Marian Helper Spring 2014

A gnes Haverty’s husband, Joseph, had always stressed the importance of having someone to pray for them after they passed away. So when Agnes received a flyer about memorials in the Blessed John Paul II Plaza at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy on Eden Hill in Stockbridge, Mass., she knew this was the perfect spot for a memorial for her late husband and a trib- ute for herself. “As soon as I read about the John Paul II Plaza, I loved the idea,” Agnes says. “I have such a devo- tion to both John Paul II and to Divine Mercy. I knew that I wanted to be a part of the plaza. I wanted my whole family to be part of it because they all have had such a devotion to Divine Mercy. “I first engraved paving stones for my late husband and myself,” Agnes says. “And then I made the gift of three pavers for my two broth- ers and my sister. Recently, I have engraved paving stones for my father and mother, too. “The reason why I have so many pavers at the Blessed John Paul II Plaza is because the people who are memorialized in the bricks [and the person who made the memorial gift] will be remembered every day in Holy Mass and in the 3 o’clock prayers. They will also be remembered once a year in a special Mass on Oct. 22, Blessed John Paul II’s feast day.” Agnes says that it is very important to her that the Marians at the National Shrine will pray for her and her family. “I wanted to ensure that when I’m dead, my loved ones and I will be remembered. It was always important to my husband and it is important to me that someone will pray for us after we have passed on.” She says the fact that the plaza is dedicated to Blessed John Paul II makes it even more special because of her ancestry. “I pray to John Paul II every day,” Agnes says. “I am Polish, my parents were born in Poland, so I have a strong con- nection to Blessed John Paul II. I saw him at least five times, both when he visited the United States and when I made trips to Rome. He was the Great Mercy Pope, and I have had a strong devotion to Divine Mercy for a number of years, as has my family. I pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 o’clock every day.” Agnes has been coming regularly to the National Shrine since learning of the Divine Mercy message and devotion. “My husband and I started coming to the Shrine in 1987,” she says. “I still go visit the Shrine all the time. I go with my sister now.” She says she loves to visit Eden Hill. “I think the John Paul II Plaza is just beau- tiful,” Agnes says. “I love that it is near the Shrine. And it will be even more lovely w hen Blessed John Paul II is canonized.” Like Agnes, benefactors can have a name engraved in a paving stone that wil l be installed in the Blessed John Paul II Plaza. To learn more about these and other oppor- tunities, please call Father Joseph’s Assistants for Special Gifts at 1-800-671-2020 or visit MemorialsOnEdenHill.org. Through these memorial pavers, Agnes Haverty has made sure that her family will be remembered by the Marian Fathers daily during Mass and at the 3 o’clock hour. MH by Andrew Leeco H elp pave the way for G od ’ s mercy Create a lasting tribute with an engraved paving stone in the Blessed John Paul II Plaza at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Go t o MemorialsOnEdenHill.org/JPIIPlaza o r call 1-800-671-2020. Back to index