Here are the announcements for the 1st Sunday of Lent, the 22nd of February:
STATION OF THE CROSS
During the season of Lent, on Friday and Saturday, the usual devotions after Mass will be replaced with the praying of the Stations of the Cross. Confessions will be available during the Stations.
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 (31st May).
FIRST SATURDAY & LENTEN RETREAT
Saturday, 7th of March, 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.
ANNUAL LEAVE
Welcome back to Fr Richard, Prior and Rector who has returned from annual leave refreshed and ready for the year ahead. Br Matthew has gone on annual leave, we wish him a happy and relaxing holiday.
FATIMA DAY – 13th March 2026
A Big Thank you to Fr Joseph Maria, Subprior and Vice Rector for celebrating Fatima day last week. The celebrant for March will be His Eminence Cardinal Mykola Bychok.
WORKING BEE
Thank you to everyone who came and participated in the February working bee. The next working bee will be on Saturday, 21st March 2026. 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.
NOVENA TO ST JOSEPH
The novena to St Joseph, is currently being celebrated from 10th – 18th March 2026. Thank you to everyone who sent in their intentions and donations. St Joseph, pray for us!
NOVENA TO THE DIVINE MERCY
The novena to Divine Mercy, will be celebrated from Good Friday 3rd – Divine Mercy Sunday 12th April 2026. Forms can be found at the side table in the Shrine Church.
PASSION PLAY
The annual reenactment of the Lord’s Passion (Passion Play) will take place in the Shrine, commencing at 11am on Good Friday 3rd April 2026. 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.
LEAVING OF RELIGIOUS ARTICLES
It is requested that people do not leave flyers, leaflets or other devotional items on the side table of the Church without permission from either Fr Joseph Maria or Fr Richard.
It is also requested that people not leave broken or damaged religious items they no longer want around the chapels or shrine grounds. And ABSOLUTELY NO lighting of candles during summer outside due to the Fire Hazard of doing so.