On Monday, August 30, 2021, the venerators of The Divine Mercy from Great Britain gathered for their annual pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption and of St. Simon Stock in Aylesford, a shrine which dates back to the 13th century. The Apostolate of Divine Mercy, conducted by the Marian Fathers in London, organized this pilgrimage.
The pilgrims who came to the shrine were greeted by Fr. Francis Kensley, OCD, Superior of the Discalced Carmelite community serving at the shrine, and Fr. Łukasz Mazurek, MIC, Director of The Divine Mercy Apostolate in London. After getting acquainted and bringing the image of Merciful Jesus to the shrine in a procession, the pilgrims, joined by Bishop Paul Hendricks from the Archdiocese of Southwark invited by the Apostolate, heard the first conference on the mystery of Divine Mercy, entitled In St. Faustina’s School of Trust.
The director of the Apostolate of Divine Mercy delivered a conference, which was followed by the solemn liturgy of the Holy Mass, presided over by Bishop Hendricks, who urged all the venerators of Divine Mercy to ask themselves some questions: “What does the person of Jesus Christ mean to me? Am I really interested in following the road on which He sends me today? Do I use every opportunity to show the world the mystery of Divine Mercy?” After the final blessing, it was time for a communal picnic together and a lunch break. Then, before the solemn celebration of the Hour of Mercy, the pilgrims heard the director of the Apostolate of Divine Mercy’s second conference entitled God’s Peace in Times of Universal Anxiety, which led the assembled to the Hour of Mercy prayer, a moment of particularly intense prayer, which Jesus revealed to St. Faustina: “At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion…” (Diary, 1320).
Prayers during the Hour of Mercy were led by Bishop Paul Hendricks, who is a zealous worshiper of the Divine Mercy, together with Fr. Jacek Rygielski, MIC, rector of the Marian residence in London, where the Apostolate of The Divine Mercy is located. After the Hour of Mercy, the bishop thanked all those involved in the work of spreading the Divine Mercy message, especially the organizers of this pilgrimage – members of the Apostolate conducted by the Marian Fathers in London. At the conclusion of the pilgrimage, pilgrims sang praises and gave honor to Merciful Jesus and the relics of St. Faustina.
