150th Anniversary of Definition of the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception

8 December 2004 [printable version]

Celebrations in the Archdiocese of Sydney

Key Events for the Archdiocese on Wednesday 8 December 2004

Parishes are asked to advertise the various regional Masses for the occasion, and encourage people to attend a church most suitable for them.
All Masses commence at 7.30pm

• Pontifical Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, celebrated by Cardinal George Pell

• Masses at regional churches under the patronage of Immaculate Virgin Mary:

• Parish of Mary Immaculate, Bossley Park, celebrated by Bishop Julian Porteous
• Parish of the Immaculate Conception & St Paul of the Cross, Dulwich Hill, celebrated by Bishop David Cremin
• Parish of Mary Immaculate (St Mary’s), North Sydney, celebrated by Cardinal Edward Clancy
• Parish of Mary Immaculate & St Charles Borromeo, Waverley, celebrated by the Very Rev Sir Desmond Moore MSC

Parish Events on the Weekend of the 4th and 5th of December 2004

Parishes are asked to participate in the event in the following ways

• A Special Poster on the theme of the Immaculate Conception will be sent to all parishes. Priests are requested to display this poster in their Church.
• A Special Marian Prayer card will also be made available to all parishes. Priests are encouraged to arrange the distribution of the cards at the Masses on 4/5 December 2004 and encourage people to recite the prayer at home and at weekday Masses during that week.
• All parishes are encouraged to decorate Marian Shrines in their churches for the week – with flowers, candles etc. The decoration could be organised by a Marian group or a particular ethnic group. This will be a special feature of the local parish’s acknowledgement of the feast.
• Homily notes will be provided on the theme of Immaculate Conception tied in with readings of Second Sunday of Advent.
• Prayers of the Faithful will also be provided.
• Priests could consider encouraging some special Marian devotion on the weekend or during the week, e.g. Rosary or Procession on Sunday afternoon. Marian groups or particular ethnic groups could be asked to organise these.
• Youth of the parish could be encouraged to attend the Youth Pilgrimage on Sunday, 5 December 2004.

Archdiocesan Youth Event – Youth Pilgrimage - Sunday 5 December 2004

On Sunday 5 December 2004 Catholic Youth Services is organising a youth pilgrimage from Mary Immaculate Church, Waverley to St Mary’s Cathedral. It will be commencing at 2.00pm and finish around 5.00pm. The CYS website as well as the special website, www.ic2004.info has more information. Priests are asked to encourage their young people to participate.

Parish Events on Wednesday, 8 December 2004

• Parishes can celebrate the Mass of the Solemnity at their usual times.
• Rosary or other Marian devotions might be organised in the parish before or after the Mass, or during the day.
• Primary School children will be encouraged to visit the Marian Shrine in class groups to place a flower there and recite the Special Prayer. All children in Catholic Schools will receive the prayer card through the Catholic Education Office.

General Catechesis

As part of the celebrations of the 150 th anniversary of the proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the Catholic Adult Education Centre is organising a seminar on the topic, to be held at the Catholic Centre, 3 Keating St, Lidcombe, on Tuesday evening, 7 December 2004 at 7.30 pm. Speakers will be Fr Anthony Robbie, lecturer in Church history, who will speak on the history of the devotion and the theological controversies leading up to the definition of the dogma, and Fr Christopher Sharah FSF, who will speak on the relevance of the dogma for the spiritual life today. There is no charge for the seminar and supper will follow. Enquiries: (02) 9643 3660.

Catholic Schools

Catholic schools are going to be involved in a number of ways. Teaching materials are being made available to teachers. Special liturgies will be celebrated in the schools on the day. The schools are interested in supporting parish events and the regional Masses. Priests could liaise with their local schools to involve students in the parish events. During the day primary schools are being encouraged to bring over the children in class groups to visit the Marian shrine in the Church and make a simple visit.

Any enquiries should be directed to the Office for Evangelisation and Renewal – Tel (02) 9752 9686