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First Saturday & Lenten Retreat – Saturday 5th of April

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Saturday, the 5th of April, we will have our First Saturday Devotions in Honour of Our Lady, as she requested during the apparitions at Fatima. In addition for the Lenten Season, we will have an extended program to turn the day into a full-day Lenten retreat.

The program will be as follows:

10 am Lenten Reflection – Fr Richard
10:30 am Meditation before the Blessed Sacrament and Confession
11 am Mass
12-noon Rosary Procession around 5 Altars of the Church
12:30 pm BYO Lunch
1:30 pm Stations of the Cross
2:00 pm Reflection – Old Testament Prophecies on the Crucifixion – Fr Joseph Maria

The retreat is Free to attend with No Booking. BYO lunch, but tea and coffee are provided in the Old Monastery.

Fr Richard’s talk form the First Saturday in March 2025 can be watched below.

March Working Bee – Saturday 15th

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Please consider coming along to our working bee on Saturday the 15th of March 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.
  • Fixing a fence.
  • 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.

Stations of the Cross

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For those who would like to pray the Stations of the Cross during this season of Lent, the version used at Penrose Park from the Pauline Prayer Book is now available to all Pilgrims on YouTube.

The Stations of the Cross are prayed at the Shrine every Friday and Saturday during Lent after the 11am Mass. The live reenactment of the Lord’s Passion is on Good Friday the 18th of April at 11am.

Lord Jesus Crucified, have mercy on us!

St. Joseph Statue

Novena to St Joseph

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From 10th to the 18th of March the Pauline Fathers offer a Novena to St. Joseph remembering the requested intentions at Mass.

For those wishing to include intentions for the novena (these will be place upon the High Altar), slips can be found at the side table of the Church. Intentions can be left in one of the offering boxes in the Church, handed back to one of the Fathers or Brothers or put into the collection basket. Intentions can also submitted online on the St Joseph Novena page.

Announcements for the 1st Sunday in Lent

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Here are the announcements for the 1st Sunday in Lent, the 9th of March:

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.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER LIST ANNUAL MASS OF THANKSGIVING

The Intercessory Prayer List group are members who offer prayers for the sick of the parish. There are no meetings to attend! A monthly list is sent out to the Prayer Team via email, with updates through the month. It is a very valuable asset to the Parish and many blessings have been granted through the prayers of the team. We will be having our annual thanksgiving Mass (to thank God for blessings we have received) on Sunday 16th March at 8am at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy, Penrose Park. Followed by morning tea. You are all welcome! Please consider joining our Prayer Team. Contact us on mvprayerlist@gmail.com

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.

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).

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

Fatima Day – March 2025

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As always on the 13th of the Month, we will honour the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Shrine with our Fatima Day. The main celebrant for Fatima Day on the 13th of March 2025 will be Fr Casimir Zielinski.

The program is as follows:

  • 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.

Announcements for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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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

Announcements for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Here are the announcements for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 23rd of February:

YEAR OF JUBILEE 2025

Bishop Brian Mascord, Bishop of Wollongong has appointed 6 Churches as official pilgrimage sites during this year of Jubilee. The Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy Penrose Park is one of those six, which Bishop Brian came to inaugurate here on the 12th of January. Therefore during this year, anyone coming on pilgrimage to the Shrine can gain a Plenary indulgence (full remission of sin and the punishments incurred) by fulfilling the requirements of: Visiting the Shrine, Confession, Mass with Holy Communion and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father. This is a great honour for the Shrine, and we welcome all our pilgrims to come along and celebrate the Jubilee year. Events will be planned throughout the year, so please stay tuned to our website and social media for more information.

ANNUAL LEAVE
From 18th January 2025, Fr Richard, Prior & Rector of the Shrine will be on annual leave. During his absence, Fr Joseph Maria, Subprior & Vice Rector, will be in charge. We pray that Fr Richard will have a pleasant and safe holiday and come back refreshed.

WORKING BEE
Thank you to everyone who came along to help with the monthly working bee. All your help is greatly appreciated. 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)
From December 2024, there will be an opportunity for Pilgrims to have some quiet time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This will be on the First and Third weeks of the month from 12:15pm – 1:15pm. As always, it is important to have custodians to keep vigil of the Blessed Sacrament, so if there are any volunteers looking to commit, please let Fr Richard know.

MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS
The next morning tea after Mass will be on Sunday 16th March 2025. All Welcome!

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!

FIRST SATURDAY & LENTEN RETREAT

Saturday, the 5th of April, we will have our First Saturday Devotions in Honour of Our Lady, as she requested during the apparitions at Fatima. In addition for the Lenten Season, we will have an extended program to turn the day into a full-day Lenten retreat. The retreat will start at 10 am and finish at 3 pm. The retreat is Free to attend with No Booking. BYO lunch, but tea and coffee are provided in the Old Monastery.

Announcements for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Here are the announcements for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 16th of February:

YEAR OF JUBILEE 2025

Bishop Brian Mascord, Bishop of Wollongong has appointed 6 Churches as offical pilgrimage sites during this year of Jubilee. The Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy Penrose Park is one of those six, which Bishop Brian came to inaugurate here on the 12th of January. Therefore during this year, anyone coming on pilgrimage to the Shrine can gain a Plenary indulgence (full remission of sin and the punishments incurred) by fulfilling the requirements of: Visiting the Shrine, Confession, Mass with Holy Communion and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father. This is a great honour for the Shrine, and we welcome all our pilgrims to come along and celebrate the Jubilee year. Events will be planned throughout the year, so please stay tuned to our website and social media for more information.

ANNUAL LEAVE
From 18th January 2025, Fr Richard, Prior & Rector of the Shrine will be on annual leave. During his absence, Fr Joseph Maria, Subprior & Vice Rector, will be in charge. We pray that Fr Richard will have a pleasant and safe holiday and come back refreshed.

WORKING BEE
Thank you to everyone who came along to help with the monthly working bee. All your help is greatly appreciated. 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)
From December 2024, there will be an opportunity for Pilgrims to have some quiet time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This will be on the First and Third weeks of the month from 12:15pm – 1:15pm. As always, it is important to have custodians to keep vigil of the Blessed Sacrament, so if there are any volunteers looking to commit, please let Fr Richard know.

MORNING TEA AFTER 8AM MASS
The next morning tea after Mass will be on Sunday 16th February 2025. All Welcome!

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!

FIRST SATURDAY & LENTEN RETREAT

Saturday, the 5th of April, we will have our First Saturday Devotions in Honour of Our Lady, as she requested during the apparitions at Fatima. In addition for the Lenten Season, we will have an extended program to turn the day into a full-day Lenten retreat. The retreat will start at 10 am and finish at 3 pm. The retreat is Free to attend with No Booking. BYO lunch, but tea and coffee are provided in the Old Monastery.

Feburary Working Bee – Saturday 15th

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Please consider coming along to our working bee on Saturday the 15th of Febuary 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:

  • Tidying up the leftover bricks from the building project.
  • Trimming bushes and plants.
  • Cleaning gutters.
  • Painting around the entrance.
  • Fixing some sunken pavers.
  • Cleaning the chapels.
  • Moving plants.
  • Edging a garden.
  • Trimming the grass off the drive.

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.