbytery, as it is the case at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki. His statues can be found in convent corridors, monastic cells, places of apostolic service, as well as in gardens and nunnery courtyards. He is the host of every property, house, convent, and thus has everything under his care, not only material matters, with which he is most often associated, but also, and perhaps above all, he cares for the spiritual matters of the communities of our Congregation and the works they carry out. The nuns refer to St. Joseph as the Protector and Father, and so address him in their prayers, certain that “it has never been heard that anyone calling on his care and begging for help has been left without consolation”. In matters of urgency, the Sisters send him “telegrams”, listing very specific problems that need to be dealt with.
From March 12 to 16, Sr. Diana and Sr. Maria Faustyna from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will share the message of Divine Mercy, recorded in the “Diary” of St. Faustina, at the parishes of the Finding of the Holy Cross and Christ the Redeemer of Man in Olsztyn. During these days, a new “Faustinum” community will also be established at the Higher Seminary in Olsztyn.
From March 14 to 16, a retreat will be held in San Romano, Tuscany, for volunteers and members of the Faustinum association from Italy, as well as for those who wish to deepen their understanding of the mystery of Divine Mercy, learn more about St. Faustina, and benefit from her school of spirituality. The retreat will take place at the Franciscan Shrine of Our Lady of Grace, where the relics of St. Faustina were received last year. It will be led by Sr. Wincenta Mąka from the Roman community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The program will primarily include time for prayer, common Eucharist, adoration, conferences, and the opportunity for personal conversation with the priest responsible for Faustinum and with the sister.
On March 15-16, 2025 (Saturday and Sunday), at the “Ostra Brama” Center at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Skarżysko-Kamienna, Sr. Maria Vianneya Dąbrowska from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy, along with Agnieszka and Krzysztof Stanisławscy, will lead a marriage retreat under the theme: “I pledge you my love…” – How to rediscover the “lost” happiness in a marital relationship.
The program includes: Holy Mass, conferences, prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet, as well as an evening of worship with a healing prayer, led by Agnieszka and Krzysztof Stanisławscy with the music ministry “Powołani” on Saturday evening, March 15, at St. Brother Albert Church.
Lent invites us to reflect on our lives and their purpose. Let us help in this the extremely eloquent vision of Sister Faustina. One day, I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with sand and flowers, full of joy, music and all sorts of pleasures.
People walked along it, dancing and enjoying themselves. They reached the end without realizing it. And at the end of the road there was a horrible precipice; that is, the abyss of hell. The souls fell blindly into it; as they walked, so they fell. And their number was so great that it was impossible to count them. And I saw the other road, or rather, a path, for it was narrow and strewn with thorns and rocks; and the people who walked along it had tears in their eyes, and all kinds of suffering befell them. Some fell down upon the rocks, but stood up immediately and went on. At the end of the road there was a magnificent garden filled with all sorts of happiness, and all these souls entered there. At the very first instant they forgot all their sufferings” (Diary, 153).
What is the purpose of my life? Which road am I taking?
From March 10 to 12, Sr. Tobiana and Sr. Agnes from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will lead a retreat for children and youth at the Piarist School Complex, including the Public Primary School and the 4th Public General Secondary School of the Piarist Order in Bolesławiec. The theme of the retreat will be Divine and human mercy in the Holy Scriptures, the Diary of St. Faustina, and our daily lives.
From March 9 to 11, Sr. Diana and Sr. Maria Faustyna from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will lead a retreat at the Parish of St. Lawrence and St. Nicholas in Radoszki (Diocese of Toruń) under the theme: “Mercy – the Source of Hope.” On Sunday, March 9, with the participation of the sisters, a new formation community of the Association of Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum” will also be established there.
On the same Sunday (March 9), a new “Faustinum” community will also be established in Józefosław at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, where Sr. Maria Vianeya ISMM will deliver a speech.
On March 10-11, Sr. Terezjana from the Krakow community and Sr. Eliasza from the Częstochowa community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will lead a retreat at Our Lady of Ostra Brama Parish in Krakow for children from primary schools No. 45, 114, and 128. The sisters will present the figure of St. Faustina and share the message of Mercy using engaging methods.
Under this motto, from March 7th to 9th this year, a retreat with a workshop element will take place at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki for women discerning a vocation to consecrated life (ages 18-35). The meetings will be led by Fr. Wojciech Kaczmarek CM, Sr. M. Ewangelista Sobkowicz ISMM, and Magdalena Poprawa. During silence, prayer, workshops on the retreat’s theme, and opportunities for conversation with a priest, a sister, or a psychologist, participants will have the chance to look anew at their journey with God, discover His plan for them, and recognize their deepest desires.
On March 8th this year, the XVIII traditional pilgrimage of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy to the Shrine of St. Joseph in Kalisz will take place, with delegations from many convents attending. The solemn Eucharist at 12:00 PM will be presided over by the bishop of the Kalisz diocese, Bishop Damian Bryl. The Holy Mass will be preceded by a special conference given by Fr. Piotr Górski. After lunch, there will be a performance by the “Lilia” Dance Theater and a meeting at the convent.
On March 5, Ash Wednesday, we will enter the time of Lent. On that day, during Holy Mass, the priests sprinkle the faithful with ash as a sign of penitence. The ash comes from the “palms” which had been blessed on Palm Sunday and now burnt). While sprinkling ash on the heads of the faithful, the priests say to them: „Repent and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return”. These words reminds us about the fragility of human life, the need to believe in the Gospel and to repent in order to reach eternal life. On Ash Wednesday, those above 14 years old should abstain from meat and fast, which implies eating no more than three times a day, including one full meal. Solemn fasting should be observed by those under the age of 60. Holy Mass at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki’s chapel with the Divine Mercy Image and the tomb of St. Faustina will be celebrated at 6:30 am, 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, and in the basilica they will be celebrated as on every Sunday. The beginning of Lent is intended to help in self-reflection, repentance, developing one’s mercy imagination and good preparation for Easter.
The first Friday of Lent, this year on March 7, has been celebrated in Poland for many years as a day of prayer and penance for the sin of sexual abuse of minors. Thus, we entrust all people wounded by sexual violence in their childhood or youth, and especially when the perpetrators were priests, to Divine Mercy on this day. We also ask for the grace of conversion for the perpetrators of these terrible crimes, and those who did see the evil, not did nothing to stand in defense of the victims, so that by recognition of their guilt and acceptance of just punishment and penance for their actions, they become sincerely reconciled with God and the community of the Church. At the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki we specifically recommend these intentions during prayer at the Hour of Mercy and in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
You can download a file “Jesus’ message of Mercy” at www.saint-faustyna.org for the non-commercial spread of the message of Mercy, which St. Faustina provided us with in her Diary. It contains the most important words of Jesus recorded by the Apostle of Divine Mercy. The pdf file has been translated into 16 languages. In 2024, it was shared 1249 times. The Spanish version was downloaded by the most 510 people, English by 162, French by 178, Polish by 107…
From February 28 to March 2, a men’s retreat will take place at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki under the theme: “Created to Be Like the Father.” The motto will be the words of Jesus from St. Faustina’s Diary: “My Heart is overflowing with great mercy for souls (…). Oh, that they could understand that I am the best Father for them” (Diary, 367).
Participants will discover the ideal of the modern man in God. The retreat will be led by Fr. Tomasz Jarzynka, vicar of St. Hyacinth Odrowąż Parish in Kętrzyn, and Sr. Maria Faustyna Ciborowska ISMM, a doctor of biblical studies involved in proclaiming the message of Mercy.
On March 1st, a one-day retreat will take place in the hospital chapel of St. John XXIII in Bergamo, where the Capuchin Fathers serve. The retreat is intended for members and volunteers from Lombardy, Italy, and will be led by Sr. Wincenta Mąka from the Roman community of the Congregation of the Mother of God of Mercy under the theme: “Saint Faustina, a pilgrim of hope.”
The program includes: the Eucharist, a conference, a shared lunch and fraternal meeting, followed by prayer at the Hour of Mercy, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The retreat will serve as preparation for Lent, focusing on Saint Faustina’s trust in times of hardship and suffering.
“In the evening, when I was in my cell I saw he Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment”, St. Faustina wrote in her Diary. “One hand was raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale. In silence I kept my gaze fixed on the Lord; my soul was struck with awe, but also with great joy. After a while, Jesus said to me: ‘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 [then] throughout the world’” (Diary, 47). The event took place in St. Faustina’s cell at the Plock convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in the Old Market on February 22, 1931. The first Divine Mercy image was painted in Vilnius in 1934 under the guidance of Sister Faustina herself in the studio of Eugeniusz Kazimirowski and exposed for public veneration for the first time at the Gate of Dawn in 1935. Since then, a number of images h-ave been created. The miracle-famous Divine Mercy image by Adolf Hyła, found in the convent chapel of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy is the best known one. The painting was created under the guidance of the Mercy apostle’s Krakow spiritual director, Fr. Józef Andrasz, S.J., who dedicated it on the Feast of Mercy, April 16, 1944. It was this image that fulfilled the words of Jesus spoken to St. Faustina at the first revelation: I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world. Not only pilgrims from around the world who physically arrive at this holy place can pray in front of this image, but also online visitors viewing our live broadcasts and the high quality presentation of the image at www.saint-faustina.org.
On February 22nd, the 94th anniversary of the revelation of Merciful Jesus, in the Płock Shrine of the Divine Mercy at the Old Market, Holy Mass will take place at 6.30 am, 12 pm and 5.00 pm. At 3 pm – prayer in the Hour of Mercy and Chaplet to Divine Mercy will be recited. At 12.00 pm, Holy Mass will be presided over by Bishop Szymon Stułkowski.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, from February 19 to 21, during the 5:00 PM Mass, Sister Gaudia Skass from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will share stories about encounters with the Merciful Jesus that changed people’s lives.
The celebration of the anniversary will be participated by the inhabitants of Plock and by venerators of Divine Mercy from many towns and villages in Poland, traditionally arriving to witness these events despite the wintry weather.
On February 22, 2025, the traditional “Evening with Merciful Jesus” will take place at the National Shrine of St. John Paul II in Washington, USA. The event will be led by the sisters from the Washington community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.
The program includes: the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet, adoration with praise of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and intercessory prayer, the sacrament of reconciliation, and a conference. Sister Faustia Szabóova will speak about fragile human love and how to receive the love of the Heavenly Father. The evening will conclude with a fraternal agape.
“Evenings with Merciful Jesus” are organized for young people who want to follow in the footsteps of St. Faustina and St. John Paul II and discover a new quality of life in friendship with Merciful Jesus.
On February 22 at 5:00 PM, a Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, before the miraculous image of Merciful Jesus and at the tomb of St. Faustina. The Mass will be offered for all those who have engaged in the work of the “Chaplet for the Dying,” with a request that more people join this initiative, bringing mercy to those most in need. We also include in our prayers the dying who have been submitted for prayer in this work, as well as the deceased.
On February 22 this year, a solemn introduction of the relics of St. Sister Faustina will take place at the parish church of St. Joseph the Worker in Stara Wieś near Limanowa. The event will be attended by Sr. Norberta and Sr. Judyta from the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. The celebration will be preceded by the spiritual preparation of the faithful during a triduum, which will serve as a reflection on the mission of the Apostle of Divine Mercy and an indication of how the faithful can participate in it through the testimony of life, deeds, words, and prayer.
On February 20nd, a meeting of the Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum” community will take place at the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia in Rome. The theme of the meeting will be trust, as reflected in the “Diary” of St. Faustina. The event will be led by the sisters of the Roman community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and Fr. Paolo Maretinelli, rector of the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia. The main theme will be: “Entrusting to God in the life of Mary.”
The program includes: Prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which will open the meeting, Holy Mass, conferences, Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary prayer, and fraternal fellowship.
The meeting will also be available online via Google Meet.
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: thanksgiving for the gift of the Divine Mercy image and all the graces obtained before it, asking that the world may find peace and man may find happiness in God’s merciful love.
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.
