Divine Mercy Altar in the Shrine Church

Divine Mercy Sunday and Novena

Here are the times when the Novena to Divine Mercy will be said in the Shrine in the lead-up to Divine Mercy Sunday, when a Holy Hour will be kept from 2 pm.

If you would like your intentions included in the Novena, please go here.

Good Friday (29th March)
5 pm – Novena to Divine Mercy

Holy Saturday (30th March)
11:30 am – Novena to the Divine Mercy

Easter Sunday (31st March)
8 am, 9:30 am & 11 am Mass
Divine Mercy Novena – immediately following each of the Masses

Easter Octave (1st-6th April)
11 am Mass followed by the Novena to the Divine Mercy.

Divine Mercy Sunday (7th April)
8 am & 9:30 am
11 am – Solemn Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday
2 pm – Divine Mercy Holy Hour (Confession available)

Holy Week Schedule

11am – Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday & Wednesday (25th, 26th & 27th March)

Holy Thursday (28th March)
No Mass at 11am
6pm – Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper (with washing of the feet)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – until midnight

Good Friday (29th March)
10:30am – Front gate closed
11am – Passion Play (commencing at the front gate of the property)
3pm – Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
5pm – Novena to Divine Mercy
7pm – Vespers (Prayer of the Church)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am until 10pm

Holy Saturday (30th March)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am to Midday
8:30am – Lauds (Prayer of the Church)
11:30am – Novena to the Divine Mercy
7pm – Solemn Easter Vigil Mass

Easter Sunday (31st March)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Easter Sunday
Divine Mercy Novena – immediately following each of the Masses

Easter Octave (1st-6th April)
11am Mass followed by the Novena to the Divine Mercy.

Divine Mercy Sunday (7th April)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday
2pm – Divine Mercy Holy Hour (Confession available)

Announcements for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Here are the announcements for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the 24th of March:

PASCHAL PRECEPT
A reminder that all Catholics are obliged to go the Confession and Communion at least once a year between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday (15th June 2024).

CONFESSIONS BEFORE EASTER
Today, Palm Sunday (24th March) Confession will be available 30 minutes before and during the usual scheduled Masses. This is to give all pilgrims a chance to go to reconciliation before Easter.

ANNUAL CHRISM MASS
Each year the Priests of the Diocese gather with Bishop Brian to celebrate the Chrism Mass. During the Mass the Priests renew their Ordination promises and the oils of the Church are blessed and consecrated. The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated at 7pm on Tuesday 26th March 2024 at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Wollongong. Please pray for the Priests of our Diocese.

PASSION PLAY
The annual reenactment of the Lord’s Passion (Passion Play) will take place in the Shrine, commencing at 11am on Good Friday 29th March. Please note, this is free and open to all, no bookings need to be made. Food & drink will also be available for purchase. Good Friday is also a day of Fasting and abstinence, Pilgrims are allowed to picnic on site but we ask that NO meat is consumed or BBQed on the day. There are still some roles that need to be filled, for more information and to receive updates regarding rehearsals etc please go to: https://goodfridaypassionplay.blogspot.com/ and sign up to receive notifications.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday (24th March)
8am & 9:30am – Mass commencing from the front door of the Monastery
11am – Solemn Mass with Procession commencing from the Statue of St John Paul II

11am – Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday & Wednesday (25th, 26th & 27th March)

Holy Thursday (28th March)
No Mass at 11am
6pm – Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper (with washing of the feet)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – until midnight

Good Friday (29th March)
11am – Passion Play (commencing at the front gate of the property)
3pm – Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
5pm – Novena to Divine Mercy
7pm – Vespers (Prayer of the Church)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am until 10pm

Holy Saturday (30th March)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am to Midday
8:30am – Lauds (Prayer of the Church)
11:30am – Novena to the Divine Mercy
7pm – Solemn Easter Vigil Mass

Easter Sunday (31st March)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Easter Sunday
Divine Mercy Novena – immediately following each of the Masses

Easter Octave (1st-6th April)
11am Mass followed by the Novena to the Divine Mercy.

Divine Mercy Sunday (7th April)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday
2pm – Divine Mercy Holy Hour (Confession available)

Announcements for the Fifth Sunday of Lent

Here are the announcements for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the 17th of March:

SOLEMNITY OF ST PATRICK & ST JOSEPH
The Solemnity of St Patrick (Patron of Australia) is liturgically celebrated this year on Monday 18th March and the Solemnity of St Joseph is celebrated as per usual on Tuesday 19th March. There will be a Solemn Mass celebrated on each of these days at 11am. Please come along and participate and let us pray for our country and for our Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

CONGRATULATIONS
This past week Fr Richard has been been elected and appointed as the representative for Religious on the Council of Priests for the Diocese of Wollongong. Please keep him in your prayers as he begins this new appointment.

PASCHAL PRECEPT
A reminder that all Catholics are obliged to go the Confession and Communion at least once a year between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday (15th June 2024).

CONFESSIONS BEFORE EASTER
Next Sunday, Palm Sunday (24th March) Confession will be available 30 minutes before and during the usual scheduled Masses. This is to give all pilgrims a chance to go to reconciliation before Easter.

THE LENTEN SEASON
The stations of the cross will be prayed each Friday & Saturday after the 11am Mass during which confession will also be available.

PASSION PLAY
The annual reenactment of the Lord’s Passion (Passion Play) will take place in the Shrine, commencing at 11am on Good Friday 29th March. Please note, this is free and open to all, no bookings need to be made. Food & drink will also be available for purchase. Good Friday is also a day of Fasting and abstinence, Pilgrims are allowed to picnic on site but we ask that NO meat is consumed or BBQed on the day. There are still some roles that need to be filled, for more information and to receive updates regarding rehearsals etc please go to: https://goodfridaypassionplay.blogspot.com/ and sign up to receive notifications.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday (24th March)
8am & 9:30am – Mass commencing from the front door of the Monastery
11am – Solemn Mass with Procession commencing from the Statue of St John Paul II

11am – Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday & Wednesday (25th, 26th & 27th March)

Holy Thursday (28th March)
No Mass at 11am
6pm – Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper (with washing of the feet)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – until midnight

Good Friday (29th March)
11am – Passion Play (commencing at the front gate of the property)
3pm – Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
5pm – Novena to Divine Mercy
7pm – Vespers (Prayer of the Church)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am until 10pm

Holy Saturday (30th March)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am to Midday
8:30am – Lauds (Prayer of the Church)
11:30am – Novena to the Divine Mercy
7pm – Solemn Easter Vigil Mass

Easter Sunday (31st March)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Easter Sunday
Divine Mercy Novena – immediately following each of the Masses

Easter Octave (1st-6th April)
11am Mass followed by the Novena to the Divine Mercy.

Divine Mercy Sunday (7th April)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday
2pm – Divine Mercy Holy Hour (Confession available)

March Working Bee

The working bee this month will focus on the gardens around the Old Monastery. There are parts of our up coming Good Friday Passion Play that are at the Old Monastery, so we are looking to clean the area up as much as we can.

The program for the day would be:

  • Mass at around 8:15 am in the Shrine Church
  • Begin work at 9 am at the back of the property
  • BBQ lunch around 1:30 pm

The work will be everything from removing weeds and trimming plants and mulching the garden.

Solid shoes and gloves would be

Announcements for the Fourth Sunday of Lent

Here are the announcements for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, the 10th of March:

THE LENTEN SEASON
The stations of the cross will be prayed each Friday & Saturday after the 11am Mass during which confession will also be available.

PASSION PLAY
The annual reenactment of the Lord’s Passion (Passion Play) will take place in the Shrine, commencing at 11am on Good Friday 29th March. Please note, this is free and open to all, no bookings need to be made. Food & drink will also be available for purchase. Good Friday is also a day of Fasting and abstinence, Pilgrims are allowed to picnic on site but we ask that NO meat is consumed or BBQed on the day. There are still some roles that need to be filled, for more information and to receive updates regarding rehearsals etc please go to: https://goodfridaypassionplay.blogspot.com/ and sign up to receive notifications.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday (24th March)
8am & 9:30am – Mass commencing from the front door of the Monastery
11am – Solemn Mass with Procession commencing from the Statue of St John Paul II

11am – Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday & Wednesday (25th, 26th & 27th March)

Holy Thursday (28th March)
No Mass at 11am
6pm – Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper (with washing of the feet)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – until midnight

Good Friday (29th March)
11am – Passion Play (commencing at the front gate of the property)
3pm – Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
5pm – Novena to Divine Mercy
7pm – Vespers (Prayer of the Church)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am until 10pm

Holy Saturday (30th March)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am to Midday
8:30am – Lauds (Prayer of the Church)
11:30am – Novena to the Divine Mercy
7pm – Solemn Easter Vigil Mass

Easter Sunday (31st March)
8am & 9:30am – Mass
11am – Solemn Mass of Easter Sunday
Divine Mercy Novena – immediately following each of the Masses

Easter Octave (1st-6th April)
11am Mass followed by the Novena to the Divine Mercy.

Divine Mercy Sunday (7th April)
8am & 9:30am – Mass
11am – Solemn Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday
2pm – Divine Mercy Holy Hour (Confession available)

Fatima Day – March 13th 2024

The main celebrant for Fatima Day on March 13th will be Fr Richard Green OSPPE, the Prior and Rector of Our Shrine.

The Program for the day will be as usual:

  • 10 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
  • 10:30 am Rosary
  • 11 am Solemn Mass
  • 12 noon Lunch
  • 1:30 pm Eucharistic Procession to the Gotto while reciting the Rosary.
  • 2 pm Prayers and Devotions at the Gotto, and blessing of pilgrims.

There will be Food Available for purchase.

Announcements for the Third Sunday of Lent

Here are the announcements for the Third Sunday of Lent, the 3rd of March:

DIOCESAN LENTEN PROGRAM
These have been available for purchase to help guide people through the season of Lent. This is a great resource prepared for people by the Diocese of Wollongong. Price for the booklets will be $10 each. There are only a few copies left.

THE LENTEN SEASON
The stations of the cross will be prayed each Friday & Saturday after the 11am Mass during which confession will also be available.

PASSION PLAY
The annual reenactment of the Lord’s Passion (Passion Play) will take place in the Shrine, commencing at 11am on Good Friday 29th March. Please note, this is free and open to all, no bookings need to be made. Food & drink will also be available for purchase. Good Friday is also a day of Fasting and abstinence, Pilgrims are allowed to picnic on site but we ask that NO meat is consumed or BBQed on the day.
There are still some roles that need to be filled, for more information and to receive updates regarding rehearsals etc please go to: https://goodfridaypassionplay.blogspot.com/ and sign up to receive notifications.

MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS
Thank you to all who contributed to last weeks morning tea. The next morning tea will be on Sunday 17th March.

PASCHAL PRECEPT
A reminder that all Catholics are obliged to go to Confession and Holy Communion at least once a year between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday (26th May).

A WORD FROM THE PRIOR – REGARDING THE NEW TOILET BLOCK
Dear Pilgrims,
It has been apparent to me for some time that there is some miscommunication regarding the new toilet block. People are anxious and asking questions as to when it will be open. Believe me there is no one more anxious to open the toilet block than me, though some have a misconception that it is the Pauline Fathers that are holding up the works. In fact, last year, having consulted members of the original working group created by my predecessor, Fr Damian and having been able to find a new building manager, $45,000 was spent to complete the facility. Works completed were all the electrical (lights, power points etc), painting of the interior and gables, plumbing including the installation of firefighting / rainwater tanks, replacement of broken and damp plasterboard, finishing around the windows, interior installations (mirrors, taps etc) and finally cleaning.
All paperwork is presented and the hold up is between the council and the building certifier to issue the occupation certificate. There was the hope to open the new block by Fatima Day last October and then by Christmas but due to one thing or another with our bureaucrats and certifier we have been pushed back. I am working cooperatively and forcefully with our builder and team to get this block over the line by Good Friday and this is looking hopeful but I won’t be holding my breath.
In short, the toilet block is complete and ready for use but the hold up is getting the occupation certificate. No one is more anxious to get this block up and running than the Paulines. Please increase prayers and support so this block can be finalised and opened for the use of the pilgrims by Good Friday, then we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Thank you to all who have helped in some way and for your support and understanding. God bless you all!
Fr Richard