Today the 24th of May, on the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia, we also celebrate the day that our Church was Blessed and Dedicated in 1997.
Next week, on the Saturday 6th of May, is the First Saturday of the Month and we will be celebrating it according to what Our Lady asked at Fatima.
The program of the day will be as follows:
Our Lady made several promises connected to keeping the First Saturday Devotions for five consecutive months, which are the salvation of your soul, the salvation of sinners and peace in the world.
The Pauline Fathers and Brothers of Australia gathered at our Monastery of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy for a post-Easter Provincial Gathering.
We thank all our Fathers and Brothers from Marian Valley – Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians, St. Margaret Mary’s Merrylands, and St. Gertrude’s Smithfield for coming to visit us.
Here are some photos from The Re-enactment of Our Lord’s Passion – The Good Friday “Passion Play” that happened last week. We had over 3000 people attend this event, and we pray they went away moved by remembering what Christ did in atonement for our sins.
We would like to thank Fr. Wojciech Śliwa, who came to be the Main Celebrant for our Fatima Day this April.
Despite the wet weather, we managed to complete our procession to the grotto to give honour to Mary and glory and praise to God.
There are no photos of the procession because Fr Joseph Maria who takes the photos was leading the rosary instead. We would love help with this in the future.
Over the weekend, the team behind The Re-enactment of Our Lord’s Passion – The Good Friday “Passion Play” did their dress rehearsal at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy – Penrose Park. Photos by Giovanni Portelli are below.
The re-enactment, a retelling of the Passion of the Lord, the Stations of the Cross with actors doing the parts, will be this coming Good Friday at 11 am. There will be NO limits on the numbers. Everyone can come.
At 3 pm on Good Friday, there will be the service of the Commemoration of Our Lord’s Passion ( In Shrine Church) After the beginning of the Novena to Divine Mercy and Adoration of the Cross. Church closes at 7 pm.
Holy Week has now begun with Palm Sunday, which was celebrated with a procession to commemorate the Entrance of Our Lord into Jerusalem, starting outside the church.
Mass times for Holy Week and beyond are as follows:
Holy Week Schedule:
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper – 6th of April: at St Paul’s Moss Vale at 6 pm
Adoration at the altar of Repose 7 – 9 pm
Good Friday – 7th of April: (day of Fasting and Abstinence – No Meat)
11 am Re-enactment of Lord’s Passion ( Passion Play)
3 pm Commemoration of Our Lord’s Passion ( In Shrine Church)
After the commencement of Novena to Divine Mercy and Adoration of the Cross. Church closes at 7 pm.
Holy Saturday – 8th of April: No morning Mass. Adoration of the cross 9-12 pm, concluding with Novena to Divine Mercy.
Easter Vigil: 6 pm
Easter Sunday, 9th of April: Mass times as usual, 8 am English Mass followed by Divine Mercy Novena, 9:30 am Polish Mass, 11 am English Mass
Easter Octave:
Easter Monday: 11 am Mass followed by Divine Mercy Novena.
Easter Tuesday: 11 am Mass followed by Divine Mercy Novena
Easter Wednesday: 11 am Mass followed by Divine Mercy Novena.
Easter Thursday – Fatima Day – 13th of April: ( normal Fatima day schedule, Divine Mercy Novena at Devotions at grotto).
Easter Friday and Easter Saturday: 11 am Mass followed by Novena to Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Sunday – 16th of April: Mass times as usual 8 am Mass, 11 am Mass followed by the chaplet of Divine Mercy. 9:30 am Polish Mass with chaplet to follow.
Divine Mercy Holy Hour 2 pm – 3 pm at Divine Mercy side altar.
Today we started our new First Saturday Program at 10 am with a spiritual talk followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and confession. Mass followed at the daily Mass time of 11 am. After Mass there was a Rosary Procession around five of the side altars in the Church.
You can watch Fr. Joseph Maria’s talk based on the book “True Devotion to Mary” below.
Today we were honoured by the presence of Bishop Brian Mascord for the installation of Fr. Richard Green as Rector of the Shrine.
On Sunday after the 8 am Mass Fr. Joseph Maria Blessed and Opened the New Religious Gift Shop that has been built near the Church.
