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.
From October 25-27 of this year, the annual retreat for devotees of Divine Mercy will be held at the Jesuit retreat house in Prešov, Slovakia, under the theme: “If You Knew the Gift of God.” It will be led by Sr. M. Blanka Krajčíková from the Hrušov community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, together with Jesuit Fathers from the Prešov community.
On October 22nd at 7 pm, in the Łagiewniki Shrine’s chapel of the Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina, the traditional monthly youth meeting, dubbed the Łagiewniki 22, will take place. The evening meetings provide space to worship Divine Mercy during which the participants give thanks for the received blessings and entrust all their personal intentions and all matters of the Church and the world to the Lord Jesus.
On October 19th, at the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia in Rome, there will be another meeting of the Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum” community, during which the topic of trust in the Bible and in the Diary of St. Faustina will be discussed. The meeting will be led by the sisters of the Roman community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and Fr. Massimo Lucidi from the Roman diocese, who will give a lecture on “Sin as an expression of distrust in God.”
The program includes: Prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which will open the meeting, Holy Mass, conferences on trust, which is the first response to God’s merciful love, and a fraternal gathering.
On October 15, at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, a 9-month retreat cycle for women on spiritual motherhood will begin. The meetings will be held every month in the Chapel of St. Sister Faustina in the lower basilica, every third Tuesday of the month from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The program includes: the Eucharist, adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, a lecture, group discussions, the Jasna Góra Appeal, and consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On October 11-13, 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 “Because you are precious in My eyes, you have gained value and I love you (cf. Iz 43:4)”. It will be led by Fr. Pavol Wojnowski, O.C.D., and Sr. Benediktína Fečová from the Košice community of the Congregation of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy.
On October 12, the participants of the “Margaret” apostolate from all over Poland will meet at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki. The pilgrimage will begin in the Shrine of Saint John Paul II at 9:00 am with greeting the pilgrims and a rosary prayer for priests. About 11.00 am – conference. Solemn Eucharist at 12.00 an will be presided by Bishop Janusz Mastalski. The pilgrims will also visit the chapel with the grace-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina. The pilgrimage will end with prayer at the Hour of Mercy (3 pm) and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
From October 8 to 12, the sisters from the Roman community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy are organizing a pilgrimage for Italians to follow in the footsteps of St. Faustina and St. John Paul II. The pilgrims will visit places associated with these Apostles of Divine Mercy. The itinerary includes tours and prayer at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki and the Sanctuary of St. John Paul II “Do Not Be Afraid,” followed by personal prayer at Jasna Góra in front of the Black Madonna. The group will also visit the Sanctuary of St. Faustina’s Birth and Baptism in Świnice Warckie, as well as her family home in Głogowiec. For the participants, this pilgrimage will be a time of prayer and reflection on the lives of the saints and their personal spiritual journey.
On October 11, at 6.30 a.m., Mass will be celebrated in the intention of all those who have become involved in the work on the Chaplet for the Dying and the Perpetual Chaplet at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki. At the grace-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina, we will implore that more people join in these works, bringing mercy to those most in need. This Holy Mass is an expression of gratitude to the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy for jointly bringing the message of God’s merciful love for man to the world. May it bring great glory to Divine Mercy in human souls.
On October 8, the thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the consecration of the Hungarian chapel (Communio Sanctorum) will be celebrated by the Primate of Hungary, Cardinal Péter Erdő, Metropolitan of Esztergom-Budapest, and will be attended by pilgrims from Hungary.
As you enter the Lower Basilica and walk towards St. Faustina’s Chapel, the Communio Sanctorum Chapel will be on the right. This Chapel was consecrated during a Hungarian pilgrimage on 9 October 2004 by Cardinal Péter Erdó, Primate of Hungary, and Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kraków. Its interior decoration is the gift of the Church in Hungary, and that is why it is also known as the Hungarian Chapel. Its side walls are decorated with a splendid series of mosaics depicting over 60 saints and blesseds from Hungary, Poland, and other European countries who have contributed some of the finest chapters in the history of the Church. They are grouped in separate clusters, and each cluster is inscribed with one of the Eight Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, giving a commentary on their lives. This procession of saints is headed by Mary, the Mother of God. Over the marble altar there is a mosaic showing the Merciful Jesus and St. Faustina, circumscribed with the words Jesus, I trust in You in several languages. In front of the altar there is a reliquary in the shape of a right hand containing a relic of St. Stephen, Patron Saint of Hungary. The Chapel’s interior decoration was designed and made by the Hungarian artist Father László Puskás, who is a Uniate Greek Catholic priest, and his wife.
From October 4-7 of this year, Sr. Sangwina Kostecka from the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Krakow-Łagiewniki Sanctuary will participate in the celebrations in honor of St. Sister Faustina in Luxembourg and Belgium. On October 5, a prayer vigil and veneration of the relics of the Apostle of Divine Mercy will take place at St. Martin’s Church in Beauraing. The program includes conferences led by Sr. Sangwina and Father Remy from the Sanctuary of St. Therese of Lisieux, focusing on St. Faustina and her prayers for priests. The celebrations will be attended by groups praying for priests and devotees of Divine Mercy from Luxembourg and Belgium.
On October 6, at the Shrine of Sister Faustina in Kiekrz, a pilgrimage ceremony will take place. Mass at noon on the Małe Kierskie Lake, in the place of the revelation of Jesus to St. Faustina, will be presided by Bishop Grzegorz Balcerek. It will be preceded by a procession with relics of St. Faustina, which will depart from the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy to the altar over a Małe Kierskie Lake. The preparation for this event will be the triduum from 3 to 5 of October. The Masses during the triduum will be celebrated at 6 pm.
The International Divine Mercy Apostles Days will take place at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki from October 4-6, under the theme There’s a Rescue – MERCY. The event offers a unique opportunity to gather and share fellowship with others who are embracing the path of trust and mercy, continuing the mission of St. Faustina in various parts of the world. Participants from 40 countries across all continents have confirmed their attendance. Each day’s program includes Holy Mass, conferences, communal prayer, personal testimonies, a visit to St. Faustina’s cell, and ceremonies for welcoming new members into the Faustinum Association.
On Sunday, October 6th, at 6:00 p.m., the solemn introduction of the relics of St. Sister Faustina will take place at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Suchedniów. The celebration will be presided over by Bishop Marek Solarczyk, the shepherd of the Radom Diocese, and Sister Tobiana and Sister Agnes from the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki will participate. On this occasion, they will share the spiritual heritage of St. Faustina, especially the message of Mercy that Jesus sent her to proclaim to the whole world.
October 5 marks the 86th anniversary of the Apostle of Divine Mercy’s death. The day was recalled by the late Sister Eufemia Traczyńska as follows: On October 5, at dinner time, there was a bell. It was known that Sr. Faustina was dying. We dropped whatever we were doing and as we were, we went to see her. The chaplain was already in the infirmary with a few of the sisters. We prayed together. We prayed for a long time: the prayers for the dying, litanies and other prayers. We prayed for so long that even the evening Mass was held a little later than usual. At some point, Sr. Faustina gave a sign for Mother Superior to lean toward her, and she said that she would not die yet, and that she would let us know when she would. The sisters left. … When I returned to my cell, I entered the chapel and prayed for the souls in purgatory, asking that they awaken me when Sr. Faustina was dying, because I really wanted to be with her at the moment of her death. I was afraid to ask Mother Superior outright, for we young novices were not allowed to go in there, in case we should be infected with tuberculosis. Sister Amelia was allowed in, because she was already sick. I went to bed at the usual time and immediately fell asleep. Suddenly, someone wakes me up: “Sister, if you want to be present at the death of Sr. Faustina, get up now.” I immediately realized that a mistake had been made… The one who came to wake Sr. Amelia, got into the wrong cell and came to me instead. As soon as I could, I woke Sr. Amelia, I put on my smock and cap, and quickly ran to the infirmary. Sister Amelia followed. It was around eleven at night. When we came there, Sr. Faustina seemed to slightly open her eyes and she smiled a little, and then bowed her head and that was it… Sister Amelia said she probably just died. I looked at Sr. Amelia, but I did not say anything. We prayed on. The candle was burning all the time.
It was the day that Sister Faustina waited longingly for, as she awaited her full union with Jesus to dwell forever in the Father’s house, the heavenly homeland, as she used to say. She promised: I shall not forget you, O poor Earth, thought I feel I shall immediately sink completely in God, as in an ocean of bliss; but it will not prevent me from coming back to Earth and fortifying and encouraging souls to trust in Divine mercy. In fact, being submerged in God will give me unlimited scope for action (Diary, 1582). She faithfully keeps her word, interceding for many graces and earthly blessings to all who confidently turn to her for help. After all, Jesus said to her: “Do whatever you wish; distribute graces as you wish, to whomever and whenever you wish” (Diary, 31).
The liturgical feast of St. Faustina, October 5th, at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in the chapel with the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina, Holy Mass will be celebrated at 6.30 am, 11.00 am, 5.00 pm and 7.00 pm. Prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited at 3pm, as on all days. From 8.30 pm in the basilica, Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will be led by Sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy. The evening of grace and praise will end at 10.45 pm, i.e., at the hour when St. Faustina departed to the House of the Lord. In the basilica, Holy Masses will be celebrated at: 9:00 am, 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, 3:20 pm, 6:00 pm.
On October 5, which is the anniversary of St. Faustina’s birth in Heaven, the site where the Apostle of Divine Mercy left the earth to go to the Heavenly Father’s house, will be opened to visitors. Usually, it is unavailable for pilgrims, because it is inside the religious cloister. Entering the Shrine, you can only see a plaque and the window of the old infirmary decorated with flowers. On October 5, however, the oratory, in which the relics of St. Faustina body are deposited, along with more than a hundred relics of other saints and blessed, will be made available to pilgrims from 10.00 am to 6.30 pm.
On the feast of St. Faustina in Płock, on October 5th, a solemn service will be celebrated in the Shrine of Divine Mercy at the Old Market. Holy Mass will take place on that day at the following times: 6.30 am, 12 pm and solemn summa at 5 pm, celebrated by Bp. Mirosław Milewski. As every day, at 3 p.m. – prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and at 4 p.m. – prayer of the rosary and the Litany of Saint Faustina.
Before the feast of St. Faustina, a triduum of Holy Masses will be celebrated from October 2nd to 4th at 5 pm. The main celebrant will be Fr. Dariusz Malczyk.
A triduum of Holy Masses will be held at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki from October 2-4, in preparation for the feast of St. Faustina. The Masses will take place each day at 5 p.m., with sermons focusing on St. Faustina as viewed by her Krakow confessor and spiritual director, Fr. Józef Andrasz, S.J. The sermons will be delivered by Fr. Mariusz Balcerak, vice-postulant in the beatification process of Bl. Józef Andrasz, S.J.
Indulgent celebrations in honor of St. Faustina, the patron saint of Łódź, will begin on Saturday, October 5, at 12:00 p.m. in the Juliusz Słowacki park known as “Wenecja” (ul. Pabianicka), where St. Faustina experienced a vision of the suffering Jesus during a dance party. A large “Belgian” dance will be held there, with many participants joining in the celebration. Following the dance, a Run for Meaning will trace the path that Helena Kowalska (later known as St. Faustina) took 100 years ago, leading participants to the Łódź Cathedral. At 1:00 p.m. in the church, Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will take place, followed by an act of entrustment of the Archdiocese of Łódź to Divine Mercy, and a conference on Christian vocation. Around 2:30 p.m., a procession with the relics of St. Faustina will proceed along Piotrkowska Street to the church dedicated to her at Plac Niepodległości. There, a solemn Mass will be celebrated at approximately 3:00 p.m., presided over by Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, the metropolitan archbishop of Łódź.
On September 28-29 of this year, Sr. Marlena Robak from the Kiekrz community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will share the life and prophetic mission of St. Faustina with the faithful at the Parish of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Poznań.
On September 29 of this year, Sr. Tymoteusza Kmiotek and Sr. Wincenta Mąka from the Roman community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy will meet with the faithful at the Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption in Cagliari. The parish is preparing to receive the relics of St. Faustina, so the sisters will speak about the life of the Apostle of Divine Mercy, her prophetic mission, and the spiritual school she brought into the Church’s history. The program includes, in addition to conferences, joint prayer during the Hour of Mercy, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and a fraternal gathering.
On September 28, we will be celebrating the anniversary of the beatification of Fr. Michael Sopocko. At 3 pm on squares, corners and intersections of the streets in crowded cities, as well as in other public places and at rural crossroads, people will gather to recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The participants will pray for mercy for themselves, their loved ones, their homeland, the Church and the world. Everyone can join. The event is held to remind us about the message of God’s mercy that Jesus gave to St. Faustina. Just find a place at an intersection and recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, individually or in a group. If this is impossible – you can connect spiritually. More: www.iskra.jezuici.pl.
On Saturday, 28th of September, 15th Living Rosary Pilgrimage will come to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki. The program for the meeting includes a 10 am prayer and welcoming of the pilgrims at the Basilica, a special sermon, rosary, and a solemn Mass. The pilgrims will also visit the chapel with the grace-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina.
On September 27, at 6.30 am, at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Image of Divine Mercy and the tomb of St. Faustina in the intentions of IT specialists, donors, translators and other individuals contributing to www.saint-faustina.org. The Eucharist is an expression of gratitude from the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy for bringing the message of the merciful love of God towards man to the world together. Let it bring great glory to the Divine Mercy in human souls.
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 September: mercy and peace for the whole world, and especially for those nations that suffer persecution, lack of freedom, freedom to profess their faith and respect for their human rights.
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.
From September 1st, at the Shrine of Divine Mercy, in all the chapels of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, and in some parishes, special evening devotions will begin in honor of Divine Mercy, with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. This form of devotion was introduced in 1993 (after the beatification of Sister Faustina), to follow the monthly forms of worship practiced in May, June or October. The celebrations in September will include the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, recited or sung for the intention of mercy for our homeland and the world. September is the month of the revelation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy by the Lord Jesus and the outbreak of World War II a few years afterwards. These circumstances, as well as the situation in the modern world, are especially urging us to cry for the mercy of God for us and the whole world.
Under this title, from September 20th to 22nd, a retreat on the dignity of women will be held at St. Joseph Parish in Makinsk, Kazakhstan. It 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 reflections on the Word of God, lectures, and workshops, as well as the message of Divine Mercy that Jesus conveyed to St. Faustina.
On September 21-22 of this year, Sister Faustyna Olszewska from the Kiekrz community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will share the message and spiritual heritage of Saint Faustyna with the faithful at the Parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Poniec, Archdiocese of Poznań.
On September 20, following the initiative of Fr. Tomasz Flak, S.C.J., the provost at the Parish of the Elevation of the Holy Cross in Sosnowiec at ul. Bohaterów Getta 31, the first formation meeting of the Faustinum Association of the Apostles of Divine Mercy will be held. It will be hosted by Sr. Clareta Fečova, vice-President of the Association, and Sr. Maria Faustyna Ciborowska from the Krakow convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The meeting agenda includes Holy Mass, communal prayer, a presentation about God revealing Himself, and integration.
