The Combined Societies of Mary
Let us enjoy together the Richness and the Beauty of God through Prayer
Devotions
Obituary
Joseph Giansiracusa
January 23, 1946 — September 6, 2022
Co-Founder and Vice President of the Combined Societies of Mary
Had a peaceful and grace filled passing from this life during the Novena leading up to the Feast of Our Lady's Birthday/ Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni.
Much loved, he will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
A Grace Filled Afternoon of Prayer
in honour of
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary
Sunday 8th October
A Beautiful Afternoon
for Christ Our King
2022
It is some 800 years since Our Lady gave the Rosary to Saint Dominic, and it is just as important, if not more important now than it has ever been. That is why Our Lady reaffirmed its importance at Lourdes and at Fatima. At Lourdes Our Blessed Mother came with a message of healing. Our Lady at Fatima declared: “Say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world ....” The world definitely needs peace, our families need peace and our souls need the peace that the Rosary gives. In praying the Rosary we meditate on the essential mysteries of the faith, but its power goes way beyond any explanation that one may give of this beautiful prayer. This Feast reminds us of the fact that by means of the Rosary some of the most significant events in world history have taken place.
God has shown us that He wants it to be central to our lives.
When Europe was being threatened with annihilation at the hand of the Turkish empire, Pope V organised processions and the public recitation of the Holy Rosary on the day of a decisive battle. The Christian forces were horribly outnumbered, but through the Rosary the Christian Forces were victorious, in the first week of October 1571. In thanksgiving of this and other subsequent major Christian victories won against all odds through the Rosary, Pope Clement XI gave us this Feast of the Rosary in 1716. In more recent times, in the 1950’s Communist Russia withdrew from Austria without a single bullet being fired. How did this come about? A priest Pater Petrus organised a rosary crusade. He understood that victory could only come about through God as Austria’s population was so small at only 7 million compared to the Soviet Union’s population of 220 million. He was convinced that if a tithe (or tenth) of the population of Austria should join in praying the rosary faithfully for this intention then Russia would leave Austria. A tenth of the population, that is 700,000 did join and pray the Rosary with patience. It took seven years. That is where perseverance is so important. But then, without explanation the Communist Soviets withdrew on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, May 13, 1955.
When Horishima was destroyed in 1945 by the atom bomb, there was a Jesuit house very close to the epicentre that was totally spared. The Fathers declared that it was because they followed the requests of Our Lady at Fatima and prayed the rosary.
Can we afford not to pray the Rosary? This most beautiful prayer recommended to us at Lourdes and Fatima was the favourite prayer of Saint John Paul II. St Mother Teresa of Calcutta always had a rosary in her hand. St. Padre Pio prayed over 30 rosaries a day. We are blessed to have the First Class holy relic of St Padre Pio present on this day to bring us in a special way his powerful intercession.
Please recommend this day to your friends and family. Do come and give God great glory on this special day. We will be giving beautiful Free Rosaries away to all who attend the entire day, to encourage all to come and say 3 Rosaries.
Coming Events
October
2023
Friday 6th October
First Friday
Masses and Devotions
Novena to the Most
Sacred Heart of Jesus
7.00 PM
Adoration and Prayers in honour of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus followed by Holy Mass.
St Joseph's Church
71 Orrong Road
Elsternwick
Saturday 7th October
Mass and Devotions
10.30 AM
Adoration, Prayers as requested by Our Lady of Fatima, Holy Mass.
Confessions Available
St Colman's Church
293 Carlisle St , Balaclava
Our Lady of The Holy Rosary
Sunday 8th October
1:30 PM
St Mary's Church
91 Manning Road
East Malvern
A Rosary Before the Official start commences at about 1:10 pm
Getting There
St Mary's address is 91 Manning Road East Malvern
The proper title of the Church is St Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Public Transport
St Mary's Church is conveniently located for public transport.
It is a short walk from Tram 3 Stop 61. This stop is on Waverley Road.
Walk up Tennyson or Emo Rd, and the Church will be in front of you. It is a five minute walk of about 320 metres.
Two trains will get you close to the Church from where you can catch the 3 or 3a tram: Caulfield Station or East Malvern Station. East Malvern station is on the Glen Waverley line.
By Road:
St Mary's is close to the intersection of two well known roads: Princess Highway and Bourke Road.
There is a carpark which you may enter at the side of St Mary's.
A Two minute video clip of the recent Eucharistic Procession for the Feast of Christ the King
Saturday 24th November, 2018
St Patrick's Cathedral,
Melbourne, Australia
main celebrant:
Most Rev. Bishop Mark Edwards