Hundreds gathered at St Kieran Catholic Church in Osborne Park parish carpark to witness and celebrate the long-awaited installation, blessing and opening of a prayer shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel on Friday 4 December at 7pm, now located in a space its community will refer to as the Healing and Reflection Garden.
Present for the celebration was Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, assisted by St Kieran Parish Priest Father Wilson Donizzetti Martins Jnr and Ellenbrook Assistant Priest, Fr Kenneth Acosta Garcia, together with several other clergy from across the Archdiocese.
Also present were local dignitaries including City of Stirling Councillors Adam Spagnolo, Lisa Thornton, Elizabeth Re, Member for Balcatta David Michael MLA as well as Archdiocesan affiliated groups and local schools.
The $100,974 project was requested and fully funded by the parishioners through a series of fundraising events since for the past four years.
Fr Wilson said the main Church, which used to be opened all day for parishioners, neighbours and the community, could no longer be left unlocked aside from Mass times because of the rapid increase in theft and break-ins.
He recalled that, as a result, people wanting to visit the church outside of service times had to stand next to the glass windows of the church from outside and pray or have their reflection moment.
This desire to have a reflection moment outside the church was raised by a few parishioners and led to the idea of building a shrine.
“Besides the stunning and very humane image of Mother Mary and baby Jesus, which has been complimented by many Catholics and even non-Catholics, I think this will be a safe space that will build and strengthen the bonds of the St Kieran’s Church community,” he cited.
“The power of prayer is so important – and having an added peaceful space like this provides a huge opportunity for the community to connect with God individually and even as a group, to meditate, reflect, discern vocations, or even just sit in silence – at their own convenience, is something the community would appreciate.
“We held the blessing event at the open space car park to ensure we comply with the COVID-19 regulations and was a great success with more than 500 people attending the ceremony, drinks and food provided after the ceremony,” Fr Wilson added, when asked to comment on the opening event.
Upon delivering the blessing, Archbishop Costelloe took the time to congratulate all involved in the building of the shrine, for setting the good example that, “we are not faithful Catholics, unless we have Mary as an essential part of our journey of faith”.
“My hope, tonight is that with the blessing and the dedication of this very beautiful statue of Our Lady of Good Counsel, as you can pass it so often on your way into the church, or as you go past in your car or walk down the street, that you remember that Mary is not just a wonderful figure from the past, for whom we look back, and who we see to imitate she is that of course, but Mary is our companion on the journey, and she walks the journey of faith with us.
“The best and most beautiful and most theologically important prayers that we have in our Catholic tradition with regards to Mary is the Hail Mary.
“So turn to Mary, and trust yourself to her, have confidence in her and particularly, have absolute confidence that when we say the prayer, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. She will hear that prayer,” Archbishop Costelloe concluded.
Judith Tresham, St Kieran Project Coordinator for building the Prayer Shrine, said the process of installing the shrine had been an unforgettable journey and one that has strengthened the bond of the parishioners who have contributed to this labour of love.
“Our parishioners should be very proud of their achievement, they have supported all their fund-raising events, donated wherever is needed, helped out with physical activities,” Mrs Tresham cited.
“Since June 2016, fundraising activities have been carried out for each month.
“Four drawings of the proposed shrine designed by Jet Design and Drafting was tabled to parishioners to vote, and the final selection was by majority vote. The planning applications, council and Archdiocese approvals were then sorted, and we also need Heritage Engineering report for council approval as the Shrine is next to the old church which is now Heritage listed,” she added.
“For the last few weekends, our parishioners have been gathering with Fr Wilson to lay the lawn, to plant trees and flowers, to do all maintenance required, to help with brick paving as well as painting of the parish hall to make the place look presentable and beautiful.”
Mrs Tresham noted another big change to the parish was the availability of a first parish office that was blessed by Archbishop Costelloe on the same day.