Here are the announcements for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 16th of November:
FATIMA DAY
A Huge THANK YOU to Fr Anthony Robbie, Parish Priest of Bondi, for accepting to be the main celebrant and homilist for Fatima day, 13th November. For December 13th, Fr. Jeremy Santoso, assistant Priest of St Margaret Mary’s, Merrylands, will be the main celebrant.
THE PROMISE – DIOCESE OF WOLLONGONG ADVENT & CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS
Each Advent, the Diocese of Wollongong produce a lovely booklet to help people prepare for and celebrate the season of Christmas. This year, the theme is “The Promise”. The booklets are for sale at the side table in the Shrine Church. They are $10 each and include daily reflections for Advent and the Christmas season. The reflections are written by various Priests and Religious, both from the Diocese of Wollongong and nationwide, including a reflection from the Shrine’s Prior, Fr Richard. Please support the work of the Diocese and purchase a copy, as this publication is intended to help us all prepare spiritually for the birth of the Saviour.
NOVEMBER – MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS
It’s traditional in the Church to pray for the faithful departed during the month of November. From the 1st-30th November, the 11am Mass will be offered to pray for all those who have died. For those wishing to add the names of loved ones, forms are available on the side table in the Church. Forms and donations can be placed in one of the wooden offering boxes, handed in to a community member, or placed in the collection. Alternatively, forms and donations can be made online via the Shrine website. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord!
WORKING BEE
Thank you to everyone who came along and participated in the working bee yesterday. The next working bee will be on Saturday, 20th December 2025. Please consider coming along and helping to keep the Shrine beautiful for our local area and the pilgrims who visit. This Shrine is a treasure to the Order, the Diocese, and the country; any help or talent is always most welcome. Please speak to Fr. Joseph Maria, Subprior, for more information or specifics.
MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS AT THE OLD MONASTERY.
This morning, there will be morning tea up at the Old Monastery. All welcome!!!
PILGRIMAGE OF THE MIGRANT JUBILEE CROSS
The Diocese of Wollongong are excited to be hosting a section of the Pilgrimage of the Migrant Jubilee Cross 2025-2026, between 15 and 23 November this year. The Jubilee Cross has been crafted as a tangible symbol of the Church as a place of refuge and solidarity. It acknowledges and celebrates the deep faith and contributions that migrant Communities bring to the Australian Church. It houses sacred relics of the Holy Family and St Mary.
MacKillop. In our diocese, the Cross will begin its journey as part of the existing Diocesan Pilgrimage to Milton-Ulladulla on Saturday, 15 November. It will travel through various parish communities before reaching the Cathedral on Fri, 21 November, where it will stay until Sunday.
The Cross will be hosted at Penrose Park on Monday, 17th November 2025, commencing with a Solemn Mass at 11am. After the Mass, the Cross will be available for veneration. The day will end at 3pm with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and a special pilgrim’s Benediction with the Cross. All Welcome!!!
The Cross will also be hosted at St Paul’s International College on Wednesday, 19th November 2025. The schedule for the visit is as follows: 8:45am – Whole school assembly, 9:15am – Welcome of the Cross, 9:30am – Procession to the Chapel, 9:40am – Liturgy, 10am – Confessions available, 10:30am – Mass in the Chapel, 11am – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, 3:30pm – Talk on “The Cross” by Deacon Lukasz Golab, 4pm – Benediction & Conclusion
PROVINCIAL CHAPTER OF THE PAULINE FATHERS AND BROTHERS, AUSTRALIA
From Tuesday, 18th November to Thursday, 20th November 2025, at Penrose Park, the Fathers and Brothers of the Australian Pauline Province will be gathering for their Elective Chapter, chaired by the Father General of the Order, Fr Arnold Chrapkowski OSPPE. This is an essential time in the life of the Province. Please keep the Province in your prayers at this time.
DECEMBER FIRST SATURDAY RETREAT DAY
Saturday, the 6th of December, we will have our First Saturday Devotions in Honour of Our Lady, as she requested during the apparitions at Fatima. In addition to the Advent Season, we will have an extended program to turn the day into a full-day Advent retreat. The retreat is Free to attend with No Booking. BYO lunch, but tea and coffee are provided in the Marquee. The program will be as follows:
- 10am Advent Reflection – Fr Joseph Maria
- 10:30am Meditation before the Blessed Sacrament and Confession
- 11am Mass
- 12 noon Rosary Procession around 5 Altars of the Church
- 12:30pm BYO Lunch
- 1:30pm Advent devotions based on the Jessie Tree
- 2:00pm Reflection – Fr Isidore Enyinnaya