Month: September 2026

Here are the announcements for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 27th of September:

FATIMA DAY
The main celebrant for October will be the Most Reverend Columba MacBeth Green OSPPE DD, Bishop of Wolcannia-Forbes.

APPOINTMENT TO PENROSE PARK
As of the 5th October 2026, Fr Peter James Strohmayer OSPPE, has been appointed to the Pauline community of Penrose Park.

Fr Peter has spent the last few years as Parish Priest of St Gertrude’s, Smithfield and has worked in the Parish of St Margaret Mary’s, Merrylands, prior to that.

We welcome Fr Peter into the community and we pray that he will have a productive ministry here at the Shrine.

25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORONATION OF OUR LADY OF MERCY
There are a few more celebrations organised to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Coronation so please stay tuned to the bulletin and the Shrine Social media for updates.

ANNUAL RETREAT
Every year the Pauline Fathers and Brothers gather for their annual retreat. The year the retreat was held at Marian Valley, Canungra, Queensland from Monday 21st September to Friday 25th September 2026. Thank you for keeping all the Fathers and Brothers in your prayers at this time. Each member has come back spiritually rejuvenated.

A big THANK YOU to Fr Isidore for looking after the Shrine while the rest of the community were away and for the volunteers that assisted him.

JUBILEE YEAR OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
We are in the midst of the Jubilee Year of St Francis, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of
the beloved Poor Man of Assisi. The Jubilee Year extends from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027.
The Apostolic Penitentiary has decreed that a Plenary Indulgence be granted to all the Faithful, “who, with a heart detached from sin, participate in the Year of Saint Francis by visiting, in the form of a pilgrimage, any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship anywhere in the world dedicated to Saint Francis or connected to him for any reason […] concluding with the Our Father, the Creed and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare and all the Saints of the Franciscan Family” (Decree, 16 January 2026).
To gain the special Jubilee indulgence within the Diocese of Wollongong, you are encouraged to make a pilgrimage, on any suitable day, to St Francis of Assisi Church, Warrawong or to St Michael’s Church, Thirroul and observe the conditions given above. Special Masses will be celebrated in both parishes for the Feast of St Francis on Sunday 4 October. May St Francis – whose life of holy simplicity renewed the Church and changed the course of history – intercede for us and inspire us to live the Gospel with our whole heart. Please contact the above parishes for further information. 

Here are the announcements for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 20th of September:

FATIMA DAY
A very big THANK YOU to Fr James “Jim” Mckay for being the celebrant and homilist for our September Fatima day celebrations. As always it was a successful day and as usual a Thank you to all volunteers who make make the day run smoothly.

The main celebrant for October will be the Most Reverend Columba MacBeth Green OSPPE DD, Bishop of Wolcannia-Forbes.

APPOINTMENT TO PENROSE PARK
As of the 5th October 2026, Fr Peter James Strohmayer OSPPE, has been appointed to the Pauline community of Penrose Park.

Fr Peter has spent the last few years as Parish Priest of St Gertrude’s, Smithfield and has worked in the Parish of St Margaret Mary’s, Merrylands, prior to that.

We welcome Fr Peter into the community and we pray that he will have a productive ministry here at the Shrine.

25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORONATION OF OUR LADY OF MERCY
There are a few more celebrations organised to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Coronation so please stay tuned to the bulletin and the Shrine Social media for updates.

ANNUAL LEAVE
Welcome back to Br Augustine, who has returned from annual leave.

PRIESTLY ORDINATION OF DCN SETH HARSH
A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Fr Seth Harsh who was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Wollongong on Saturday 12th September.

Please keep Fr Seth in your prayers as well as praying for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life both for the Diocese of Wollongong and the Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit.

ANNUAL RETREAT
Every year the Pauline Fathers and Brothers gather for their annual retreat. The year the retreat will be held at Marian Valley, Canungra, Queensland from Monday 21st September to Friday 25th September 2026. Please keep all the Fathers and Brothers in your prayers at this time.

Please note: Penrose Park will continue to be open each day during the retreat for pilgrims to come and visit. The 11am Mass will still be celebrated each day at the Shrine with confessions available by appointment only.

VOTIVE CANDLE STANDS
This is a periodic reminder that the votive candle stands are a unique burning system therefore ONLY the candles provided are to be used in them and not other forms of tea lights or candles as this is a fire hazard as well as it damages the glass holders and clogs them with wax. If you wish to make an offering of tea lights or candles please give them to someone in the Monastic community or leave them unlit on one of the side Altars.

JUBILEE YEAR OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
We are in the midst of the Jubilee Year of St Francis, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of
the beloved Poor Man of Assisi. The Jubilee Year extends from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027.
The Apostolic Penitentiary has decreed that a Plenary Indulgence be granted to all the Faithful, “who, with a heart detached from sin, participate in the Year of Saint Francis by visiting, in the form of a pilgrimage, any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship anywhere in the world dedicated to Saint Francis or connected to him for any reason […] concluding with the Our Father, the Creed and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare and all the Saints of the Franciscan Family” (Decree, 16 January 2026).
To gain the special Jubilee indulgence within the Diocese of Wollongong, you are encouraged to make a pilgrimage, on any suitable day, to St Francis of Assisi Church, Warrawong or to St Michael’s Church, Thirroul and observe the conditions given above. Special Masses will be celebrated in both parishes for the Feast of St Francis on Sunday 4 October. May St Francis – whose life of holy simplicity renewed the Church and changed the course of history – intercede for us and inspire us to live the Gospel with our whole heart. Please contact the above parishes for further information. 

Here are the announcements for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 13th of September:

FATIMA DAY
A huge THANK YOU to Fr James “Jim” Mckay for accepting the invitation to be todays main Celebrant and for his awe inspiring homily and reflection. Let us continue to keep him in our prayers as he ministers to the people on Ballarat and we also pray in thanskgiving to the Mckay family for the vocations they have given the Church in Fr Jim and Brother Luke.

The main celebrant for October will be the Most Reverend Columba MacBeth-Green OSPPE DD, Bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes.

PHOTO ALBUM OF THE CORONATION 2001
To mark the occassion of the 25th Anniversary of the Coronation of the Icon, a commemorative photo album has been put together and is available for sale in the piety shop. The album is $25 each.

A big Thank you to the Shrine Archivist, Jess Molloy for her hard work in putting together the album and making an important piece of histroy available to us.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF MERCY
Thank you to all who sent in intentions to be prayed for and for those who participated in the Novena. Our Lady of Mercy, Pray for us.

SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF MERCY
A hugh THANK YOU to everyone who was involved in the Solemnity / Anniversary celebrations for Our Lady of Mercy. Everything was a roaring success and a most fitting way of honouring God and His most Blessed Mother Mary.

In the coming months a new photo album will be made available for purchase covering the celebrations of the 23rd & 26th August 2026. The 25th anniversary celebrations of the Coronation of the Icon of the Black Madonna.

There will also be video of the Mass which will be posted onto the Shrine Social media in the coming weeks for the benefit of pilgrims to view.

VOTIVE CANDLE STANDS
This is a periodic reminder that the votive candle stands are a unique burning system therefore ONLY the candles provided are to be used in them and not other forms of tea lights or candles as this is a fire hazard as well as it damages the glass holders and clogs them with wax. If you wish to make an offering of tea lights or candles please give them to someone in the Monastic community or leave them unlit on one of the side Altars.

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 Buckley or Fr Richard Green. 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.

PRIESTLY ORDINATION OF FR SETH HARSH
We extend a very heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS on the ordination to the priesthood of Fr Seth Harsh, which was celebrated by Bishop Brian Mascord, on Saturday 12 September 2026 at 10:30am at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, Rosemeadow.

We pray for Fr Seth as he commences his Priestly ministry that the light of the Holy Spirit will constantly guide him and that he will al trust in the powerful intercession of our Lady. St John Vianney, Pray for Fr Seth.

Here are the announcements for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 6th of September:

FATIMA DAY
The main celebrant for September will be Fr James Mckay. Priest of the Ballarat Diocese and brother of Br Luke Mckay.

SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF MERCY
A hugh THANK YOU to everyone who was involved in the Solemnity celebrations for Our Lady of Mercy on Sunday 23rd August and Wednesday 26th August.

Everything was a roaring success and a most fitting way of honouring God and His most Blessed Mother Mary.

There are a few more celebrations organised to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Coronation so please stay tuned to the bulletin and the Shrine Social media for updates.

ANNUAL LEAVE
Br Augustine is on annual leave. We all pray that he has a joyful and relaxing holiday and that he return rejuvenated and ready to tackle the tasks of the Shrine.

PRIESTLY ORDINATION OF DCN SETH HARSH
All parishioners are warmly invited to share in the great joy of the ordination to the priesthood of Deacon Seth Harsh, celebrated by Bishop Brian Mascord, on Saturday 12 September 2026 at 10:30am at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, Rosemeadow.

Please come and support Seth with your presence and prayers as he takes this beautiful step in his vocation and begins his priestly ministry. RSVP is essential by 1 September 2026 rsvp.dow.org.au (preferred) or phone (02) 4222 2400.

ANNUAL RETREAT
Every year the Pauline Fathers and Brothers gather for their annual retreat. The year the retreat will be held at Marian Valley, Canungra, Queensland from Monday 21st September to Friday 25th September 2026. Please keep all the Fathers and Brothers in your prayers at this time.

Please note: Penrose Park will continue to be open each day during the retreat for pilgrims to come and visit. The 11am Mass will still be celebrated each day at the Shrine with confessions available by appointment only.

VOTIVE CANDLE STANDS
This is a periodic reminder that the votive candle stands are a unique burning system therefore ONLY the candles provided are to be used in them and not other forms of tea lights or candles as this is a fire hazard as well as it damages the glass holders and clogs them with wax. If you wish to make an offering of tea lights or candles please give them to someone in the Monastic community or leave them unlit on one of the side Altars.

JUBILEE YEAR OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI
We are in the midst of the Jubilee Year of St Francis, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of
the beloved Poor Man of Assisi. The Jubilee Year extends from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027.
The Apostolic Penitentiary has decreed that a Plenary Indulgence be granted to all the Faithful, “who, with a heart detached from sin, participate in the Year of Saint Francis by visiting, in the form of a pilgrimage, any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship anywhere in the world dedicated to Saint Francis or connected to him for any reason […] concluding with the Our Father, the Creed and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare and all the Saints of the Franciscan Family” (Decree, 16 January 2026).
To gain the special Jubilee indulgence within the Diocese of Wollongong, you are encouraged to make a pilgrimage, on any suitable day, to St Francis of Assisi Church, Warrawong or to St Michael’s Church, Thirroul and observe the conditions given above. Special Masses will be celebrated in both parishes for the Feast of St Francis on Sunday 4 October. May St Francis – whose life of holy simplicity renewed the Church and changed the course of history – intercede for us and inspire us to live the Gospel with our whole heart. Please contact the above parishes for further information.