Saint Faustina - Congregation of Sisters of Merciful Jesus

"...God demands that there be a congregation that would proclaim God's mercy to the world and pray for it for the world"
(Diary of Saint Sister Faustyna, 436).

Myślibórz (Poland). Located at the Myślibórz Lake in the diocese of Szczecin-Kamień. The first mention of Myślibórz is in the document dated 1238. In 1262-1270 Myślibórz obtained municipal rights. As a result, in the town were built numerous representative buildings. The current name was approved on May 7, 1946. In 1947 in Myślibórz, at the Holy Cross church, settled Sisters from the Congregation of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus founded by the Blessed Fr. Michael Sopoćko. They continue the mission of Saint Faustina. Therefore, in 1993 the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy was established in Myślibórz .

Church of the Holy Cross in Myślibórz with a stained glass window in the main altar,
built in 1905 (in the year of Sister Faustyna's birth), as the only Catholic church in the area

Stained glass window in the Church of the Holy Cross

On August 1, 1993, Archbishop Marian Przykucki23 solemnly brought the relics of Blessed Sister Faustina to the convent in Myślibórz. On that day, by his decree, the church and the convent were elevated to the rank of Sanctuary of Divine Mercy.

Fragment of the Archbishop’s decree: “The church and convent mentioned in the prophetic vision of Sister Faustina and described in her Diary seem to be a place indicated by Divine Providence for the special devotion of the Divine Mercy, and a support for the Congregation of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus (...). Let Divine Mercy be worshipped in this place for all times, let this place, selected by Sr. Faustina, be supported through her intercession, let our faithful worshippers experience in this place a special mercy and ensure themselves earthly well-being and eternal life”.

Sister Faustyna and Sister Benigna – the first mothers of the new congregation

Excerpts from the "Memoirs" of Sister Faustyna Osińska describing the first visit of the sisters to Myślibórz: "Myślibórz has a beautiful location (...) with a huge lake on the left, shimmering like a metallic surface amidst the morning mist. (...) What joy it was when we saw the closed gate of the small church and the two-story house with a veranda, with a sign "Caritas". A dream place for a monastic house, and we whispered quietly, how good it would be if we could live here, (...) a lot of greenery, gardens, a quiet, peaceful corner on earth, with a monastic house. We thanked God for guiding us here, to this silence and peace..."

Father Michael Sopoćko, “Memoirs” 1948: “Almost everything that Sr. Faustina foretold in the matter of that Congregation happened precisely as she had said. When on November 16, 1944 in Vilnius I accepted at night the private vows of the first six Sisters, and when three years later I came to the first house of this Congregation in Myślibórz, I was amazed by the striking similarity to what the late Sr. Faustina had told me (...) In the altar’s nave I noticed a slightly broken stained glass window, which portrayed Jesus’ death on the Cross. I gazed at it with joy and amazement, because Sr. Faustina spoke to me of such a church and stained glass window”.

In the mission of Saint Sister Faustina, God's providence assigned a special role to her confessor and spiritual director - Father Michael Sopocko. In the years 1933-1936, during Sister Faustina's stay in Vilnius, he was indispensable help for her in discerning internal experiences and revelations. At his request, she wrote the "Diary", which is a document of Catholic mysticism of exceptional value. It also shows the holiness of Father Michael Sopocko's priestly life and his contribution to the realization of Jesus' demands.

"This is visible help for you on earth.
He will help you fulfill my will on earth
(Diary of Saint Sister Faustina, 53).

Painting the image with the likeness of Merciful Jesus, exposing it to public worship, spreading the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, taking initial steps to establish the Feast of Mercy, and founding a new monastic congregation - all this was done in Vilnius thanks to the efforts of Father Sopocko.
From that time on, their joint works, earned by their prayer and suffering, radiate to the whole world.
In his published scientific works, numerous press publications, and lectures, Father Dr. Michael Sopocko provided theological foundations for new forms of worship of God's Mercy - conveyed in the Message of God's Mercy.

Sarcophagus with the mortal remains of Blessed Father Michał Sopoćko
Sanctuary of Divine Mercy, Białystok, Blessed Father Michał Sopoćko Square 1

At present, the Congregation implements its charisma, acquired from their founder, in a few dozen congregation houses in Poland and abroad. The main feature of the congregation’s spirituality is the contemplation of God in His Mercy, limitless trust, and following Jesus in practising works of mercy, especially towards the most needy.
With their apostolic activities, the Sisters try to respond to the present needs of the Church. Among other things, they run hospices and centres for the protection of unborn children, conduct retreats and catechize. Through their daily prayer, Jesus, I trust in You, they entrust the apostolic works and the testimony of their lives to Divine Mercy. For them, the religious vows mean complete entrustment to God. They do not rely on their own strengths, but on Divine omnipotence.

zgromadzenie.faustyna.org/