Several Perth parishes were united with Pope Francis on October 13 when he consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
At Christ the King Catholic Church in Beaconsfield, Fr Liam Keating SMA consecrated the parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at all of the weekend Masses.
St Anne’s in North Fremantle, Infant Jesus in Morley and St Lawrence’s in Bluff Point (Geraldton diocese) all consecrated their parishes on the weekend.
Meanwhile, at Holy Spirit parish in City Beach, a Holy Hour of Adoration was held in union with the Papal event.
The parish consecrations occurred after Sydney-based Catholics John Maklouf and Stewart Davies sent a letter to the 1,800 parishes around Australia.
The letter asked parishes to join the Holy Father and consecrate their parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 13.
Mr Maklouf said there was a “great response” from parishes, including several in WA.
Earlier this year the pair wrote to every Australian bishop, asking them to consider consecrating Australia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In reply, the bishops confirmed that the proposal was on the agenda for the November meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
Mr Davies said following Pope Francis’ announcement to consecrate the world on October 13, he was informed that the Australian bishops had decided to “unite spiritually” with the event.
“Since the most urgent demand of Fatima is reparation, the collegial consecration of Australia would be a great act of reparation on behalf of this nation and its peoples,” he said.
“It would also put Australia among the small company of nations that are in the forefront of making the glories of Mary known to the whole world in these times.”
October 13 marked the 96th anniversary of the final apparition of Mary at Fatima, Portugal, and the famous “Miracle of the Sun” in 1917.