Here are the announcements for the 4th Sunday of Lent, the 15th of March:
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
Thank you to everyone who came along and participated in the March First Saturday Lenten Retreat Day.
Please note: The First Saturday of April (4th) is also Holy Saturday. Traditionally the Church does not celebrate Mass on that day as we await outside the tomb for Christ to Rise. The regular First Saturday schedule will NOT take place this day but the Church will be open for Adoration at the Altar of Repose.
ANNUAL LEAVE
Welcome back to Br Matthew who has returned from annual leave.
FATIMA DAY – 13th March 2026
A Big THANK YOU to His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok for accepting our invitation to be the Celebrant for Fatima day. It was a wonderful day and his words were most inspiring.
The Celebrant for April will be the Very Rev Richard Green OSPPE, Prior & Rector of Penrose Park and Vicar Provincial of the Australian Pauline Province.
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. Forms can be found at the side table in the Shrine Church. 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.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
PALM SUNDAY (29th March)
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
please bring along palm fronds or olive branches.
11am – Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday & Holy Wednesday (30th, 31st March & 1st April)
HOLY THURSDAY (2nd 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 (3rd 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 (4th April)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am to Midday
8:30am – Lauds (Prayer of the Church) 11:30am – Novena to the Divine Mercy
7pm – Solemn Mass of the Easter Vigil
EASTER SUNDAY (5th April)
8am, 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Easter Sunday
Divine Mercy Novena – immediately following each of the Masses
EASTER OCTAVE (6th-11th April)
11am – Mass followed by the Novena to the Divine Mercy.
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (12th April)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday
2pm – Divine Mercy Holy Hour (Confession available)