Year: 2025

Here are the announcements for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 10th of August:

JUBILEE VISIT BY BISHOP BRIAN MASCORD & PAPAL BLESSING
A Huge Thank You to Bishop Brian Mascord and to all who came out (2nd August) for the Diocesan gathering to celebrate the Jubilee Year at Penrose Park. It was a lovely day and a great success all round. Thank you as well to all who helped out in some way to make the day run smoothly. God bless you all.

ANNUAL LEAVE
Welcome back to Br Augustine who has returned rejuvenated from annual leave.

FATIMA DAY (13th August)
The main celebrant for Fatima Day in August is Fr Wojciech Sliwa OSPPE. Parish Priest of St Margaret Mary’s, Merrylands. Please come along and celebrate Fatima day with us.

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION (15th August)
This Solemnity is a Holy day of Obligation, meaning that we should treat it like a Sunday and attend Mass in honour of Our Lady. In addition to the usual Mass at 11am there will be a Mass celebrated at 6pm in the Shrine Church. All welcome to attend.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF MERCY / CZESTOCHOWA 

The novena to our Lady of Mercy will take place as usual commencing on Sunday 17th August – Monday 25th August 2025. For anyone wishing to include their intentions during this novena, slips can be found on the side table of the Church, alternatively they can be submitted electronically via the Shrine website, donations can be made in the same way. Our Lady of Mercy, Pray for us.

WORKING BEE

Thank you to everyone who came along and participated in the July working bee. A lot was achieved and the Shrine continues to look beautiful and cared for. All efforts are truly appreciated. The next working bee will be on Saturday 16th August 2025. Please consider coming along and helping to keep the Shrine beautiful for our local area and the pilgrims that visit. This Shrine is a treasure to the Order, Diocese and country, any help and forms of talent are always most welcome. Please speak to Fr Joseph Maria, Subprior for more information or specifics.

MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS AT THE OLD MONASTERY

Due to the groups coming today morning tea has been cancelled as the Old Monastery is being used. The next morning tea will be scheduled after winter (around September/October).

WINTER SEASON – WEEKDAY MASSES (COMMENCING 2nd JUNE 2025)
Weekday Masses (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) during the winter season have been celebrated at the Old Monastery. As from Monday 11th August, all Masses will move back to the Shrine Church.

OFFICIAL YEAR OF JUBILEE PRAYER

Father who art in heaven, the faith that you have given us in your Son Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity infused into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, awaken in us the blessed hope in the coming of your Kingdom. Your grace transforms us into dedicated cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel let humanity and the cosmos ferment, confidently waiting of the new heavens and the new earth, When the forces of evil are defeated, Your glory will be manifested forever. The grace of the Jubilee revive in us, Pilgrims of Hope, the longing for heavenly goods and spread throughout the world joy and peace of our Redeemer. To you, eternally blessed God, be praise and glory forever. Amen.

Here are the announcements for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 3rd of August:

JUBILEE VISIT BY BISHOP BRIAN MASCORD & PAPAL BLESSING
A Huge Thank You to Bishop Brian Mascord and to all who came out yesterday (2nd August) for the Diocesan gathering to celebrate the Jubilee Year at Penrose Park. It was a lovely day and a great success all round. Thank you as well to all who helped out in some way to make the day run smoothly. God bless you all.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF MERCY / CZESTOCHOWA 

The novena to our Lady of Mercy will take place as usual commencing on Sunday 17th August – Monday 25th August 2025. For anyone wishing to include their intentions during this novena, slips can be found on the side table of the Church, alternatively they can be submitted electronically via the Shrine website, donations can be made in the same way. Our Lady of Mercy, Pray for us.

ANNUAL LEAVE
Br Augustine is on annual leave. We pray that he has a wonderful time and comes back rejuvenated.

WORKING BEE

Thank you to everyone who came along and participated in the July working bee. A lot was achieved and the Shrine continues to look beautiful and cared for. All efforts are truly appreciated. The next working bee will be on Saturday 16th August 2025. Please consider coming along and helping to keep the Shrine beautiful for our local area and the pilgrims that visit. This Shrine is a treasure to the Order, Diocese and country, any help and forms of talent are always most welcome. Please speak to Fr Joseph Maria, Subprior for more information or specifics.

MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS AT THE OLD MONASTERY

Due to the groups coming today morning tea has been cancelled as the Old Monastery is being used. The next morning tea will be scheduled after winter (around September/October).

WINTER SEASON – WEEKDAY MASSES (COMMENCING 2nd JUNE 2025)
Weekday Masses (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) during the winter season have been celebrated at the Old Monastery. As from Monday 11th August, all Masses will move back to the Shrine Church.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHRINE REGARDING CHAPELS
Fr Richard is currently undertaking an audit of all the Chapels that are onsite at the Shrine. The International shrines we originally begun as a means for a community to come together to build a devotional chapel which would also become a place of pilgrimage. As the years have gone by, more chapels have been built varying in size and usage. Along with the passing of time groups have dropped in numbers due to death, retirement and moving away or lack of transport. Permission to build chapels were granted to groups so as there is a succession plan to look after it as well as it doesn’t fall on just one person plus the added numbers would help in the maintenance of the Shrine at large. Due to the declining number for some groups they have fallen into disrepair right through to outright neglect. In the event of a group folding, disbanding or neglecting a chapel, it returns to the custodianship of the Pauline Fathers for the community to decide to whom and for what the future of a chapel has in store.

Fr Richard is slowly getting in touch with the contacts and the groups that run the various chapels but he has also made the decision that until all is clarified, there will be absolutely NO MORE chapels built and custodianship will not be given to a group until it is clear that there is no one else assigned to care for the chapel. This decision is not easy but it will also allow the community and those who help at the working bees to focus on maintaining and updating the current chapels and especially the surrounds / landscaping which again is in desperate need for TLC. For more information of to put yourself forward to help in any way please speak to Fr Richard or Fr Joseph Maria.

Here are the announcements for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 27th of July:

JUBILEE VISIT BY BISHOP BRIAN MASCORD & PAPAL BLESSING
Bishop Brian will be coming to the Shrine on Saturday 2nd August 2025, for a visit to the Shrine as well as to impart the Papal blessing upon all the faithful as part of the Jubilee year celebrations. As this is also First Saturday the usual First Saturday schedule will be followed. For the Solemn Mass at 11am the Brazilian community, who also have their pilgrimage day, will be joining the Mass to make one big celebration at the Shrine and after the Mass they will head off for their procession whilst the usual First Saturday devotions take place in the Shrine Church. This ceremony is open to all so please come along and celebrate the Jubilee here at the Shrine. ALL WELCOME!

ANNUAL LEAVE
Br Augustine is on annual leave. We pray that he has a wonderful time and comes back rejuvenated.

WORKING BEE
Thank you to everyone who came along and participated in the July working bee. A lot was achieved and the Shrine continues to look beautiful and cared for. All efforts are truly appreciated. The next working bee will be on Saturday 16th August 2025. Please consider coming along and helping to keep the Shrine beautiful for our local area and the pilgrims that visit. This Shrine is a treasure to the Order, Diocese and country, any help and forms of talent are always most welcome. Please speak to Fr Joseph Maria, Subprior for more information or specifics.

MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS AT THE OLD MONASTERY
Due to the groups coming today morning tea has been cancelled as the Old Monastery is being used. The next morning tea will be scheduled after winter (around September/October).

WINTER SEASON – WEEKDAY MASSES (COMMENCING 2nd JUNE 2025)
Weekday Masses (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) during the winter season will be celebrated at the Old Monastery. Friday (with devotions afterwards), Saturday (with devotions afterwards) and Sunday Masses will be celebrated in the Shrine Church as usual. Please note: If there is a Solemnity or a large group booked to come then Mass will be celebrated in the Shrine Church.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHRINE REGARDING CHAPELS
Fr Richard is currently undertaking an audit of all the Chapels that are onsite at the Shrine. The International shrines we originally begun as a means for a community to come together to build a devotional chapel which would also become a place of pilgrimage. As the years have gone by, more chapels have been built varying in size and usage. Along with the passing of time groups have dropped in numbers due to death, retirement and moving away or lack of transport. Permission to build chapels were granted to groups so as there is a succession plan to look after it as well as it doesn’t fall on just one person plus the added numbers would help in the maintenance of the Shrine at large. Due to the declining number for some groups they have fallen into disrepair right through to outright neglect. In the event of a group folding, disbanding or neglecting a chapel, it returns to the custodianship of the Pauline Fathers for the community to decide to whom and for what the future of a chapel has in store.

Fr Richard is slowly getting in touch with the contacts and the groups that run the various chapels but he has also made the decision that until all is clarified, there will be absolutely NO MORE chapels built and custodianship will not be given to a group until it is clear that there is no one else assigned to care for the chapel. This decision is not easy but it will also allow the community and those who help at the working bees to focus on maintaining and updating the current chapels and especially the surrounds / landscaping which again is in desperate need for TLC. For more information of to put yourself forward to help in any way please speak to Fr Richard or Fr Joseph Maria.

Here are the announcements for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 20th of July:

FATIMA DAY – SUNDAY 13TH JULY
A very big THANK YOU to Bishop Michael Kennedy, Bishop of Newcastle-Maitland, for accepting our invitation to be the Celebrant for Fatima Day. It was a wonderful day, and He truly gave us an awe-inspiring homily.

Thank you also to Snax on Trax for providing food and beverages for the pilgrims to purchase along with Raylene Jones and her business for looking after the toilets and their cleaning.

RIP – FR DAVID CATTERALL
It is with sadness that the Diocese of Wollongong say goodbye to one of its beloved Priests. Fr David Catterall was the founding Parish Priest of St Mary MacKillop Parish, Oran Park and has been involved in the Diocese in many other capacities. The funeral arrangements for Fr David Catterall are as follows:

Wednesday 23 July 2025
Vigil Mass to be led by Bishop Brian Mascord
Time: 6.30pm Location: Mary MacKillop Catholic Church, Oran Park Address: 94 Oran Park Drive, Oran Park
 
Thursday 24 July 2025
Funeral Mass to be led by Fr James Arblaster
Time: 11.00am Location: St Paul’s Catholic Church, Albion Park Address: 249 Tongarra Road, Albion Park

JUBILEE VISIT BY BISHOP BRIAN MASCORD & PAPAL BLESSING
Bishop Brian will be coming to the Shrine on Saturday 2nd August 2025, for a visit to the Shrine as well as to impart the Papal blessing upon all the faithful as part of the Jubilee year celebrations. As this is also First Saturday the usual First Saturday schedule will be followed. For the Solemn Mass at 11am the Brazilian community, who also have their pilgrimage day, will be joining the Mass to make one big celebration at the Shrine and after the Mass they will head off for their procession whilst the usual First Saturday devotions take place in the Shrine Church. This ceremony is open to all so please come along and celebrate the Jubilee here at the Shrine. ALL WELCOME!

ANNUAL LEAVE
Br Augustine is on annual leave. We pray that he has a wonderful time and comes back rejuvenated.

WORKING BEE


Thank you to everyone who came along and participated in the July working bee. A lot was achieved and the Shrine continues to look beautiful and cared for. All efforts are truly appreciated. The next working bee will be on Saturday 16th August 2025. Please consider coming along and helping to keep the Shrine beautiful for our local area and the pilgrims that visit. This Shrine is a treasure to the Order, Diocese and country, any help and forms of talent are always most welcome. Please speak to Fr Joseph Maria, Subprior for more information or specifics.

MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS AT THE OLD MONASTERY


Due to the groups coming today morning tea has been cancelled as the Old Monastery is being used. The next morning tea will be scheduled after winter (around September/October).

WINTER SEASON – WEEKDAY MASSES (COMMENCING 2nd JUNE 2025)
Weekday Masses (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) during the winter season will be celebrated at the Old Monastery. Friday (with devotions afterwards), Saturday (with devotions afterwards) and Sunday Masses will be celebrated in the Shrine Church as usual. Please note: If there is a Solemnity or a large group booked to come then Mass will be celebrated in the Shrine Church.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHRINE REGARDING CHAPELS
Fr Richard is currently undertaking an audit of all the Chapels that are onsite at the Shrine. The International shrines we originally begun as a means for a community to come together to build a devotional chapel which would also become a place of pilgrimage. As the years have gone by, more chapels have been built varying in size and usage. Along with the passing of time groups have dropped in numbers due to death, retirement and moving away or lack of transport. Permission to build chapels were granted to groups so as there is a succession plan to look after it as well as it doesn’t fall on just one person plus the added numbers would help in the maintenance of the Shrine at large. Due to the declining number for some groups they have fallen into disrepair right through to outright neglect. In the event of a group folding, disbanding or neglecting a chapel, it returns to the custodianship of the Pauline Fathers for the community to decide to whom and for what the future of a chapel has in store.

Fr Richard is slowly getting in touch with the contacts and the groups that run the various chapels but he has also made the decision that until all is clarified, there will be absolutely NO MORE chapels built and custodianship will not be given to a group until it is clear that there is no one else assigned to care for the chapel. This decision is not easy but it will also allow the community and those who help at the working bees to focus on maintaining and updating the current chapels and especially the surrounds / landscaping which again is in desperate need for TLC. For more information of to put yourself forward to help in any way please speak to Fr Richard or Fr Joseph Maria.

Here are the announcements for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 6th of July:

FATIMA DAY – SUNDAY 13TH JULY
The main celebrant for the day will be the Most Reverend Michael Kennedy DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Newcastle-Maitland. We look forward to welcoming him along with pilgrims to the Shrine for the monthly Fatima day celebrations. Please note: As this day is a Sunday the following schedule will be in place:

• 8am – Mass in English
• 9:30am – CANCELLED
• 11am – As usual – please refer to the usual Fatima day schedule.

WORKING BEE


Thank you to everyone who came along and participated in the monthly working bee. A lot was achieved and the Shrine continues to look beautiful and cared for. All efforts are truly appreciated. The next working bee will be on Saturday 19th July 2025. Please consider coming along and helping to keep the Shrine beautiful for our local area and the pilgrims that visit. This Shrine is a treasure to the Order, Diocese and country, any help and forms of talent are always most welcome. Please speak to Fr Joseph Maria, Subprior for more information or specifics.

MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS AT THE OLD MONASTERY


Due to the groups coming today morning tea has been cancelled as the Old Monastery is being used. The next morning tea will be scheduled after winter (around September/October).

JUBILEE VISIT BY BISHOP BRIAN MASCORD & PAPAL BLESSING
Bishop Brian will be coming to the Shrine on Saturday 2nd August 2025, for a visit to the Shrine as well as to impart the Papal blessing upon all the faithful as part of the Jubilee year celebrations. As this is also First Saturday the usual First Saturday schedule will be followed. For the Solemn Mass at 11am the Brazilian community, who also have their pilgrimage day, will be joining the Mass to make one big celebration at the Shrine and after the Mass they will head off for their procession whilst the usual First Saturday devotions take place in the Shrine Church. This ceremony is open to all so please come along and celebrate the Jubilee here at the Shrine. ALL WELCOME!

WINTER SEASON – WEEKDAY MASSES (COMMENCING 2nd JUNE 2025)
Weekday Masses (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) during the winter season will be celebrated at the Old Monastery. Friday (with devotions afterwards), Saturday (with devotions afterwards) and Sunday Masses will be celebrated in the Shrine Church as usual. Please note: If there is a Solemnity or a large group booked to come then Mass will be celebrated in the Shrine Church.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHRINE REGARDING CHAPELS
Fr Richard is currently undertaking an audit of all the Chapels that are onsite at the Shrine. The International shrines we originally begun as a means for a community to come together to build a devotional chapel which would also become a place of pilgrimage. As the years have gone by, more chapels have been built varying in size and usage. Along with the passing of time groups have dropped in numbers due to death, retirement and moving away or lack of transport. Permission to build chapels were granted to groups so as there is a succession plan to look after it as well as it doesn’t fall on just one person plus the added numbers would help in the maintenance of the Shrine at large. Due to the declining number for some groups they have fallen into disrepair right through to outright neglect. In the event of a group folding, disbanding or neglecting a chapel, it returns to the custodianship of the Pauline Fathers for the community to decide to whom and for what the future of a chapel has in store.

Fr Richard is slowly getting in touch with the contacts and the groups that run the various chapels but he has also made the decision that until all is clarified, there will be absolutely NO MORE chapels built and custodianship will not be given to a group until it is clear that there is no one else assigned to care for the chapel. This decision is not easy but it will also allow the community and those who help at the working bees to focus on maintaining and updating the current chapels and especially the surrounds / landscaping which again is in desperate need for TLC. For more information of to put yourself forward to help in any way please speak to Fr Richard or Fr Joseph Maria.

Here are the announcements for the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, the 29th of June:

WELCOME
A very warm welcome to Fr Isidore Enyinnaya, who has entered the Pauline Fathers and Brothers. Fr Isidore is a Priest of some 27 years serving in various positions in Nigeria and working as Parish Priest of Nerang (Queensland). He brings to the Order much experience and will be based here in Penrose Park whilst completing his Canonical Noviciate in the Order. Please keep Fr Isidore in your prayers as he commences this great millstone in his vocation and please make him feel very welcome.

FATIMA DAY – SUNDAY 13TH JULY
The main celebrant for the day will be the Most Reverend Michael Kennedy DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Newcastle-Maitland. We look forward to welcoming him along with pilgrims to the Shrine for the monthly Fatima day celebrations. Please note: As this day is a Sunday the following schedule will be in place:

• 8am – Mass in English
• 9:30am – CANCELLED
• 11am – As usual – please refer to the usual Fatima day schedule.

WORKING BEE


Thank you to everyone who came along and participated in the monthly working bee. A lot was achieved and the Shrine continues to look beautiful and cared for. All efforts are truly appreciated. The next working bee will be on Saturday 19th July 2025. Please consider coming along and helping to keep the Shrine beautiful for our local area and the pilgrims that visit. This Shrine is a treasure to the Order, Diocese and country, any help and forms of talent are always most welcome. Please speak to Fr Joseph Maria, Subprior for more information or specifics.

MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS AT THE OLD MONASTERY


Due to the groups coming today morning tea has been cancelled as the Old Monastery is being used. The next morning tea will be scheduled after winter (around September/October).

JUBILEE VISIT BY BISHOP BRIAN MASCORD & PAPAL BLESSING
Bishop Brian will be coming to the Shrine on Saturday 2nd August 2025, for a visit to the Shrine as well as to impart the Papal blessing upon all the faithful as part of the Jubilee year celebrations. As this is also First Saturday the usual First Saturday schedule will be followed. For the Solemn Mass at 11am the Brazilian community, who also have their pilgrimage day, will be joining the Mass to make one big celebration at the Shrine and after the Mass they will head off for their procession whilst the usual First Saturday devotions take place in the Shrine Church. This ceremony is open to all so please come along and celebrate the Jubilee here at the Shrine. ALL WELCOME!

WINTER SEASON – WEEKDAY MASSES (COMMENCING 2nd JUNE 2025)
Weekday Masses (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) during the winter season will be celebrated at the Old Monastery. Friday (with devotions afterwards), Saturday (with devotions afterwards) and Sunday Masses will be celebrated in the Shrine Church as usual. Please note: If there is a Solemnity or a large group booked to come then Mass will be celebrated in the Shrine Church.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHRINE REGARDING CHAPELS
Fr Richard is currently undertaking an audit of all the Chapels that are onsite at the Shrine. The International shrines we originally begun as a means for a community to come together to build a devotional chapel which would also become a place of pilgrimage. As the years have gone by, more chapels have been built varying in size and usage. Along with the passing of time groups have dropped in numbers due to death, retirement and moving away or lack of transport. Permission to build chapels were granted to groups so as there is a succession plan to look after it as well as it doesn’t fall on just one person plus the added numbers would help in the maintenance of the Shrine at large. Due to the declining number for some groups they have fallen into disrepair right through to outright neglect. In the event of a group folding, disbanding or neglecting a chapel, it returns to the custodianship of the Pauline Fathers for the community to decide to whom and for what the future of a chapel has in store.

Fr Richard is slowly getting in touch with the contacts and the groups that run the various chapels but he has also made the decision that until all is clarified, there will be absolutely NO MORE chapels built and custodianship will not be given to a group until it is clear that there is no one else assigned to care for the chapel.

This decision is not easy but it will also allow the community and those who help at the working bees to focus on maintaining and updating the current chapels and especially the surrounds / landscaping which again is in desperate need for TLC. For more information of to put yourself forward to help in any way please speak to Fr Richard or Fr Joseph Maria.