St. Paul’s Roman and Mary Kulzer: Faithfully Sharing the Message of Divine Mercy

If you consider 40 years of doing something once per day — that’s 14,600 times! Roman and Mary Kulzer have faithfully prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at least once a day since St. Paul’s was dedicated to Divine Mercy on April 18, 1982. That’s 40 years of commitment and likely well over 20,000 chaplets prayed by Roman and Mary, as many days they pray it more than once. Since the onset of the pandemic, they’ve prayed at least three chaplets per day.

“Our Lord made some amazing promises to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska — one being that those who recite it will receive great mercy at their hour of death,” Roman says.

It was the promises that the Lord made to St. Faustina that initially drew Roman to learn more. In 1980, St. Paul’s hosted a speaker, Fr. Ohman, who shared the Divine Mercy devotion and message. The Divine Mercy message was received from our Lord by St. Faustina, a Polish nun. When Roman first heard the Divine Mercy message, he met with Vernon Botz, Paul Thiesen, and Lawrence Kaas — they decided they should get a Divine Mercy group started. All these years later, the group is 23 members strong. They still meet once per month, starting their meetings with Mass and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Mark Haskamp is the president, and Monica Blaske is the vice president.

“It’s just a really great group of people,” Roman says.

Divine Mercy Sunday was requested by Jesus through St. Faustina and is celebrated the Sunday after Easter. This year, it is on Sunday, April 24, at St. Paul’s. The event begins at 1 p.m. and ends with 4 p.m. Mass. All are welcome. Roman and Mary also invite everyone to pray the Divine Mercy Novena, which starts on Good Friday.

The Lord said to Sister Faustina, “My daughter, help Me to save a certain dying sinner. Say the chaplet that I have taught you for him.”

“When I began to say the chaplet, I saw the man dying in the midst of terrible torment and struggle. His Guardian Angel was defending him, but he was, as if it were, powerless against the enormity of the soul’s misery. A multitude of devils was waiting for the soul. But while I was saying the chaplet, I saw Jesus just as He is depicted in the image. The rays which issued from Jesus’ Heart enveloped the sick man, and the powers of darkness fled in panic. The sick man peacefully breathed his last. When I came to myself, I understood how very important the chaplet was for the dying. It appeases the anger of God” (Diary,1565).

As laypeople, we have the power to save dying people from hell by saying the chaplet as Sister Faustina did. A lot of people who die aren’t ready for death. This Chaplet of Mercy will bring Jesus to the dying man.

Then-Bishop George Speltz was present at many Divine Mercy Sundays at St. Paul’s before his passing. He said that was his biggest accomplishment — the dedication of Divine Mercy in the diocese. Jesus said of the Divine Mercy image, “Where my image is, I am present.”

“A few years ago, a member of the Alexandria Knights of Columbus identified an empty billboard near Sauk Centre and the Divine Mercy group helped secure it,” Roman says. “Travelers on Interstate 94 headed east now see the image of Jesus of Divine Mercy. Jesus asked that His image be displayed at the gate of a city and He would protect the city spiritually and physically. That’s happening right here in Sauk Centre.

“All of the Divine Mercy promises are beyond our wildest imagination,” Roman adds.

Roman and Mary who have two adult boys and seven grandchildren, feel blessed that they have had the opportunity to spread the Divine Mercy message far and wide. In addition to their devotion to Divine Mercy, Roman and Mary have been involved in many ministries over the years. Serving St. Paul’s has always been an essential part of their lives. In their free time, they enjoy attending their grandchildren’s events, gardening, walking, and being outside.

All are welcome to attend the Divine Mercy Sunday events on Sunday, April 24, at St. Paul’s.

Roman and Mary Kulzer