Over 400 volunteers assisted at the event, helping set up booths for various religious orders and groups.

August 14, 2009. Los Angeles, CA. This past August 1-2, Hombre Nuevo, Guadalupe Radio, and the Divine Mercy Evangelization Movement co-sponsored the Lord of Mercy Congress at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The event had an English-speaking track on Saturday, August 1 and a Spanish-speaking track on Sunday, August 2.

Saturday’s Speakers

The English-speaking event, held on Saturday from 7 am to 8 pm, was based on the theme “Jesus, Our Healer and Strength.” Over 1,000 guests gathered to learn from speakers who addressed the topic of spiritual and physical healing through Divine Mercy.

This was the first congress of its kind in Los Angeles, and both the organizers and participants experienced a special sense of God’s help and company.

“I had an overwhelmingly positive experience at our first Divine Mercy Congress,” said Beth Basilio, a core team member of the Divine Mercy Evangelization Movement. “I felt the full presence of the Holy Spirit in the hall, especially when the choir started the praise and worship music. I felt the presence of the Lord and the Blessed Mother when we started marching in the aisle with our Divine Mercy banners,” she said.

Fr Fernando Suarez, of the Companions of

	A moment during the healing service with Fr Perfecto.

the Cross, a world-renowned healing priest and founder of Mary, Mother of the Poor Foundation, spoke on the topic “Completely Trust in Jesus, the Healer.” He also celebrated the healing Mass and led a healing service.

For many participants, the healing Mass was one of the highlights of the congress.

“The healing Mass and service was a very powerful experience, especially for the men who volunteered to catch that day. They said they felt the healing presence of the Holy Spirit with so much peace in their hearts,” said Estrelle Mijares, a congress organizer and cofounder of the Divine Mercy Evangelization Movement.

Fr. Edward Broom, of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, an Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel, Hawaiian Gardens, a dynamic speaker and retreat master, spoke on “Mary and Forgiveness.”

The topic “The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion for the Sick, Injured, and Dying” was addressed by Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek and Marie Romagnano, who teamed up to deliver a riveting talk about the impact of the Divine Mercy devotion among hospital patients and the dying.

Marie Romagnano, RN, is a trauma and catastrophic injury nurse and the founder of Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy, an apostolate of the Marians of the

	A moment during the concluding Mass on Saturday.

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Fr Chwalek, of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, is the Vicar Provincial and Director of Evangelization and Development as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy and North American Congress on Mercy.

Donna Lee, Unity Award recipient, gave her personal testimony and a mini-concert entitled “God is Rich in Mercy.” As a young woman, Donna had decided to get an abortion, “a decision that I would come to regret for the rest of my life.” Two years later, she went to confession and began on her path of healing, discovering the mercy and forgiveness of God. Since then, she has dedicated her life to telling others about God’s mercy through music.

After her talk, two young women approached her to tell her that they had learned a lot from her testimony, and that abortion would not be an option for them in the future. They also said they would pray for the virtue of purity.

“It’s worth all of the sacrifices if you hear that from the youth,” said Donna.

Sunday’s Speakers

On Sunday, over 6,000 Spanish-speaking attendees gathered to listen to Fr Eugenio Lira on

	The Blessed Sacrament received hundreds of visits from adorers during the two days of the congress.

“Come to Me… Trust in Me… Divine Mercy” and Fr Juan Rivas, LC, on “How to Find Peace of Heart.”

Fr Perfecto Cemo Medina traveled from the Dominical Republic to lead the healing service, accompanied by Hermana Glenda’s singing and acoustic guitar. Fr Mariano de Blas, LC, celebrated the Mass, with Fr Eugenio Lira and Fr Perfecto concelebrating.

The talks, testimonies, adoration and worship times, procession and benediction with the Blessed Sacrament, praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and opportunities for confession and spiritual direction were an additional means for participants to experience God’s mercy.

Guadalupe Radio transmitted some parts of the Congress live for those who were not able to make it to the events. 

The event is being planned for next year, with the ongoing partnership of Hombre Nuevo and Guadalupe Radio with the Divine Mercy Evangelization Movement.