Here are the announcements for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the 17th of March:
SOLEMNITY OF ST PATRICK & ST JOSEPH
The Solemnity of St Patrick (Patron of Australia) is liturgically celebrated this year on Monday 18th March and the Solemnity of St Joseph is celebrated as per usual on Tuesday 19th March. There will be a Solemn Mass celebrated on each of these days at 11am. Please come along and participate and let us pray for our country and for our Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
CONGRATULATIONS
This past week Fr Richard has been been elected and appointed as the representative for Religious on the Council of Priests for the Diocese of Wollongong. Please keep him in your prayers as he begins this new appointment.
PASCHAL PRECEPT
A reminder that all Catholics are obliged to go the Confession and Communion at least once a year between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday (15th June 2024).
CONFESSIONS BEFORE EASTER
Next Sunday, Palm Sunday (24th March) Confession will be available 30 minutes before and during the usual scheduled Masses. This is to give all pilgrims a chance to go to reconciliation before Easter.
THE LENTEN SEASON
The stations of the cross will be prayed each Friday & Saturday after the 11am Mass during which confession will also be available.
PASSION PLAY
The annual reenactment of the Lord’s Passion (Passion Play) will take place in the Shrine, commencing at 11am on Good Friday 29th March. 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.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday (24th March)
8am & 9:30am – Mass commencing from the front door of the Monastery
11am – Solemn Mass with Procession commencing from the Statue of St John Paul II
11am – Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday & Wednesday (25th, 26th & 27th March)
Holy Thursday (28th March)
No Mass at 11am
6pm – Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper (with washing of the feet)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – until midnight
Good Friday (29th March)
11am – Passion Play (commencing at the front gate of the property)
3pm – Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
5pm – Novena to Divine Mercy
7pm – Vespers (Prayer of the Church)
Adoration at the Altar of Repose – 8am until 10pm
Holy Saturday (30th March)
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 Easter Vigil Mass
Easter Sunday (31st March)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Easter Sunday
Divine Mercy Novena – immediately following each of the Masses
Easter Octave (1st-6th April)
11am Mass followed by the Novena to the Divine Mercy.
Divine Mercy Sunday (7th April)
8am & 9:30am
11am – Solemn Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday
2pm – Divine Mercy Holy Hour (Confession available)