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St. Joseph Church, Waipahu, to Welcome St. Faustina Relic

January 16, 2026

By Celia K. Downes

St. Joseph Church in Waipahu will welcome a first-class relic of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, an apostle of Divine Mercy, next month as part of a weekend of events exploring and celebrating the Divine Mercy.

Bishop Larry Silva will celebrate the Mass on Friday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m.; the homilist will be Father Kazimierz Chwalek of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception.

Father Chwalek, who is director of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, was instrumental in obtaining the relic from St. Faustina’s community in Krakow, Poland, and is happy to bring it for public veneration by parishioners from St. Joseph and neighboring parishes.

The members of the Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy at St. Joseph are especially delighted to welcome St. Faustina to their dedicated chapel at the parish. They inspired La Salette Father Geronimo “Eric” Castro, pastor of St. Joseph, to acquire St. Faustina’s relic.

EADM, a lay outreach ministry of the Marian Fathers found in 40 countries, is an adult faith formation initiative that roots its members in the Scriptures, “Catechism of the Catholic Church” and “Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska.”

The first-class relic of St. Faustina will be placed in a special chapel at St. Joseph for veneration.

The Feb. 6 Mass will kick off a series of homilies and interactive conferences by Father Chwalek.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, Father Chwalek will celebrate Mass at 7 a.m., then lead a morning of presentations and discussion. He will speak at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on “The Eucharist: Our Life” and “The Devotion to the Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart,” with faith-sharing and lunch to follow. He will conclude the day with the 6 p.m. vigil Mass.

Father Chwalek will celebrate Mass on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 10 a.m. and noon, with a presentation on “Saint Faustina: Future Doctor of the Church?” following at 1:30 p.m.

The relic’s enshrinement has been three years in the planning. Many graces and church-approved miracles have been attributed to Saint Faustina's intercession, so please do not miss your opportunity to view this spiritually enriching event.