OZAMIZ CITY: The Polish country of Saint Faustina Kowalska, apostle of the Divine Mercy (DM) and the late Pope John Paul II awaits the return of Edwin Copingco, propagator of the Divine Mercy devotion in the Philippines.
Copingco, whose Chinese great-grandfather is one of the pre-American settlers of Jimenez, says he will be in Poland on Oct. 2, this year, for the 3rd International Congress of Apostles of the Divine Mercy.
The congress will be held in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Lagiewniki and will be hosted by the St. Faustina’s and John Paul II’s School of Mercy.
Some listed agenda of the 3rd International Congress of Apostles of the Divine Mercy are: Prayer in common, formative conferences of inter-human mercy in the Bible, church teaching and the school of St. Faustina and Pope John Paul II, panel discussions and testimonies.
Aside from Copingco, 56 other countries and will also be present to listen to the conference to be given in Polish with simultaneous translation into English, French and Spanish.
The down-to-earth Copingco said he received the official invitation from Sr. Malgorzata Kocik, OLM, president of the “Faustinum” Association and Bishop Jan Zajac, rector of the sanctuary, requesting for his presence.
Once in Poland, Copingco will stand in the pulpit to give his full report on the state of affairs of the devotion in Misamis Occidental.
Copingco is saluted as a religious attaché in Poland due to the cordial relation between Jimenez and the Polish state, build up through Copingco’s weekly letters and report to the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy there.
“May the lord continue to bless your efforts in loving him and all the brothers and sisters in Christ,” a letter recently sent by Sr. Salwatricze Musial, ZMBM which Copingco showed to this paper said.
At present, the St. John the Baptist Church observes important dates linked to the Divine Mercy such as March 30, the Divine Mercy Sunday; Oct. 5, St. Faustina’s feast; April 23, 1995 first DM Sunday celebration in Jimenez, Nov. 11, 2002 arrival of the relic and Oct. 5, 2004 when the church was declared as “The heart of diocese.”
Copingco first came to Poland on Oct. 31, 2002 when he fetched the relic of St. Faustina. He stayed there for three days equipped only with his jacket and $230 in his wallet.
After he gets an endorsement from Archbishop Jesus Dosado, he will then inform the congregation in Poland of his “second coming” this May.
“Gipaabot gyod ko nila didto kay wala man ta ka-report niadtong ikaduha nga Congress,” Copingco told this paper in a huddle.
“Maningkamot ko nga makapresentar na unta kita bahin sa Jimenez for the first time karong Oktobre,” he adds, beaming.
But before all this happens, Copingco needs to raise P150,000 for his fare and expenditures and any help, monetary or otherwise, may be coursed through DxDD-AM, Rizal Avenue, Ozamiz City, where Copingco holds a Sunday program called “The Hour of Mercy,” on Sundays 11-12 in the afternoon.
Those interested to help can contact Copingco though email: faustinajimenez@yahoo.com. MICHAEL MEDINA