This year we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of the Icon of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine, details of the anniversary celebrations at the end of the post. Here is a short article, as it appeared in The Catholic Weekly announcing the Coronation.
Coronation of icon at monastery – The Catholic Weekly August 12, 2001
The veneration of Our Lady through the use of icons has been an important popular devotion in the Catholic faith for hundreds of years.
The Pope [John Paul II] himself is reported to have a special devotion to the Black Madonna icon in Czestochowka, Poland.
The practice of depicting the Virgin Mary wearing a crown came into use in the era of the Council of Ephesus in the 5th century. It became widespread in the West from the late 16th century, endorsed by popes who carried out the coronation of Marian images.
The Pauline Fathers at Penrose Park are continuing this tradition by hosting a ceremony of coronation of the Icon of Our Lady of Merc on Sunday, August 26.
Icons are already blessed objects; the crowns are usually blessed by the priest.
The crowns to be used at Penrose Park were blessed by Pope John Paul II in Rome in May.
The coronation will take place during a Solemn Mass celebrated at 11am by Archbishop Francesco Canalini, Apostolic Nuncio, and Wollongong’s Bishop Peter Ingham.
The Mass will be followed at 1pm by a presentation of religious music and at 2:15pm by a rosary procession in various languages.
Here are some photos from the occasion (please note these will not appear in the emailed version of this post):
25th Anniversary Program
The Solemnity will be celebrated on Sunday 23rd August 2026 for the good of the Pilgrims
8am: Mass in the Shrine Church 9am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Lauds in the Shrine Church 9:30am: Usual Mass is CANCELLED! 10:30am: Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and singing of the Pauline Litany of the B.V.M (Kleczki) 11am: Solemn Reception of the Most Rev Brian Mascord DD and Solemn Mass of the Anniversary
The Solemnity Proper is celebrated on Wednesday 26th August 2026
9:30am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Lauds in the Shrine Church 10:30am: Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and singing of the Pauline Litany of the B.V.M 11am: Solemn Mass of the Solemnity / Anniversary celebrated by Very Rev Jaroslaw Zan OSPPE
