Fall-Winter 2013-2014

J oe summarized the message of Divine Mercy beautifully. He said, “I believe strongly in God’s mercy. I have to trust in Jesus because of what He did on the cross. He died for my sins, so they can be forgiven.” Joe and his wife, Elaine, came fairly often on pilgrimage to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. He would tell his fellow parishioners and neigh- bors, “It’s a holy and peaceful place. It’s less than four hours away.” On a recent trip, he said, “Now that you have the new Stations of the Cross, it’s even better. It’s lovely.” Another reason he and Elaine enjoyed coming is to remember Joe’s parents who are memorialized at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine. “I always had it in mind to do something for my parents. My father was proud of his Polish heritage, so he would have been happy to be remembered in a place that honors Our Blessed Mother, St. Faustina, and Blessed Michael Sopocko,” Joe said, referring to the large images of Our Lady, the saint, and the blessed in the outdoor shrine. During one of the couple’s visits, I explained to Joe that benefactors were still needed for a few of the windows depicting the Sorrows of Mary, including the burial of Jesus. Joe’s eyes lit up, and he said, “My father was a funeral director. I must do this.” As soon as we announced plans for the new Blessed John Paul II Plaza, Joe requested a paving stone inscribed with his and Elaine’s names. He also made a gift to dedicate the benches in the plaza in memory of his par- ents. He was delighted that the paving stone and benches surround the statue of the Pope he admired so much. Joe’s enthusiasm for visiting the National Shrine was complemented by his eagerness to spread the message of Divine Mercy. He shared this inspiring story with me. Joe noticed the new Divine Mercy image on canvas that was offered in the recent Marian Helpers Catalog. He admitted, “At first, I was reluctant to order it because I didn’t know where I would put it. Finally, I decided to order it and figure that out once I got it. “It came, and I was so happy and pleased with it. It is beautiful.” Joe was inspired to order images for each of his 17 nieces and nephews. “I thought this would be a great way to spread the message of Divine Mercy,” he said. “I was not sure how they would accept it. Some of them are very religious, but others are not practicing their faith. “Every one of them called or wrote to thank me! They wanted to learn about the image, and I got to tell them all about God’s mercy.” When I called Joe and asked him if I could share his story, he said he would be honored. He wanted to share the Lord’s mercy with everyone. Such zeal is now part of his legacy. It was a great privilege to help a Marian Helper like Joe make special gifts. His memorials on Eden Hill ensure that he and his loved ones are remem- bered in prayer by the Marian Fathers. They also help us preserve and enhance the National Shrine and its grounds as a beacon of God’s mercy. If you would like to make a special gift to the Marians, please contact me. He l pe r s Outstanding by Ellen Miller ‘I got to tell them all about God’s mercy’ Ellen Miller is Fr. Joseph’s Director for Special Gifts. You can contact her at: Association of Marian Helpers, Stockbridge, MA 01263, or call her toll free at 1-800-671-2020. E-mail: [email protected] . Joe, shown with his wife, Elaine, was enthusiastic about the Shrine and eager to help the Marians spread the message of Divine Mercy. He will be missed. C ourtesy of J oe M arian H elper • F all /W inter 2013 • www.marian.org 41 This column is written in memory of Joe, who passed on to the Lord on July 25, 2013. It honors him as a generous bene- factor of the Marians. Back to index