Imagine a place where faith, food, and friendship come together in perfect harmony - a day when Filipino Americans from across the Northeast gather to celebrate their deep devotion to Divine Mercy. That’s exactly what happens every year at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Every year, on the fourth Saturday of June, Filipino Americans from across the Northeast gather at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. They come to share food, enjoy each other’s company, and deepen their faith through prayer and Mass. This tradition has been alive for about 20 years now, and it’s a day full of warmth, devotion, and Filipino hospitality.

A Day of Faith and Fellowship Filipino Day 2019 falls on June 22, a bright summer day, with a few quick rain showers that do nothing to dampen the spirits of those gathered. Marites Malapit, the secretary of the Filipino Apostolate of Union County, New Jersey, has been coming since the event started. “We come up to the Shrine for Divine Mercy Sunday in the spring,” she says. “So it is nice that when we return, we have the whole Shrine to ourselves.”

A Feast of Filipino Flavors By lunchtime, the buses have arrived, and hundreds of Filipino Americans begin unpacking their coolers and picnic baskets. They enjoy homemade traditional dishes like ceviche, adobo (pork cooked in soy sauce), mung beans with shrimp, and of course, rice. Bright yellow mangos and the sweet fruit salad called cambrosha are on every table. “Once you try some cambrosha, you always come back for more,” Ellen Gabitan from Edison, New Jersey, says with a smile.

Sharing Stories of Devotion Sitting around the picnic tables, friends share stories of their faith journeys. Linda Bolcer recalls how Divine Mercy became central to her life back in 1991, thanks to Msgr. Jeremias Rabanal, who’s been celebrating Mass here for years. Linda and her husband got married on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday in 1997, and since then, they come back to the Shrine every year. “It’s a sacrifice but a joyful one,” she shares.

United in Prayer and Mass In the afternoon, everyone gathers at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine to pray before the Blessed Sacrament and recite the Rosary together, both in English and Filipino. At 2 p.m., Mass begins with Fr. Mariusz Jarzabek, MIC, as the main celebrant. His homily touches everyone’s hearts as he speaks of the Divine Mercy’s power to heal and call sinners back to Jesus.

A Call to Promote Divine Mercy Fr. Jeremias encourages everyone to continue being promoters of Divine Mercy. “Promote this message starting in your families,” he says. “Thank you to those who have been coming for many years. I hope you keep coming as long as you can.”

Interested in experiencing this heartfelt celebration of faith? Plan your visit to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy on the fourth Saturday of June. Come for the community, stay for the spiritual renewal, and share in the joy of Filipino Day.

For Filipinos in Canada, why not join your kababayans from the U.S. and take part in this beautiful day of faith and fellowship? The doors of the Shrine are open to all who wish to celebrate and grow in their devotion to Divine Mercy.

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