From those aided by wheelchairs or walking sticks to babes in arms, hundreds of faithful gathered at St Joachim’s at Lidcombe on Sunday for a candlelit procession through the streets in honour of Our Lady of Good Success. The celebration followed an evening Mass for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, celebrated by Fr Ronnie Maree and concelebrated by Fr Epeli Qimaqima, parish priest of St Joachim’s.
The devotion to Our Lady of Good Success has its origins in 17th century Marian apparitions in Spain and Ecuador, and particularly the prophesies of Our Lady given to Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres, a cloistered nun living in Quito. It was revitalised in Sydney last year at the initiative of Bridget Sakr, founder of HeartFelt, a community ministering to those suffering grief and loss.
In his homily for the feast, Fr Ronnie linked the Feast of the Presentation to the prophesies of Our Lady of Good Success about the crisis of faith that would occur during the 20th century.
Focusing on Simeon’s prayer in the temple after holding the Christ child in his arms (Luke 2:29-32), Fr Ronnie said: “Simeon is able is able to say, ‘at last, Lord, I can die in complete peace, because your will and your purpose has been fulfilled in my life.’”
“Our Lady spoke of our times being consumed by the overwhelming presence of those things that don’t please God. In particular, she spoke about blasphemy, the dishonouring of God; she spoke about heresy, the distortion of the truth of God and us and our salvation; and she spoke about impurity, the destroying of love for the sake of selfishness,” he said. “God is displayed as the one who will rob us of our peace… they tell us the lie that peace will come in rejecting God.”
Fr Ronnie then exhorted those gathered to process through the streets with their candles as a symbol of taking the light they had received through knowing God and loving him into the darkness that comes through the rejection of God.
“Our Lady knows the suffering caused by the rejection of God, but she desires deeply for it to be over… She instructs us that through prayer and penance for the world and for souls, we can help others regain their peace. We can work with Christ and his creation to restore things and to allow people to find peace again.”
As the rosary procession made its way down bustling John Street, diners exited the busy restaurants that lined the streets to film the unusual sight. As it continued along Church and Swete Streets, residents stepped out onto their balconies to catch a glimpse of those walking by. Undoubtedly, the majority of those watching and filming would not have been aware of what was occurring, nor that those in the procession were – at that moment – interceding for them.
