By Julia Rose
jrose@Marian.org
The next time you visit the National Shrine, look closely at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine (above), and you'll notice new and colorful additions in the center overhang!
Seven years ago, stained-glass windows portraying St. Faustina, the Divine Mercy, and Pope St. John Paul II were beautifully installed by Jacek Olechowski, a Polish-Catholic artist based in New York City. Last Saturday, the project was completed with the addition of four Marians. That's Jacek below on the top platform.
Now, we have St. Stanislaus Papczyński, Founder of the Marians (above, left), and Bl. George Matulaitis, Renovator, and (representing two Sacraments) Fr. Jozek Jarzebowski, MIC (below, left), who brought Divine Mercy materials from Fr. Sopocko out of Poland to the USA, and Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, who smuggled St. Faustina's Diary out of Poland and translated the Diary into English.
Ellen Miller, planned giving manager, has overseen the project. “It’s inspiring because it’s all relatively recent history, and yet this is why we have the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy here in Stockbridge,” she explains. “The Marians that have been at the center of bringing this message to the world, and these stained glass windows show the whole history.”
Today is First Friday! Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus tonight at 8 p.m. (EST) by tuning in for a talk and devotions, and honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary tomorrow at 11 a.m. (EST), by tuning in for a new online talk by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, on "Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Why Now?" followed by devotions. Watch here on TheDivineMercy.org, on YouTube at our channel Divine Mercy (Official), and on our Facebook page Divine Mercy (Official). You can also watch on our streaming site, DivineMercyPlus.org.
Tomorrow is also the annual Blessing of the Motorcycles! Drive your Harley or equivalent to Eden Hill for the ceremony following the 2 p.m. Mass. Details here.
And Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). Please join us for Mass at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Corpus Christi procession. Details here.
And please pray for the repose of the soul of Maureen Digan, who died on June 1. She was the miracle that led to the canonization of St. Faustina. Read her amazing story here.
Preparing for the Consecration of the USA
Speaking of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we have two Novenas under way. There's a National Novena to the Sacred Heart, in preparation for the consecration of our country by the U.S. Catholic Bishops on June 11 (details here), and the Alliance of the Two Hearts Novena, honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 12) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary (June 13). Enroll here.
Here at the Shrine, the Divine Mercy Gift Shop has a wide selection of books and devotions of the Sacred Heart. And Br. Stephen Camara, MIC, is offering a group study leading up to the consecration.
“This year, we return to an idea as old as the Gospel: That God took to Himself a human heart, a Heart that beats with love and mercy for us,” Br. Stephen explains. “And this is closely connected to the Divine Mercy devotion that, in the mysterious providence of God, has spread fastest and farthest from the United States of America.” Amen!
Don't miss the new docudrama "Sacred Heart: His Reign Has No End," only in theaters June 9, 11, and 14. Our very own Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, is featured! Details here.
Welcome, Sr. Thom!
Another blessing: Fr. Chris welcomed Sr. Thom Vu, LHC, a friend from his seminarian days at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, during her two-day pilgrimage to the Shrine. This was the first time they’d seen each other since Fr. Chris' diaconate ordination 13 years ago!
Originally from Vietnam, Sr. Thom joined the Lovers of the Holy Cross Congregation 23 years ago, and studied at Holy Apostles. Marian Helpers may remember an appeal in 2017 to assist St. Thom's family in Vietnam.
“God touched my heart, and I wanted to follow Him and His Divine Mercy forever and ever,” she told me. “Divine Mercy helps me to remember other people — especially the poor and the elderly — and to pray for them.”
Here comes WACOM 6!
Please remember in your prayers both Fr. Chris and Fr. Kaz Chwalek, MIC — both are headed to Lithuania next week to participate in the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (WACOM) in Vilnius. This is the sixth gathering of thousands of faithful from around the world, held every three years.
This year's Congress, from June 7-12, is particularly special as it is taking place where St. Faustina received her private revelations from Jesus and guided the creation of the first Divine Mercy Image by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski. Concluding on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the theme is “Building a City of Mercy ... an invitation to embark on a heart-transforming journey, a call for each of us to recognize the foundation on which our lives stand and to encounter personally the Divine Mercy.” How beautiful!
Father Chris has been invited to deliver two talks, both on June 10: "Prayer as a Weapon Against Evil" and "Hope and Divine Mercy in the Face of Suicide." Father Kaz will give the homily at one of the Masses.
Follow the progress of WACOM 6 on the official website: details here.
By the way, Fr. Chris is stopping in Ireland first to speak at the All Ireland Rosary Rally, happening tomorrow at the Knock Shrine. Thousands of pilgrims will gather, while a national day of prayer will be observed across the country. Let's join Fr. Chris in solidarity and pray the Rosary tomorrow!
We close out this busy week with a view of the beautiful rededication last week by Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, of the Shrine of St. Philomena, located on the Outdoor Stations of the Cross.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
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