161 years, it was a particular support and an inexhaustible source of hope, not only for the people of Krakow but for the entire nation. This was also my personal experience, which I took with me to the See of Peter and which in a sense forms the image of this Pontifi cate” (emphasis in the original). Thirdly Pope Benedict XVI underscored the mission of deepening Pope John Paul II’s “rich Magisterium” on God’s mercy, and reminded all how Pope John Paul II wanted everyone to know God’s merciful love and witness to it. Building on Pope John Paul II’s legacy, Pope Benedict XVI thus laid the groundwork for his own Divine Mercy mandate at the conclusion of the Congress. The North American Congress on Mercy (NACOM), under the Episcopal guidance of Bishop William Lori, and with the support of many other Cardinals and Bishops, will take place on November 14-15, 2009 in Washington, DC at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Congress coordinated by Fr. Matthew Mauriello and the Marians will be preceded by many pre-NACOM regional events. Many of these pre-NACOM events will be hosted in collaboration with the Marians. On November 13, the Marians will host a major pre-NACOM event at the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. The emphasis will be on networking and formation of leadership. The major portion of the event will consist of workshops which will assist individuals and groups to become better promoters of The Divine Mercy message and devotion. Conclusion The Divine Mercy message and devotion is a special gift of Divine Providence given for the renewal of the Church and the world. It offers a unique message of divine love, hope, healing, consolation and forgiveness to our world in need of redemption. In this presentation I have offered an historical overview of the various dimensions of the apostolic work undertaken on behalf of The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion by the Marians of the Immaculate and their co-workers of the former Province of St. Stanislaus Kostka and, after the unifi cation with St. Casimir’s, Mary, Mother of Mercy Province. This overview, limited as it may be and requiring further study and research, gives witness to our love of Our Merciful Redeemer, the Immaculate Mother, and God’s people. It testifi es to our conviction expressed so well by Our Holy Father John Paul II: that “there is nothing that man needs more than Divine Mercy—that love which is benevolent, which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infi nite heights of the holiness of God.” We believed from the beginning
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