Category: Announcements

The work on the Shrine Church has started, so pilgrims are requested to be careful around the Church and be respectful of the workers.

The details of what is happening are as follows, as announced in last Sunday’s Bulletin:

Major work on the Shrine Church will commence on Wednesday 14th August. Originally the work was to commence on Wednesday 7th August, Fr Richard was contacted last Monday morning (5th August) that due to delays in previous jobs, Penrose Park will now have work starting a week later. The copper gutters will all be repined and all galvanised down pipes, gutters and flashings (which have rotted through with age) will be replaced. The total cost of the job is $29,000.00. The work will take about 6-8 working days to complete and will be done by a local company, Reliable roofing from Moss Vale.

For anyone who would like to donate towards the renovation work please speak to Fr Richard, alternatively you can use the tap and go points or make a direct transfer to the Pauline Fathers. Details are as follows: BSB: 062 576 Account Number: 00910786 Account Name: Order of St Paul the Hermit

When the work commences, weekday Mass will be celebrated in the Old monastery. Sunday Masses will be in the Church as usual. Thank you for your understanding and also a huge thank you to those who have already made donations towards the work. Thank you for your generosity.

Let us pray for the repose of Bishop Peter’s soul. He was a close friend of the Shrine and a Confrator of the Pauline Order.
Eternal rest grant unto Bishop Peter, O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Our Lady of Mercy, pray for him.
St Paul the first hermit, pray for him

We have started an Instagram account for those who want to follow us there as well.

https://www.instagram.com/shrineofourladyofmercy/

Today, we started the Novena to St Joseph in preparation for his feast day. If you would still like to add your intentions to the St Joseph Novena Masses, you can do so online.

UPDATE: After just over 24 hours power is back.

Dear pilgrims to the Shrine we had a major thunderstorm this afternoon that has taken out power to the Shrine and sounding properties. Endeavour Energy has been and assessed the situation and given the prediction that along with all the other jobs around the area that it could be 12-24 hours before power is restored. Therefore we are altering all pilgrims that there will be inconvenience at the shrine and recommend if you are planing to visit that you postpone the trip. When the situation changes you will be duely alerted. All means of communication are down (no phone and internet). Please share this post so we can reach as many people as possible. – Fr Richard

The December Working Bee will be on Saturday 16th December and will conclude at about 1 pm. After this, we invite all volunteers and their families of the Shrine to come along for a Christmas BBQ at the Monastery. This is a chance to get together before the busy time of Christmas and for the Pauline Community to THANK YOU for all your wonderful service throughout the year. Please RSVP to Fr Richard asap.

During our monthly working bee on the 16th of December, we are going to continue the work begun last month cleaning up the dead wood around the chapels at the back of the property. The goal of doing so will be:

• We want our Shrine to look as beautiful as possible to be spiritually uplifting to the pilgrims that come.
• It is said to be a high-risk fire season coming, so we want to be as prepared as possible.
• The general safety of those who walk around the Shrine property.

The program for the day would be:

• Mass at around 8:15 am in the Shrine Church
• Begin work at 9 am at the back of the property
• BBQ lunch around 1 pm

The work will be everything from collecting small branches to large logs, loading them in a trailer and putting them in an open field where they can be burnt next winter.

Solid shoes and gloves would be a must. Anyone who can bring a chainsaw to help cut up logs or a trailer to help move them is encouraged to bring them.

The proposed sand quarry, which is to be located behind the grotto and will affect five properties along Hanging Rock Road and many others between Penrose Park and Sally’s Corner, is submitting for approval a revised development application. This quarry is for 30 years and will be in operation 24/7. This is something we oppose along with many of the local residents for several important reasons, such as pollution of the water table, silica dust, noise, increased traffic, devastation to the local flora and fauna, especially wildlife and, of course, the ruination of this beautiful part of the state. We ask you to please help us oppose this quarry as we only have until 04/12/23 to submit concerns/objections. Individual and collective submissions can be made on the Department of Planning and Environmental portal at:
www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/sutton-forest-sand-quarry
More information can be found on the side table in the Church, as well as the brief from the “Save our Sands” local action group.

More information on saveoursandsalliance.com.

Also, we have a ready formatted submission that can be used. See the following file.

During our monthly working bee on the 3rd Saturday of the month (21st of October) we are looking to begin cleaning up the dead wood around the chapels at the back of the property. See attached photos to get an idea of what we are going to do. The goal of doing so will be:

• We want our Shrine to look as beautiful as possible to be spiritually uplifting to the pilgrims that come.
• It is said to be a high-risk fire season coming, so we want to be as prepared as possible.
• The general safety of those that walk around the Shrine property.

The program for the day would be:

• Mass at around 8:15am in the Shrine Church
• Begin work at 9am at the back of the property
• BBQ lunch around 1:30pm
• Finish around 5:30pm (for those that can stay the whole day).

The work will be everything from collecting small branches to large logs, loading them in a trailer and putting them in an open field where they can be burnt next winter.

Solid shoes and gloves would be a must. Anyone who can bring a chainsaw to help cut up logs or a tailer to help move them is encouraged to bring them.

We would like to congratulate Br Augustine Apolloni, who renewed his religious vows for another year last Sunday, the 6th of August. This is a very important moment for him during his formation and discernment of his vocation with the Order of St Paul the First Hermit. We ask you to continue to keep him in your prayers.