The Marian Fathers extend a warm invitation to come to Eden Hill on April 11 and 12 to experience this annual celebration. Admission is free. Online bus registration has closed, but private vehicles are welcome with no registration required. Details here.
Check here for regular updates throughout the weekend!
View this year's Divine Mercy Weekend program.
Read: Thousands expected at the National Shrine for Divine Mercy Weekend 2026
Questions about Divine Mercy Sunday? We have the answers!
Welcome to Divine Mercy Weekend!
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 6:30 a.m.
Looks like a beautiful day ahead....
Life-sized standees of St. Faustina, St. Stanislaus Papczyński, and Blessed George Matulaitis are installed and ready for selfies, thanks to the amazing Mike Broderick. Please share and tag your photos this weekend to #DivineMercyPlus.
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 7:30 a.m.
Pilgrims this year will be amazed at the progress of the new Marian Monastery and Chapel, due to open this fall, thanks to the generosity of donors to our capital campaign, Together for Christ and His Church. Yesterday the cross was blessed and placed atop the bell tower.
Watch the video story on Facebook and Instagram.
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 9:15 a.m.
The St. Faustina Center is teeming with activity as pilgrims await the Mercy Weekend Conference (ticketed event; sold out) and have the chance to get their Marian Press books signed by our two top authors, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, and Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC.
Father Mark Baron, MIC, director of the Association of Marian Helpers, opened the conference with a brief introduction to the theme of the weekend, “One Nation Under God’s Mercy.”
‘One nation under God’ had such a rich and deep meaning in our history,” said Fr. Mark, noting how Abraham Lincoln may have been our most religious president. Lincoln had a deep spiritual understanding of the Civil War, Fr. Mark explained, as reparation to God for the sin of slavery.
The next speaker was Dr. Daniel Schneider, a biblical scholar who assists in the training of exorcists and their lay assistants. He discussed the crucial role Divine Mercy plays in giving inner and outer freedom to us all: “Jean Pierre de Cassade said that, if not for two things, we’d be destroyed: the mercy of God and the infinite merits of Jesus Christ.”
After Dr. Schneider came the livestreamed talk by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, who took the conference on a newly-crafted tour of the Mass, examining how Divine Mercy is present in every part of the Latin Liturgy.
"Some people claim, 'We don’t need Divine Mercy," Fr. Chris noted. "Wrong! This is your whole existence!” Watch Fr. Chris's talk below.
The next speaker, Jason Henderson, shared his testimony, tracing his pilgrimage of faith from small town in Oregon, evenly split between Catholics and Mormons, through a career in the Navy SEALS to where he is today. He often shares the stage with Dr. Schneider, helping the faithful take seriously our call as Christians to be serious and persevering in the dour spiritual combat we face all too regularly.
The final speaker, Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, brought the conference to a spirited close. He discussed the many challenges facing a practicing Catholic in the secular world today. He challenged the conference to be faithful to Christ and His Church, holding up St. Joseph as a model of manhood.
“This is what we’ve got to get back to, guys: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Fr. Calloway said, holding up a copy of his most recent book, 33 Days to the Holy Family: Consecration to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11 a.m.
Movement everywhere on Eden Hill. The main parking lot is starting to fill up with cars and buses!
And the Blessed Sacrament is transferred from the National Shrine to the Eucharistic Adoration Tent, where pilgrims can come and adore our Lord until 5 p.m. today, with the Knights of Columbus standing guard.
The Shrine Chapel is open for private prayer. The Divine Mercy Vigil Mass today at 4 p.m. will be celebrated at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine. Pilgrims are also praying the beautiful outdoor Stations of the Cross.
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 12 Noon
John DeStefano, a parishioner at St. Martha’s in Sarasota, Florida has been to the National Shrine twice before, but this is his first Divine Mercy Weekend. A friend, a fellow member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, had mentioned they had visited St. Faustina’s hometown in Poland, which led John to learn about Divine Mercy and watch Fr. Chris Alar’s videos.
Overseeing the Marian Press table inside the Divine Mercy Gift Shop Tent is Maria Lagade-Madariaga, a volunteer from New York City! Since the passing of her husband, Juan, she has been committed to carrying on his devotion for Divine Mercy. This is her fifth time volunteering here with her daughter, who is named after St. Teresa of Avila!
Below, guarding the Stations of the Cross outside are Cruz (11th Grade, Lenox, Massachusetts) and Timothy (8th Grade, Great Barrington, Massachusetts) who are both returning volunteers from a local youth group. They both shared how they try to carry out acts of mercy in their daily lives.
“I try to pray a lot for those who aren’t Catholic or have been exposed to it but aren’t willing to necessarily commit. Everyone needs mercy,” Timothy says. Adds Cruz, "Generally, I think it’s being able to offer mercy towards others. Jesus gave us mercy in the highest form, and you always strive to be Jesus but you can’t. It’s kind of beautiful how it’s this never-ending task. Every day it’s just about trying to see how can I be a little bit better.”
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 1:30 p.m.
Pat and Angelo Messina from St. Patrick's Parish in Mystic, Connecticut are regular visitors to the National Shrine. "The mercy of the Lord brings you back to the faith and gives you hope in Christ," says Angelo. "In this crazy time, with all the things going on in the world, you need hope, and Divine Mercy gives you hope."
Posing with "St. Faustina" is Jeffherson Vega, who journeyed from Toronto, Canada with 50 other pilgrims from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. It's his second visit to the Shrine, and today he was seeking healing for his brother. "Divine Mercy reminds me that God always welcomes us despite our flaws, and that we always need to strive to be better and never falter in the face of righteousness."
A dress rehearsal is under way for tomorrow's live program on EWTN which precedes the Divine Mercy Sunday Mass. Tune in at 12 Noon for the pre-show, hosted by Fr. Chris Alar, and Fr. Joseph Roesch, MIC.
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 3 p.m.
It's the final day of the Novena to The Divine Mercy, and the Hour of Mercy was extra-special. Deacon Patrick Lynch, MIC, held the Blessed Sacrament in the procession from the Adoration Tent to the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine.
Deacon Patrick will be ordained to the priesthood at the National Shrine on May 9, our newest Marian priest!
The Thomas Aquinas College New England Choir from Northfield, Massachusetts is providing the beautiful music this weekend!
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 4 p.m.
The Vigil Mass at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine is the first Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday, and a large crowd of pilgrims attended.
The lead celebrant for the Vigil Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday was Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC, rector of the National Shrine. He welcomed the pilgrims and, in this 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, prayed that all Americans would turn to God and trust in Him.
The homily was given by Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, who holds the position of “Fr. Joseph, MIC,” director of the Association of Marian Helpers. He explained the process of discernment that led the Marian Fathers to this year’s theme, “One Nation Under God’s Mercy,” and delved into the history of the phrase “One Nation Under God." He traced its origins to George Washington’s words of July 2, 1776; found its peak expression in Abraham Lincoln (calling him perhaps the USA’s most religious president); and declared that we need to reclaim the true meaning of the phrase today.
That's all for today! Please visit tomorrow for coverage of Divine Mercy Sunday!
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