Divine Mercy priest to preach
in Chenoa, Colfax, Lexington

CHENOA — A priest who has been involved in spreading the message of and devotion to The Divine Mercy for more than 60 years, including two decades as vice-postulator for the canonization cause of St. Faustina Kowalska, will visit three area parishes the weekend of Nov. 26-27.

Father Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, a former rector of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy and director of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy, will concelebrate and preach at all Masses that weekend in Chenoa, Colfax, and Lexington.

In addition, Father Seraphim will be principal speaker at an Advent Divine Mercy service planned for 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27, at St. Joseph’s Church in Chenoa. The public is invited.

Father Carl LoPresti — pastor of St. Joseph’s as well as St. Joseph’s, Colfax, and St. Mary’s, Lexington since 2001 — said the parish hosts Divine Mercy observances in both Lent and Advent as well as on Divine Mercy Sunday following Easter.

The Divine Mercy is a devotion to the merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow through one’s own heart towards those in need of it. It includes veneration of an image of Jesus that St. Faustina saw in a vision and recitation of a prayer called the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Father Seraphim is a member of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. A familiar face to viewers of EWTN, for many years he led the 3 p.m. “Hour of Great Mercy” daily presentation. He now serves at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass.

Mass times and locations for Father Seraphim’s visit include:

Saturday, Nov. 26 — 4 p.m., St. Mary’s, Lexington; 5:30 p.m., St. Joseph’s, Chenoa

Sunday, Nov. 27 — 8 a.m., St. Joseph’s, Colfax; 9:30 a.m., St. Mary’s, Lexington; and 11 a.m., St. Joseph’s, Chenoa.