By Julia Rose
It's the day after Thanksgiving! So-called "Black Friday." The holiday season is fast approaching...
But don't get distracted by the hustle and bustle. Instead, follow the "star" to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy! And get ready for the holy season of Advent, which begins this Sunday, Nov. 30.
“I love the tradition of the Advent wreath, of lighting the candles for each week of Advent,” says Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC. “That brings the light in the darkness.”
Don't miss Fr. Anthony's new weekly video series, "Hope and Advent," which premieres every Thursday starting next week, Dec. 4, on DivineMercyPlus.org.
And don't miss the opportunity to enroll in the Novena to the Immaculate Conception and pray with us, starting tomorrow, Nov. 29.
Please help restore the Shrine organ!
It's time for Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2! This year, the Marian Fathers ask for your help to restore the 40-year-old pipe organ in the National Shrine.
I climbed the narrow staircase up to the choir loft to meet our organist and cantor, Br. Ken Galisa, MIC, whose beautiful music (and voice!) you hear during our daily 9 a.m. Mass, livestreamed here.
“I’m very much aware that when I am playing and singing, this organ is the result of the generosity of our Marian Helpers, and I’m very grateful to them,” Br. Ken says. “The organ is a beautiful instrument. It adds so much to the liturgy, and the response from the people who watch our livestreamed Masses has been wonderful."
Brother Ken, born and bred in Stockbridge, has been playing piano since he was 12 and is largely self-taught on the organ. Since he entered the Marians more than 40 years ago, he has been instrumental to the Shrine’s music ministry. At one point, he directed a choir which featured laypeople as well as Marians, including our current Superior General of the Marian Congregation, Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC!
“Acoustically, the Shrine is perfect," he says. His favorite hymns include “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Gustav Holst and “Cantique de Jean Racine” by Gabriel Fauré.
Fun fact: The organ used to be located to the right of the main altar. To create more handicap-accessible seating, the organ was carefully moved upstairs in the early 1990s, and it’s been there ever since.
"Up here in the loft, you see not only the priests, but all of the people," he says. "You get a real sense of community and that we are worshipping together. It’s just a feeling of warmth that we’re all a family in faith.”
Our pipe organ — the very heartbeat of our liturgical life at the Shrine — urgently needs restoration. The total cost is $650,000, and through generous supporters, $150,000 has already been raised. If the remainder is secured before Dec. 31, the work can begin in 2026, ensuring the organ continues to elevate worship for decades to come.
Friendships leading us towards God
Visiting the Shrine this week and doing some early Christmas shopping in the Divine Mercy Gift Shop were three friends: Mary, Kathy, and Rita.
“We intentionally wanted to come together to the Shrine," says Kathy. "It was a great opportunity to share Jesus’ love for us and also just be together with each other."
Growing up in South Hadley, Massachusetts, both Mary and Kathy were shocked to discover that the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy was “in their backyard!” For Kathy, her discovery came after buying a copy of St. Faustina’s Diary during her first visit to Medjugorje in 2002. Only after she returned home did she discover it was published by Marian Press, just down the road!
"Saint Faustina is just so inspirational," adds Rita of Granby, Massachusetts. "To think she was uneducated but trusted God so much and did what He asked, and persevered.”
“When I learned about Divine Mercy, it was such a weight off my chest,” says Mary, who was visiting from her home in Wildwood, Florida, where she attends St. Vincent de Paul Parish. “There is so much mercy in Our Lord and to see what St. Faustina went through to try to help us to see that, it helps me feel so much comfort knowing that God is so merciful.”
Kathy, Rita, and Mary (when she is in town) are all members of a core group of women who attend Eucharistic Adoration together every other Wednesday night and pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Easthampton, Massachusetts. This prayer time together has really strengthened their friendship.
"We all try to help each other in our faith journey because we all want to get to Heaven one day, and we want that for our friends," Kathy says. "It’s a much deeper friendship because it’s all about growing together and having the same goal.”
Destination: Heaven!
The Time for Gifts!
The coming of Christmas means it’s the season of gift-giving! This Monday, Dec. 1, is "Cyber Monday," so be sure and visit ShopMercy.org to receive 25% off all your purchases!
I visited the Divine Mercy Gift Shop wearing my favorite Christmas sweater to see the Christmas tree and wish Debbie, Leslie, and Carrie luck in serving the influx of shoppers over the next few weeks.
The Gift Shop is closed today, but starting Saturday, is open every day from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. until Dec. 23. They're also open online, 24/7. There's something for everyone on your Christmas list, and if you’re looking for an Advent Wreath, they have a wonderful selection! Happy shopping, and all purchases benefit the National Shrine and the Marian Fathers!
Thank you for joining me these past 10 weeks as I’ve begun this series! God bless and have a wonderful holiday weekend! And see you next Friday!
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