History of the Shrine of Divine Mercy

Shrine of Divine Mercy is a gift from God to the growing Congregation of St Luke's Church. The Canonisation of Blessed Faustina by late Pope John Paul II was in the same year of construction of the Church.and so it was apt to dedicate it to Jesus the Divine Mercy.

A miracle right from the gifting of the land by Rev Sr. Mary Theodore, O.A.M., a religious sister from Australia, working in India for more than 54 years, among the children who are Mentally Retarded and Physically Handicapped. A massive structure, the biggest in the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore, in accommodating the people of God, was completed within 16 months, only with the contribution of the people of St Luke's Parish. Fr. Michael Raj ssp, the Parish Priest experienced the power of Jesus all throughout the construction and there was neither financial constraint nor any obstacle from any corner. The Shrine was blessed and dedicated to Divine Mercy, on 29th June 2003, by Rt Rev Dr Aruldas James, the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore.

The Shrine

The imposing entrance of the Shrine of Divine Mercy welcomes everyone from every walk of life, irrespective of caste or creed.
The architectural beauty as a whole, the etched stained glasses, most simple, but prayerful altar, the statues of Divine Mercy and the Mary Queen of the apostles and the burning sanctuary lamps create a prayerful atmosphere.
As you enter the Shrine, the mercy of Jesus is depicted in, healing the blind man and bringing the paralytic from the top of the roof. On either side of the entrance, you see Blessed James Alberione, the Founder of the Pauline Family and the First Priest of the Society of St.Paul, Blessed Timothy Gicardo Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Sr Mary Theodore who was kind enough to offer the land for the Mercy of Jesus.

The Relics

On either side of the main altar of the Shrine, the relics are placed for the veneration. The relic of St Faustina Kwaska is brought from Poland and it is placed just in front of the Divine Mercy Statue, who was canonized on Mercy Sunday, April 30, 2000 by the late Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City.
The other relic of Blessed James Alberione, who was beatified on 18th April 2003, on the Divine Mercy Sunday, by the late Pope John Paul II in Rome is placed in front of the statue Mary Queen of the Apostles.

The Etched Stained Glasses

Pope John Paul has declared 2003 as the Year of the Rosary and he introduced the MYSTERIES OF LIGHT to help us reflect on the public ministry of Jesus. To mark this event,the pictures of the new rosary is etched in the stained glasses above the lintel level and the institution of the Eucharist (the fifth mystery) is under the main altar.

The Grotto

The Grotto was dedicated on October 2001 the centenary year of St. Faustina by Rev. Fr. Jose Pottayil ssp. The grotto too was the generosity of a parishioner.