Brisbane Oratory News
Mary Immaculate Church Bell Restoration
Church bells call us to prayer and witness to the presence of the church in the community. Church bells are so important that they traditionally undergo special prayers and exorcisms at their installation.
While we were ringing the Angelus during the lockdown periods, the bell has since fallen silent needing to undergo some repairs. Many people in the surrounding suburb, including non-Catholics, let us know how much they appreciated being able to hear the church bell.
We have taken this opportunity to undertake significant restoration to ensure the bell continues into the next generations and upgrade the equipment to toll the bell automatically. We will soon hear the bell again calling people to Mass and prayer with the ringing of the Angelus three times a day.
The bell restoration takes place in two stages. First a frame is built around the bell to support it in its place in the tower. Then the metal fittings holding the bell to the central tower beam are removed and taken away. These fittings were originally made from iron and over the almost 100 years they have been there become rusty. New fittings are then fabricated from stainless steel, and as such will last much longer.
In the second stage, the new stainless steel fittings are used to secure the bell to the central beam again and then an automatic tolling device is attached to the bell. This device has been ordered and is on the way from Europe. This allows the bell to be struck according to a timer. At this time the manual toller is repaired to also allow the bell to be rung manually. The frame holding the bell is then removed and the ringing of the bell will be heard again!
We are grateful for all who give to the parish making works such as the restoration and upgrade of the bell possible.
Corpus Christi | Solemn High Mass and Procession | Sunday 6 June 10:00am
Please join us as we will celebrate the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi on Sunday 6 June with Solemn High Mass at 10:00am followed by a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament at Mary Immaculate Church. Registration for the Mass is required and can be made at www.annerleyekibinparish.as.me
Let us adore the Real Presence of the Eucharist who is Jesus Christ present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
St Philip Neri | Solemn High Mass | Wednesday 2 June 10:30am
We warmly invite you to celebrate the feast of Our Holy Father, Saint Philip Neri, founder of the Oratory, on Wednesday 2 June, with Solemn High Mass at 10:30am. The guest preacher for the Mass will be Fr Nicolas Maurice of the Lismore Diocese.
Our Lady Help of Christians | Solemn High Mass | Tuesday 1 June 6:00pm
Our Lady Help of Christians is the patroness of Australia and of the Brisbane Oratory in Formation. This year in the Extraordinary Form her Feast day is transferred to 1 June due to the Octave of Pentecost.
We invite you to join us for Solemn High Mass at 6:00pm Tuesday 1 June which will be followed by wine and cheese in the courtyard.
Novena to St Philip Neri
We invite you to join us for our Novena to St Philip Neri starting on Monday 24 May in preparation for his feast day which we will celebrate on Wednesday 2 June. This year his feast day is transferred due to the Octave of Pentecost, but we are sure he won’t mind! St Philip had a strong devotion to the Holy Spirit who he visibly saw enter his heart while praying in the catacombs.
Prayer to St Philip Neri
Look down from heaven, Holy Father, from the loftiness of that mountain to the lowliness of this valley; from that harbour of quietness and tranquillity to this calamitous sea. And now that the darkness of this world hinders no more those benignant eyes of thine from looking clearly into all things, look down and visit, O most diligent keeper, this vineyard which thy right hand planted with so much labour, anxiety and peril. To thee then we fly; from thee we seek for aid; to thee we give our whole selves unreservedly. Thee we adopt as our patron and defender; undertake the cause of our salvation, protect thy clients. To thee we appeal as our leader; rule thine army fighting against the assaults of the devil. To thee, kindest of pilots, we give up the rudder of our lives; steer this little ship of thine, and, placed as thou art on high, keep us off all the rocks of evil desires, that with thee for our pilot and guide, we may safely come to the port of eternal bliss. Amen.
We invite you to join us in celebrating his feast on Wednesday 2 June at 10:30am with Solemn High Mass at Mary Immaculate Church.