Julia’s Weekly Shrine Round-up: March 6

By Julia Rose
ShrineofDivineMercy.org

While the beginning of the week began with a snowy-rainy mix of a storm, by Wednesday, temperatures were rising, the birds were chirping, and thick white blankets of snow were receding everywhere. Can spring be far off? Must be, as the clocks go ahead one hour on Sunday. Gotta remember that!

Here's another good reminder as we reach the halfway point of Lent (already!): A wonderful devotion is to pray the Stations of the Cross. In the photo above, Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, leads the Friday Stations in the Shrine. 

During Lent, please join the Marians on Eden Hill every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after the 2 p.m. Mass and Chaplet to pray St. Faustina’s Way of the Cross. Details here.

Our Lady of Mercy Oratory in the Marian Helpers Center also offers the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 2 p.m. All are welcome!

Today is First Friday! Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus tonight at 8 p.m. (EST) for a talk and devotions, and honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary tomorrow at 11 a.m. (EST), for a talk by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, on the saints of the day, "Saints Perpetua and Felicity," followed by devotions. Join us in person, or 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. 

Sneak Peak!
Employees and pilgrims at the Shrine this week had a unique opportunity to be featured in the filming for a new Catholic documentary currently in production.

“Adore Him,” featuring Fr. Chris Alar, MIC (above), and Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, is by the same team which produced the 2024 film "Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist."

To be released in October, "Adore Him" is a project of the Adore Movement, which seeks to promote adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

A Beautiful Awakening
There are limitless ways Catholics can evangelize, and for Linda from Divine Mercy Parish in Quincy, Massachusetts, her main mission is to educate parishioners on the message of their namesake parish.

After navigating a divorce and becoming a single mother, Linda felt extremely lost. Thirty years ago, a pilgrimage to Medjugorje with her mother drastically changed her life, and she embraced the Catholic faith. After the pandemic, she began visiting the Shrine weekly. She even became a member of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception.

“Divine Mercy  is everything," Linda says. "You have to have faith in God, and the trust in Him to move forward.” She encourages her fellow parishioners to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and hopes to lead them in St. Faustina’s Way of the Cross. 

“I follow God, I retire for God, I live for God, and He’s blessed me in every way I could imagine," Linda concludes. “You’ve just got to have trust and faith, and it’s amazing what He can do for you.” Amen!

The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception is a private association of the faithful who participate in the spirituality, apostolate, and mission of the Congregation of Marian Fathers. All are invited to join. Learn more here.

Novena to St. Joseph begins!
This Tuesday, March 10, all are invited to join the Marian Fathers in praying the Novena to St. Joseph, leading to his Solemnity on March 19.

“Saint Joseph gives us the ultimate example of the spiritual life, in the sense that he lived in the presence of Jesus as a Child and in the presence of Our Lady," says Fr. Daniel Klimek (above). "He teaches us that we are called to live with Jesus always, in the Eucharist and in Eucharistic Adoration, and to have a deep Marian devotion.”

Pope St. John Paul II, he adds, said St. Joseph had an "aura of contemplation." "For us," Fr. Klimek explains, "it means being someone who’s eucharistically-centered and Marian-centered. That draws the aura and transforms us, making us into those souls who have a mystical relationship with God and with the Mother of God.” 

Enroll your loved ones in the Novena to St. Joseph, March 10-18. Details here.

Relics of the Passion

What a blessing for the Shrine to host Relics of the Passion this week, arranged by the Apostolate for Holy Relics. Among the amazing relics on display for veneration were a relic of the True Cross; a piece of bone from St. Longinus, the centurion who pierced the side of Jesus; a piece of the Crown of Thorns; and (above) a relic of the Holy Table from the room where the Last Supper was held.

A prayer service and Eucharistic Adoration was led in the St. Faustina Center by Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC (above). 

"It is highly important that we are reminded through the relics of our Lord's sufferings," Fr. Daniel Klimek notes. "When we have the relics in our presence, we are reminded of how much Jesus suffered for us that He gave the greatest act of love for us on the Cross. This brings us to depths of intimacy, where we meet Him in the most personal way. Relics give us that sacred reminder." Amen!

God bless, everyone, and have a wonderful weekend! Turn those clocks ahead on Sunday!
{shopmercy-ad}