Here are the announcements for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 2nd of March:
ANNUAL LEAVE Welcome back to Fr Richard who has returned refreshed from annual leave. A very big THANK YOU to Fr Joseph Maria, Sub prior and Vice Rector for his sterling efforts in running and looking after the Shrine during Fr Richard’s absence. Br Matthew is currently on annual leave and we pray that he will have a pleasant and safe holiday and come back refreshed.
ASH WEDNESDAY – 5th MARCH This day commences the Lenten season. Please remember this is a day of Fasting/Abstinence and prayer. Mass with the distribution of Ashes will be celebrated at 11am (followed by the Stations of the Cross) and 6pm. Confession will be available before and after both Masses.
NOVENA TO ST JOSEPH The novena to St Joseph, will be celebrated from 10th – 18th March 2025. For anyone wishing to include their intentions in the novena, forms are available on the side table of the Shrine Church as well as they can be found online via the Shrine website. St Joseph, pray for us!
WORKING BEE The next working bee will be on Saturday 15th March 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.
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT (1st & 3rd Sunday’s of the month) A reminder to all Pilgrims that on the First and Third Sundays of the month from 12:15pm – 1:15pm, there is exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Shrine Church. Fr Richard is looking for custodians to sit with the Blessed Sacrament for those times, for anyone wishing to commit please speak to or email Fr Richard.
MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS AT THE OLD MONASTERY The next morning tea after Mass will be on Sunday 16th March 2025. All Welcome!
FIRST SATURDAY & LENTEN RETREAT
Saturday, 5th of April, the First Saturday Devotions in Honour of Our Lady, as she requested during the apparitions at Fatima will be celebrated as per usual. In addition for the Lenten Season, there will be an extended program turning the day into a full-day Lenten retreat. The retreat will start at 10am and finish at 3pm. The retreat is FREE to attend with NO BOOKINGS required. BYO lunch. Tea and coffee are provided in the Old Monastery.
YEAR OF JUBILEE 2025
The Diocese of Wollongong’s celebration of the Jubilee year of the Universal Church is from Sunday 29th December 2024 – 28th December 2025. During this time the faithful are encouraged pilgrimage to the designated sites in the Diocese and in doing so can gain a plenary indulgence. Pilgrim passports have been produced for people to take to get stamped that they have visited one of the sites, these are available on the side table of the Church. Penrose Park is one of the designated Pilgrimage sites, the other 5 sites for the Diocese are as follows:
ST FRANCIS XAVIER CATHEDRAL, WOLLONGONG
36 Harbour Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, UNANDERRA
48–50 Princes Hwy, Unanderra NSW 2526
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, ROSEMEADOW
80 Demetrius Road, Rosemeadow NSW 2560
ST MARY STAR OF THE SEA, MILTON
Lot 1 Corks Lane, Milton NSW 2538
ST JOSEPH’S, KANGAROO VALLEY
130 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley NSW 2577