In the early 2000s, Chris Alar was relishing his prosperous lifestyle. Residing in the Lake Norman region of North Carolina, he owned a lovely waterfront property, operated a thriving consulting firm, and was engaged to “the most beautiful girl in North Carolina.” One fateful evening, as he passed by St. Mark’s Church in Huntersville, the power steering in his vehicle failed, causing him to veer into the church parking lot. In search of a phone, he found that all the doors he tried were locked, save for one. This entrance led to evening adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament and ultimately set him on a new path in life. He eventually became a member of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and took on the name Father Chris Alar.
“I possessed all the documentation one could wish for, yet something was lacking,” he remarked. “I never intended to become a priest, but God sowed a seed that transformed my existence.”
Reconversion to Belief
Father Altar
Father Alar was raised in the Detroit region. He obtained a degree in engineering and a master’s degree in business administration, commencing his career in the automotive sector. He relocated to North Carolina, where he established a successful consulting firm, residing on one side of Lake Norman while managing his business on the opposite side. “I could commute to work by boat,” he reminisced.
He identified himself as a “casual” Catholic who “attended Mass when it suited him.” However, the incident that evening at St. Mark’s prompted him to engage more fully with his faith. He was especially drawn to the teaching of Divine Mercy.
“I was undergoing a general confession, and I brought up to the priest that my grandmother had taken her own life, and I hadn’t prayed for her,” he stated. “I believed that souls who had committed suicide were condemned to hell and had no need for my prayers.”
To his astonishment, the priest suggested he return home and recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet for her, explaining that “God exists beyond time and you can impact her salvation.” At that time, Father Alar was not familiar with the chaplet, so the priest provided him with a prayer card. On the reverse side was printed the address of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception headquarters located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where Father Alar would eventually consider home.
He joined the Marians in 2006 and was consecrated as a priest in 2014. Following his ordination, he was appointed as the head of the Association of Marian Helpers, a Marian initiative dedicated to promoting the message of Divine Mercy. He has commenced his second three-year term in this role.
Utilizing the skills he honed throughout his professional career, he manages a team of 85 individuals involved in tasks such as the printing and dissemination of religious resources, writing and design, as well as online activities. In his role as the association’s director, Father Alar holds the honorary title of “Father Joseph,” named after a former leader.
Marian origins
St. Stanislaus Papczynski of Poland, founder of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, is depicted in an undated painting. The founder of the first Polish male religious order, who promoted social justice and prayers for the dying, was beatified in 2018. CNS photo courtesy Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception
The Marians were established by St. Stanislaus Papczynski in Poland in 1670. As per Father Alar, the mission of the community, or charism, comprised three main aspects: to propagate devotion to Mary, conceived without sin; to intercede for the souls in purgatory; and to support parish clergy in regions where the necessity is most pressing.
At the onset of the 20th century, oppression in czarist Russia had diminished the congregation to just one member, but Blessed George Matulaitis revised the Marians’ constitutions and re-established the congregation in 1910. Since then, it has expanded to include 500 priests and brothers active in 20 different countries. In the United States, there exists a single Marians province, based in Stockbridge, which comprises 60 members. The congregation owns properties in five states along with the District of Columbia; among their most significant is the 350-acre National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, located at the Stockbridge headquarters. The shrine hosts daily Mass and various spiritual events, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year.
While numerous religious groups across the country are facing challenges in attracting vocations, the Marians are “thriving beyond capacity,” Father Alar stated. He remarked that the community is currently engaged in a $2-million fundraising campaign to construct accommodations for new vocations at its Marian House of Studies located in Steubenville, Ohio.
The Marians currently have 35 men in formation, he stated, as the community “adheres to the teachings of the Church and God desires the message of Divine Mercy to be disseminated.”
Message of Divine Compassion
During the 20th century, alongside their three original charisms, the Marians gained recognition for their efforts in promoting the message of Divine Mercy, conveyed by St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-38). In connection with his responsibilities, Father Alar leads his congregation’s Marian Press, which holds the copyright to St. Faustina’s diary, “Divine Mercy in My Soul.”
The book has become a spiritual masterpiece, with sales exceeding a million copies since its release. “Sister Faustina’s diary offers us an account from a humble, unlettered individual regarding the nature of Jesus,” Father Alar stated. “Jesus disclosed himself through her in an extraordinary manner.” The diary is part of the 50 million works of literature and religious art the Marians generate and circulate each year.
The Marians operate four lay apostolates to share the message of Divine Mercy, and their priests frequently travel to parishes to present Divine Mercy talks. Father Alar often leads Divine Mercy parish missions himself. The parishioners he encounters initially think they are already well-versed in Jesus and his mercy. However, he clarifies, “when I come to preach, I offer my listeners a guarantee. If they don’t discover a wealth of new information during my mission and aren’t energized by what they hear, I’ll treat them to a steak dinner. I’ve never had to honor that promise. Audiences consistently express shock and amazement when they learn the complete story of God’s mercy.”
Father Alar emphasized that his message is intended not only for laypeople but also for his brother priests. “Divine Mercy transcends being merely a devotion linked to a Polish nun and a Polish pope. It embodies a universal message and lies at the very core of the Gospel.”
Jim Graves writes from California.
