On February 20nd, a meeting of the Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum” community will take place at the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia in Rome. The theme of the meeting will be trust, as reflected in the “Diary” of St. Faustina. The event will be led by the sisters of the Roman community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and Fr. Paolo Maretinelli, rector of the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia. The main theme will be: “Entrusting to God in the life of Mary.”
The program includes: Prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which will open the meeting, Holy Mass, conferences, Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary prayer, and fraternal fellowship.
The meeting will also be available online via Google Meet.
“In the evening, when I was in my cell I saw he Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment”, St. Faustina wrote in her Diary. “One hand was raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale. In silence I kept my gaze fixed on the Lord; my soul was struck with awe, but also with great joy. After a while, Jesus said to me: ‘Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world’” (Diary, 47). The event took place in St. Faustina’s cell at the Plock convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in the Old Market on February 22, 1931. The first Divine Mercy image was painted in Vilnius in 1934 under the guidance of Sister Faustina herself in the studio of Eugeniusz Kazimirowski and exposed for public veneration for the first time at the Gate of Dawn in 1935. Since then, a number of images h-ave been created. The miracle-famous Divine Mercy image by Adolf Hyła, found in the convent chapel of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy is the best known one. The painting was created under the guidance of the Mercy apostle’s Krakow spiritual director, Fr. Józef Andrasz, S.J., who dedicated it on the Feast of Mercy, April 16, 1944. It was this image that fulfilled the words of Jesus spoken to St. Faustina at the first revelation: I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world. Not only pilgrims from around the world who physically arrive at this holy place can pray in front of this image, but also online visitors viewing our live broadcasts and the high quality presentation of the image at www.saint-faustina.org.
On February 22nd, the 94th anniversary of the revelation of Merciful Jesus, in the Płock Shrine of the Divine Mercy at the Old Market, Holy Mass will take place at 6.30 am, 12 pm and 5.00 pm. At 3 pm – prayer in the Hour of Mercy and Chaplet to Divine Mercy will be recited. At 12.00 pm, Holy Mass will be presided over by Bishop Szymon Stułkowski.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, from February 19 to 21, during the 5:00 PM Mass, Sister Gaudia Skass from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will share stories about encounters with the Merciful Jesus that changed people’s lives.
The celebration of the anniversary will be participated by the inhabitants of Plock and by venerators of Divine Mercy from many towns and villages in Poland, traditionally arriving to witness these events despite the wintry weather.
On February 22 at 5:00 PM, a Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, before the miraculous image of Merciful Jesus and at the tomb of St. Faustina. The Mass will be offered for all those who have engaged in the work of the “Chaplet for the Dying,” with a request that more people join this initiative, bringing mercy to those most in need. We also include in our prayers the dying who have been submitted for prayer in this work, as well as the deceased.
On February 22, 2025, the traditional “Evening with Merciful Jesus” will take place at the National Shrine of St. John Paul II in Washington, USA. The event will be led by the sisters from the Washington community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.
The program includes: the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet, adoration with praise of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and intercessory prayer, the sacrament of reconciliation, and a conference. Sister Faustia Szabóova will speak about fragile human love and how to receive the love of the Heavenly Father. The evening will conclude with a fraternal agape.
“Evenings with Merciful Jesus” are organized for young people who want to follow in the footsteps of St. Faustina and St. John Paul II and discover a new quality of life in friendship with Merciful Jesus.
On February 22 of this year, the youth meeting “Łagiewnicka 22” will take place at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. It will begin at 7:00 PM in the chapel with the famous image of the Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina. The meeting will be led by the sisters from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The program includes a conference by Sr. Agnes Kolp on trusting God in the life of St. Faustina, silent prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with worship of Divine Mercy, and an agape with something delicious and a Q&A session.
On February 22 this year, a solemn introduction of the relics of St. Sister Faustina will take place at the parish church of St. Joseph the Worker in Stara Wieś near Limanowa. The event will be attended by Sr. Norberta and Sr. Judyta from the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. The celebration will be preceded by the spiritual preparation of the faithful during a triduum, which will serve as a reflection on the mission of the Apostle of Divine Mercy and an indication of how the faithful can participate in it through the testimony of life, deeds, words, and prayer.
You can download a file “Jesus’ message of Mercy” at www.saint-faustyna.org for the non-commercial spread of the message of Mercy, which St. Faustina provided us with in her Diary. It contains the most important words of Jesus recorded by the Apostle of Divine Mercy. The pdf file has been translated into 16 languages. In 2024, it was shared 1249 times. The Spanish version was downloaded by the most 510 people, English by 162, French by 178, Polish by 107…
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.
During every evening Mass in February, the Litany of St. Faustina will be sung or recited in all chapels of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Consideration of the antiphons from this Litany is a way to better understand who the Apostle of Divine Mercy is for the Lord and for ourselves, along with her unusually rich spiritual heritage and her prophetic mission of proclaiming the message of Mercy to the world. At the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, the evening Mass will be celebrated in the chapel of the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina every day at 7:00 pm (except Monday and Thursdays).
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.
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
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.
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.
