By Mary Ann Turek
Special to the Herald
KULA, Maui — Faith, family, food and fun will come together Oct. 10 at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Kula for the first annual St. Faustina Festival, a special celebration centered on the message of God’s Divine Mercy.
With the theme “Celebrating God’s Mercy with St. Faustina,” the festival invites parishioners and visitors from throughout the Maui community to celebrate their faith while enjoying a day of fellowship, entertainment and island-style hospitality.
The celebration has an especially meaningful connection to the Kula parish.
In September 2025, Our Lady Queen of Angels received a positive response to its request for a first-class relic of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska. The relic was obtained from the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow, Poland, and arrived in Kula on Sept. 13, 2025.
On Oct. 5, 2025, the relic was solemnly enthroned at Our Lady Queen of Angels, where it remains permanently housed in the sanctuary beneath a large 4-by-8-foot image of Divine Mercy.
For parishioners, the relic represents a treasured spiritual connection to one of the Church’s most beloved messengers of God’s mercy.
(On Oahu, St. Joseph Church in Waipahu also has a first-class relic of St. Faustina, obtained and placed on display last year.)
Apostle of Divine Mercy
St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) was a humble Polish nun of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Known as the “Apostle of Divine Mercy,” she received extraordinary revelations from Jesus and was called to proclaim God’s infinite mercy to the world.
At Christ’s request, St. Faustina recorded her spiritual experiences and revelations in her diary, “Divine Mercy in My Soul.” Her message was simple yet profound: Trust in God’s mercy, seek his forgiveness and show that same mercy to others through compassion, kindness and charity.
Through St. Faustina, Jesus also entrusted the Church with the Divine Mercy chaplet, the Divine Mercy image bearing the words “Jesus, I trust in you,” and the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Despite suffering from illness and facing many personal trials, St. Faustina remained faithful to her calling with extraordinary humility and trust in God.
She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, making her the first saint canonized in the new millennium. Now-St. John Paul II also established Divine Mercy Sunday as a feast for the universal Church on the second Sunday of Easter, the date on which it is still observed.
Today, St. Faustina’s message continues to touch millions of people around the world, encouraging them to place their trust in God and to become instruments of his mercy and love.
Something for everyone
While the heart of the festival is spiritual, there will be plenty of activities to make the day enjoyable for the entire family.
The event will begin with Mass at 8:30 a.m. followed by the festivities, which will continue until 3 p.m.
There will also be all-day veneration of St. Faustina’s relic.
Festival highlights will include a classic car display, local vendors, live entertainment, children’s games and activities, and a silent auction.
No Maui community celebration would be complete without plenty of good food. Festival attendees can look forward to Portuguese sweet bread, homemade baked goods, lumpia, chow fun, chicken hekka, chili dogs and hamburgers, as well as ice cream and cotton candy for dessert.
Whether people come to pray, learn more about St. Faustina, enjoy the food and entertainment, browse the vendors or simply spend time with friends and neighbors, the St. Faustina Festival promises to be a joyful day for the entire community.
At its heart, however, the festival is an invitation to remember the message that inspired St. Faustina and continues to inspire people today: “Jesus, I trust in you.”
For more information, visit kulacatholiccommunity.org or follow Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish on Facebook.