By Elen Linum. PAPAL NUNCIO to Australia the Most Reverend Dr Adolfo Tito Yllana celebrated the Catholic holy mass at Penrose Park in Berrimma, NSW attended by many Filipino faithful.
They included members of the club Buhay Dalisay Filipino Australian Association headed by Mrs Julie Nunez OAM.
Most Rev. Adolfo Yllana is Rome’s Ambassador to Australia.
Members of Buhay Dalisay went on pilgrimage to Berrimma the location of the shrine to Our Lady of Mercy also known as the Black Madonna. Berrimma is also the location of the annual devotion to the Filipino saint San Lorenzo Ruiz made by Filipino Australians from Sydney and NSW.
Attending the liturgical celebration with Papal Nuncio Yllana and listening to his beautiful homily had made the members’ trip more significant and eventful as well as spiritually uplifting, said an observer.
When the mass was over the group had lunch with a number of other pilgrims in a Big Tent provided with rows of tables at Penrose Park.
The trip was endorsed by the Philippine Health Care Association of Australia-Philippine Nurses Association (PHCAA-PNA) and sponsored by My Home Living Care Pty. Ltd. whose manager is Ms. Maree Vano.The group travelled on the early morning of Friday, 13th November on the feast day of Our Lady of Mercy in Berrima.
After lunch some headed on a long trek to visit the various chapels and shrines behind the church stopping to read the inscriptions on each of them. Others stayed in church for the Rosary, Divine Mercy Novena and Adoration.
The shrine of Our Lady of Mercy was established in 1984 on 75 acres of land in Berrima. The Park is a religious site surrounded by Australian bush with 43 chapels built by ethnic communities.
It is a unique place in the Australian landscape where tourists and pilgrims can see different styles and architecture from more than 30 countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, China, Mauritius, Italy, Portugal, Hungary and many more. It is an ideal venue for weddings, family functions and picnics. By: Elen Limun