“Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy,” the live theatrical one-woman drama performed by actress Jennifer Pagano and directed by Leonard Defilippis of St. Luke Productions, will be presented 7 p.m. Jan. 10 and at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 11 in the Breslin Performing Arts Center of Felician University, Lodi.

Tickets are $25 for general admission and $15 for ages 8 through 14.

In “Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy,” audiences experience firsthand the spirit and life of Polish mystic St. Faustina, whose personal encounters with Jesus have inspired a worldwide devotion to Christ’s Divine Mercy. A parallel modern story within the drama offers audiences a compelling personal connection to the current moral issues of present day.

St. Faustina Kowalska was born Helena Kowalska in 1905 into a large peasant family in Poland. She really had no potential for greatness, a poor girl, destined to be a housekeeper, with no education or prospects. Yet, she longed for God, and despite the protests of her parents and after a vision of Jesus telling her to head for Warsaw and become a nun, she secretly hopped on a train. Upon reaching the city, she knocked on the doors of convents until The Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy took a chance and accepted her. As a nun, she took the name Sister Maria Faustina and spent the rest of her life doing menial work as a cook and gardener.

In 1930, the mystical vision started for Sister Faustina. Jesus appeared to her in a white garment, with rays of white and red light, emanating from his heart. He asked her to paint his image with the message, “Jesus, I trust in You” across the bottom. That was the beginning of her mission that took years to develop into a powerful devotion for the Church – the Divine Mercy.

Jesus continued to speak through Sister Faustina, with an urgent message for the present day, and he gave her a special prayer, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which spread throughout the world. Sister Faustina continued to keep a diary of her visions until she died of tuberculosis in 1938. It was Pope John Paul II who declared the Sunday after Easter as Mercy Sunday, and in April 2000, Sister Faustina Kowalska was declared the first saint of the 21st century.

Jennifer Pagano, who portrays St. Faustina, received a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater from Coastal Carolina University. She is a professional actress, singer and choreographer based in her home state of Maryland. Pagano regards portraying St. Faustina across North America, as a God-given opportunity to “spread the Light of Jesus Christ.

“I wish to only serve God in my gifts as an actress, to move people only according to his will and purpose.

“I am a firm believer in Jesus Christ, and desperately want to use my gifts to move people closer to him,” Pagano said. “St. Luke Productions is so inspiring, creating beautiful works to glorify God and spread his message. I think live theater truly does have the power to transform and touch lives. The Holy Spirit can move many hearts throughout a performance.”

Since 1980, St. Luke Productions has been creating inspiring live dramas, films, radio programming and more. Their productions on the Gospels and the lives of the saints, including the feature film, “Therese,” have been seen by millions of people worldwide. For more information about St. Luke Productions, visit stlukeproductions.com.

For tickets and information about the performances in Felician University, contact John Leaps Evangelization at 800-313-6933 or johnleaps.com