Michalenko, MIC, since the 1980s on promoting the Divine Mercy message and devotion. “The World Apostolic Congress on Mercy is so important,” Fr. Kaz said. “Divine Mercy devotees need to know who we are. We need to know that we, both priests and laypeople, have been invited to a mission of mercy. Divine Mercy is the only thing that’s effective in reaching the wounded people of today. “We need to realize what God has given to us: He revealed Himself,” Fr. Kaz continued. “We have to go back to Scripture to come to know Him more clearly. We have to re-enter the culture because the culture is pushing Him out. Excluding God really increases isolation and all kinds of social problems. We are sent as missionaries of mercy to go out and reach the people of today through oneon-one conversations, relationships of love, mercy, and truth. That’s the most effective witness to Jesus.” Pure joy As the newly-elected provincial superior of the Marian Fathers in the U.S. and Argentina, Fr. Chris served as lead celebrant at some of the Masses and was a speaker at the Congress. “The people there were so joyful: singing, dancing, and worshiping God without a care in the world,” said Fr. Chris, recalling Samoa. “These are people who have nothing. They have no money; they have no cars; yet they are the happiest people you ever saw. So you see there can be joy without materialism, just by trusting in and receiving God’s mercy.” Since 2017, WACOM has been under the management of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization. Representatives from the Holy See were present and participated throughout the Congress. The Congregation in which St. Faustina lived and died, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, were represented by Sr. M. Teresa de la Fuente, ISMM, and Sr. M. Inga Kvassayova, ISMM, both of ‘We are sent as missionaries of mercy to go out and reach the people of today through one-on-one conversations, relationships of love, mercy, and truth. That’s the most effective witness to Jesus.’ whom addressed the Congress. Next stop: Vilnius And now, after Samoa, the Church sends the World Apostolic Congress to Vilnius, Lithuania, June 7-12, 2026. In some sense, this is a homecoming. Vilnius, after all, was where St. Faustina had many of the crucial visions that established the Divine Mercy message and devotion. “We have to be talking about unveiling Divine Providence, seeing how the Lord works in history, not just one event,” said the Most Rev. Gintaras Grusas, Archbishop of Vilnius, president of the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, and host of WACOM6. “Going back only a few years, we see God is still working in the world today. He is working with us, and He is working through us.” Let us plan to join with our brethren at the next WACOM, as well as at the national and regional congresses, and be strengthened by our bonds of communion in Christ the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit, according to the will of the Father, to practice the Divine Mercy message and devotion, and spread it to every last corner of the earth. For the latest news, visit Vilnensis.lt/wacom and MercyCongress.org. Marian Helper • Fall 2023 • Marian.org 21
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