We of the Mission of Divine Mercy want to respectfully acknowledge the Archbishop’s public statement of March 15, 2024.

We believe there were significant inaccuracies in the statement, but we will address those in a later announcement.

There has also been concern leading many to ask, “Can the Archbishop seize the Mission’s assets?” The short answer, according to the civil law, is no. We want to reassure our friends and supporters of that. A fuller explanation of this matter is found in the appendix immediately following this statement.

We also want to express the following points without any further delay:

Given the Archbishop’s order that we not use the name “Catholic” collectively, we will comply and only describe ourselves as individual Catholics laboring in the vineyard of the Lord.

Also, Fr. John Mary, until further notice, will not be administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Anointing of the Sick outside of the circumstance of proximate and grave danger of death with no other priest being available. We pray and trust this will only be temporary.

However, because of the unprecedented crisis in the Church and for the grave reasons we expressed in our statement, “We Must Obey God,” we believe, in obedience to God, that the following must be done:

1) That Fr. John Mary continue to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to preach at our Mission.

2) That we continue to share the Messages we believe the Lord is giving us for His children.

3) That we continue to welcome those who come to the Mission seeking the Lord and His Mercy.

What is said to be “illicit” in ordinary times, can in extraordinary times of grave crises in the Church be not only a “licit,” but a good and holy act.

This we sincerely believe to be our case.

We do not believe that all of the orders and prohibitions decreed by the Archbishop are legitimate for him to impose, account taken of the most grave crises currently afflicting the Church both within the Archdiocese of San Antonio and throughout the world.

Inasmuch as we believe that they inflict grave harm upon us or the faithful, we respectfully withhold our obedience from the Archbishop’s illegitimate commands or prohibitions. This is not an act of disobedience from legitimate orders, but the withholding of obedience from illegitimate ones contrary to divine law.

We sincerely believe that we must act for the salvation of souls against any manifestly unreasonable or unjust prohibition from exercising priestly ministry, or withdrawal of priestly faculties to do the same.

The Lord began to form our community years ago for what He said would be a great Mission of mercy and evangelization, precisely for these times that we are living. He has formed us through long years of faith and obedience, of suffering and silence and "desert." The Lord told us that the Church and the world would go through a time of unprecedented turmoil and darkness. But that He Himself would intervene with His Truth, His Mercy and His Love for ALL HIS CHILDREN in these times.

This is our vocation. These are the times for which He has formed us. And we must obey Him.
In a Message received on January 16, 2024, the Lord said:

“It will look to some as if you are acting outside of the bounds of My Church. What is My Church? My Mystical Body. And if I, the Head of this Body send you to tear off the uncleanness that has covered it; if I the Head send you to speak My Words, My thoughts, that what is yet sound may not lose hope, that what has become atrophied may be restored and strengthened, that what is growing like a cancer might be extirpated – can one say you are acting “outside” of this Body? NO. NO. NO. I Am sending you.”

We are defending the Church, even and especially if it might have to become temporarily a Church “of the catacombs.” We are defending the Deposit of Faith. We love and defend the papacy, which is why Bergoglio’s usurpation is so painful. It is those who willfully sow confusion, disorder, and subvert the Deposit of Faith who have betrayed the Church and departed from her communion with the One Lord Jesus Christ.

A time of crisis calls for decisions. Each person must choose.

We take these actions, trusting that in holding on to Our Lord Jesus Christ with strong, simple faith, He will guide us through this ordeal. This Faith opens the door to God’s interventions. Faith, so that God can act.

In this difficult path, we have been so encouraged by the tremendous outpouring of prayers and support that we have received. Many have also expressed their great concern for us—we appreciate that concern, but please know that we sense the Lord’s care and protection every day. As He says so often in the Messages, “Do not be afraid.” We remind ourselves of this frequently.

We ask for your continued prayers. If we are wrong, to bring us back to the truth. If we are right, to have the strength to be faithful.

We are praying for all of you. We entrust ourselves and all of you to the Immaculate Heart of the Holy Mother of God, our Blessed Mother.

May we always remain within the True Faith, so that God may deign to act through us, unworthy as we are.

Jesus, we trust in You! Amen.

APPENDIX
Protecting MDM’s Assets

Many are asking, “Can the Archbishop seize the Mission’s assets?”  The short answer, is NO, not according either to civil or canon law.

The Mission of Divine Mercy Inc. (MDM Inc.) is a Texas nonprofit corporation with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. It is legally separate from the Archdiocese of San Antonio according to State and Federal law.

Having said all that, unjust and frivolous lawsuits can still occur. We want our friends and supporters to know that we have and will continue to do our due diligence, vigorously using legal means if necessary, to protect against any effort, no matter how unjust or frivolous, to confiscate MDM assets.