26 16 The Marian Helpers Center, Our Lady of Mercy Oratory, and the Candle Shrine Since 1941, the Marian Fathers have been promoters of the authentic Divine Mercy message and devotion. In 1940, Fr. Joseph Jarzebowski, MIC, received key materials containing the Divine Mercy message and devotion from St. Faustina’s spiritual director, Blessed Michael Sopocko. Miraculously, Fr. Joseph took them safely out of Soviet-occupied Poland during World War II and brought them to the Marian Fathers living in the United States. After his safe arrival, the Marians began spreading the Divine Mercy devotion from their residence in Washington, D.C. Soon, hundreds of people began writing in to report graces they had received through this devotion. In order to minister to the thousands of Catholics writing to the Marians about Divine Mercy, Fr. Walter Pelczynski, MIC, established the Association of Marian Helpers in 1944, modeled after the Marian Auxiliaries founded by Blessed George in 1924 as means of involving the laity in their apostolic mission. The U.S. branch of the Association is now headquartered at the Marian Helpers Center on Eden Hill. The Marian Helpers Center publishes millions of pieces of religious material each year — many of which are sent around the world.
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