April Working Bee – Saturday 12th

Please consider coming along to our working bee on Saturday the 12th of April and helping in keeping 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.

During the working bee this month, we are going to focus on a variety of maintenance tasks. What is attempted depends on who attends and their interests. The list includes:

  • Trimming bushes and plants.
  • Cleaning gutters.
  • Fixing some sunken pavers.
  • Cleaning the chapels.
  • Transplanting plants.
  • Painting.
  • General cleanup.

It would greatly assist in planning if anyone interested in coming would let Fr Joseph Maria know what projects they might be interested in working on. It is not expected that we will be able to start or finish the whole list.

If you have tools that can help with the particular task you are interested in, you are encouraged to bring them along.

The program for the day would be:

  • Mass at around 8:15am in the Shrine Church
  • Begin work at 9am at the back of the property
  • Lunch around 1:30pm
  • Finish around 3:30pm (for those that can stay the whole day).

The Fathers and Brothers pray for the intentions of volunteers to the Shrine everyday.

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Fatima Day & Palm Sunday – 13th of April 2025

This Sunday the 13th of April, we will celebrate both Palm Sunday, the Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem, and our monthly Fatima Day in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As there will be many people, we do request that you bring along palm fonds and olive branches if you can.

The schedule of the day is a combination of the regular Fatima Day schedule and the Sunday:

  • 8am – Mass commencing from the front door of the Monastery
  • 9:30am – CANCELLED
  • 10 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
  • 10:30 am Rosary
  • 11am – Solemn Mass with Procession commencing from the Statue of St John Paul
  • 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.

Fr Joseph Maria Buckley, our Subprior and Vice-rector at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy – Penrose Park will be the main celebrant.

Side view of the Church showing St. John Paul II

Announcements for the 5th Sunday in Lent

Here are the announcements for the 5th Sunday in Lent, the 6th of April:

VOLUNTEERS FOR GOOD FRIDAY
18th APRIL 2025
Due to certain bureaucracy, the Rural Fire Brigade (RFS) are not allowed assist with the parking of pilgrims on Good Friday. Fr Richard is asking for volunteers who are willing to help in parking and crowd control on the day, for those interested please contact Fr Richard. For those who have already volunteered, there will be a briefing at the front door of the Monastery at 7:45am on Good Friday morning.

WELCOME BACK

Welcome back to Br Matthew who has returned refreshed from annual leave.

THANK YOU

A big Thank you to everyone who came and participated in the Lenten day First Saturday Retreat.

NOVENA TO DIVINE MERCY

The novena to Divine Mercy will be prayed in the Shrine from Good Friday 18th April to Saturday 26th April 2025. For those wishing to include their intentions, forms can be found on the side table of the Church or on the Shrine Website.

WORKING BEE

The next working bee will be on Saturday 12th April 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
Next morning tea will be Sunday 27th April 2025. All Welcome!

PASSION PLAY
The annual reenactment of the Lord’s Passion (Passion Play) will take place in the Shrine, commencing at 11am on Good Friday 18th April 2025. 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.

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 (15th June).

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
PALM SUNDAY (13th April)
8am – Mass commencing from the front door of the Monastery
9:30am – CANCELLED
11am – Solemn Mass with Procession commencing from the Statue of St John Paul
This day is also Fatima day, the usual schedule will be followed, please bring along palm fronds or olive branches.

11am – Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday & Holy Wednesday (14th, 15th & 16th April)

HOLY THURSDAY (17th April)
No Mass at 11am
6pm – Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper (with washing of the feet and procession to the Altar of Repose)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – until midnight

GOOD FRIDAY (18th April)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am until 10pm
11am – Passion Play (commencing at the front of the property)
3pm – Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion (In the Shrine Church)
5pm – Novena to Divine Mercy 7pm – Vespers (Prayer of the Church)

HOLY SATURDAY (19th April)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am to Midday
8:30am – Lauds (Prayer of the Church) 11:30am – Novena to the Divine Mercy
6pm – Solemn Mass of the Easter Vigil

EASTER SUNDAY (20th April)
8am, 9:30am & 11am – Solemn Mass of Easter Sunday
Divine Mercy Novena – immediately following each of the Masses

EASTER OCTAVE (21st-27th April)
11am – Mass followed by the Novena to the Divine Mercy.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (27th April)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday
2pm – Divine Mercy Holy Hour (Confession available)