April 17, 2023

Thousands flock to Stockbridge for Divine Mercy Sunday

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

 

STOCKBRIDGE – More than 12,000 pilgrims flocked to the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16. This is the largest crowd since 2019, before the pandemic.

“After a three-year hiatus, we are pleased to be back at full capacity for this feast day,” Marian Father Matthew Tomeny, the rector of the shrine, told the crowd gathered for the 1 p.m. Mass at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine.

The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary have been promoting the Divine Mercy message since 1941. The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge is a ministry of the Marian Fathers.

St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, received revelations from Jesus about his message of mercy for the world. St. Faustina wrote down the revelations, published in the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. St. John Paul II declared the second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday in 2000, during the canonization of St. Faustina.

“St. Faustina wrote God’s mercy is stronger than our misery,” Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger III told the congregation during his homily. Bishop Shlesinger, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, was the principal celebrant for the Mass. Bishop Shlesinger was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 1990. He entered the seminary in the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C. and was ordained a priest in 1996.

“Be confident that God’s mercy is stronger than any misery you may be experiencing at this time,” he said.

Several activities were planned for the entire weekend including talks, eucharistic adoration and confession. EWTN Global Catholic Network broadcast the solemn celebration beginning at noon EST on Sunday, with a one-hour program preceding the Mass, hosted by Marian Fathers Joseph Roesch and Chris Alar.

“This is unbelievable. The number of buses that came are lower because the prices have gone up, but I think we have double the cars,” said Father Alar, provincial superior of the Marian Fathers and director of the Association of Marian Helpers.

“To see all these people so hungry for God’s mercy and coming here for this grace is outstanding and this is the epicenter of Divine Mercy in the whole world, right here in Stockbridge,” he said. Father Alar is the author of Understanding Divine Mercy and hosts a series on EWTN “Living Divine Mercy.”

“The only answer that Jesus told St. Faustina is Divine Mercy. It’s mankind’s last hope of salvation,” Father Alar said. “The Bible says where sin abounds God’s grace and mercy abound more. This is why we’re here.”

The theme for this year’s program was the Eucharist. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops launched a three-year National Eucharistic Revival, to refocus the faithful on the central teaching that the Eucharist is truly Christ’s body and blood. 

Prior to Sunday’s Mass, Marian Father Donald Calloway gave a talk on the Eucharist. Father Calloway, the vicar provincial and vocation director for the Mother of Mercy Province of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, is the author of a dozen books, including Eucharistic Gems: Daily Wisdom on the Blessed Sacrament. EWTN host Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle presented on St. Faustina’s devotion to the Eucharist.

“I got up at 3 a.m. and then they came to pick me up and we got here at 7 a.m.,” said 21-year old Brenda Palacious, who traveled by bus with her friend from the Bronx, N.Y. to attend Sunday’s celebration in Stockbridge. She was among many young adults who made the pilgrimage.

“Honestly the world is crazy. This is all we need at this point in life. Coming from a young person this is what we need,” said Stephanie Fuentes, who traveled with Palacious.

Buses came from as far away as Ontario, Canada. Following the Mass, thousands stayed for adoration and the praying of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. There was also a blessing of religious articles.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.