Announcements for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Here are the announcements for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, the 28th of April:

CONGRATULATIONS
Today Fr Richard, Prior & Rector celebrates his 12th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. Fr Richard was ordained at the Shrine by the later Bishop Peter Ingham. Please pray for vocations to the Pauline Order.

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 (26th May 2024).

WORKING BEE
Due to the 40th Anniversary of the Shrine, the May working bee will be cancelled. The next working bee will be on Saturday 15th June.

ANNUAL LEAVE
From Tuesday 23rd April, Fr Joseph Maria will be on annual leave. We wish him a very happy, restful and safe holiday.

VIGIL FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST
On Saturday 18th May at 6pm, the Solemn Vigil for the Solemnity of Pentecost will be celebrated in the Shrine Church. This is a beautiful tradition of the Church, also known as the mini Easter Vigil with a selection of readings and the Rite of Baptism, thus bringing to a solemn conclusion the season of Easter. All are invited to come along and participate.

SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI)
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi will be celebrated on Sunday 2nd June. Following the 8am and 9:30am Masses there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and silent Adoration. After the 11am Mass there will be a Eucharistic procession concluding with Solemn Benediction at eh outdoor Altar of the Shrine Church. All are invited to come along and participate.

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.

Announcements for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

Here are the announcements for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the 21st of April:

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 (26th May 2024).

WORKING BEE
Thank you to everyone who turned up to help with the monthly working bee, a good amount was achieved with plenty more to go. Due to the 40th Anniversary of the Shrine, the May working bee will be cancelled. The next working bee will be on Saturday 15th June.

ANNUAL LEAVE
From Tuesday 23rd April, Fr Joseph Maria will be on annual leave. We wish him a very happy, restful and safe holiday.

VIGIL FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST
On Saturday 18th May at 6pm, the Solemn Vigil for the Solemnity of Pentecost will be celebrated in the Shrine Church. This is a beautiful tradition of the Church, also known as the mini Easter Vigil with a selection of readings and the Rite of Baptism, thus bringing to a solemn conclusion the season of Easter. All are invited to come along and participate.

SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI)
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi will be celebrated on Sunday 2nd June. Following the 8am and 9:30am Masses there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and silent Adoration. After the 11am Mass there will be a Eucharistic procession concluding with Solemn Benediction at eh outdoor Altar of the Shrine Church. All are invited to come along and participate.

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.

Announcements for the Third Sunday of Easter

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.

Announcements for Divine Mercy Sunday

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

Good Friday Passion Play Photos

Here is a selection of photos from the Reenactment of the Lord’s Passion we had on Good Friday.

Other upcoming events at the shrine are First Saturday devotions on the 6th of April, Divine Mercy Sunday on the 7th of April, and Fatima Day on the 13th of April. Here is the programs for each.

6th April – First Saturday

  • 10 am Devotional Talk
  • 10:30 am Meditation before the Blessed Sacrament and Confession
  • 11 am Mass
  • 12-noon Rosary Procession around 5 Altars of the Church

7th April – Divine Mercy

  • 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

13th April – Fatima Day

  • 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.

Divine Mercy Sunday – Holy Hour

On Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday Mass schedule will be as per normal, Solemn Mass at 11am.

There will be a Holy Hour from 2pm-3pm in the Shrine Church. The 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