On November 24, 1943, a small band of Marian Fathers purchased a hilltop property in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts β approximately 375 wooded acres the locals called Eden Hill for the abundance of its orchards and meadows. By June 1944 they had established a novitiate on the site. They could not have foreseen that this remote New England farm would become the heartbeat of a devotion that would reach every corner of the Catholic world. The priests belonged to the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, and they carried with them a mission inseparable from the visions of a Polish nun who had died in Krakow only a few years before.
That nun was Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, who beginning in 1931 experienced a series of extraordinary encounters with Christ, recording them in her Diary between 1934 and 1938, who appeared to her bearing rays of red and white light from his heart and asking that a new devotion β the Divine Mercy β be spread to the whole world. "Jesus, I trust in you," he taught her to pray. From Eden Hill, the Marian Fathers would spend the next eight decades amplifying that message until their Association of Marian Helpers grew to encompass 1.5 million members, the largest Catholic association in the United States.
Today, Eden Hill sits atop a 200-foot rise above the village of Stockbridge, its spire visible from the valley roads below. Thousands of pilgrims arrive every week; up to 20,000 pilgrims descend on the campus each spring for Divine Mercy Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter. The surrounding Berkshire Hills, dense with maple and birch in summer and flame-bright in October, lend the place a contemplative beauty that pilgrims from Chicago and Manila and Warsaw alike find disarming.
π History & Spiritual Significance
The story of this shrine is inseparable from the story of Saint Faustina and the long, contested path her message traveled before reaching official recognition. Born Helena Kowalska in 1905 in Russian-occupied Poland, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw in 1925. She served at convents in Warsaw, Krakow, Vilnius, and PΕock before returning to Krakow-Εagiewniki, where she would die in 1938. Her Diary β approximately 700 pages of visions, conversations with Christ, and theological reflection β was written under obedience to her confessor, the Rev. Michal Sopocko.
For two decades after her death in 1938, the devotion she promoted faced institutional resistance. The Holy Office issued a notification in 1959 cautioning against the spread of the images and prayers associated with her revelations. The Marian Fathers in Stockbridge, who had by then constructed the present shrine church (completed and dedicated by the Bishop of Springfield in 1960), pressed on through this difficult period, convinced of the devotion's authenticity.
Vindication came from an unexpected source. Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, had long known Sister Faustina's confessor Fr. Sopocko and had quietly championed the cause of her beatification. When he became Pope John Paul II in 1978, he moved with characteristic decisiveness. In 1980 he issued the encyclical Dives in Misericordia β "Rich in Mercy" β making Divine Mercy a central theme of his pontificate. He beatified Faustina in 1993 and canonized her on April 30, 2000, the very day he established the Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday for the universal Church. In 1996 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops had already recognized the Eden Hill shrine as a National Shrine in accord with Church law β the same year the Marian Fathers' publishing house, Marian Press, began producing the English edition of the Diary that would eventually sell more than one million copies.
Stockbridge is not merely a center of devotion but a center of mission. The Marian Fathers operate thedivinemercy.org, one of the most widely read Catholic websites in the world, and their radio and video programming reaches millions annually. The shrine offers daily Mass, Confession, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00 p.m. β the Hour of Mercy β and a blessing with a first-class relic of Saint Faustina. The 3 o'clock hour holds particular significance: in her Diary, Saint Faustina recorded Christ's instruction that it was the hour of his death, and that souls who prayed in that moment would receive extraordinary grace.
β© Pilgrimage Sites in Stockbridge
National Shrine of The Divine Mercy
The Main Church, Eden Hill
The heart of the campus is the shrine church itself, a modest white structure that began as the Marian Fathers' own chapel in the 1950s and was elevated to a national shrine in 1996. Its interior houses a celebrated image of the Merciful Jesus β the white-robed Christ with two rays, red and pale, streaming from his heart β painted in 1945 by Mexican artist Maria Gama from a photograph of the original 1934 Kazimirowski painting in Vilnius. (The Kazimirowski original, painted under Saint Faustina's direct supervision, now hangs at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania.) Daily offerings of Mass, Confession, Adoration, Rosary, Benediction, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy make this one of the most liturgically active shrines in the United States. A first-class relic of Saint Faustina is venerated here.
Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine
Open-Air Pilgrimage Grounds
Situated on the open hillside of Eden Hill, the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine accommodates the tens of thousands of pilgrims who gather each year for the annual Divine Mercy Sunday Weekend. A large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary presides over an outdoor sanctuary capable of hosting the kind of crowd that turns this otherwise quiet Berkshire hill into a scene more reminiscent of Fatima or Czestochowa. For most of the year, however, the site is a place of quiet prayer, with views across the valley toward the town of Stockbridge below.
Our Lady of Mercy Candle Shrine and Oratory
Marian Helpers Center, Eden Hill
Inside the Marian Helpers Center stands what the Marian Fathers describe as one of the largest indoor candle shrines in the United States: more than 2,600 candles burn continuously for the prayer intentions received from pilgrims around the world. The candle shrine is attached to an oratory for quiet prayer, and the entire Marian Helpers Center functions as the operational heart of the Association of Marian Helpers, which was formally established in 1944 and now counts 1.5 million members. The scent of warm wax and the low amber light of so many flames create an atmosphere that even seasoned pilgrims find striking.
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
Secluded Path, Eden Hill Grounds
Built in the 1950s as a replica of the famous grotto in southern France, this quiet corner of Eden Hill provides a Marian counterpoint to the principally Divine Mercy character of the shrine. Set along a winding path through the landscaped grounds, the grotto invites private rosary prayer and reflection. A small candle votive area faces the image of Our Lady of Lourdes in the cave above, and the surrounding path continues past the Immaculate Conception Candle Shrine β dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory β before rejoining the main campus.
Life-Sized Stations of the Cross
Eden Hill Grounds
Distributed across the twenty landscaped acres of the Eden Hill campus, the life-sized Stations of the Cross mark out a devotional path that pilgrims walk in all seasons. In October, the surrounding maples turn copper and scarlet, setting the bronze and stone figures against a blaze of autumn color. In winter, the stations stand under snow in a silence that Berkshire pilgrims find unexpectedly moving. The path winds through the grounds past the Holy Family Shrine and the Shrine of the Holy Innocents β a memorial space honoring children who died before birth β before returning to the main church.
π―οΈ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Divine Mercy Sunday Weekend
Second Sunday of Easter (moveable β April)
The most significant annual event at Eden Hill, drawing 15,000 to 20,000 pilgrims from across North America and beyond β including regular delegations from the Philippines, Poland, and Latin America. The celebration extends across an entire weekend, beginning with a nine-day novena that concludes on the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday. The weekend features outdoor Masses at the Mother of Mercy Shrine, talks by Marian Fathers theologians, Confession, Adoration, processions, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy prayed in common. The event is broadcast live on EWTN and DivineMercyPlus.org, giving it a worldwide reach far beyond the crowd on Eden Hill itself. Accommodation throughout the Berkshires fills well in advance; pilgrims arriving by bus should register through the shrine's group pilgrimage service.
Feast of Saint Faustina Kowalska
October 5 (fixed)
Saint Faustina's feast day, observed on October 5, draws pilgrims who wish to venerate her first-class relic at the shrine church. The Berkshire Hills are typically at their autumn peak during the first week of October, and the combination of liturgical solemnity and natural beauty makes this one of the most contemplative pilgrimage moments of the year. The day includes a special Mass, Confession, veneration of the relic, and blessing of religious articles.
ποΈ Where to Stay
The Red Lion Inn βββ β An iconic New England inn established in 1773 in the center of Stockbridge village, a 10-minute walk from the shrine entrance on Pine Street. The inn's wraparound porch, rocking chairs, and traditional tavern have made it a Berkshire landmark for nearly 250 years. redlioninn.com β Reserve this hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Lenox Berkshires βββ β Modern hotel in Lenox, approximately 12 km from the shrine, with indoor pool, restaurant, and reliable amenities suitable for group pilgrimages. Lenox is well-placed for pilgrims wishing to combine the shrine with other Berkshire attractions. marriott.com β Reserve this hotel
Element Lenox Berkshires ββββ β Extended-stay hotel in Lenox, approximately 12 km north of the shrine, with an indoor pool, complimentary breakfast, and well-appointed suites suitable for longer pilgrim retreats. marriott.com β Reserve this hotel
π Getting There
By Air β Three airports serve the Berkshires at comparable distances. Albany International Airport (ALB) in New York and Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford, Connecticut, are each approximately one hour by car from Eden Hill. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is approximately two hours east via the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Rental cars are available at all three. Because there are no reliable taxi, rideshare, or shuttle services in the Stockbridge area, a rental vehicle is essential for pilgrims arriving by air.
By Train / Bus β Amtrak operates daily service from Penn Station in New York City to Pittsfield, the nearest Amtrak stop (approximately 22 km from the shrine), with a journey time of roughly four hours. The Berkshire Flyer, a seasonal weekend service, also connects New York to Pittsfield along the Hudson River. Peter Pan and Greyhound buses serve Pittsfield from Boston and New York. From Pittsfield, pilgrims require a rental car or pre-arranged group transport to reach Stockbridge; the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) operates local bus routes connecting the main Berkshire towns.
By Car β From New York and New Jersey, take I-87 north to I-90 east (Massachusetts Turnpike), exit at Exit 10, and follow Route 102 west into Stockbridge. From Boston, take I-90 west to Exit 10, then Route 102 west. From Connecticut, take Route 7 north to Stockbridge's four-way stop. GPS navigation should be set to 11 Pine Street, Stockbridge β the shrine's recommended address for satellite navigation, more direct than the postal address of 2 Prospect Hill Road. Parking is available on the Eden Hill grounds, including spaces for RVs (day use only; overnight RV parking is not permitted).
π Further Reading
St. Maria Faustina Kowalska β Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul β The foundational text of the Divine Mercy devotion: approximately 700 pages of visions, prayers, and theological reflections recorded under obedience between 1934 and 1938 by the Polish nun whose revelations are at the center of this shrine. Published by Marian Press, the Marian Fathers' own publishing house in Stockbridge. amazon.com/dp/1596141891
George W. Kosicki β Mercy Minutes with Jesus: Praying Daily on Jesus's Words from the Diary of St. Faustina β A structured daily prayer companion drawn from passages in St. Faustina's Diary, organized around themes including trust, mercy, and union with God. Suited to pilgrims who want to continue their Eden Hill experience through daily devotion at home. amazon.com/dp/159614193X
π₯ Recommended Videos
Take a Tour of Eden Hill! | The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy Stockbridge, MA β Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC, Superior General of the Marian Fathers, walks the camera through the full Eden Hill campus: the shrine church, the candle shrine, the Lourdes grotto, the outdoor stations, and the grounds. 18 minutes. An ideal first orientation for pilgrims planning their visit. youtube.com
Holy Catholic Mass from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy β The shrine's own YouTube channel, operated by the Divine Mercy media ministry, streams Mass live and preserves recordings. The Sunday Mass, typically over an hour, gives distant pilgrims full participation in the liturgy celebrated from Eden Hill. youtube.com
π Useful Links
- National Shrine of The Divine Mercy β Official shrine website with visiting information, schedule of devotions, group pilgrimage registration, and gift shop.
- The Divine Mercy (thedivinemercy.org) β The Marian Fathers' primary content ministry site: articles, video, radio, and the full text of the Diary extracts.
- Marians of the Immaculate Conception β The Marian Fathers' congregational website, including information on the Association of Marian Helpers and Marian Press.
- Diocese of Springfield β The Catholic diocese that encompasses Berkshire County and the Stockbridge shrine.
- Visit the Berkshires β Official Berkshire County tourism guide for accommodation, transport, and regional attractions.
π₯Ύ Pilgrim Routes
No established named pilgrimage route currently terminates at or formally passes through Stockbridge. The shrine is most often reached as a direct destination β a standalone pilgrimage rather than a waypoint on a longer walking or cycling route. Pilgrims traveling the northeastern United States sometimes pair Eden Hill with the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island in Eastport, Long Island, or the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., as part of a multi-day Marian pilgrimage, though no formal trail connects these sites.
π§ Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
- Auriesville (United States) β 108 km β The National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in the Hudson Valley of New York, where three Jesuit missionaries were martyred in 1642-1646 and where Saint Kateri Tekakwitha was born.
- Graymoor (United States) β 115 km β The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement headquarters near Garrison, New York, a center of Christian unity spirituality with a historic friary and retreat ministry.
- Fonda (United States) β 116 km β The National Shrine of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha in the Mohawk Valley, marking the site of the Mohawk village where Kateri was baptized in 1676.
- New Haven (United States) β 113 km β Home to a historic Catholic presence in Connecticut's largest city, with the Shrine of Saint Margaret of Castello among its pilgrimage offerings.
- New York City (United States) β 178 km β Saint Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, the shrine church of the Archdiocese of New York, and several major basilicas and shrines within the five boroughs.
πͺΆ Closing Reflection
"Divine Mercy reaches human beings through the heart of Christ crucified." β Pope John Paul II, Homily at the Canonization of Saint Faustina Kowalska, April 30, 2000
