17 February 2025 · 2025-02 newsletter
After the experience of last year, our young women in the Women’s Faith Club were keen to organise a get-away retreat for members and friends. We were blessed to be able to use a house in Ledge Point, about one hour North of the City centre which proved ideal for our group.
Our theme was: “Bringing Hope, that Does not Disappoint”. During our journeys both to and from our retreat venue, we visited jubilee sites of the Archdiocese of Perth.
On the first evening, we stopped and prayed the Stations of the Cross in Perth’s newest St John Paul II church in Banksia Grove and received a blessing by Fr Philip.
During the introduction to the retreat and the morning sessions we read about the jubilee year, the theme of conversion and striving for holiness which is at the heart of the jubilee indulgences. We also spoke about how we can imitate Mary as her living crowns.
During the afternoons and in the evenings, we took a rosary walk, and had discussion groups in the beautiful surroundings. We were also able to relax and go for a swim as well as decorate ornamental frames for MTA pictures.
We joined the local Catholics for the vigil Mass at the Yanchep Beach Primary School, and on the Sunday, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we attended Mass at Lancelin.
We were delighted that Fr Thomas Zureich, the local priest, was able to join us after the Mass for a time with the Eucharistic Lord for a time of adoration and the sacrament of penance in our chapel area of the house.
During the final evening, each participant wrote a prayer about how they want to be a living crown of Mary and in return received a replica crown.
One beautiful element of the retreat was that each one took a turn in the preparation of the meals. This created a true atmosphere of serving others and doing the ordinary things extraordinary well (and deliciously).
On the final day, after cleaning and leaving our accommodation we went to the midday Mass at St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle. Afterwards we joined the Carmelite sisters for their midday prayer and had lunch in the convent visitor area.
It was very special to find the jubilee year door open at St Mary’s Cathedral and we were able to conclude our jubilee churches pilgrimages. Upon returning to our Schoenstatt Shrine, we offered sacrifices for the jubilee, as well as entrusting the intentions we collected during the retreat to our Blessed Mother.
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