Fueling the Fire of Divine Mercy

It was nearly 17 years ago that Dr. Bryan Thatcher met Joe and Carol Pallazola. The three had come to Stockbridge, Mass., for a 10-day retreat and conference at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy organized by the Marian Helpers Center. The purpose of the event was to learn all they could about the message of Divine Mercy as revealed to St. Faustina in the 1930s.

Indeed, they learned the greatest lesson of all - that God extends His mercy even to the greatest of sinners and that He yearns for us all to turn to Him in trust. They have been spreading the Divine Mercy message ever since.

Now the three will be reunited at the 15th Annual San Diego Divine Mercy Conference, organized and spearheaded by the Pallazolas. It will be held Feb. 8-9 at the San Juan Diego Center at The Mission San Antonio De Pala in Pala, California.

"I am looking forward to seeing Joe and Carol and speaking at this exciting conference, and I hope people in the San Diego area can attend," says Dr. Thatcher, founder and director of Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy (EADM), an apostolate of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. "The spark that was ignited so many years ago in the Pallazolas' hearts have never flickered, and instead have helped fuel the fires of so many in the San Diego area over the years."

This year's conference includes an opening Mass celebrated by the new bishop of the Diocese of San Diego, His Excellency Bishop Cirilo Flores. The conference will have a heavy Eucharistic theme. In addition to Dr. Thatcher, speakers will include:

• Dr. Ricardo Castañón Gomez, Ph.D. - renowned scientist, former atheist, and Catholic convert, who travels the world investigating Catholic mystical phenomena, including Eucharistic miracles.

• Fr. Dave Leon - a diocesan priest in San Diego. He serves in hospital ministry and spiritual direction. Father Dave served as a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Board for Charismatic Renewal and is a member of Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.

• Father Richard Huston - the Divine Mercy Movement of San Diego's spiritual advisor.

• Brother Michael Baker, MIC, a Marian seminarian.

Michael McGlinn, a former Notre Dame linebacker and speaker of Athletes for Christ, will be giving a free concert after the opening Mass on Friday night and will be joining three-time Unity Award winner and well-known singer and songwriter Donna Lee in the music ministry.

Other outstanding speakers will fill out the program of the two-day conference.

Carol and Joe have made spreading the mercy of God a focus of their life mission. For many years, they have devoted themselves to making Divine Mercy Sunday a regular event in as many parishes as possible.

For more information on the conference, call (619) 276-6637, or visit SDdivinemercy.org.

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