diocesan feast day

On the weekend of 13–14 June 2026, the Diocese of Wollongong celebrates its patronal feast, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

As we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the whole Diocese of Wollongong turns again to Mary, the Mother of the Church. Across our diocese, in our parishes, schools, communities and Marian shrines, we are reminded of her closeness to the people of God and her constant care for the Church.

Mary is the one who pondered the mystery of Christ in her heart. She remains present to us as a mother, sharing in the struggles, hopes and burdens of individuals, families, parishes, schools and communities. In the difficulties of our own time, she helps us to remain close to her son, to rise again when we have fallen, and to keep our hearts fixed on Christ.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is an image of the Church, nourished by hope and attentive to the saving and merciful action of God. In her, our diocese is invited to read its own journey in the light of Jesus Christ. Formed by the Holy Spirit, Mary shows us how to live with faith, hope and trust in God’s providence.

To the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of hope and consolation, we confidently lift up our prayer. Through her intercession, we entrust the future of the Diocese of Wollongong to the heart of her Son.

Prayer for the diocesan feast day

Mother of the Redeemer,
in this diocese dedicated to your Immaculate Heart,
with great joy we call you blessed.

In order to carry out his providential plan of salvation,
God the Father chose you before the creation of the world.
You believed in his love and obeyed his word.

The Son of God desired you for his mother
when he became man to save the human race.

You received him with ready obedience and undivided heart.
The Holy Spirit loved you as his mystical spouse and he filled you with singular gifts.
You allowed yourself to be led by his hidden and powerful action.

We entrust to you the diocese which acknowledges you
and invokes you under the title of your Immaculate Heart.

On earth you preceded the Church in the pilgrimage of faith:
guide us as we walk in your footsteps,
comfort us in our difficulties and trials,
help us to reach God.

To you, Mother of the Church, we confidently entrust our bishop,
our priests, deacons, and religious, our families, and ourselves.

Give us the light of true wisdom,
a wisdom to be found only in your Son as you told us at Cana:
“Do whatever he tells us.”
Enable us all to meet him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Sustain us, O Virgin Mary, on our journey of faith,
and obtain for us the grace of eternal salvation.

O clement, O loving,
O sweet Mother of God and our mother, Mary!

To be followed by three Hail Marys and the invocation:

Immaculate Heart of Mary,
pray for us.

Prayer adapted from Pope John Paul II’s Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe (1979) by Monsignor Graham Schmitzer.

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