Monday. October 5, 2026. Saint Faustina Kowalska was born Helena Kowalska in Glogowiec, Poland. She was the third of 10 children to a poor and religious family. Helena first felt a calling to the religious life when she was just 7. After schooling, she wanted to immediately join a convent but was not allowed. Instead, at 16, Helena became a housekeeper.
She experienced her first vision of Jesus while at a dance; she saw a suffering Jesus and was instructed to leave for Warsaw immediately and join a convent. In Warsaw, she approached many convents, but was rejected except for the mother superior of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, who decided to take in Helena on the condition that she pay for her own religious habit. Working as a housekeeper, she made deposits to the convent. At 20 years old, she finally received her habit and took the religious name of Sister Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament and took her religious vows as a nun. Faustina was visited by Jesus, who presented himself as the “King of Divine Mercy,” wearing a white garment with red and pale rays coming from his heart. She was asked to become the apostle and secretary of God’s mercy, a model of how to be merciful to others, and an instrument for reemphasizing God’s plan of mercy for the world. In her diary, Faustina writes: “In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After a while, Jesus said to me, ‘Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.’” Faustina also describes that during that message, Jesus explained he wanted the Divine Mercy image to be blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, as the Feast of Mercy.”
In 1932, she met Father Michael Sopocko, the appointed confessor to the nuns. Faustina told Father Sopocko her conversations with Jesus, but he insisted she be evaluated by a psychiatrist. Faustina passed all the required tests and was determined sane, leading Sopocko to support her religious efforts. Sopocko encouraged her to start keeping a diary and to record all of her conversations with Jesus. He introduced her to Kazimierowski, the artist of the first Divine Mercy painting. According to Faustina’s diary, on Good Friday, April 1935, Jesus told her he wanted the Divine Mercy image publicly honored. Father Sopocko also delivered the very first sermon on the Divine Mercy. In September 1935, Faustina wrote about her vision of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, used to obtain mercy, trust in Christ’s mercy, and to show mercy to others. The following year, Faustina attempted to set up a new congregation, but she was perpetually vowed to her current order. Jesus said to her, “My Daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My Divine Mercy; I will make up for what you lack.” In 1936, Faustina fell ill but continued to spend most of her time in prayer. In 1937, the Divine Mercy image continued to be promoted and grow in popularity, but her health significantly deteriorated. Her visions intensified, and she was said to be looking forward to the end of her life. On October 5, 1938, Faustina passed away.
Saint Faustina is “a gift from God for our times,” a great mystic with hidden stigmata, sharing in the passion of Jesus, the reading of human souls, the gift of prophecy, and mistress of spiritual life. She reminded the biblical truth about the merciful love of God for every human being and calls us to proclaim it to the world through the testimony of life, deed, word, and prayer. (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
O Jesus, who St. Faustina with profound veneration for your boundless Mercy, design, if it be Your holy will, to grant me, through her intercession, the grace for which I fervently pray: For the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation Trustees to be true to the Articles of Incorporation and faithful to the By-Laws. To the foundation’s providers of governance and environment, the tools on how to take advantage of the opportunities to help themselves. My Lord and Our God, I present to You through her intercession. Business Enterprises are not Legacy: the wake you leave, let the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation’s Good Work speak, not our family name.
WORD Today. Luke 10:25-37. There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off, leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise, a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Reflection. The parable has a difficult road, like life made up of encounters; we emerge for what we are. In front of others, faced with their fragility and weakness, we can decide what to do: to take care of them or pretend nothing is wrong. A priest and a Levite go down that same road. They are people who serve and live in the sacred space. And yet, their practice of worship does not lead to being compassionate – compassion is a question of humanity! Before being believers, we are called to be human. But someone stops – he is a Samaritan (person belonging to a despised people). The Samaritan stops because he is a man faced with another man in need of help. When will we too be capable of interrupting our journey and having compassion? When we understand that the wounded man in the street represents each one of us. And then the memory of all the times that Jesus stopped to take care of us will make us capable of compassion. (Pope Leo XIV, 2025)
My Thoughts – Namaste, the God in me sees the God in them.
“Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
I remember multi-decade years ago, the worldwide multi-awarded Japanese movie Rashomon that I was fortunate to have watched and read the many accolades and critiques that incisively examine the nature of truth; “Rashomon” is to me the best film so far about truth and its consequences of justice. Due to its emphasis on the subjectivity of truth and the uncertainty of factual accuracy, Rashomon has been read by some as an allegory of the emotional dilemma I currently am undergoing: “What is the truth of my documented facts witnessed by one priest and two priests who can testify of the factual accuracy of the circumstantial events “…and then the memory of all the times that Jesus stopped to take care of us will make us more capable of compassion.” (Pope Leo XIV, General Audience, 28 May 2025) “You only live twice, once when you are born and twice when you face death” – title of a James Bond movie (Matsuo Bashō, Poet Lauriat of Japan, internationally renowned for his haiku poems) 
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” (Shakespeare).
Business Enterprises are not Legacy: the wake you leave, let the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation’s Good Work speak, not our family name.
One phrase in the Gospel (Good News) sounds familiar: “I will follow you, Lord, but first…” (Luke 9:57-62). Notice: the man did not say, “Lord, I will not follow you.” He wanted to follow Jesus. The problem was the words: “But first…” And perhaps that is also our children’s struggle to wholeheartedly support the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation. We all love God; so do our children – we want to become better. We want to pray more, change our ways, serve others, and sacrifice even a widow’s mite and for public consumption more, but not yet! (Adapted from Repost Maruja Paredes)
Our Lady of the Impossible, grace those late in life but had more in life who tried to be their brothers’ keepers for those who have less in life – “Ester and I pray for your blessings to grace our children, and their children’s children, to wholeheartedly support The MCC FOUNDATION – The MONTINOLA-CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION OBJECTIVES: (1) Special Children SPED, “A child’s mind is the most precious thing to waste.” (The motto of the American Negro College), and the Handicapped Senior Citizens – Physical Therapy. (2) Financial Support for Diocesan priests and Grade School Teachers for the rural areas. (3) Computer Start-up Education Tools for selected public schools and (4) Selected Start-up Management and Financial Support for Small Businesses. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. “The sin of the rich man was not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing.” (William Barclay, in Antonio G. Cumagun Autobiography Song of Myself Memoirs, Looking Back at Serendipity, 2002) Our Lady of the Impossible, “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection was left unaided…” Bless the good news of peace and justice through Ester and my founding the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation.
Ester and My State of Health
(Vital stats of Ester and Tony C are recorded every day by 24 hr. PDNs.)
Ester’s morning BP was 120/70. HR 80. O2sat 98%. Temp. 36.6
Last Night’s BP was 120 /80. HR. 66. O2sat 96%. Temp 36. 3
Tony’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 69. O2sat 98%. Temp. 36.6
Last Night’s BP 110 /70. HR 68. O2sat 98%. Temp. 36. 8
Beata John Paul 1, watch over Cristina C, Justice Jun’s state of health, Ester’s recovery, and our autistic son John Paul’s emotional stability 57. Johnny Ong’s youngest son, Richard, is diagnosed with blood cancer.
FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED AND SOULS IN PURGATORY
In Memory of all those who left us. We remember you in the morning and at night. You are always with us. We pray for the souls in Purgatory.
Blessed Mother Mary, I bring to you for your intercession the souls of Amb. Manuel R. and Dolores G. Cumagun, Juana Cumagun, Annette Cumagun, Lina Beltran, Judge and Mrs. Dolores Cumagun, Gov. Primo & Magdalena H. Gaffud, Dr. Trino, Sr. & Angeles Montinola, Betty, Luie, Trino, Jr. Montinola, Bernardino, and Isabel Jalandoni. Dr. Terry Lirio-Montinola, Dr. & Mrs. Tomacruz, Akira Tsusaka, Boy Eugenio, Jesus Ibañez, Sen. Nene Pimentel, Santiago Ranada 111, Boysie Villavicensio, Patria Manuel, Dr. Mariano Laurel, Rene Datu, (Ateneo ’54 – Jimmy Ongpin, Atty. Ato Gonzales, Buddy Joaquin, Fr. Unson, Msgr. Tantoco, Atty. Art Alafriz, Robert Arevalo Ylagan, Maximo Abesamis, Jr., Jesse Paredes), Atty. C. Platon, Araceli Rivera, Rey Castañeda, Col. Tanseco, Dr. E Fores, Dr. J. Caedo, Christine Syjuco, Leni Panganiban, Raul Boncan, Atty. Spanky and Dolly Perez, Amb. Albert del Rosario, Nellie Valdez, Toti Herbosa, Tec Syjuco, AL, Umberto (Beck) Gonzales, and Rufo Colayco. Pray 7 Our Father and The Credo
Physical Therapy
