WELCOME, POPE LEO XIV! Inspiration and news from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception Marian Helper Marian.org Summer 2025 INSIDE: Fr. Chris Alar’s new book on the Sacraments
Enroll a loved one today! 1-800-462-7426 l Marian.org/enrollments By enrolling loved ones in the Association of Marian Helpers, they will share in the benefits of the Holy Masses, prayers, and good works of the Marian priests and brothers. GIVE A PROMISE OF PRAYER Flower Get Well (Gold Foil) B66-GC25 Blessings on Your Birthday (Premium Paper) B66-BC24 Mosaic Mary with Deepest Sympathy (Pink Foil) B66-MC25 Your offering supports the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception.
AMH Director/Publisher: Fr. Mark Baron, MIC — “Father Joseph, MIC” Executive Editor: Dr. Joe McAleer Designer: Andrew Leeco Writer, Assistant Editor: Chris Sparks AMH General Promoter: Br. Andrew R. Mączyński, MIC Vol. 82, No. 2 Summer 2025 14 Seven Gifts from God! Mission Statement Marian Helper is intended to serve members of the Association of Marian Helpers (AMH), a spiritual benefit society of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The magazine seeks to provide spiritual nourishment, education about the Catholic faith, and information about the mission and good works of the Marians. It also provides information about Association services and presents opportunities to support the mission and good works of the Congregation. Marian Helper is published quarterly by the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. It is sent free of charge to active members of the Association. Printed in the USA with ecclesiastical approval. Copyright © 2025 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. All rights reserved. Send all correspondence to: Association of Marian Helpers, Editorial Dept., Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263. Email: [email protected] Website: Marian.org In his long-awaited second book in the Explaining the Faith series, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, reminds us of the guaranteed grace of the seven Sacraments, gifts from God to help us on the journey to Heaven. In this exclusive excerpt from Understanding the Sacraments, Fr. Chris reminds us that the Sacraments all find their origins in the Bible. 3 Father Joseph Writes 4 Marian Helpers in Action 6 Father Joseph’s Picks 7 Notes from Rome 31 Outstanding Helpers 33 Graces Received 36 From the Vaults Departments Dr. Robert Stackpole celebrates the 1,700th anniversary of an extraordinary event in Church history. ‘Light from Light’ Bird’s-eye View 8 Excitement builds as construction proceeds on the new Monastery and Chapel on Eden Hill. Blustery but Beautiful! Not rain nor wind nor freezing cold could dampen spirits over Divine Mercy Weekend. 9 Page 16 Planning a road trip? Kevin Wilson offers an inspiring supplement to Google and MapQuest. Time to Calibrate your ‘GPS’ Green Dream 18 Nothing succeeds like success — and the Marians need your help to build a new video studio. The National Shrine, 65 Years Young Chris Sparks honors the jubilee with a tour of 10 things that pilgrims may not have noticed. 20 25 Artful Friendship For 30 years, Norman Rockwell lived just down the hill — and became friends with the Marians. 26 Cover photo by Vatican News: VaticanNews.va
Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception The Marian Fathers are a Congregation of nearly 500 priests and brothers in 20 countries around the world. We support the Holy Father and embrace the official teachings of the Catholic Church in our special calling to: ● Spread devotion to Mary as the Immaculate Conception. ● Offer our lives for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, especially the victims of war and disease. ● Operate publishing apostolates and assist where the need is greatest in parishes, shrines, and missions. ● Promote the Divine Mercy message and devotion. ● Organize people of good will to work with and through us to bring Christ everywhere. Association of Marian Helpers — Join us! Established in 1925, the Association of Marian Helpers is a spiritual benefit society that prayerfully and financially supports the priests and brothers of the Congregation of Marian Fathers. Your enrollment means that, by a decree of the Holy See, you share in these graces: ● A daily Mass offered for all Marian Helpers. ● A share in the prayers, good works, and merits of the Marian priests and brothers around the world. ● A special Mass offered on feast days of our Savior and His Blessed Mother. ● A monthly Mass on each First Friday and each First Saturday. ● A Mass offered for deceased members on All Souls’ Day. ● The perpetual Novena to the Divine Mercy. l Deepen your commitment of prayer and support by joining one of our three spiritually nourishing prayer clubs: Marian.org/clubs l Support a particular ministry: Marian.org/give l Arrange a special gift of stock, a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA, a grant from your donor-advised fund, a gift through your will or trust, or annuity: Giving.Marian.org Call 1-800-671-2020 to make a gift by phone or for assistance. Free online help for your will, visit Marian.org/will. A sample form of bequest to the Marians is: I give and bequeath to the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. (Tax ID #20-8599030), Stockbridge, MA 01262, ____% of my adjusted gross estate (or $_______, or a specific asset) to be used for its religious and educational purposes. Marian Helpers Center Stockbridge, Massachusetts Headquarters and publishing center for the Association of Marian Helpers. 1-800-462-7426 National Shrine of The Divine Mercy (413) 298-3931 For pilgrimages: (413) 298-1119 ShrineOfDivineMercy.org Mercy Apostolates Learn about our lay ministries: Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy Dr. Bryan Thatcher TheDivineMercy.org/eadm 1-877-380-0727 Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy Marie Romagnano, MSN, RN, CCM TheDivineMercy.org/hpdm 1-866-895-3236 John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy Dr. Robert Stackpole TheDivineMercy.org/JPII 1-866-895-3236 Mother of Mercy Messengers Joan and Dave Maroney TheDivineMercy.org/momm 1-830-634-7765 Evangelization Team Invite the Marians to speak at your parish. (413) 298-1349 [email protected] Intercessory Prayerline Send us prayer intentions. 1-800-804-3823 Marian.org/prayer Websites Marian.org TheDivineMercy.org ShopMercy.org DivineMercyPlus.org Who We Are Other ways to support God’s mission Sign-up is easy: Visit MICPrayers.org Visit marian.org/social 2 Marian Helper • Spring 2025 • Marian.org
Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 3 Father Joseph Writes Then it happened. Out came the proto deacon who announced that the next pope will be Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. An American! Unbelievable! The Catholic world was shocked. The reactions of many Catholic podcasters revealed this. (Some of these were actually quite entertaining.) In the announcement of Cardinal Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, we were reminded that we serve a God of surprises, and that the saying, “The one who enters the conclave as a pope usually comes out a cardinal” (which simply means that the favorite never wins) still holds true. But what an historical conclave. There has never been an election of a new pope quite like this one. With the rise of social media as a legitimate source of news over the last 10 years, you had access to all kinds of information at your fingertips, such as how popes are elected and in-depth backgrounds of many of the electing cardinals. You could also listen to a variety of commentators talk about who they thought were the frontrunners for the papacy, while at the same time reassuring us that an American would never be elected pope. (Of course, I was of that opinion, too.) And the TV coverage, with those drone shots of the Vatican and the papal loggia, were incredible. I was personally overwhelmed by it all. But what especially moved me was reflecting on the importance of the moment. This wasn’t just another big event among other big events that occur in the course of time. It is that — but so much more. This is the election of the Vicar of Christ. The representative of Jesus on earth. Jesus is the invisible Head of the Church, while the office of the papacy serves as the visible sign of Jesus shepherding His flock. In other words, every time a pope dies and a new one is chosen, we are meant to recall the words that Jesus spoke to Peter in the Gospel of Matthew: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This helps us to remember that the selection of a pope is not the same as electing the president of the United States or choosing the next head coach of your favorite sports team. A papal election has a far more eternal significance than a worldly one. So Pope Leo XIV is our new North American, Chicagoborn Pope. Thanks to social media, it’s amazing how we are able to learn so much so quickly about the man born as Robert Prevost. He has two brothers. He’s a White Sox fan. Tennis player. Wordle enthusiast. All these things are interesting but also significant, as they help make our new pontiff more tangible, especially for those of us who are familiar with life in the United States. I know the so-called “liberal” vs. “conservative” divide in the Church was reflected in some of the angst leading up to election of the new Vicar of Christ. It was a cause of concern for me, too. Will Leo XIV be progressive in the fashion of Pope Francis, or more traditional like many of the more recent popes? Time will tell. But whether he is going to be more like Francis or St. John Paul II, whether he is the pope you wanted or not, he is still the pope. The legitimate successor of St. Peter. That is something to rejoice about. Habemus Papam! And he’s made in the U.S.A.! That’s historic. Let us pray for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, as he takes on this immense responsibility. May God bless you! HABEMUS PAPAM! “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. White smoke. A large crowd waiting in anticipation. The announcement from the loggia: “Habemus Papam!” There is nothing like it on earth. That’s what I thought as I was eagerly awaiting the announcement of our new pope.
4 Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org Canadian Marathon Marian Helpers in Action By Veronica Szczygiel Norma Tan’s devotion to Divine Mercy began at a marriage enrichment retreat led by a visiting Filipino priest. As her devotion grew stronger, little did she know that God had great plans for her: to evangelize His message of mercy to her family and community. 25 years of non-stop Novenas The Divine Mercy altar at St. Francis Xavier Church in Mississauga, Ontario, is decorated for Divine Mercy Sunday.
Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 5 But first, heartbreak for the native Filipina who emigrated to Canada in 1967. When the youngest of her three daughters was but 6 months old, her husband left her. Suddenly a single mother, Norma relied on her parents to take care of her children while she took on extra jobs to make ends meet. She worked three jobs as a medical technologist, clocking into her shifts from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. Juggling a young, growing family, with long hours on the job and little sleep, Norma was stretched thin. Rather than doubting her faith and turning away from God, Norma leaned in, relying on the Lord even more closely. Shared prayer time Fast forward to the 1990s, and Norma began talking about Divine Mercy to eight of her close friends from St. Francis Xavier Church in Mississauga, Ontario, just west of Toronto. Norma personally introduced the devotion through shared prayer time, conversation, and two videos, one in English and one in Filipino. She taught her friends how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the nine-day Novena. The nine ladies shared prayer time together and even sent pamphlets to their friends and relatives in the Philippines to spread the message. In 2000, the group approached their parish priest at St. Francis Xavier and asked if they could conduct the Divine Mercy Novena at church from Good Friday to the Feast of Divine Mercy. Ever since then, for the past 25 years, the ladies have decorated a side altar with a framed photograph of the Image of Jesus as Sr. Faustina Kowalska saw Him. What started as a yearly tradition in church followed by private Novenas at the homes of the core nine founding ladies grew into a community movement. Home evangelization The prayer group evolved into a home evangelization program. For 25 years, the framed Divine Mercy photograph and a statue has moved from home to home so that a nineday Novena is prayed non-stop throughout the entire year. Norma and her friends reach out to fellow parishioners to ask who is in need of the visitation and who would like to participate, focusing especially on those who are ill, who are enduring crises or problems, and who need overall the intercession of Jesus’ deep and unfathomable mercy. Over time, various healings occurred, including a cancer recovery miracle for one of the founding women. “We started this movement to help those in need of prayer,” Bernadette Remedios, one of the founders, said. “And we hope that our efforts inspire others to do the same in their communities!” The group continues their mission to spread the message of Divine Mercy to this day. There are so many families and parishioners who partake in the program that filling up the entire year with Novenas is easy. Parents have reported that their children and grandchildren love to take part in the prayer time, too. And once a year, more than 50 people from St. Francis Xavier Parish journey south on pilgrimage to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge. United movement “It’s incredible to see how our small initiative expanded into something that unites the whole community,” Norma said. Of course, she attributed the success of the program — as well as her own personal happiness — to Jesus’ Divine Mercy. Divine Mercy helped Norma rise to the challenge of her single motherhood. And the fruits of her devotion showed: Her three daughters all completed college and married wonderful husbands. Norma now has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, of whom she is so proud. She recounted gleefully, “I have so many blessings from the Lord, I simply cannot count them all!” May God bless Norma and all the founding women in their continued endeavors to evangelize and bring peace to others through the message of Divine Mercy. May God bless the priests and parishioners who partake in their prayer movement. And may God inspire us to create similar prayer circles in our own churches and communities! For 25 years, the framed Divine Mercy photograph has journeyed from home-tohome so that a nine-day Novena is prayed non-stop throughout the entire year.
6 Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org Visit ShopMercy.org/b66 or call 1-800-462-7426. Father Joseph’s Picks Make your summer beach reading inspiring, encouraging, and undeniably Catholic with one of these choices, hot off the press! MY ABC’s WITH JESUS Verses by Mary Josephine; illustrations by Dona Fischer This is the portable, take-anywhere book that parents and grandparents have been waiting to read with their young children! Girls and boys can practice their alphabet in a fun and engaging way, with colorful illustrations and clever rhyming verses with a bonus: a lesson about the Catholic faith they are beginning to absorb. From “A” (Angel) to “M” (Mary), “O” (Offer) to “Z” (Zeal), with an extra lesson on trusting Jesus, the Divine Mercy, youngsters will find many reasons to smile, ponder, and be inspired. $6.95. B66-BABC NEW!BCAIC in their fullness — not just symbols, but God’s guaranteed grace! They are biblical, instituted by Christ and entrusted to His Church. In the Sacraments, it is Christ Who acts and by Fr. chris alar, Mic Why is the Catholic Church different from any other church? It has the seven Sacram ents communicates His grace! In this latest entry in his Explaining the Faith series of books, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, answers such questions as: Why do we baptize infants? Where is Confession in the Bible? Is my marriage valid? And many more! $16.95. B66-UNDB UNDERSTANDING THE SACRAMENTS: GOD’S GRACE GUARANTEED! NEW! By Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC and Patrick O’Hearn; Illustrations by Adalee Hude. Besides the graces of the Sacraments, God has another way for us to grow in faith from a mustard seed into a giant tree: a life of virtue, or good habits, which must be practiced daily if they are to increase. In this children’s book (with beautiful illustrations by Adalee Hude), authors Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, and Patrick O’Hearn describe 15 of the most important virtues for boys and girls, exploring how saints (including Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Kateri Tekawitha, Bl. Carlo Acutis, and many more) lived them out. Color illustrations! $29.95. B66-VIRT VIRTUES OF THE SAINTS: 15 HEAVENLY HABITS FOR CHILDREN By Sr. Viktorija Plečkaitytė, MVS He was the renovator of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; founder of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Poor; architect of a historic concordat between Lithuania and the Vatican; a professor; seminary rector; bishop; and archbishop, now on the road to sainthood. But what was Bl. George Matulaitis (1871-1927) really like, and how does he inspire us today? In this lively and revealing series of “sketches,” Sr. Viktorija Plečkaitytė, MVS, presents him in a new light. $16.95. B66-GEOR BLESSED GEORGE MATULAITIS: GLIMPSES OF A LIFE OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD NEW! NEW!
Notes from Rome By the Most Rev. Joe Roesch, MIC Clearly, he had very much wanted to serve as the shepherd of his flock until the very end, and God allowed him to do that despite his sicknesses and sufferings in his final months in office. On Holy Thursday, he had gone to a prison and personally greeted 30 prisoners. He told them that he couldn’t wash their feet, but he wanted to be with them to encourage them, to pray for them and for their families. Pope Francis will be remembered for his humility, for his tireless service to the poorest, and for his desire to go to the forgotten areas so that everyone would feel included. He was certainly not one to do things just because they had always been done that way. He was a trailblazer who had his convictions and was not afraid to shake things up a bit and follow the path on which he felt that the Lord was leading him. I was in St. Peter’s Square when he was elected on March 13, 2013. He looked a little overwhelmed at first. He asked everyone to pray for Pope Benedict, which he did together with all of us in the Square. Then, before imparting his first apostolic blessing on the Church, he asked us for a favor. He asked us to pray for him in silence, and he bowed down while we prayed. It was like a prayer meeting, and I was profoundly moved by the moment. Throughout his pontificate, at every general audience, every Angelus message, and on many other occasions, he continued to ask the Church to pray for him. I was always impressed with his recognition that he couldn’t do his job without the prayerful support of his flock. And he kept asking for our prayers on every occasion. He followed in the footsteps of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict by putting a special emphasis on the message of the Divine Mercy. In his papal bull to inaugurate the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis declared that “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy.” He said that those words sum up the mystery of our Christian faith. It was during that Holy Year that he canonized our Founder, St. Stanislaus Papczyński, for which we Marians are extremely grateful. I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis three times and, on each occasion, he impressed me with his simplicity, his friendliness, and his kindness. Pope Francis also had a great love for and devotion to Our Lady. He would visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on many occasions, especially before and after his apostolic journeys. He was buried at St. Mary Major according to his wishes. I visit the basilica every two weeks for Confession when I am in Rome, so now I will be able to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis. He always asked for our prayers during his pontificate, and I am sure that he will want us to continue to do so after his death. May he rest in peace! Amen! REST IN PEACE On Easter Monday morning, I had just sat down to have coffee with some religious sisters in Rome when we heard of the death of Pope Francis. On Easter Sunday, he had given his last blessing to the Church as he had so ardently wanted to do, just after his Urbi et Orbi message (to the City of Rome and to the World) had been read for him. Then he got into the Popemobile to greet the pilgrims there, which turned out to be a final farewell. The Most Rev. Joe Roesch, MIC, is the Superior General of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. He lives in Rome. Listen to his podcasts, including “Saint Faustina’s Diary in a Year,” on TheDivineMercy.org/podcasts and DivineMercyPlus.org/podcasts. Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 7 © Vatican Media Father Joe talks about the tomb of Pope Francis.
On Eden Hill Follow our progress at TogetherForChrist.org Excitement is building on Eden Hill as construction continues on the new Monastery and Chapel, a project made possible by generous donations to the “Together for Christ and His Church” capital campaign. These aerial photos give a good idea of the scope and scale of the work under way, scheduled for completion next year. (Photos by Br. Mark Fanders, MIC)
Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 9 It is certainly true what they say: if you don’t like the weather in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, wait 15 minutes — and it will change. That was certainly the case on Eden Hill during Divine Mercy Weekend, April 2627, 2025. It seemed as if the four seasons passed over Stockbridge those two days. With torrential rain and gusty wind, patches of warm sunshine and bone-chilling cold — and a good dose of mud thrown in — some 15,000 pilgrims, from as far away as Canada and California, were put to the test. Yet, as documented on the following pages, nothing could dampen the spirit nor the sense of community. We were all here for the same reason: to experience a “second Baptism” by receiving the extraordinary graces promised by our Lord to St. Faustina. Rousing start Heaven certainly “blessed” Eden Hill on Saturday with an all-day rain. But things got off to a rousing start with the Mercy Weekend Conference, featuring talks by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, (on his new book, Understanding the Sacraments) and Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, reminding us to always keep Our Lady close by. The lines for Confessions were long, and the Gift Tent was packed with shoppers. The vigil Mass was celebrated by Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC, Shrine rector, with Fr. Daniel Klimick offering an inspiring homily. Mercifully, the rain subsided in time for the distribution of Holy Communion and the safe return of all to their cars and buses. Sunday’s forecast was dry, and it mostly was, but the bitter cold and blowing wind were unexpected. The pre-show on EWTN, hosted by Fr. Chris and Fr. Joseph Roesch, MIC, concluded in a dramatic fashion when a gust blew the arrangement of roses off the center table! But the Liturgy and Chaplet proceeded as lovely as ever, presided over by Fr. Donald Calloway. Feels like home One pilgrim put it best: “Bad weather could never keep me away on Divine Mercy Weekend! The pilgrims from all over the country, of every ethnic background, come together like one big family, all of us united under Jesus, the Divine Mercy. It just feels like home.” Amen! Our thanks to the hard-working army of 600-plus volunteers and employees, the many vendors and public safety officers, and all the Marians who made Divine Mercy Weekend 2025 a great success. It’s teamwork at its very best. Blustery but beautiful! By Dr. Joe McAleer Divine Mercy Weekend 2025 Watch the Divine Mercy Sunday Mass. Father Chris Alar’s and Fr. Donald Calloway’s talks at Mercy Weekend Conference.
10 Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org The Divine Mercy Weekend Conference opened with an energetic talk on the Sacraments by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, provincial superior, based on his new book from Marian Press, Understanding the Sacraments: God’s Grace Guaranteed. “What’s the number one function of the priest?” he asked. “The Sacraments! And this is what Divine Mercy Sunday is all about — it’s just a return to the Sacraments.” “What we say about Our Lady, we can also say about the Church, and about us,” Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, told the Saturday conference. He explained how Our Lady is the Mother of Hope in this Jubilee of Hope — a fitting topic on the same day that Pope Francis was laid to rest in one of the oldest Marian Shrines, the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. Traveling all the way from St. Dominic Savio Parish in Los Angeles, California, are sisters Joan, Rosa, Hollie, and Yen. This was the second Divine Mercy Weekend in a row for Mary and John from St. Peter Parish in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. “Mercy is free,” Mary says. “You don’t have to earn it. It’s out there for everybody.” The homilist for the Vigil Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine was Fr. Daniel Klimek. “The theologian Scott Hahn says that when a priest absolves sins, especially mortal sins, he is resurrecting the dead,” said Fr. Daniel. “He is resurrecting the spiritually dead. It is such a sacred truth.” “We just love to be here. It’s the best day of the year, no matter what, rain or shine,” says Tuoi from St. Anne Parish in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. She came with many members of her family, including her daughter Rosie. Divine Mercy Weekend
Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 11 The Philippines made history this year on April 27, Divine Mercy Sunday, by becoming the first nation in the world to consecrate itself entirely to Jesus through the Divine Mercy. In 2016 at the Pan-African Congress on Divine Mercy Sunday in Rwanda, bishops in Africa consecrated the continent itself to Divine Mercy. However, the Philippines is the first singular nation to do so. “This is remarkable; really unprecedented. Never has this been done before in the history of the world — a country consecrating themselves to the Divine Mercy,” Fr. James Cervantes, MIC, told Catholic News Agency. “I believe the bishops are being inspired by the Holy Spirit to lead our country to holiness.” Father Brian McGrath, pastor of Catholic parishes in Lee, Otis, and Stockbridge, Massachusetts, never misses Divine Mercy Weekend on Eden Hill. “It’s one of the greatest events in the Berkshires, and it’s in my parish,” he says. “So many graces!” The Blessed Sacrament is processed from the Adoration Tent to the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine, for the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It was the first visit to the National Shrine for Nathan and David, members of the Parish of the Resurrection in Nashua, New Hampshire. “Our church was hosting a pilgrimage here today,” Nathan said. They were joined by about 50 of their fellow parishioners. The steady rain did not deter pilgrims from visiting the National Shrine! The bold initiative began with a single spark — a heartfelt letter from Fr. Cervantes to bishops across the country calling for a nationwide consecration to Divine Mercy. Dioceses responded enthusiastically, and soon the idea spread like wildfire. The Permanent Council of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines gave its official approval, declaring that a national consecration to Divine Mercy as part of the 2025 Jubilee Year celebrations. “We are doing this because this is what Jesus wants from us,” said Fr. Cervantes. “What we are saying is that we, as a nation, entrust ourselves to You. We as a nation place ourselves into Your hands. We as a nation are at Your disposal.” God bless the Philippines — and our own Fr. Cervantes! Special thanks to catholicnewsagency.com
12 Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org The annual Pre-Show on EWTN was hosted by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, and Fr. Joseph Roesch, MIC. Father Matthew Tomeny, MIC, rector of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, administers Holy Communion. Thousands gathered for the Divine Mercy Liturgy, braving the cold, wind, and rain. Soloist Ashley Nemeh brought joyful music to the Divine Mercy Liturgy. “We have to take our devotion to the Divine Mercy and let it sink in and penetrate into our hearts,” said Dr. Bryan Thatcher, the founder of the Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy (EADM). “We have to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.” The Gundran Family from Washington, D.C., made their first pilgrimage to Eden Hill, “posing” with the Apostle of Divine Mercy, St. Faustina. “Coming here means prayers answered and a dream come true for us,” said Ray (left). Divine Mercy Weekend
Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 13 The prayer banner was composed of thousands of pieces of cloth with prayer intentions for Divine Mercy Sunday sent in from across the United States and Canada. Father Donald Calloway, MIC, was the celebrant and homilist for the Divine Mercy Sunday Liturgy. Citing the Gospel reading (Jn 20:1931) of “doubting” Thomas, he pointed out that everyone present shares in Jesus’ words: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” “Let us rejoice that you have been declared blessed today!” he said. “Let us move forward as apostles of mercy.” Nermine Rubin, founder of Water4Mercy and a Marian Helper, shared how her consecration to Jesus through Mary opened her heart to help bring water to poor communities in Africa. Sister Deirdre “Dede” Byrne, POSC, superior of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts and sister of Bishop William Byrne of Springfield, told the faithful, “We cannot love without suffering,” yet “love is the most precious part of our being. God is the door to pure love, but Our Lady is the doorknob.” Getting ready for the Divine Mercy Sunday Liturgy are Br. Paul, MIC, Br. Jacob, MIC, and Br. Alex Chung, MIC. Geneva from Saugerties, New York, brought her fiancé and 80-year-old mother to Eden Hill. “I really appreciated the feeling of community from the crowd here and just seeing my mom light up.”
Guaranteed Grace The reason the Sacraments are so important is that the Holy Spirit acts through them. They are not just symbols of grace — they are actual grace itself! The Sacraments give us guaranteed grace and eternal life if we cooperate with this grace. You can’t get anything more important. The Holy Spirit gives us the Church, and the Church in return gives us the Sacraments. The Sacraments are connected to ultimately form you into a disciple of Christ. Your spiritual life begins at Baptism. It is matured at Confirmation. Your soul is renewed in Reconciliation after you fall into sin. Your spirit and, perhaps, your body are healed with the Anointing of the Sick. Families are made with Marriage. The Church is sustained By Fr. Chris Alar, MIC I often get asked, as you may too, “What makes the Catholic Church different from any other Christian church?” While the answer is simple, it comes in two parts. First, the Catholic Church is the only church founded by Jesus Christ Himself. All the Protestant Christian churches were founded by an ordinary man or woman. The second aspect that distinguishes the Catholic Church is the Sacraments. 14 Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org New From Marian Press Understanding the Sacraments
through Holy Orders by giving us priests to give us the Sacraments. And your soul is fed and sustained throughout this whole process because Christ is present in the Eucharist that you receive at Holy Communion. In the Bible The Sacraments are what Christ did on Earth for our salvation. God commanded us to receive the Sacraments as all seven are in the Bible: Baptism: Jesus is baptized by John and hears the Great Commission: “Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased’” (Mk 1:9-11). “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19). Confirmation: The Sacrament of Confirmation is found in Bible passages such as Acts 8:14–17, 9:17, 19:6, and Hebrews 6:2, which speak of a laying on of hands for the purpose of bestowing the Holy Spirit. Sealing with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost: “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other anguages, as the Spirit gave them ability” (Acts 2:4). In Ephesians 4:30, the Holy Spirit is described as a “seal” or “mark” on believers. Eucharist: Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. … Very truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day” (Jn 6:51, 53-54). Confession: Jesus said, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19; also Mt 18:18; Jn 20:23). Anointing of the Sick: The Book of James says to confess your sins to one another after speaking to the presbyters (elders): “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven” (Jas 5:14-15). Priesthood: As for the washing of the feet, which was part of the ordination rite in the Aaronic priesthood, Jesus said, “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (Jn 13:14-15). Titus 1:5 mentions that pastors were “ordained” in each city in Crete. Acts 13:2-4 describes the Holy Spirit setting apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which He has called them. Acts 14:23 mentions Paul and Barnabas directing the appointment or ordination of elders “in each church” in Galatia. Marriage: In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus affirms the biblical view of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, citing Genesis 2:24 to support this. The Wedding at Cana, the setting for Jesus’ first miracle: “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding” (Jn 2:1-2). Regarding Ephesians 5:22-33, this passage provides guidance for marriage, emphasizing the roles of husbands and wives, and the importance of submission, love, and respect within marriage. Essential to the Catholic faith The Catholic Church is the only religion that possesses all seven Sacraments in full communion with the successor of St. Peter in Rome. It is true that the Eastern Orthodox churches, which broke with Rome in 1054, have all seven valid Sacraments, but Catholic and Orthodox Christians can only receive the Sacraments from each other’s bishops and priests under extraordinary circumstances. The Anglican churches, moreover, believe that they have the apostolic succession of bishops and authentically-ordained priests, but the Catholic Church does not recognize the validity of that claim — especially now that they ordain women to their priesthood as well. So the Sacraments are vital! Without the unique fullness of the seven Sacraments, the Catholic Church is just one more church among 45,000 other Christian denominations around the world. Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 15 To order Understanding the Sacraments: God’s Grace Guaranteed! (Product code B66-UNDB), visit ShopMercy.org or call 1-800-462-7426.
‘Light from light’ If Nicaea sounds familiar, it should: The Council gave us the Nicene Creed, the profession of our Catholic faith that we pray at every Sunday Mass. A response to Arianism The Council was called by Constantine, the first Christian Emperor, who had consolidated his power over both the western and eastern portions of the Roman Empire in 324 A.D. Disturbed by reports that the Greek-speaking Christians of the East were divided among themselves by the (heretical) teachings of a priest from Alexandria in Egypt named “Arius,” Constantine wanted to ensure that By Robert Stackpole, STD This year we celebrate one of the most extraordinary events in the history of Catholicism: the 1,700th anniversary of the first universal gathering of the Church’s bishops in the city of Nicaea (in what is today northern Turkey), to proclaim the central doctrines of the Faith, and to issue the first canons governing the life of global Christianity. 16 Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator (“Ruler Over All”) from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Turkey.
the Church in his newly-united empire would remain united as well. He chose Nicaea as the location for the council because it was very near to the imperial capital in Constantinople (named after himself), which made it easier for Constantine to keep an eye on its organization and proceedings. Many historians believe that Bishop Hosius from Cordova in Spain acted as an official representative of Pope St. Sylvester (popes in those days never left the city of Rome, because their residence there was seen to have a special, spiritual connection with the bones and relics of apostles Peter and Paul). We see this view enshrined in the ancient Eastern Liturgies, where the traditional collect for the feast day of Pope St. Sylvester states: “Father Sylvester … thou didst appear as a pillar of fire, snatching the faithful from the Egyptian error, and continually leading them with unerring teaching to the divine light.” What was this “Egyptian error” that the Pope and all the faithful bishops at the Council so vigorously opposed? It was the teachings of Arius that Jesus Christ was not the divine Son of God, but merely a semi-divine being, a lesser god who was created by God the Father before all other creatures, and sent to earth to fulfill His saving mission. The Pope and the bishops saw clearly that this teaching cut the very heart out of the Gospel message. If Jesus was not really God the Son who came to save us, then our salvation was accomplished by a mere creature and ambassador of God, and not by God Himself in person. It was inconceivable to them that Divine Love could ever say, “I must save these children of mine, and that will mean the most terrible suffering. I will find someone else to do the job.” Divine Love does not send others to suffer in its place. He comes Himself! In short, the bishops at Nicaea realized that what was at stake here was nothing less than the heart of the Catholic faith: that God loved us so much He came among us as one of us, “Emmanuel … God with us” (Mt 1:23), to share our lot and to save us. The Creed of Nicaea Today we still recite the Creed of Nicaea at every Mass — although to be precise, what we recite is technically the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, because the original Nicene Creed ended at the words, “And we believe in the Holy Spirit.” It was the Second Ecumenical Council, held in Constantinople in 381 AD, that added the last paragraph of the creed we use today. Some of the terminology in the creed we recite is theological jargon many of us may not be familiar with, but a closer look reveals what the bishops were getting at. For example, when they say that the Son of God was “begotten, not made” they have in mind a very simple distinction we are all familiar with. As C.S. Lewis once put it in his classic work Mere Christianity: When you beget, you beget [generate, or originate] something of the same kind as yourself. A man begets human babies, a beaver begets little beavers and a bird begets eggs which turn into little birds. But when you make, you make something of a different kind than yourself. A bird makes a nest, a beaver builds a dam, a man makes a wireless set … So, by saying that the Son of God is “begotten, not made,” the bishops meant that He is of the very same nature as His heavenly Father: just like the Father, He possesses all the divine attributes, such as almighty power, infinite knowledge, and perfect goodness. Light from light When the bishops went on to say that the Son is “consubstantial” with the Father, and “God from God, light from light,” they meant that He was not created by the Father one day long ago, but eternally emanates from Him. Again, as Lewis explains: “[W]e must think of the Son always, so to speak, streaming forth from the Father, like light from a lamp or heat from a fire, or thoughts from a mind. He is the self-expression of the Father — what the Father has to say. And there never was a time when He was not saying it.” And what is the Father saying to us through His “incarnate” Son (that is, His divine Son “in the flesh” as Jesus)? He is forever saying: “I love you so much that I did not think either Bethlehem or Calvary too great a sacrifice to make to bring you back to My Heart.” Such is the Gospel message of the Creed of Nicaea. Dr. Robert Stackpole is the director emeritus of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy and the author of God’s Amazing Mercy: Meditations by St. Faustina’s Confessor and Spiritual Director (B66-SOPB), available now on ShopMercy.org. Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 17 The bishops at Nicaea realized that what was at stake here was nothing less than the heart of the Catholic faith: that God loved us so much He came among us as one of us to share our lot and save us.
In 1910, Blessed George Matulaitis (1871-1927), Renovator of our Marian Congregation, issued a clarion call to evangelization: “Animated by the Spirit of Christ, we must try to gather together and organize people of good will — to train and prepare them to work, and then, together with them and through them . . . to win all for Christ, to attract all to Christ.” The saying goes, “Nothing succeeds like success.” Blessed George could have never anticipated how successful we have become at “winning all for Christ,” especially over the airwaves through our video production, livestreams, and podcasts. And now we need your help to take this to the next level, with an urgent appeal to construct a new and larger video studio on Eden Hill. Reaching millions First, let’s look at the numbers. Since we started during the pandemic, more than 100 million people have viewed the daily livestreams on Facebook, YouTube, and our websites from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy: Mass, the Rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Amazing! Then there’s “Explaining the Faith,” the popular Saturday talks by our Provincial Superior, the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC. Some of his talks have racked up 2 million views on YouTube! Our video production department has expanded its offerings by leaps and bounds. Living Divine Mercy, our weekly program on EWTN, is in its fourth season with By Dr. Joe McAleer Green Dream Sitting in front of the green screen in the current, cramped video studio are two faces familiar to TV and online viewers: the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC, and Fr. Mark Baron, MIC. 18 Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org Help us build a new studio!
more than 190 original episodes produced to date. Producing a weekly TV show is a monumental task by itself. But our video department does so much more. There’s a new teaching video every Thursday, from “Ask a Marian” and “Saints in Focus” to original series on the Jubilee Year, Lent, Advent, and a variety of other topics. Our podcasts have expanded, in video and audio format. And we’ve struck gold in a brand new area: children’s programming. Gospel Picnic, hosted weekly by Fr. Andy Davy, MIC, is a lively and inviting way to interest kids in the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. It’s no wonder our YouTube viewership is way up, as are visitors to our exclusive streaming site, DivineMercyPlus.org (We encourage you to visit and register!). Vital expansion “To date, we have accomplished so much in a tiny makeshift studio that started life as a storage garage,” says Fr. Chris. “It’s a cramped space, about 300 square feet, with a leaky roof that’s freezing in the winter and hot in the summer. There’s no room for a permanent set, just a table and two chairs in front of a small green screen. Soundproofing is a challenge.” With our success and expanding viewership, and in line with our commitment to continuous evangelization, it’s time to build a larger, purpose- built studio adjacent to the Marian Helpers Center here on Eden Hill. “This also falls in line with our Marian Constitutions, which invite us to evangelize using the latest technologies,” Fr. Chris adds. With your help, we will raise $750,000. Those funds will go toward the following: • A 2,400-square-foot studio building, fully equipped with soundproofing and temperature-controlled for year-round use. • A grid network across the high ceilings for studio lighting. • Multiple standing sets for interviews, children’s programming, teaching segments, and social media content. • A wrap-around green screen for dramatic backgrounds. “If, by God’s grace, we exceed our goal, every dollar above and beyond our needs for this new studio will be put towards content development for new video productions from the Marian Fathers,” says Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, director of the Association of Marian Helpers. Please consider making a gift. Together as a Marian family, we will continue to transform the culture. We would like to think Blessed George is smiling down upon our efforts, which are in the spirit of his episcopal motto, “Overcoming evil with good.” We invite you to make a donation to our Urgent Appeal to build a new video studio on Eden Hill. Please visit Marian.org/b66. Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 19
Shrine at 65 65 Years Young! 10 things you may not know about the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy Now and then: The National Shrine in 2025 and during construction in the 1950s.
Celebrating those anniversaries in the Jubilee Year of Hope seems appropriate. After all, many tens of thousands have come here to this Shrine to give thanks to the Divine Mercy for graces received, the forgiveness of sins and temporal punishment, and hope restored. Incredible impact “It’s a joy to hear of the testimonies of those who have found spiritual healing and graces in the Masses, devotions, and Confessions offered here at the Shrine,” says Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC, Shrine rector. “Some even report graces of miraculous physical healings or ask for prayers to conceive a child. Some penitents say they drove several hours away to come to Confession here after a hiatus away from the Church or some crisis. We once had a group from the Philippines who came to the U.S. only to visit the Shrine for barely three days before returning home without seeing anything else. “It’s truly a blessing to glimpse at how the Shrine has touched the thousands and thousands of pilgrims who have visited and who now join us through the internet,” Fr. Matt continues. “We can see how much of an incredible impact Stockbridge has had on the promotion of the Divine Mercy message worldwide, but we will only see in Heaven how much of an impact the Shrine has made in being a center of intercession for the Lord’s mercy upon the whole world.” Today, many more people attend daily Mass and devotions via livestream at the Shrine than visit Eden Hill in person. And yet even with such worldwide exposure, the Shrine holds many treasures and unexpected blessings that most people have never heard about. Here, then, in no particular order, are 10 things you may not know about the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. By Chris Sparks S ixty-five years ago, the chapel that would become the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy was completed and blessed. Twenty-five years ago, Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Most Blessed Sacrament (1905-1938), whose cause for canonization and writings would find such assistance from the Marian Fathers housed at Stockbridge (most especially the former vice postulator for her cause in North America, Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC), was canonized, and Divine Mercy Sunday added to the universal calendar of the Church. Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 21 2 Sweat Equity Throughout the 1950s, Marian novices labored during their novitiate year on the construction, as did seminarians who came for the summers to help maintain the property. Father Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, was one of them. Set that alongside his long labors to establish the Divine Mercy message and devotion (apparently prophesied in Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1689), and we can say that Fr. Seraphim built the Shrine of The Divine Mercy both physically and spiritually! 1 Local Hero In 1950, the construction of the Shrine of The Divine Mercy was entrusted to Antonio Guerrieri, a 74-year-old resident of Stockbridge. He had just completed the restoration of St. Joseph’s Church in town when the Marians called him to build their new Shrine. Guerrieri was a well-respected master furniture maker and wood carver — crafts for which he had been trained in his native Italy. He had also established a reputation as a restorer, designer, and builder — all skills which he had taught himself.
6 Look Up Gaze upwards at the ceiling, and you will see portraits of the 11 patron saints of the Marian Fathers, as well as murals featuring the Marian Founder, St. Stanislaus Papczyński (“Apostolic Approval of the Marians”) and Renovator, Bl. George Matulaitis (“Renovation of the Marian Fathers”). Across the ceiling, painted by Joseph Amato of Bridgeport, Connecticut, are graceful symbolic depictions of Mary, the Eucharist, and the miracles of Jesus, including the Rosary and a basket of loaves and fishes. Above the Sanctuary is a grand pulpit accessed by a small door. It is no longer used. 22 Marian Helper • Summer 2025 • Marian.org 3 Elevation When the chapel was completed and blessed in 1960, it was known as the Shrine of Divine Mercy. That was its title for 36 years until, in 1996, it was elevated to a National Shrine by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, one of only 72 national shrines in the country (see page 36). Since 1990, the annual Divine Mercy Sunday Mass has been broadcast live from the National Shrine by the EWTN Global Catholic Network. 4 Faustina’s visit? Inspired by a documentary on Sr. Faustina, Bob and Maureen Digan, with their son, Bobby, came to Eden Hill in search of Fr. Seraphim, the vice postulator for the cause of canonization of Sr. Faustina. Bob wanted him to come with them to Poland, where he was convinced the family would receive a miracle (which they did! It became the miracle for Sr. Faustina’s beatification). In 1981, the evening before they left for Poland, Bob, Fr. Seraphim, and several others were praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet in the chapel that would one day become the National Shrine. They heard a woman praying along with them, but could see no one. After they finished the Chaplet, Bob asked Fr. Seraphim what they’d heard. Father Seraphim said it was Sr. Faustina, of course! 5 Glorious Glass There are 36 stained glass windows and two mosaics created by artist Fred Leuchs of Stockbridge, displaying images of Mary and the Apostles. Fourteen of these depict a Gospel scene that demonstrates the mercy of God. Leuchs, who also installed the windows, said this was not only his first professional commission but his most prized effort. 7 Distinctive Stations The 14 Stations of the Cross were handcrafted in Spain. Surrounding each scene are instruments of the Passion: spears, whips, the pillar, the Crown of Thorns, and a ladder.
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