Father Joseph Writes The Great Mercy Pope called that day, April 30, 2000, the happiest day of his life. It was a great moment for me and the Marian Fathers, and I’m sure all of our Marian Helpers, too! As I write this, I and a bunch of our Marian Family have just returned from Vancouver, Canada, following “Divine Mercy and Mary: Our Hope,” the third North American Congress on Mercy (NACOM III). It was a time of special graces, as you’ll see on pages 20-23, and a great preparation for the Jubilee Year. How so? You see, in the times we’re living through, our merciful words, deeds, and prayers matter more than ever (see Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 742). We are meant to be living Images of Divine Mercy, shining rays of grace from our hearts just as Jesus does. So getting together with our North American neighbors was a huge blessing of fellowship, shared faith, and common goals in the service of Christ and His Church. It reminded us of the sources of our hope: Jesus, and the many holy members of the Mystical Body of Christ, especially Our Lady. It reminded us that we are not alone in our service to Divine Mercy, Mary Immaculate, the Holy Souls, and wherever the Church’s needs are greatest. Rather, many hands have turned to the work at hand, even as we need to continue to recruit many more. Speaking of holy hands serving Jesus and Mary, St. Faustina and the Communion of Saints are about to get some illustrious company. We are especially blessed to look forward to the canonization of Bl. Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) on April 27, Divine Mercy Sunday. Blessed Carlo was an outstanding young man, dying at the age of 15, but in that short lifetime, he poured himself out in love of God and neighbor. He created some outstanding websites dedicated to sharing with the world the stories of the Church-approved Eucharistic Miracles, Marian apparitions, and other proofs for the truth of the Catholic faith. Let us be inspired by his virtuous life, which persisted even in the face of the terrible leukemia that took his young life. Another extraordinary young Italian man, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925), will be canonized on Aug. 3. Marian Press is collaborating with the Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, Archbishop Emeritus of Seattle, a recognized expert on Bl. Pier Giorgio’s life, to tell the story of the soon-to-be-saint, his incredible works of mercy, and his deep love of our Lord. What blessings! So I ask you, faithful Marian Helpers, to take inspiration from our Lord and His saints throughout this year of Jubilee, of forgiveness, mercy, and hope. Practice love of God and neighbor in our world today, strengthened by the Sacraments, prayer, and the Word of God. Give a witness to the truth of our Catholic faith. Let God’s light shine through your deeds, words, and prayers so that the nations may see, be touched by the grace of God, and come home to Christ’s Church in faith, hope, and love. May God bless you! A TRIO OF JUBILEES! “Father Joseph, MIC,” is the honorary title of the director of the Association of Marian Helpers, currently Fr. Mark Baron, MIC. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet live with Fr. Mark every Friday at 3 p.m. ET on Instagram, Facebook, and DivineMercyPlus.org. Marian Helper • Spring 2025 • Marian.org 3 The Holy Year is under way, the Jubilee of Hope proclaimed by Pope Francis. But as you can see from our cover of Marian Helper, there are two more jubilees to celebrate this year, and both are silver: It’s 25 years since the canonization of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, and the proclamation of Divine Mercy Sunday by Pope St. John Paul II!
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