Marian Press publications. The Defilippises would use all of the books Fr. Michael gave them as a guide for the script: first, th e Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska ; then Fr. Michael’s Consoling the Heart of Jesus; Divine Mercy: A Guide from Genesis to Benedict XVI by Robert Stackpole, STD; The Life of Faustina Kowalska by Sr. Sophia Michalenko, CMGT; and The Letters of Saint Faustina. “My meeting with Fr. Michael in January was a sign to me that this was really meant to be. We are in contact frequently, and I now consider him to be a spiritual mentor for this pro- duction,” said Leonardo. But the discernment process didn’t end there. Leonardo would contact a group of people, including the Thérèse actresses and the author and painter Michael O’Brien, to get input on the decision. “These people were all a huge influence to me,” he said. “And of course, the image of Divine Mercy kept coming up all the time wherever I traveled. I’d walk into a confessional, and there it would be.” Drama takes shape So the decision was made early this year: St. Faustina’s life and Diary would become a live, one-woman show. Like many other SLP dramas, the show would involve the lead actress interacting with a cast of characters projected onto a screen as part of a multimedia set. A soundtrack would help set the mood and tone for each scene. Following the Diary’s account of Jesus’ appearances to St. Faustina, Jesus Himself would also play a prominent role — appearing in the production, similar to the artistic style employed for supporting charac- ters in the SLP Vianney live drama. The Defilippises would also receive guid- ance from one of the members of St. Faustina’s own order, the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. “It was through Sr. Donata Farbaniec [COLM], superior of the congregation’s convent in Boston, that we learned the purpose of this play (and her order), which is to save souls, to proclaim God’s mercy, to seek humility, and ultimately, to trust,” said Leonardo. He added, “Little did I know that this year was going to be the 75th anniversary of Faustina’s death and the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, so it’s like God is directing this.” Casting the actress for St. Faustina In July, SLP cast their Faustina: former artis- tic director for the G. K. Chesterton Theater Company Maria Vargo, a singer, songwriter, and actress, among other roles. “I knew about the mes- sage of Divine Mercy before auditioning to play Faustina because I’ve prayed the chap- let. I have an image of the Divine Mercy,” said Maria. “But I had never read the Diary . That’s new for me. I know that doing this show is going to open me up spiri- tually more than I can ever imagine,” she said. “I think the core message of what we’re doing is that God has an ocean of mercy for sinners.” Maria knows something of God’s “ocean of mercy for sinners” because of her own struggles in living the Catholic faith. “I was raised Catholic,” she said. “I was going to church and loved the Lord, but my personal life wasn’t always true to God’s call. “At a certain point, I felt this grace come over me. I experienced God’s mercy,” Maria said. In addition to Maria’s portrayal of St. Faustina, the drama includes the actress in a parallel modern story that makes Divine Mercy strikingly relevant to today’s audiences. “It’s the story of a woman who looks back on all the sins, wounds, and anger of her life, and cries out to God in desperation,” said Leonardo. “It’s a compelling testimony that we hope will resonate with many souls. God is longing for them, waiting with open arms to forgive even the worst sins. It’s a powerful message the world needs to hear.” To see the touring schedule, please visit stlukeproductions.com. I f you would like to inquire about scheduling a performance in your area or diocese, please e-mail Karissa Stone of Saint Luke Productions at
[email protected] or call her at 360-687-8029. M arian H elper • F all /W inter 2013 • www.marian.org 9 MH Director Leonardo Defilippis goes over the script with actress Maria Vargo, who is playing St. Faustina. Click to read interview with Maria. C ourtesy of S t . L uke P roductions Back to index