Due to the pandemic, Eden Hill is open only to those who have pre-registered. Registration is closed and walk-ins are not permitted.
View this year's Divine Mercy Weekend program.
Saturday, April 23, 2022, 8:00 a.m.
Bright sunshine atop Eden Hill as Divine Mercy Weekend begins! We're expecting up to 5,000 pilgrims today, all pre-registered, for our first public celebration in two years. Not long before the parking field fills up!
Candice Jaegle (below) from Worcester, Massachusetts, arrived early, one of the hundreds of volunteers who will be assisting pilgrims this weekend. She has been a Marian Helper for more than 20 years. This is her first time on Eden Hill for Divine Mercy Weekend. "Divine Mercy means everything to me," she says. "My story is typical of my generation. I am a product of the 1960s. One day I woke up and said, 'I need God.' The road is bumpy and you drop your cross a million times but God is merciful. I am so blessed, so grateful."
Saturday, April 23, 2022, 9:30 a.m.
The Gift Shop is open! This is the only indoor venue on Eden Hill this weekend.
Leslie Boudreau and Mark Mankus are ready to serve. What will be the bestsellers today? "Anything with the Divine Mercy Image on it," Leslie says. "And St. Faustina's oil," adds Mark.
You can't miss the large white tent, where you can obtain Mass enrollments. Shawna Daverin and Melissa Govoni are ready to serve!
There are helpful Information Tents scattered around Eden Hill. The one above is staffed by Fran Schmidt, a volunteer from Albany, NY, and a veteran of two pre-pandemic Divine Mercy weekends. Below, Richard and Robin Paolini from Buffalo, NY, are volunteering at their 10th Divine Mercy weekend. The most common questions pilgrims ask? "People want to know if we have programs, and booklets in Spanish," Richard says. "And, of course, the nearest rest rooms," meaning port-a-potties.
Saturday, April 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
The 9:00 a.m. Mass at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine has concluded. The next Mass will be at 4:00 p.m., the Vigil Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday. The benches will be full!
Saturday, April 23, 2022, 11:00 a.m.
Confessions will be heard outdoors on Eden Hill throughout the weekend. In order to receive the
Extraordinary Graces offered on Divine Mercy Sunday, you must receive Holy Communion worthily, meaning in a state of grace. And that means having made a good Confession.
Below, Novice Jeff helps to keep the line moving at one of the Confession areas. "Hopefully pilgrims who come here this weekend will be filled with the Spirit, feel the Mercy of God, and show that reflection of Mercy to others," he says.
Saturday, April 23, 2022, 12:30 p.m.
Father Jonathan Inskip, MIC, blesses religious articles for pilgrims.
Father John Larson, MIC, prepares to hear Confessions.
Saturday, April 23, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
Joe and Hildi Nolan from Brattleboro, Vermont, are among the many pilgrims visiting today. Hildi has been volunteering for the Divine Mercy weekend celebrations at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy for at least 10 years. “It’s a big part of my conversion that I would honor the Divine Mercy Jesus for the rest of my life, by the grace of God," Hildi says, "and that I would spread devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus for the rest of my life.”
Enjoying the weekend are two Connecticut Yankees: Leo, a member of at St. Luke’s Parish in Westport, and Eli, a member of St Theresa’s Parish in Trumbull. “I know God is everywhere,” Leo says, “but when you’re here at the Divine Mercy Shrine, it’s like you’re so near.”
Dario and Maria Manzati are visiting from Pennsylvania. “For me, the important thing is the spirituality,” says Dario. Regular visitors to Eden Hill, the Manzatis have a copy of the Divine Mercy Image in their home.
NEWS: Missionaries of Mercy from around the world are gathered in Rome for a meeting organized by the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. Pope Francis invited them back to Rome to meet, pray and share their experiences over this Divine Mercy Sunday weekend. Vatican News.
Saturday, Apr. 23, 2022, 2:30 p.m.
The parking lot is filling up as pilgrims arrive for the 3 o'clock Divine Mercy Chaplet, followed by the Vigil Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday at 4 p.m. Yolanda McNerney from Westfield, Massachusetts, is directing cars, volunteering at her first Divine Mercy Weekend. "I love this place," she says. "I have been coming here for years. When I am here it feels just perfect."
The Lazaro family from Ossining, NY, including parents Felipe and Erica, have been coming the the National Shrine for 20 years. "My Mom is very devout," says Erica. "I grew into the Divine Mercy devotion with her, and now I want my girls to follow that."
Saturday, April 23, 2022, 3:00 p.m.
The Solemn Novena of The Divine Mercy and Benediction begins at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine, led by Father Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC. Today is
Day 9, the final day of the Divine Mercy Novena.
“How beautiful it is to gather here after two years of not being able to gather for Divine Mercy Sunday," Fr. Kaz said. Explaining the Divine Mercy Novena, he said that “what the Lord wishes for us is that … not only Faustina but we ourselves
‘bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they need in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death.’” (
Diary, 1209).
Saturday, Apr. 23, 2022, 5:00 p.m.
The Vigil Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday was celebrated at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine. Father Gabriel Cillo, MIC, was the main celebrant.
"In the
Diary, Jesus talks about just a flicker of good will, and Divine Mercy takes care of the rest (1486)," Fr. Gabriel said in his homily. "Do you have the trust to believe that just a flicker of your good will is sufficient? Do you want the confidence of Jesus? Absolutely!
"We have every reason to trust, and Our Lady helps us," Fr. Gabriel continued. "She magnifies the Word of her Son. She helps us to stand firm at the foot of the Cross and to experience the power of Christ’s Resurrection in our heart. The Divine Mercy Himself. And the response is, “Thank you Jesus, and I praise You!”
This concludes our coverage for today. See you tomorrow for Divine Mercy Sunday!
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!
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