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?
This is the theme of the workshops at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Kraków-Łagiewniki, which will take place from February 27 to March 1, 2026. Participants of these workshops will face the challenging topic of showing mercy to themselves. They will learn gentleness toward themselves, forgiveness, trust in themselves, and how to properly handle the demands they place on themselves. Participation in the workshops assumes a readiness to share and work with other participants. The workshops will be led by Monika Guzewicz. More information on the organizers’ website: www.faustinum.pl
For the period of Lent, we usually make resolutions, which usually involves doing the deeds that Jesus asked us to do: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, performed secretly with the pure intention of love for God and for people, not for applause or recognition. Saint Faustina also practiced them. In her religious life, however, she made one specific resolution, which she realized not only during Lent, but always, namely, she joined Merciful Jesus living in her soul, through an aspiration. When she wanted to change this decision, Jesus would not let her, because this daily practice leads to the development of a deep relationship with Him, to living our daily lives with Him.
On Wednesday, March 4, a one-day retreat will be held for students of Rudolf Dilong Primary School in Trstená. The program includes a multimedia presentation, games, themed riddles, a quiz, and prizes for the winners. The retreat for students in grades 1–9 will be led by Sr. Jana Mária Krnáčová, Sr. M. Antoniana Štullerová from the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, and postulant Miška.
Under this theme, taken from the Gospel of St. Luke (Lk 10:41), a women’s retreat will take place on March 6–8 this year in Kazakhstan – at St. Joseph Parish in Makinsk. The retreat, organized within the framework of the “Samaritan Woman” project, will be led by Sr. Anastasis Omelchenko ISMM, Sr. Kazimiera Wanat CSFN, and Fr. Lucjan Pocałuń.
Martha and Mary encourage the search for balance: action and presence, activity and silence – both realities have their place in a woman’s life. An encounter with these sisters and with the most precious Guest of their home may begin a reflection on the tension between one’s own activity and presence, and on the fact that in femininity there is room both for action and for silence.
On March 6–8, a Lenten retreat for members and volunteers of Faustinum from Italy will take place in San Romano, Tuscany, under the theme: “Happy is the one who will live in the shadow of these rays.” The retreat will be led by Sr. Wincenta Mąka from the Roman community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and Fr. Francesco Brasa. The program includes: Holy Mass, conferences, common prayer, adoration, prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and fraternal sharing.
The devotion, in which we contemplate the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, allows us to discover and explore the merciful love of God to man, to develop the attitude of trusting God in every situation, even the difficult and painful ones and the attitude of mercy toward our neighbors. Jesus took our sins upon Himself and suffered ignominious death for every one of us, to rise again so that we may have life and enjoy it now and forever.
On every Friday at Shrine of Divine Mercy, a communal devotion of the Stations of the Cross, or Way of Sorrows, will be celebrated at the Basilica at 4:00 pm and in the chapel of the Divine Mercy Image and the tomb of St. Faustina at 7:00 pm, with the exception of the first Friday, when the Way will be celebrated at 6:15 pm (online broadcast available at www.saint-faustina.org).
In 2025, at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Płock, thanks to the generosity and great kindness of our donors, we were able to carry out many works. From April to December 2025, design works related to the interior arrangement of our church were carried out; we purchased new organs together with speakers; an illuminated display case was made in the vestibule of the Shrine; equipment for online transmission was installed and internet access was connected in the new building; works related to systems ensuring the safety of people staying on our premises were completed (fire protection system, monitoring, access control, etc.); plantings were made in the courtyard of the Shrine, and a waste shelter was built. We equipped the conference room with tables, necessary furniture, and sound system; tables were purchased for the café; we furnished rooms with kitchenettes in the new part of the Pilgrims’ House; we made available to pilgrims restrooms equipped with dispensers for towels, soap, paper, etc.
The most important works planned for 2026 are the installation of the floor and the construction of new, comfortable pews for the Shrine. If funds allow, we also plan to install the final sound system and complete other elements of the interior décor. At the same time, we wish to further equip the café with necessary appliances: an oven, dishes, and a coffee machine, so that it may fully serve pilgrims from all over Poland and from around the world who come to our Shrine.
The completion of the above works would not have been possible without the support of donors. We believe that God Himself desires this place to radiate His Mercy and that everyone may draw here from the Source, experiencing an encounter with Him. We feel honored to be able to build such an important place, where for the first time the Merciful Jesus appeared to Saint Sister Faustina, and that we can do this together with you. We invite you to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Płock!
Two asteroids discovered by the Vatican Astronomical Observatory have been named in honor of Polish saints: St. Sister Faustina Kowalska and St. Ursula Ledóchowska. The information was announced by the International Astronomical Union’s Committee on Small Body Nomenclature. The asteroids were discovered by Vatican astronomers Fr. Richard P. Boyle, SJ, and his long-time collaborator Kazimieras Černis from Vilnius, using the Vatican Observatory telescope on Mount Graham in Arizona.
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.
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, word, and prayer—will in 2026 remember, commemorate, and celebrate the following anniversaries:
22 February – 95th anniversary of the revelation of the image of Jesus, the Merciful, to St. Sister Faustina Kowalska in the convent of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in Płock.
22–24 February – 30th anniversary of the First International Congress of Apostles of Divine Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. Theme: The Apostolic Movement of Divine Mercy.
May – 45th anniversary of the first critical and complete edition of the Diary of St. Sister Faustina Kowalska.
27 May – 20th anniversary of the pilgrimage of Pope Benedict XVI to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki.
18 June – 80th anniversary of the establishment of the house of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Zakopane.
6 July – 145th anniversary of the death of the foundress, Mother Teresa Potocka, in Wilanów. She was buried at Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw (Avenue T).
26–31 July – 10th anniversary of World Youth Day in Kraków. Its patrons were St. Sister Faustina and St. John Paul II. Before the meeting in Kraków, young people from 187 countries stayed in various dioceses; during WYD they visited the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki to pray before the grace-filled image of Jesus, the Merciful, and at the tomb of the Apostle of Divine Mercy.
30 July – 10th anniversary of the pilgrimage of Pope Francis to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. Prayer of the Holy Father before the grace-filled image of Jesus, the Merciful, and at the tomb of St. Sister Faustina, as well as his ministry in the confessional in the basilica.
1 August – 15th anniversary of the “Perpetual Chaplet” initiative on the website www.faustyna.pl. Thanks to this initiative, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is prayed continuously day and night, and internet users from many countries join daily in prayer with the Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy.
15 August – 25th anniversary of the ministry of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Postavy, Belarus.
25 August – 25th anniversary of the ministry of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Świnice Warckie.
16 November – 80th anniversary of the establishment of the house of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Wrocław.
4 December – 145th anniversary of the ministry of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Derdy near Warsaw.
2026 – 100th anniversary of the establishment of the house of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw (Grochów).
The website: www.sanktuarium.faustyna.pl, run by the Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, is now in a new layout. It contains information for pilgrims (guide, QR code, pilgrimage registration, accommodation, restaurant), a live broadcast from the chapel with the grace-famed image of the Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina, works carried out by the sisters, news, galleries, and materials concerning the history of this “place chosen by God” for the veneration of His mercy.
From October 3–5, an International Conference entitled “New and Pioneering Themes in the Writings of St. Faustina and Her Influence on the Life of the Church” was held at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. Lecturers and speakers from various academic centers in Poland and the Vatican took part. The full texts of their presentations have been published by the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków in a test format at the following addresses:
https://monografie.upjp2.edu.pl/wn/catalog/book/183
https://czasopisma.upjp2.edu.pl/poloniasacra/issue/view/412
A video summary of these studies will be available at a later date, which will be announced on our website.
The conference was organized by: the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, the Rectorate of the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, and the Association of the Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum.” Devotees of Divine Mercy and St. Faustina participated not only from all over Poland but also from many countries around the world, including India, Hong Kong, Palestine, Jordan, the USA, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Sweden, Wales, and Slovakia.
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.
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.
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.
Under this title, the long-awaited new biography of St. Faustina, written by Sr. M. Elżbieta Siepak ISMM, has been published by Misericordia Publishing. The book is based exclusively on published source materials (“Diary”, “Letters of St. Faustina”, “Memories of St. Faustina”) and unpublished materials from archives, as well as documents from the beatification process.
This album edition of the biography and the spiritual legacy of the Apostle of Divine Mercy contains 385 photographs, many of which have never been published before. Extensive footnotes (over 676) provide an even deeper context of her life: in her family environment, during her years of service in wealthier families, and in the convents of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The publication also includes indexes of people and places, making it easy to find the desired information, as well as a bibliography of the most important works. The book is beautifully published and is a unique position not only for those interested in her life, mission, and spirituality. The book is available at the Misericordia Publishing store in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki and in the online store. Buy here
The Church under the invocation of St. Joseph at the monastery of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Walendów – where St. Faustina prayed and where Fr. Edmund Elter SJ “unfolded her wings for flight” for the first time, confirming the divine origin of her mystical experiences – is undergoing a general renovation and needs financial support.
The sisters have already managed to: replace the windows and doors, install new electrical wiring and lighting, repaint the church interior, restore the marble floor, replace the pews, and repair the bells with an automatic system. Soon, they plan to install a soundproof confessional and build a railing in front of the altar.
However, the main goal of the fundraising effort is to renovate the church façade and replace the gutters. Donations for this purpose should be sent to the following account:
Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
Walendów
ul. Nad Utratą 30
05-830 Nadarzyn
Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A.
Branch in Pruszków
ul. Wojska Polskiego 23
Account number: PL95 1240 6380 1111 0000 5114 1145
BIC Code of Bank Pekao SA: PKOPPLPW
The sisters, grateful for any support towards this very costly investment, which exceeds the monastery’s financial capabilities, remember benefactors and donors in their daily prayers.
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 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
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.
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.
