On January 18th, at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, the first formative meeting of the Krakow “Faustinum” community for the new calendar year will take place.
The program includes:
13:30 – Rosary prayer
14:10 – Conferences:
14:10 – Stage II: The ABCs of Spiritual Life – Sr. Maria Faustyna Ciborowska ISMM
14:10 – Stage I: Biblical series – Sr. M. Terezjana Klepacka ISMM
15:00 – Prayer at the Hour of Mercy and Chaplet of Divine Mercy
15:30 – Agape and Drawing of Patrons for 2025 – “Faustinum” hall
16:20 – Community caroling
17:00 – Eucharist
17:50 – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
More information at: www.faustinum.pl
Under this motto, as part of the “Samaritan Woman” project, retreats for women will take place at the diocesan retreat house in Szczucinsk on January 17-19 and January 24-26, 2025. This event aims to highlight the great strength of a woman, so greatly needed in the world; that in God’s plan, she is beautiful, free, and independent. During the retreat, the leaders will showcase—through the example of the Jewish biblical heroine Judith, a woman who saved her people, and Mary, the most beautiful and powerful of women—what it means to be a free and strong woman.
The retreats 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, Sr. Madlen Hofmann, and Fr. Hans Peter Reiner.
Faustyna.pl and the website’s other language versions were viewed by over 2,500,000 visitors in 2024.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy would like to thank all Collaborators, Contributors, IT Specialists and Translators, without whom this work would not be able to develop, and all Internet users, without whom this wonderful exchange in the provision of good and bringing the message of Mercy and the entire spiritual heritage of St. Faustina to the world could not be taking place.
On January 17-19 this year, a New Year’s retreat for women will take place at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Lorinčík near Košice, in southern Slovakia, under the motto: “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me” (Ps 40:2). The retreat will be led by Fr. Paweł Wojnowski OCD and Sr. M. Benediktína Fečová from the Košice community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy.
On Sunday, January 19, the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Płock, located at Stary Rynek, will host a formation meeting for the Faustinum Association of the Apostles of Divine Mercy. The event will begin at 1:45 p.m. with a conference on the Bible. At 3:00 p.m., participants will observe the Hour of Mercy and recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, followed by a communal Agape. The gathering will conclude with Holy Mass at 5:00 p.m., preceded by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The meetings are led by the Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy and local priests.
Every day tens of thousands of people leave this earth due to illness, old age, wars, disasters, violence or other reasons. Hunger alone kills 11 people every minute, and every 40 seconds someone in the world commits suicide. Jesus asks through St. Faustina that we pray for the dying with the words of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Therefore, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki runs the Chaplet for the Dying. In 2024, people from Poland and many other countries around the world who declared their willingness to help the dying on a selected day and time zone more than 48,600 people supported with prayers whose names were sent by text message to the following phone number: +48 505 060 205 or by e-mail.
Anyone can join in this work of mercy and rush to the aid of those most in need of support, as they make their last and most important decision, which concerns eternity, at a time when they are most vulnerable and under attack from Satan. When filling out the entry form, choose the day of the week and the time of your vigil, as well as how information about the dying will be notified by text message (only in Poland) or e-mail.
Other participants in this project are donors who support this work financially, doctors, nurses, volunteers in hospitals and hospices, and all those who send text messages with the names of the dying, by which they show that they care for their salvation.
On January 22, 2025, at the National Shrine of St. John Paul II in Washington, USA, the traditional “Evening with the Merciful Jesus” will take place. It will be led by the sisters from the Washington community of the Congregation 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 confession, and a lecture by Sr. Caterina Esselen titled: “The Holy Doors of God’s Heart Are Wide Open for Us.” The evening will conclude with a fraternal agape.
“Evenings with the Merciful Jesus” are organized for young people who wish to follow in the footsteps of St. Faustina and St. John Paul II and discover a new quality of life in friendship with the Merciful Jesus.
On January 21, at the church of Santo Spirito in Sassia in Rome, another meeting of the “Faustinum” Apostles of Divine Mercy community will take place. The topic will focus on trust as presented in the Diary of St. Faustina. The meeting will be led by sisters from the Roman community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy and Fr. Alberto Donai from the Sons of the Cross Community, who will deliver a lecture titled: “The Trust of Jonah.” The program includes: Prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which will open the meeting, Holy Mass, lectures, and a fraternal gathering.
Participation is also possible via Google Meet live streaming.
On January 22, a meeting for young people, “Łagiewnicka 22,” will take place at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki. It will begin at 7:00 PM in the chapel with the miraculous image of Jesus the Merciful and the tomb of St. Faustina. The event will be led by the sisters of the Krakow community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The program includes: a talk by Sr. Anna Maria Trzcińska on how to be yourself, using the example of St. Faustina, silent prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with the worship of Divine Mercy, as well as fellowship over delicious treats and a Q&A session.
In 2024, numerous works were carried out at the Sanctuary, including relocating the chapel to the main part of the Church and finishing the vestibule, constructing stairs in front of the Sanctuary on the side of the Old Market, laying granite paving on the courtyard and basalt paving in the tunnel. The tunnel connecting the Old Market with the Sanctuary courtyard was renovated, entrance gates and a tunnel entry gate were installed, and various systems (e.g., access control, fire protection, etc.) were installed and activated. Lighting was installed in the courtyard, doors were purchased and fitted in various parts of the Sanctuary and the new part of St. Faustina’s House, wooden and metal handrails were made and installed, the Sanctuary grounds were fenced, interior finishing works were carried out inside the Sanctuary—walls, ceilings (also in the new part of Sister Faustina’s House)—and exterior works, such as adding plinths and completing plastering. Additionally, glass doors connecting the vestibule with the chapel of the apparition were installed, and a passenger elevator for St. Faustina’s House was commissioned.
Upcoming tasks include finishing and equipping the interior of the Sanctuary, sacristy, and support facilities, such as laying floors and installing benches. Outside the building, landscaping will be done. Moreover, we plan to design and implement a museum project in the Sanctuary’s underground areas and equip the newly constructed part of St. Sister Faustina’s House.
The Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Plock is being erected by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy thanks to the donations made for this purpose by devotees of Divine Mercy and people of good will. Sisters thank you for every gift of heart that makes the place of the first revelation of Merciful Jesus to St. Faustina come to life. Thanks to these gifts, the church is growing and therefore the Sisters would like to ask for further support. Holy Mass is celebrated on the 22nd day of each month and the Sisters pray daily together with the faithful at the Hour of Mercy and with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in the intention of everyone who support the construction of the Shrine spiritually and physically.
Donations for the expansion of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Płock can be deposited into the account:
Zgromadzenie Sióstr Matki Bożej Miłosierdzia
Stary Rynek 14/18
09-404 Płock
Bank PEKAO SA
I O w Płocku
ul. Kolegialna 14a
SWIFT CODE: PKOPPLPW
PLN IBAN: 72 1240 3174 1111 0000 2890 0836
USD IBAN: 56 1240 3174 1787 0010 1057 7746
EUR IBAN: 28 1240 3174 1978 0010 1057 7818
From the heart of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, that is, the chapel of the grace-famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of Saint Faustina, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy broadcasts 24 hours a day on-line on the website: www.faustyna.pl and its 8 language versions, on YouTube in the channel: Faustyna.pl. In 2024 alone, it was used by 4,500,000 unique users.
In addition, television stations (including TV Shalom), radio stations and the application: Faustyna.pl also use the broadcast. Morning Holy Mass Radio Doxa and Radio Droga from Vienna broadcast, and the prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy are broadcast by several radio and television stations. Thanks to these radio, television and Internet broadcasts, millions of people may cry out to God every day at the same time with one voice: “Please have mercy on us and the whole world”.
To mark the 100th anniversary of Helena Kowalska’s entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, the year 2025 has been designated as the Year of Saint Sister Faustina. As part of these celebrations, events will take place within the Congregation, culminating in a gathering of sisters from convents in Poland and abroad on August 1 in Warsaw—the location where, 100 years earlier, Helena Kowalska, the Apostle of Divine Mercy, crossed the threshold of religious life. This meeting will conclude with a night vigil, featuring prayers of adoration and thanksgiving for her gift and spiritual legacy for the Congregation and the Church. The vigil will be held at the Sanctuary of Saint Sister Faustina, the former chapel of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, where she prayed during her time in the convent on Żytnia Street.
On this occasion, an extensive biography of the Apostle of Divine Mercy, titled “Enraptured by Mercy”, written by Sister M. Elżbieta Siepak ISMM, will be published. This work is based exclusively on source materials, both published (Diary, Letters of Saint Sister Faustina, Memories of Saint Sister Faustina) and unpublished archival records, as well as documents from the beatification process. The biographical and spiritual legacy album edition will include previously unpublished information and photographs. Comprehensive footnotes (over 650) will provide deeper insights into the context of her life within her family, during her years of service to wealthier families, and in the convents of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The publication will also feature indices of individuals and places, ensuring easy access to sought-after information, along with a bibliography of key references.
On Saturday, August 30, 2025, a major youth gathering will take place in Łagiewniki, focusing on the theme of discernment. The event is especially aimed at young people aged 18–35 who face significant life decisions. The program will include communal prayer, conferences, and a concert, all designed to inspire young people to make courageous and sound life choices aligned with God’s will, following the example set by Helena Kowalska 100 years ago when she pursued her vocation despite many challenges.
From October 3–5, 2025, the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki will host an International Conference exploring new and pioneering themes in the writings of Saint Sister Faustina and her influence on the life of the Church in Poland and worldwide. Scholars and devotees of the Apostle of Divine Mercy from Poland and various countries will participate in this event.
On the Feast of the Holy Family, December 29, 2024, in the Chapel of the Apparition of the Image of Merciful Jesus at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Płock, Bishop Szymon Stułkowski, shepherd of the Diocese of Płock, issued a decree designating the Shrine as a Jubilee Church.
The faithful can receive an indulgence if, by January 6, 2026, they make a pilgrimage under the motto “Pilgrims of Hope – on the Way to the Source,” visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Płock, and participate in services held for the Jubilee or spend appropriate time in devout contemplation, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, the Profession of Faith, and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
After the decree ceremony, a procession went to the Płock Cathedral, where a Holy Mass inaugurating the Jubilee Year in the Diocese of Płock was celebrated. The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Szymon Stułkowski in concelebration with Bishop Mirosław Milewski. Numerous priests, consecrated persons, and lay faithful participated in the celebrations, including representatives from the other 18 Jubilee Churches of the Diocese of Płock.
The Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy and the apostles of Divine Mercy—following in the footsteps of St. Faustina and participating in her mission of proclaiming the message of Mercy to the world through the witness of life, deeds, words, and prayer—will commemorate the following anniversaries in 2025:
April 26–28: 90th anniversary of the first public display of the Divine Mercy image at the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius.
April 30: 25th anniversary of the canonization of Sister Faustina by Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, with a simultaneous broadcast to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. Establishment of Divine Mercy Sunday for the entire Church.
April 30: 25th anniversary of the establishment of the chapel of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Płock as a diocesan Sanctuary of Divine Mercy.
May 17: 10th anniversary of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy’s ministry in Cuba, in the city of Camagüey.
August 1: 100th anniversary of St. Faustina joining the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.
August 25: 120th anniversary of St. Faustina’s birth into the family of Marianna and Stanisław Kowalski in Głogowiec.
August 25: 30th anniversary of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy recognizing St. Faustina as its spiritual co-foundress.
August 27: 120th anniversary of St. Faustina’s baptism in St. Casimir’s Parish Church in Świnice Warckie.
September 13–14: 90th anniversary of the revelation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to Sister Faustina.
September 15: 20th anniversary of the ministry of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Slovakia, in the town of Nižný Hrušov.
December 23: 70th anniversary of the ministry of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Gdańsk, where they arrived as repatriates from Vilnius.
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 January: so that divine blessings come to us and our families on each day of 2025 and so that mercy and peace are bestowed on the world.
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.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy is collecting information on churches and chapels dedicated to St. Faustina. New submissions should be sent by filling out a form with contact information (full name of the church, mailing address, email, and phone) and a horizontal photo in .jpg format at www.saint-faustina.org in the Sister Faustina – Churches tab. Check beforehand if a particular church or chapel is not already listed on the website.
Sister Faustina is the patron saint of many schools, works of mercy, and other entities in Poland and around the world, as can already be seen at Faustyna.pl. The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy is collecting this information. Entities under the patronage of St. Faustina should be submitted by filling out a form with contact information (full name of the entity, mailing address, email address, and telephone) and a horizontal photo in .jpg format at www.sister-faustina.org, in the Sister Faustina tab. Make sure beforehand that the entity in question is not already listed on the website.
St. Faustina’s prophetic mission of recalling the biblical truth of God’s mercy resulted, among other things, in churches and parishes being dedicated to Jesus the Merciful or Divine Mercy. Many Shrines of Divine Mercy have also been established in Poland and around the world. Some of them can be found in the list at Faustyna.pl. It is worth mentioning that during St. Faustina’s lifetime, there was not a single parish or shrine under this name. The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy is collecting this information. Shrines of Divine Mercy can be submitted by filling out a form with contact information (full name of the entity, mailing address, email address, and telephone) and a horizontal photo in .jpg format at www.saint-faustina.org in the Shrines tab. Make sure beforehand that the shrine in question is not already listed on the website.
Every day at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy gather at the Image of Divine Mercy and the tomb of St. Faustina to pray the Rosary for families and married couples experiencing difficulties and crises. Also at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Płock, Holy Mass is celebrated on every 22nd day of a month at 5pm with this intention. To join this prayer in the Łagiewniki Shrine, also in the intention of your family or loved ones, you can access the live video broadcasting at www.saint-faustina.org.
The Chaplet for the Dying project supports a daily average of 125 moribund, whose names have been reported to us by SMS or e-mail. The moribund are spiritually supported not only by people from Poland, but also from other countries worldwide, who have declared their willingness to hold vigil on a selected day and time to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the intention of the person whose name they have received by text message or e-mail. We still need more people who will take up this ministry of mercy, so that help will quickly reach those who are the weakest, but are making the most important decisions and fighting the most difficult fights of their lives. Information about the project and applications are accessible via www.saint-faustina.org. The work is carried out by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy’s Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki at: www.faustyna.pl.
On every Thursday at 5 pm, at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, a Divine Mercy Holy Mass is celebrated for the intercession of St. Faustina in the intention of requests and thanks to the faithful offered in the chapel with the image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of the Apostle of Divine Mercy. You can add an intention right before the Mass and those who cannot physically be present at it can join us in prayer thanks to the online broadcast at www.faustyna.pl.
The Lord Jesus, in the devotion to Divine Mercy, gives us a special time of grace at three o’clock in the afternoon. It is the moment of His dying on the cross, of which he said to Sister Faustina: “This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. … In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion…” (Diary, 1320). In order to take advantage of these promises of Jesus, one must pray with confidence and add deeds of mercy towards others to the trustful prayer. Jesus proposes three ways of experiencing the prayer at the Hour of Mercy: celebrating the Way of the Cross, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, and if it is impossible, connecting with Him, dying on the cross, wherever 3 pm finds us. In this prayer, we turn directly to Jesus, and in our pleading, we appeal to the merits of His painful Passion. It is a privileged time in the Divine Mercy devotion, which is why the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy are practiced every day in all convents of the Congregation. You can join in this prayer through an on-line transmission from the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki at faustyna.pl and via the Faustyna.pl application.
The Diary of St. Faustina, which enjoys immense popularity, is sought after in foreign languages in Poland, too. The convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Łagiewniki Shrine often receives inquiries about the possibility of purchasing its translations, as well as reproductions of the Divine Mercy image with inscriptions in other languages. In response to the needs of pilgrims and online inquirers, the Misericordia publishing company ensures that foreign language versions of the Diary and images of Merciful Jesus with inscriptions in other languages than Polish are available in the Łagiewniki bookstore. These can also be ordered in various formats, on different materials, and in different languages by writing to: zamówienia@misericordia.faustyna.net.
The Misericordia publishing company serves the mission of proclaiming the message of Mercy, so in the company bookstore at the Łagiewniki Shrine (next to the basilica), you can also purchase other books related to the life, mission, and spirituality of St. Faustina, as well as devotional items and souvenirs. The online store operates at www.misericordia.faustyna.pl
Responding to the needs of individual pilgrims from all over the world who come to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy has prepared a very functional guide to this holy place using QR codes. It contains not only information about the individual locations, but above all the message of the treasure of this place, the spiritual heritage of St. Faustina, especially given by Jesus and recorded in her Diary. From now on, each pilgrim, scanning a QR code on a smartphone, will be guided by the sisters to a particular site, learn what meetings and conversations with the Inhabitants of Heaven St. Faustina had there. With the help of a 3D map one can see the entire Shrine and move on to the next object. The guide has already been made available not only in Polish, but also in English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Slovak, German and Russian. For other language areas, a scanned QR code automatically selects English.
Spring is a time of awakening of nature, but also of our hearts and desires. This time can be experienced in Kiekrz on rest and walks or on individual retreats with the Bible and the Diary of St. Faustina. The retreats are held according to the program proposed by the spiritual director (a Sister from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy) in complete silence, excluding cell phones and other electronic devices. The chapel shrine, accommodation, meals (according to your needs) beautiful surroundings with a small Kierskie lake (place of the revelation of Lord Jesus to St. Faustina). These retreats can be used by all who wish to do so. Please send your applications to email: domkiekrz@faustyna.pl.
The Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy and apostles of Divine Mercy following in the footsteps of St. Faustina and participating in her mission to proclaim the message of Mercy to the world with their witness of life, deeds, words and prayers will remember and celebrate the following anniversaries in 2024:
January 2 – the 90th anniversary of the start of work on painting the first image of the Merciful Jesus in the studio of painter Eugeniusz Kazimirowski under the guidance of St. Faustina.
February – 95th anniversary of St. Faustina’s first arrival in Vilnius.
17 March – 120 years of the Congregation’s ministry in Częstochowa.
16 April – the 90th anniversary of the dedication of the most famous Divine Mercy Image of Jesus at the Shrine of Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow-Łagiewniki, where His words to Sister Faustina were fulfilled: I want this picture venerated first in your chapel, and in the whole world (Diary, 47).
June – the 95th anniversary of Sister Faustina’s arrival to minister at the Congregation’s home in Warsaw’s Grochów district.
June/July – the 90th anniversary of the completion of the painting of the first picture of Merciful Jesus in the studio of Eugeniusz Kazimirowski. Sister Faustina lamented that the Jesus in this painting was not as beautiful as she saw Him.
July – 95th anniversary of Sister Faustina’s stay at the Congregation’s house in Kiekrz.
22 August – 30 years of the Congregation’s ministry in the Czech Republic, first in Ronov; then the community of Sisters moved to Dvůr Králové nad Labem.
31 August – 95th years of the Congregation’s ministry in Biała near Płock.
22 November – 10th anniversary of the evenings of worship at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki: The Łagiewniki 22.
Sanktuarium (The Shrine) is the title of the latest film about the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow, a place chosen by God, where, as St. Faustina died, a great treasure was laid – the message of Divine Mercy. It is a place of many a revelation, miracle and pilgrimage from all over the world. The documentary tells about this special site on the religious map of the world, which TV, radio and online broadcasts have allowed millions of pilgrims weekly to come to visit. The narrative of the film includes the theme of the national TV broadcasting that is the mission of TVP, that has accompanied the Shrine for 30 years, including the three years of daily broadcasting. The documentary, directed by Grzegorz Styła, contains fascinating testimonies of people from all over the world. It is available on TVP VOD.
A video titled Divine Mercy in daily life has been made recently for the Maria Vision TV, featuring Sr. Gaudia Skass from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy, who speaks about the Łagiewniki Shrine as a sacred site, where St. Faustina lived and where she passed to the house of the Heavenly Father. Any place where we are, if we are experiencing our lives with Jesus, can be such a holy place. The beautifully shot film is available in English.
