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Meet the Mercy Experts!

The following is the list of presenters and panelists for the Divine Mercy Networking Forum on Nov. 13, in Washington, D.C.:

The Most Reverend Robert W. Finn, DD, Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph (Missouri), serves as chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Task Force on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person and as consultant to both the Pro-Life Secretariat and the Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. As a priest in St. Louis, he was involved in planning the first archdiocesan celebrations of Divine Mercy. In his own diocese he has encouraged the Divine Mercy devotion. Shortly after becoming ordinary, he established the Diocesan Shrine to the Divine Mercy and St. Faustina.

Father Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, will serve as homilist for the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday. Father Seraphim is a world-renowned expert in the message of The Divine Mercy. He served as vice-postulator for the canonization cause of St. Faustina Kowalska, whose revelations in the 1930s led to the modern Divine Mercy movement. He serves as director of the Association of Marian Helpers in Stockbridge, Mass. He is a familiar face to EWTN viewers from his appearances on instructive and inspirational programs dealing with The Divine Mercy message and devotion. He was directly instrumental in the publication of the very first edition in the original Polish language of St. Faustina’s now world-famous Diary, as well as involved in the preparation of the same in several other versions. He also was a firsthand witness of the miracle attributed to St. Faustina’s intercession that opened the way for her being declared “Blessed” in 1993, and he coordinated the efforts that served to verify that miracle as well as a second one that led her to be declared a “saint” in 2000.

Father Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC, is director of Evangelization and Development for the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception and vice-president of the North American Congress on Mercy. Before he joined the Marians in 1980, he worked on the first Polish edition of St. Faustina’s Diary. He later assisted with the English translation. He has served as director of the Association of Marian Helpers and has worked in seminarian formation. His love for Pope John Paul II led him to be the editor of the English edition of The Making of the Pope of the Millennium: Kalendarium of the life of Karol Wojtyla, a compendium of primary sources that chronicle the life and activities of pre-pontifical period of John Paul II. Fr. Kaz was a member of the executive committee of the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy. He is vice president of the North American Congress on Mercy.

Father Donald Calloway, MIC, will speak on the topic “Mary: Mother and Masterpiece of Mercy.” He is the editor of two books: The Immaculate Conception in the Life of the Church(Marian Press, 2004) and The Virgin Mary and Theology of the Body (Marian Press, 2005). He is the author of the book Purest of All Lilies: The Virgin Mary in the Spirituality of St. Faustina(Marian Press, 2008). His new book, No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy, will be released in January. Father Donald is the house superior of the Marian House of Studies in Steubenville.

Father Anthony Gramlich, MIC, is rector of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass.

Father Joseph Roesch, MIC, member of the Marians’ General Council in Rome. Father Joe has been heavily involved in establishing the Marians’ new Divine Mercy mission to the Philippines. He was host of the “Cenacle of The Divine Mercy: EWTN Program Series II.”

Father Daniel Leary, who has been leading men’s and women’s retreats for more than 12 years. His focus on Divine Mercy as an instrument for healing and grace has drawn many people closer to Christ, strengthened their faith, and led to an enriched prayer life rooted in the sacraments. Ordained in 1997, he serves as pastor at Jesus the Divine Word Church in Huntingtown, Md.

Brother Michael Gaitley, MIC, hopes to be ordained a priest next year. He lives in Stockbridge, Mass., and is an assistant to Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, on matters relating to the message of The Divine Mercy. He has appeared several times on EWTN.

Brother Richard Mary Dolan, MIC, is a theology seminarian at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. He is Fresh Anointing’s college outreach coordinator for the Washington, D.C., area, ministering to young adults from 18-35 but primarily to college-age students. He leads a discussion group and helps out with retreats, catechesis, prayer teams, and a weekly Life in the Spirit seminar.

Dave and Joan Maroney are founders of Mother of Mercy Messengers (MOMM), an apostolate of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. MOMM is dedicated to taking the heart of the mercy message emanating from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass., to local parishes and schools. They’ve also produced two best-selling DVDs, “Tell All Souls About My Mercy” and “Divine Mercy for Young Hearts.”

Dr. Robert Stackpole, STD, is director of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy, an apostolate of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. He is the author of several books, including Divine Mercy: A Guide from Genesis to Benedict XVI (Marian Press). He is also the writer of the popular “Divine Mercy Q&A” column on thedivinemercy.org.

Dr. Bryan Thatcher, MD, is the founder of Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy (EADM), an apostolate of the Marians Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, that’s based in Riverview, Fla.

Marie Romagnano, RN, is the founder of Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy, an apostolate of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception that specializes in training healthcare professionals and caregivers on the healing power of The Divine Mercy message in caring for patients. She is the founder/president of Medlink, a critical care service in the Boston-Worcester, Mass., area. She is the author of Nursing with the Hands of Jesus and the organizer of Divine Mercy conferences for healthcare professionals.

Terry Muzones of Chicago, Ill., is a longtime promoter of the message of The Divine Mercy. She has helped set up Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy cenacles in the Philippines, United States, China, Holland and Africa.

Ted Hanley is founder of one of the nation’s most effective organizations performing community-based works of mercy, The Jesse Tree, based in Galveston, Texas.

Patrick Massari is a graduate of Georgetown University who practices civil rights law in Washington, D.C. He started the Divine Mercy Cenacle at Our Lady’s Center in Ellicott City, Md., a Marian shrine and bookstore, where he also serves on the board of directors. He is a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, in Ellicott City, and serves as lector. He’s a member of the Legion of Mary. He also serves in prison ministry.

Janis Clarke is a singer, songwriter, and speaker who recently launched “Word for Life Rosary Mission.” In collaboration with renowned scripture scholar Fr. Francis Martin, Janis produced “Commuter Rosary” CDs to draw Catholics deeper into the Word, the sacraments, and the new evangelization. She sang for Pope John Paul II in Toronto during World Youth Day 2002 and received his blessing. In 2006, she founded the Eucharist for Life Children’s Mission, which encourages children to pray for priests, for the unborn, and for mercy on the whole world in communion with the Blessed Mother and the Holy Innocents. She lives in Gaithersburg, Md.

Marlene Schlecht, a delegate to last year’s World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Rome, is the facilitator of the Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy cenacle at her parish, St. Peter’s in Kenosha, Wis., where she also has helped start youth ministry and bereavement ministry programs. Marlene is also a lector, an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, a catechist for confirmation and RCIA programs, and president of the St. Peter’s Women’s League. She is involved in a hospital ministry and has long been involved with supporting religious vocations. She was involved in the start of a parish twinning mission with the Marians in Rwanda. She enjoys working to promote the works of the Marians and Divine Mercy.

Dr. John Bruchalski, MD, founded of the Tepeyac Family Center in Fairfax, Va., in 1994 with the mission of establishing an obstetrical and gynecological facility that combines the best of modern medicine with the healing presence of Jesus Christ — providing affordable healthcare to women, in particular, those with crisis pregnancies. In 2000, he founded Divine Mercy Care, a non-profit organization performing spiritual and corporal works of mercy in northern Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. He serves as chairman of Divine Mercy Care’s board of directors. In 2005, Tepeyac Family Center became a part of Divine Mercy Care and currently operates as the first Catholic health care facility in the Diocese of Arlington.

Kellie Ross will give a talk titled “Imitating Christ through the Image of Divine Mercy.” She is the co-founder and director of Missionaries of Our Lady of Divine Mercy in Manassas Va., which operates the House of Mercy, a thrift store that provides free clothing and new shoes as well as spiritual resources to the poor and needy. The Missionaries opened a new mission in June in the west African nation of Cote d’Ivoire (read our nine-part series). After her powerful conversion in 1998, Kellie declared, “I spent half my life offending God. In the second half of my life, Divine Mercy is my ministry in reparation.”

Drew Mariani is a radio talk show host and managing editor at Relevant Radio, based in Green Bay, Wis.

Theresa Bonopartis has been involved in post-abortion work and counseling for 20 years. She will address the Congress on the topic “Where Mercy Meets Faithfulness,” touching on how God not only healed her from an abortion but radically changed her life. From Westchester County, New York, Theresa is director of Lumina, a post-abortion referral service that operates under the auspices of Good Counsel Homes founded by Christopher Bell and Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR.

Harold Cassidy, a Pro-Life attorney from New Jersey, served as chief counsel in the famous Baby M case, the first case in the United States to strike down surrogate parenting contracts as illegal, unenforceable, against public policy, and exploitive of women. Among his many achievements, he was selected Person of the Week by ABC World News with Peter Jennings.

Susan Wills is assistant director for Education and Outreach in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. An attorney, she holds a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and an L.L.M. degree in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Since joining the USCCB in July 1993, she has overseen the preparation of the annual Respect Life Program materials. Susan has written articles for Catholic periodicals, secular outlets, and law journals and writes the bishops’ pro-life newsletter, Life Insight. She also produces the monthly “Word of Life” series, a liturgical resource for pastors. She is a frequent speaker at diocesan conferences and has been a guest on Catholic, Christian, and secular television and radio programs.

For more information on the Divine Mercy Networking Forum and the Mercy Congress, visit mercycongress.org.