17 November 2025 · 2025-11 newsletter
Between 9th and 12th of October this year, a group of 81 people spent some quality time at the Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp in the Perth Hills – a beautiful spot where buildings with large dormitories were purposely built around Bickley Reservoir. It includes facilities such as a sports court, auditorium, flying foxes and some canoes, providing much adventure and fun for the families.
The program was organised by Sr M Luka, together with Sharne Nagel and a group of volunteers. The 4-day retreat started as a camp program for the Schoenstatt Girls and Young Women with their mothers, that then developed into their extended families (i.e. boys and their fathers too) with activities set in three streams: Girls activities, Boys activities and Parents activities – all of them combining between adventure and camp-related fun with time for reflection, learning and prayer.
We had great music, with a special song called “Mary, Let Me Be a Living Shrine” as our theme song which was developed throughout the days, linking the activities, with all streams growing their attachment to the Shrine and Mary as our Educator. Our Camp Shrine started as a simple room that grew over the days with our offerings to Our Lady, and developing into a rich spiritual place full of meaning.
The Camp started on Thursday afternoon, with one of our first activities being the building of our Camp Shrine and learning about the Capital of Grace and the meaning of our personal contributions.
On Friday, we had sports activities such as bushwalking, canoeing and swimming, whilst in between we kept enriching our Camp Shrine and learning about the Symbols of the Shrine and what they represent. We went to Mass as a group in the morning at Our Lady of Lourdes church at Lesmurdie. The parish priest was very happy to see so many of us there. In the evening, some people had the opportunity to visit the Perth Observatory nearby while those who stayed behind enjoyed an Outdoor Movie Night under the stars.
Saturday had deeper sessions, where we learnt about the Home Shrine and Heart Shrine while groups of older children and young adults took turns crossing the reservoir on the flying fox. In the afternoon, we were blessed with many priests visiting us so that all groups had an opportunity to go to Confession.
This was followed by a Vigil Mass at Lesmurdie parish. We concluded the day with a special BBQ around the Camp Fire, with a cake to thank Sr Luka for her time here with us here in W.A. and wishing her well in her future work for Schoenstatt in Germany.
The Camp concluded on Sunday morning with a bushwalk through the nearby heritage trail, carrying our Pilgrim Mother in procession while praying a rosary.
All who were present were then invited to visit the Shrine in Armadale for a Jubilee Pilgrimage indulgence.
This was one of the most beautiful and inspiring family events we have participated in, with a special mix of fun activities and reflection, and a great sense of community as well as knowing we belong to and are cared for by Our Blessed Mother.
We are hopeful that Our Mother will create miracles in the hearts of those who were there with us, and that we may have a chance to run this activity again soon.
United in the Covenant,
Guil & Barbara Dias and family
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