Blog

Here are the announcements for the Third Sunday of Easter, the 14th of April:

FATIMA DAY
A very big Thank you to Fr Jacek for accepting the invitation to be the main celebrant and homilist at the April Fatima Day celebration. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and spiritually uplifting day.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
The day was a great success and Thank you to all who participated and came for the Holy Hour.

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

NEW TOILET BLOCK
It is with great joy that after many, many years, much work and money spent that the new toilet block is officially opened. The occupation certificate was granted on Holy Wednesday and was opened in time for the 8000 plus people on Good Friday. A very heartfelt THANK YOU goes to Michael Brearley for his immense time and effort is getting this across the line. He and I have been working hard for the past eight months with our builder to finish all required construction etc for the block as well as to get all the necessary paperwork in order for approval. There is still quite a bit of work to do now, landscaping and accessibility etc but the toilet block is now open and in operation. A sigh of relief all round! Thank you to all our pilgrims for your donations, prayers, support and patience while this project was undertaken, it has taken a long time, but the goal is achieved. God bless you all!
Fr Richard

40th Anniversary of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy

Next Fatima Day, 13th May, is the celebration (actual date) commemorating the official blessing and opening of the Shrine. The usual Fatima Day schedule will be followed with a lunch time (1pm – 1:30pm) organ recital by Mr Michael Taylor. The Main Celebrant for the day will be the Most Reverend Brian Mascord, Bishop of the Diocese of Wollongong. As the 13th May, falls on a Monday, we still expect a large crowd, a few thousand, so please bring your own chairs as the Mass will be celebrated outside (weather permitting). Food will also be available for purchase on the day.

Here are the announcements for Divine Mercy Sunday, the 7th of April:

FR RICHARD AND THE COMMUNITY OF PENROSE PARK WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR PILGRIMS, VOLUNTEERS AND BENEFACTORS A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER!!!
MAY THE RISEN LORD SHOWER YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS!

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

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (7th April)
Sunday Mass schedule as per normal, Solemn Mass at 11am. There will be a Holy Hour from 2pm-3pm in the Shrine Church, Schedule is:

• 2pm – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Spiritual talk
• 2:20pm – Silent Adoration
• 2:40pm – Chaplet, Litany and Prayer of Divine Mercy
• 3pm – Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament & Conclusion

After the conclusion there will be the blessing of religious articles and devotional items purchased from the religious shop or brought along for the occasion.

PASSION PLAY
A very heartfelt THANK YOU to all cast and crew who participated in the annual Passion play. Good Friday was a great success drawing over 8000 pilgrims to the Shrine. This will only get bigger and better in the years to come. God bless you all.

EASTER TRIDUUM
The Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil) was a sterling success. THANK YOU to all who participated and helped make this a very spiritually uplifting experience. It was a great example of the splendour of the liturgy in our Catholic faith.

NEW TOILET BLOCK
It is with great joy that after many, many years, much work and money spent that the new toilet block is officially opened. The occupation certificate was granted on Holy Wednesday and was opened in time for the 8000 plus people on Good Friday. A very heartfelt THANK YOU goes to Michael Brearley for his immense time and effort is getting this across the line. He and I have been working hard for the past eight months with our builder to finish all required construction etc for the block as well as to get all the necessary paperwork in order for approval. There is still quite a bit of work to do now, landscaping and accessibility etc but the toilet block is now open and in operation. A sigh of relief all round! Thank you to all our pilgrims for your donations, prayers, support and patience while this project was undertaken, it has taken a long time, but the goal is achieved. God bless you all!
Fr Richard

Here are the announcements for Easter Sunday, the 31st of March:

FR RICHARD AND THE COMMUNITY OF PENROSE PARK WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR PILGRIMS, VOLUNTEERS AND BENEFACTORS A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER!!!
MAY THE RISEN LORD SHOWER YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS!

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

DIVINE MERCY NOVENA
The Novena began on Good Friday and culminates in the Solemnity of Divine Mercy, celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter. If you would like your intentions added please fill out the novena slip on the side table in the Church and return to one of the members of the community.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (7th April)
Sunday Mass schedule as per normal, Solemn Mass at 11am. There will be a Holy Hour from 2pm-3pm in the Shrine Church, Schedule is:
2pm – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Spiritual talk
2:20pm – Silent Adoration
2:40pm – Chaplet, Litany and Prayer of Divine Mercy
3pm – Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament & Conclusion
After the conclusion there will be the blessing of religious articles and devotionals purchased from the religious shop or brought along for the occasion.

PASSION PLAY
A very heartfelt THANK YOU to all cast and crew who participated in the annual Passion play. Good Friday was a great success drawing over 8000 pilgrims to the Shrine. This will only get bigger and better in the years to come. God bless you all.

EASTER TRIDUUM
The Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil) was a sterling success. Thank you to all who participated and helped make this a very spiritually uplifting experience. It was a great example of the splendour of the liturgy in our Catholic faith.

NEW TOILET BLOCK
It is with great joy that after many, many years, much work and money spent that the new toilet block is officially opened. The occupation certificate was granted on Holy Wednesday and was opened in time for the 8000 plus people on Good Friday. A very heartfelt THANK YOU goes to Michael Brearley for his immense time and effort is getting this across the line. He and I have been working hard for the past eight months with our builder to finish all required construction etc for the block as well as to get all the necessary paperwork in order for approval. There is still quite a bit of work to do now in landscaping and accessibility but the toilet block is now open and in operation. A sigh of relief all round! Thank you to all our pilgrims for your donations, prayers, support and patience while this project was undertaken, it has taken a long time, but the goal is achieved. God bless you all!
Fr Richard

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)