Here are the announcements for the Third Sunday of Easter, the 19th of April:
NOVENA TO THE DIVINE MERCY
Thank you to all Pilgrims who sent in their intentions for the Novena to Divine Mercy and all those who participated in the celebration of Divine Mercy at Penrose Park
PASSION PLAY
A very heartfelt THANK YOU to all cast and crew who participated in the annual Passion play. Good Friday was a great success drawing over 5000 pilgrims to the Shrine. This will only get bigger and better in the years to come. God bless you all.
This year as well the Shrine was forced to implement a traffic management plan to assist with getting people across the highway and onto the Hanging Rock Road. The was through engaging a Traffic control company though the final approval had to be given by Transport NSW. This can to a final cost of $28,000.00 to the Shrine and will be a regular thing.
Fr Richard now has time to find funding and other forms of assistance to make next year smoother but, it is more reasonable than the forced 3 week notice he recieved before the Passion Play. The Passion play will go ahead each year but we will need assistance in funding but also please, if you are considering coming, please plan your trip so as you can arrive by about 9am-10am. This will allow plenty of time to park and to walk about the Shrine.
FATIMA DAY
Thank you to Fr Richard Green OSPPE, Prior & Rector of Penrose Park and Vicar Provincial of the Australian Pauline Province for being the celebrant of the Mass and Thank you to Fr Mateusz Markiewicz, Canon Lawyer of the Archdiocese of Sydney for preaching the Homily and for leading the Procession and devotions at the grotto.
The Celebrant for the 13th May will be the Very Reverend Jaroslaw Zan OSPPE, Priorvincial Superior of the Australian Pauline Province as well as Prior & Rector of the Shrine of Marian Valley, Canungra.
WORKING BEE
The next working bee will be Saturday 16th May 2026. Mass will be celebrated in the Shrine Church at 8:15am and the work commences around 9am. 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.
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).
25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORONATION OF THE ICON OF THE BLACK MADONNA
This year, here at Penrose Park, we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of the Icon of the Black Madonna.
The Mass took place on 26th August 2001. The crowns, Blessed by St John Paul II, were placed on the icon by the Papal Nuncio at the time, the Most Reverend Francesco Canalini and the late Bishop Peter Ingham, Bishop of Wollongong.
The main celebration of the anniversary will take place on Sunday 23rd August 2026. More specific details of the celebration will be published in the upcoming bulletins and on the Shrine website.