Friends of John Paul II Foundation, Inc.

Walk into any Catholic church today, and there is a good chance you will find a painted image of Jesus with the inscription below, “Jesus I Trust in You.”

Walk into historic Holy Rosary Church in Baltimore, MD – the Shrine of Divine Mercy and site of the miraculous healing which led to Saint Faustina’s canonization – and it is not just the image that greets you. Inside, the relics of St. Faustina, St. John Paul II, and Blessed Fr. Michael Sopocko eagerly await you.

On this year’s Solemnity of Divine Mercy Sunday, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore made a pilgrimage to celebrate Mass at this historic Polish church. It was a sight to behold.

The beautiful entrance procession, led by the parish’s Knights of Columbus council, made its way through the crowded church.

Fr. Ako Walker, C.Ss. R. concelebrated the Mass while Fr. Janusz Sok, C.Ss.R., heard the confessions of a seemingly endless line of penitents.

At 3:00 pm, the Hour of Mercy, the congregation prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet while the Blessed Sacrament was exposed and carried through the church. Leading the Eucharistic Procession was the “Friends of John Paul II Foundation” banner, accompanied by the scented smoke of incense and the rising melody of Polish hymns filling the church. Moved to tears, one parishioner said he could feel the Holy Spirit at this Mass, to which the Archbishop responded, “Me too!”

Outside, Archbishop Lori expressed his gratitude and praised the Friends of John Paul II Foundation for preserving the memory and heritage of the great saint. The Archbishop shared his personal story of being ordained to the episcopacy by Pope John Paul II.  Continuing the joyful celebration after Mass, crowds gathered in the Church Hall for delicious, traditional Polish food and fellowship.

Among the international crowd gathered that day was a strong Polish representation. The Polish-American parishioners hosting the event, the “Apostolat Przyjaciol Milosierdzia Bozego” (Friends of the Divine Mercy), the “Wislanie” and “Ojczyzna” folk dance ensembles, the Polish Heritage Association of Maryland, the Friends of John Paul II Foundation, and others came together to ensure the Solemnity had an appropriately Polish character.

Pope Saint John Paul II saw the message of Divine Mercy as the special task which God had entrusted to him for our time. Young Karol Wojtyla first learned about the mystic, Sister Faustina, during the war while working at the Solvay rock quarry right next door to Sister Faustina’s convent in Lagiewniki and studying for the priesthood in secret.

Deeply moved by the message, Pope Saint John Paul II chose to canonize Sister Faustina in 2000 as the first saint of the new millennium; an act, as he said in his homily, by which he intended to pass on the message of Divine Mercy to the third millennium.

Twenty-six years later, this Divine Mercy Sunday celebration in Baltimore, MD, was a magnificent witness to the fact that the Divine Mercy message is alive and desired more than ever.

Not everyone may get the chance to visit Saint Faustina’s convent in Krakow-Lagiewniki. Still, we can make a pilgrimage to Holy Rosary Church, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy, to visit the site of the miracle which led to her canonization. On that special day – the very first Divine Mercy Sunday – Pope Saint John Paul II remarked, “Today is the happiest day of my life.”

By Sylvia J. Korzan

Friends of John Paul II Foundation, Metropolitan area of Washington, DC

April 14, 2026

During her visit to Washington, DC, the First Lady of Poland, Marta Nawrocka, met with representatives of the Polish-American community gathered around the Friends of the John Paul II Foundation, Washington, DC Chapter. The meeting took place at the venerable Saint John Paul II National Shrine—one of the key places for all who take pride in Pope John Paul II, his spiritual leadership, and his profound impact on world history. The Shrine welcomes pilgrims from around the globe and features an impressive exhibit dedicated to his life, which the First Lady toured during her visit.

Edyta Hołodyńska (Republika) noted that Marta Nawrocka met with one of the many, yet very important, Polish-American organizations—the Friends of the John Paul II Foundation in Washington, DC. Shea added that organization plays a vital role in cultivating Polish traditions and heritage. She emphasized the importance of meeting with such dedicated individuals and recognizing their year-round efforts to preserve Polish identity and promote Polish history abroad.

Marta Nawrocka also shared on her Instagram:
“During my visit to Washington, I visited the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. This unique sanctuary—a place of prayer and pride—plays an important role today for the Polish diaspora living across the ocean. I would also like to thank the Polish community active in the John Paul II Foundation for their engagement, their care for Polish heritage, and their beautiful example of patriotism.”

Members of the Friends of the John Paul II Foundation were honored to meet the First Lady, who expressed genuine warmth and interest in learning about the organization’s mission and key accomplishments. During the meeting, the Foundation presented her with a children’s book titled Poland, created by Carla Tomaszewski. The book offers a vibrant portrait of the country through its festivals and traditions, including sections on Pope John Paul II and Advent and Christmas customs. It reflects the rich cultural heritage that St. John Paul II cherished so deeply—one he believed to be uniquely resilient, rooted in Christian values and a lasting love of freedom.

The theme of this year’s pilgrimage—“May Polonia remain faithful to St. John Paul II’s call to cherish its Polish heritage, preserve and magnify its legacy, and pass it on to future generations”—resonated throughout the two days of events. The pilgrimage also marked the first joint regional assembly of the John Paul II Foundation chapters from Washington, D.C., New Jersey, New York, New England, and Philadelphia, during which delegates shared initiatives promoting the legacy of St. John Paul II in their respective communities.

On Saturday, August 23, chapter members, pilgrims, and guests gathered for a festive banquet honoring Ms. Barbara Pysk, longtime president of the New England Chapter of the John Paul II Foundation. Ms. Pysk received the “Fidelity to the Legacy of St. John Paul II Award” in recognition of her selfless leadership and deep involvement in the Polish American community. The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, who spoke on “Reawakening Our Sacred Obligation to Promote the Legacy of St. John Paul II.” The banquet’s musical program featured a performance by the Joyful Skrypczuk Duo, friends of the John Paul II Foundation, whose artistry added a warm and joyful spirit to the evening.

Sunday’s Musical Jubilee Program paid tribute to three Popes—St. John Paul II, Pope Francis, and Pope Leo XIV—and reflected on the future of the Church. Talented young artists from Connecticut and Massachusetts offered musical performances and reflections, joined by Reverend Dariusz Gościniak, Father Krzysztof Wieliczko, OSPPE, and Archbishop Wenski.

During the solemn Mass celebration, the National Polish Apostolate Committee conferred its distinguished Pride of Polonia Award upon Mr. Bogdan Chmielewski, President and CEO of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union. Mr. Chmielewski was honored for his exemplary leadership, deep faith, and enduring contributions to Polonia in America, as well as his steadfast support for the mission of the John Paul II Foundation.

Organized by the Polish Apostolate Committee, the pilgrimage, the banquet, and musical program that included a beautiful performance by our own Stasia and Olech Srkypczuk of the Skrypczuk duo united clergy, religious, and lay faithful in a joyful expression of faith and Polish identity, reaffirming Polonia’s enduring devotion to Our Lady of Czestochowa and St. John Paul II.

The annual Pilgrimage of Polonia to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, brought together faithful from across the United States for a weekend of prayer, reflection, and celebration of Polish heritage. This year’s gathering, which took place on August 23-24, held special meaning as it coincided with the 2025 Jubilee Year of the Universal Church and the 70th anniversary of the shrine.