History of Ta Pinu in Australia

History of Ta Pinu in Australia

After World War II, migration from Malta grew to massive proportions. Tens of thousands of Maltese and Gozitans left their homeland to build new lives for themselves and their families. The vast majority of them settled in Australia. They continued many of the customs and practices of their country. Not the least amongst there was a deep and faithful devotion to the Mother of God, especially under the title by which she is honoured in Malta: Our Lady of Ta Pinu.

In 1990, a group of Maltese and Gozitans wished to commemorate the Feast of Our Lady of Ta Pinu held each year on 22 June. They formed a committee to celebrate the feast. The first meeting was held on Tuesday 12 June 1990. The members of the committee included: President - Austin Borg; Secretary - Charlie Caruana; Treasurer - Joe Cauchi; Organisers - Franky DeBrincat, Emmanuel Cauchi, Sam Apap, Lewis Portelli.

On the 17 June 1990, the committee organized the first feast of Our Lady of Ta Pinu, held at St Bernadette's Church at North Sunshine, Victoria, Australia.

On the 15 October 1990, the committee commissioned a copy of the Miraculous Image and asked Monsignor Benedict Camilleri, Rector of the Shrine in Gozo to come to Melbourne with the picture. After visiting both Melbourne and Sydney, Monsignor Camilleri and some members of the original group, as well as various other people began to consider the possibility of building a Shrine in honour of Our Lady of Ta Pinu.

A search for a suitable site began, and in 1992 one was found above the beautiful valley of Bacchus marsh on the outskirts of Melbourne. The required legal and ecclesiastical permissions were sought and granted. On 27 March 1993, the first Mass was celebrated on the site. Archbishop Francis T Little gave permission for Mass to be said each first Saturday of the month. This began on the 26 March 1994.

Each month, hundreds of people gather in front of the statue duly built on the hillside, to recite the Rosary and hear Mass. A large concrete cross marking the site of the proposed church was erected on top of the hill.

The growing number of pilgrims, as in earlier times, demands that a suitable church to accommodate them to be built. Accordingly, it has been decided to commence construction, by building a replica of the ancient chapel. This too will be surrounded by fields, but one day, with God's help, a beautiful church will also stand out, a sign of the Australian people's wish to honour the Mother of God. She is patroness of this country under the title "Help of Christians".

This page was last updated in January 2008