View and download the NACOM III program.
The Third North American Congress on Mercy (NACOM III) was held Nov. 15-17, for the first time in Canada! Under the theme “Divine Mercy and Mary: Our Hope,” the Congress was hosted by Good Shepherd Church in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver.
Highlights from Day 3: Sunday, November 17, 2024
The final day of NACOM III is about to begin! We thank The B.C. Catholic newspaper for their coverage of the Congress, including photographer Angelo Siglos. Read the article by Ethelyn David here.
Small groups sharing
NACOM Coordinator Fr. Kaz Chwalek, MIC, introduces the morning sessions: Conversation amongst the participants themselves, focusing on the practical questions:
- How are we doing at living Divine Mercy?
- Are we at trust with God?
- Are we pursuing justice and mercy according to the doctrines of the Church?
All ages are represented at the Congress — the babes in arms; the extremely elderly; the disabled; faithful folks of all ethnicities, from across the North American continent. As was observed early in the Congress, Divine Mercy brings people together, unites us in the love of God and neighbor.
Questions and Answers
The small groups have finished their discussions, and passed questions for the panel of Congress speakers to address: (from left) Dr. Robert Stackpole, Fr. Patrice Chocholski, Sr. Inga Kvassayova, OLM, Dr. Bryan Thatcher, Bishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, and Fr. Kaz Chwalek, MIC.
Questions have touched on, for instance, the lukewarmness of Catholics; the way God has chosen to save us all; and how to really grow in the love of God.
Josie, Beverly, Minda, and Aurora attended the Congress from St. Stephen Martyr Parish in Seattle, Washington. “We got into a more deeper relationship with the Lord these past three days," said Minda. "We learned some more ways to go on with our life's struggle. Just, 'Jesus, I trust in You.' That’s the very first thing. And of course through the help of Mama Mary, we love praying the Rosary and praying for her intercession. We just surrender everything to God. Just pray, pray, pray!"
After lunch, Marie Romagnano, MSN, RN, CCM-R, foundress of the Marian Fathers’ official Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy apostolate, addressed the Congress through a video. She shared the essential importance of well-formed, faithful healthcare professionals in order to fully serve patients in spiritual distress and even at the end of life. Absent spiritually-prepared healthcare professionals, Nurse Marie pointed out, essential needs of patients will go unserved.
She shared her own testimony of the power and efficacy of the Divine Mercy message and devotion, both in her personal life and in her medical practice. Nurse Marie challenged the Congress to share the Divine Mercy with family and friends, especially those for whom we serve in caregiving roles, but also with our healthcare professionals.
Looking ahead to 2025 and 2026
A highlight of the closing day of NACOM III was a video presentation by the Most Reverend Gintaras Grušas, Archbishop of Vilnius, Lithuania. He spoke on “‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and Mercy – Theme of the Holy Year 2025 and in Preparation for WACOM VI 2026 in Vilnius.” The Jubilee Year of Hope begins on Christmas Eve, and Vilnius will host the Sixth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM 6), June 7-12, 2026.
"It is my pleasure to join you today, albeit virtually," the Archbishop said. "I would have loved to be with you, but the North American Congress on Mercy coincides with a major feast day here in Vilnius, as yesterday was the solemnity of Our Lady of the Gates of Dawn, Mother of Mercy. We celebrate this feast all week long, culminating today. When all the Bishops of Lithuania gather here to celebrate Mass in the Shrine, I’m dedicated to the Mother of Mercy. It is actually at this Shrine that the original Image of Divine Mercy, painted under the guidance of St. Faustina, was exposed for public veneration in 1935 during the Easter Triduum concluding the Jubilee Year of the world’s Redemption."
The Archbishop traced the scriptural origin of jubilees, noting how they were observed in the Old Testament every 50 years as a time of profound liberation and renewal. But, he noted, "in the New Testament, jubilee themes extend beyond once every 50 years. Instead, the spirit of jubilee is called to be an ongoing way of life for believers. Jesus calls for extending forgiveness, promoting justice, and sharing God’s generous love. In the New Testament vision, mercy is no longer confined to a particular year or place. It becomes a constant calling, a way of life that all Christians are invited to embody. Through Jesus, jubilee values are universalized, offering everyone a path of reconciliation, liberation, and renewed hope.
"The Old and New Testaments together show us that jubilee is not just an event," he continued. "It’s a profound reminder of our need for mercy, our interconnectedness and God’s desire to bring new life to each of us. These principles form a foundation of the Catholic Church’s jubilee tradition, which offers periods of grace, mercy, and renewal, inviting the faithful to deepen their relationship with God and with others."
Hope and Mercy
Archbishop Grušas sees the 2025 Jubilee Year as the perfect opportunity to prepare for WACOM 6 in Vilnius in 2026.
"At the heart of the 2025 Jubilee Year is the theme of hope and mercy," he explained. "Pope Francis has long emphasized that mercy is essential for healing both individuals and societies. He sees mercy as a cure for the wounds of our time, calling us to embrace others with compassion, forgiveness, and understanding. The Holy Year of 2025 invites us to see mercy as more than one-time acts. It is a way of being, a lifestyle that transforms our hearts and the world around us. As 'Pilgrims of Hope' we are invited to bring this mercy into all our interactions, to extend compassion to those in need, and to act as beacons of hope for a world that often feels fractured and divided.
"I hope that in looking through what is planned for the Holy Year of 2025 you’re not only excited to participate and to seek gaining plenary indulgences each day throughout this year, for one’s own benefit and those who’ve passed before us, but you can see how it’s paving the way for the next World Apostolic Congress of Mercy in 2026. We can spend 2025 preparing our hearts to go ever deeper into the lifestyle of living mercy."
The homily for the closing Mass was delivered by Bishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu. Discussing the apocalyptic readings for the Mass of the day, Bishop Savarimuthu exhorted his audience to not be discouraged by them, but rather to remember Jesus Christ, the Divine Mercy Incarnate, is our hope.
“Nothing is great to God,” Bishop Savarimuthu proclaimed, explaining that God can change seemingly impossible circumstances at any moment. In every single life, we shall all face our own particular judgment. As Pilgrims of Hope in the forthcoming Jubilee Year, we need not be terrified, but rather by receiving mercy now, we can be prepared when judgment comes.
He also reflected on the wise teaching and experience of fellowship that pervaded the Congress, encouraging everyone to keep their gaze fixed on Jesus, as Pope Francis had summoned us to do through the upcoming Jubilee of Hope.
That's a wrap! Thank you, everyone, for a very successful NACOM III!
Photos by Chris Sparks and Giuseppe Mignano.
{shopmercy-ad}
