17 December 2021 · 2021-12 newsletter
On Sunday 14th November, a crowd of around 250 people gathered to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the blessing of the Schoenstatt Shrine at Mt Richon. The day was beautifully warm and sunny, as people filled the seats under the shade of a large marquee.
After a gathering hymn, the outdoor Holy Mass was celebrated by Bishop Don Sproxton, with Fr Matteo Verdi and Deacon Patrick Moore from Armadale Parish, Fr Antony Suresh from Kalamunda Parish and Fr Richard Charlwood from Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maylands all con-celebrating.
In the bishop’s homily, he highlighted the Shrine as ‘a home for us, where the Lord enables us to accept the grace of living our faith. It is a place that restores us to be able to live that faith, and enables us to witness that faith to others. It is a sign of God’s presence among us. We thank the Lord for all the work needed to build and maintain this Shrine, and the constant number of visitors who receive so much here, because this chapel stands at this spot. We thank God and the sisters, and those who worked with them, to enable us to have this wonderful gift in our Archdiocese.’
Following the homily, seven Pilgrim Shrines were blessed by the bishop. These images of Jesus and his Mother Mary will now travel among a number of homes in the Parishes of Bateman, Whitfords, Thornlie, Maida Vale and in the Light of Jesus Perth Family community, South of the River, to encourage prayer in families.
Many visited the festively decorated Shrine at the conclusion of Mass, then gathered at Emilie House to enjoy fellowship and an abundance of food, with some even sharing their memories of the building of the Shrine 30 years ago. Many commented that the celebration was ‘uplifting’ ‘with a prayerful atmosphere’ ‘a beautiful celebration’ and that they were ‘happy to have come.’
Someone who received one of the Pilgrim Shrines said: ‘Our Lady is already working miracles of grace even before she comes to visit my home’ and she then shared a specific grace she recently received; while another one said: ‘I was so looking forward to this day, when I will receive the Pilgrim Mother Shrine. Now I am so happy to have her with me!’
Special thanks to the many who helped prepare the event, not least to those who provided such a bountiful spread for all to share.
More photos can be viewed on www.schoenstattwa.org.au
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