St Joseph’s Church in Albany, Western Australia, will next month become Bunbury Diocese’s first diocesan shrine.
In November, Bunbury Bishop George Kolodziej SDS issued a promulgation, or decree, declaring the Albany church a diocesan shrine, which was read and presented to parish priest Fr Vincent Comple OSJ and to the Catholic faithful of Albany.
The Rite for the Solemn Declaration will take place on Sunday, March 22. It will happen within the bicentennial celebration of the City of Albany.
As a diocesan shrine of Saint Joseph, it will be a centre of pilgrimage for the Bunbury Diocese for a diligent proclamation of the Word of God, promotion of liturgical life especially through the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist.
The shrine will also be a centre for the Josephite spirituality, promoting devotion to St Joseph as patron of family, workers, migrants, unborn children, youth and the universal Church.
A partial indulgence will be granted to everyone who visits and prays during the Solemnity of Saint Joseph every March 19 and on the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker every May 1.
The first Catholic church in Albany was built about 1855-1859 on the western side of Aberdeen Street. The current St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was constructed later, with its foundation stone laid in 1877 on the eastern side of Aberdeen Street. The church was consecrated in 1878.
The Catholic community in Albany had begun even earlier, with Lawrence Mooney, an ex-soldier, holding prayer meetings on Mount Clarence in 1835.
The first Mass was celebrated at Mass Rock (also known as Balancing Rocks) in 1843 by Fr Brady, Fr Joostens and catechist Patrick O’Reilly.
Today, the Albany Catholic Parish is part of the Bunbury Diocese and has been served by the Oblates of St Joseph since 2009.
There will be a prelude celebration on Friday, March 20, with a Holy Hour followed by a healing Mass.
On March 21, there will be a pilgrimage walk from Mass Rock tracing the religious historical places in Albany.
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St Joseph Church of Albany to be declared the first diocesan shrine (Bunbury Diocese)
