Here are the announcements for the Solemnity of the Body & Blood of Christ, the 7th of June:
SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI)
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi is celebrated today, Sunday, 7th June 2026. Following the 8am and 9:30am Masses, there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and silent Adoration.
After the Solemn Mass at 11am, there will be a Eucharistic procession concluding with Solemn Benediction at the main Altar of the Shrine Church. All are invited to come along and participate!
WORKING BEE
The next working bee will be Saturday, 18th July 2026. Mass will be celebrated in the Shrine Church at 8:15am, and work will commence 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.
HOLY WATER BOTTLES
Over the past few months, the Shrine has been trialling the provision of bottles for pilgrims to take Holy Water if they have no receptacle of their own. The recommended donation for a bottle is $5, which covers the purchase of the bottle, cap, and label, not counting the Fathers and Brothers’ effort in picking them up and assembling them, which is a labour of love for the Shrine and her people. It has come to our attention that some people think the price is for purchasing Holy Water.
PLEASE NOTE: the cost is only for the bottle, NOT the Holy Water. No blessed items may be sold; otherwise, they lose their blessing, which would be a violation of the Code of Canon Law.
FATIMA DAY
The main Celebrant for June will be the Most Reverend Michael Kennedy DD, Bishop of Newcastle-Maitland.
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.
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.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Last week, a Sacred Host was found left on one of the candlesticks at the Altar of St John Paul II. This is a sacrilege that has occurred, and the Pauline community has prayed and offered prayers in reparation for this sacrilege and all blasphemies against the Blessed Sacrament.
This is a twofold announcement:
Firstly: Please be vigilant in the Shrine Church and the grounds. If you come upon a Sacred Host, please take it to the Monastery; there is always someone in residence, and they can take the Host off of you and deal with it accordingly.
Secondly: Please consume the Sacred Host in front of the Minister (especially in the hand) before returning to your position. As is always the case, one should be prepared for proper reception of the Eucharist by being in a state of grace, if not go to confession, ensure that a fast of an hour from food and drink (water and medication excepted) before receiving Holy Communion and finally prepare spiritually by praying and making time to pray before and after Holy Communion.