148 crete statistics are also unavailable at this time, but these large and small format books, many of which have been authored or co-authored by Fr. George Kosicki, CSB, have sold over 100,000 copies. The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy (offi cially so designated by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1994) has been another effective means of communicating The Divine Mercy message and devotion to approximately 60,000 pilgrims annually. Around 20,000 pilgrims are drawn to the Shrine for the Divine Mercy Sunday weekend celebration, which began in 1982, with approximately 300 in attendance. Within eight years, the number attending had grown to 2000, and in the last 6 years it has averaged 18,000. During the year, and especially during the pilgrimage season from May through October, pilgrims are exposed to an afternoon (1:00 - 4:30 pm) of prayer and devotions, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation. During Lent, Divine Mercy Stations of the Cross are celebrated daily. Through these means, many come not only to know but also to receive God’s mercy. The Shrine Gift shop is a wonderful instrument in providing materials related to the Message and Devotion of The Divine Mercy. The Novena to The Divine Mercy has been prayed continuously at the Shrine since 1941. During the years of the ban, a Novena based on Sacred Scripture was used instead of the one Jesus gave St. Faustina. 5) Conferences, Missions and Seminars: Promotion through Marian Priests, Brothers and Seminarians and through Staff Members Especially through Its John Paul II Institute of The Divine Mercy The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion has also been spreading through conferences, retreats, pilgrimages, parish missions, special formation and leadership training seminars, and university courses. These conferences, missions, retreats and seminars (in particular Ocean of Mercy Seminars) have been conducted by the Marians and the Marian staff, both Religious and lay, employed or contracted through the efforts of our Institutes, especially the former DMI (Divine Mercy International) and subsumed under the present John Paul II Institute of The Divine Mercy. The John Paul II Institute has been responsible for numerous scholarly publications which promote the theology and spirituality of The Divine Mercy message and devotion. Conferences and seminars are conducted or coordinated by Marian staff members. Among those whose efforts have been noteworthy are a number of
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