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.
In the second week of Advent with St. Faustina, we would like to invite you to consider Divine Mercy in the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God. “God, You did not allow Man to perish after his fall, but in Your mercy forgave him; You forgave him in a Divine manner, not only forgiving his sin but also bestowing all manner of graces upon him. Mercy prompted You to come to come down to us Yourself and lift us up out of our wretchedness. God, the Lord of Lords, is to come down on Earth, the Immortal One is to stoop down. But where will You come down, O Lord? To Solomon’s temple? Will You have a new abode built for You? Where do You intend to come down? O Lord, what kind of abode shall we build You, if the whole Earth is Your footstool? You have prepared an abode for Yourself: the Holy Virgin, Her immaculate womb is Your dwelling” (Diary, 1745). During this week, let us follow St. Faustina in contemplating the Mercy of God in the mystery of the incarnation of His Son, Who took on a human form in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Let’s be thankful that human nature became elevated in this way, and has been present in the mystery of the Trinity through Jesus ever since.
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.
On November 29, spiritual preparations for the celebration of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will begin in all the houses of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. There is to be a communal novena consisting of antiphons and the Litany of Loreto. In addition the sisters will be marking the Holy Day with an annual gift to the Mother of Mercy. Over and above the obligatory prayer in the convents’ chapels and her spiritual exercise, Saint Faustina used to make a novena which consisted in saying 1,000 „Hail Marys” each day. She admitted: Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Apart from recreation, I have only prayed and worked. I have not said a single unnecessary word during these days. Although I must admit that such a matter requires a good deal of attention and effort, nothing is too much when it comes to honoring the Immaculate Virgin (Diary, 1413). You yourselves can also take part in the prayer online, thanks to our live transmissions from the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki.
Sister Faustina would begin every Advent with Virgin Mary. Before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, she would practice a novena with the whole Congregation, and in addition to that, she would always try to offer something more to the Mother of God (e.g. a novena of a thousand Hail Marys). She considered mercy that Mary experienced as a gift of her immaculate conception and the fullness of grace guaranteed to her by Archangel Gabriel, and the gift of Divine motherhood. The one who was chosen to become the Mother of the Son of God knows best how to experience the period of awaiting the coming of Jesus. She advised Sister Faustina: “try to make yourself meek and humble, so that Jesus, Who dwells perpetually in your heart, may rest. Adore Him in your heart, do not leave your interior” (Diary, 785). This may also be our decision for this Advent week to prepare our hearts for God’s ever more complete presence therein.
On December 2th, at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, Mass will be celebrated at 5 pm in the intentions of all the sponsors, donors and contributors of the media works carried out by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, and especially those who support the Chaplet for the Dying at www.faustyna.pl and its language versions. Thanks to this support each year we are helping about 40 thousand dying people. Hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world can make a virtual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Łagiewniki and connect in prayer next to the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina. Sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy pray daily for the donors and benefactors who support the work, but this particular Eucharist will be a special gift of gratitude. You can join this celebration via the live video broadcast at www.saint-faustina.org and in the Faustyna.pl application.
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.
Advent is approaching, Sister Faustina wrote in her Diary. I want to prepare my heart for the coming of the Lord Jesus by silence and recollection of spirit, uniting myself with the Most Holy Mother and faithfully imitating Her virtue of silence, by which She found pleasure in the eyes of God Himself. I trust that, by Her side, I will persevere in this resolution (Diary, 1398). This year, the first Sunday of Advent falls on 1th of December. Liturgically, Advent and the new year in the liturgy of the Church begins with vespers on November 30th. It constitutes a time of joyful anticipation of Christmas, spiritual preparation for this holiday and for the second coming of Christ on Earth, in addition to building our sensitivity to His everyday coming to us here and now, as St. Faustina did, through exercise in silence and recollection of spirit. The joy of experiencing the mystery of faith which tells us of the birth of the Son of God in human flesh, Mercy Incarnate, depends on this expectation and spiritual preparation.
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.
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.
