From June 7 to 12, the Sixth World Apostolic Congress of Divine Mercy took place in Vilnius under the theme “We Are Building a City of Mercy.” The theme refers not only to the activity and efforts of the local Church but also to Vilnius itself, with its icon of the Mother of Mercy, the image of the Merciful Jesus, and its dramatic history (wars, the Holocaust).
The event was organized by the Vatican and the local Church of the Vilnius Archdiocese. It took place during the days when Pope Leo XIV was on an apostolic visit to Spain. Redemptorists serving in Kaunas and Fr. Michal Zamkovský from the Province of Bratislava – Prague actively participated in the congress. At the request of the archbishop of Vilnius, Redemptorists ministering in Lithuania were actively involved in the preparation and coordination of several events. Some parts of the program were also attended by Fr. František Boldy C.Ss.R. and Fr. Jozef Novák C.Ss.R. ministering in Frýdek, Czech Republic.
The main part of the congress was held on the Hill of the Redeemer (Saviour), in a spacious area located just a few dozen meters from the chapel where painter Eugeniusz Kazimirowski, under the guidance of St. Faustina, painted the Image of the Merciful Jesus. The Redemptorists had the grace of praying in this chapel as well as in the Shrine of Divine Mercy, where the Image is exposed for continuous veneration and prayer.
At the opening of the congress, participants watched a video recording of the Pope’s warm greeting and blessing for the gathering. Along with the local Archbishop Gintaras Grušas, the event was also attended by the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for New Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, and several bishops from Lithuania and other countries.
Among the main speakers was the Archbishop of Kraków, Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, who was the first to address the participants. In his lecture, he recalled several episodes from Church history in which saints and pastors of the Church manifested God’s mercy and compassion for the poor and suffering by distributing material goods and finances to those in need, building hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions. He also openly mentioned statements and attitudes of some saints and Church leaders who, in certain historical situations, acted without mercy: “The Church has many times shown the merciful face of God, but unfortunately, it has also happened that some of her members acted ‘with no mercy.'”
The Eucharistic celebration on the memorial of St. Barnabas was presided by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Baltic States, Archbishop Georg Gänswein. In his homily, he spoke about mercy as faith, mission, and generosity. In the light of St. Barnabas’ life, he reminded the participants that “it is not always the most prominent and visible who change the history of the world.” He highlighted Barnabas, the “Son of Encouragement,” as one who “works in the background and creates space for the growth of others, such as St. Paul and the evangelist Mark. Barnabas was able to see the seeds and sprouts of God’s action and supported their growth.” He also quoted St. John Chrysostom, who said that “we most resemble God when we readily lift people up, help them rise, and grow.”
Another speaker was the internationally renowned priest Fr. James Mallon, creator of the “Divine Renovation” program, who spoke about the renewal of parishes and the whole Church. This renewal is born when we are not indifferent, when God’s compassion for the lost penetrates our hearts and sends us out to seek those who are far away. The same question was repeated several times in his lecture: “Look into your heart. When you see the lost, do you feel pain in your heart, or does it actually not matter to you?”
The founder of the Alpha Course, Nicky Gumbel, spoke movingly about Jesus’ vision as a principle of renewal and service. In his address, he emphasized that “Jesus drew His Church, the apostles, and each of us into His vision, into His prayer, into His compassion for people, and into His ministry.”
Tetiana Stawnychy, President of Caritas Ukraine, spoke about the mystery of encounter: when we give ourselves to one another in solidarity, we renew our humanity, the image of God in us, and the communio that has been destroyed by war.
At the closing of the congress, on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Eucharist was presided over by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for New Evangelization. In his homily, he pointed out the similarity between the visions received by Julian of Norwich in 1373 and those received by St. Faustina. To both young mystics, God revealed and reminded them of His immense and endless kindness and tenderness toward every human being. Archbishop Fisichella reminded the participants that human frailty and limitations are characteristic of our earthly human nature: “Only our own experience of God’s mercy, compassion, and kindness toward us is the source of mercy toward others.” The Archbishop recalled that “Christianity is not built on man loving God, but first and foremost on God loving man.” He warned that “when believers do not take into account the frailty of human nature, tendencies toward fundamentalism, formalism, and rigorism begin to appear.” He quoted Jesus’ words to Faustina from 1937: “Today My heart has found rest in this convent. Speak to the world about My mercy and My love. The flames of mercy burn within Me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls.”
During the main program, which ran from Monday to Friday, many speakers addressed the main stage, and morning prayers of praise were led by various groups — including, on Wednesday morning, the Redemptorists with laypeople from Kaunas.
All prayers and main addresses from the conference can be viewed in English from the recordings. In the afternoons, various activities, discussions, concerts, seminars, and workshops took place throughout Vilnius. On Tuesday afternoon, the Redemptorists from Kaunas, led by Fr. Michal Zamkovský, conducted a workshop on the ministry of Missionaries of Mercy.
The Redemptorists serving in Kaunas were responsible for coordinating the service of Missionaries of Mercy from various parts of the world. During the congress, they heard confessions in different languages in the cathedral both in the morning and in the afternoon. They also served at the beginning of the congress — on Monday evening during the Liturgy of Reconciliation led by Slovak Redemptorists. They likewise heard confessions on Wednesday evening in the cathedral during a two-hour prayer of adoration, the Word, praise, and testimonies, which was led by the Redemptorists in cooperation with laypeople from the Tree of Life and Spring of Mercy communities from Kaunas. On Wednesday morning, the Redemptorists with their Partners in mission from Kaunas led the prayer of worship for the congress participants.
At the end of the congress, the Archbishop of Vilnius announced to the faithful that the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Hill of the Redeemer will become a Shrine of Divine Mercy. Archbishop Fisichella informed everyone that the next Congress of Divine Mercy will take place in Brazil.
All the main lectures, prayers, and Eucharistic celebrations, prepared by the American Catholic television network EWTN, can be watched in English recordings via the links below.
Fr. Rastislav Dluhý C.Ss.R.
Photos:
(C) Rastislav Dluhý C.Ss.R.
(C) Donatas Pranckevičius
the conference’s official website: https://wacomvilnius.org/
