Spanish Speaking Community

Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe

           Construction commenced on this, the sixth shrine at Ta Pinu Marian Centre, dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, with the excavation of the land on the 18^th August 2007, followed by the pouring of the concrete slab, on the 26^th August 2007. As the Shrine was being funded by the Spanish speaking community, its design was based upon traditional chapels constructed in native Spanish speaking countries. Such chapels are most commonly rendered in white, and typified by two steeples flanking either side of the front of the chapel, with a bell hanging from each steeple. The Inauguration and Blessing of the Shrine occurred on the  8^th December 2007, which also happened to be the Feastday of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Many nationalities were in attendance to help celebrate this Spanish fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with the Spanish speaking community of Melbourne, with an estimated 700 people in attendance. The day's proceedings commenced at 7:30am, with the recital of the Holy Rosary and singing of Marian Hymns in Spanish. This was followed by breakfast outside Our Lady of Ta Pinu Chapel. At 10;30am the welcoming speech was read by a member of the Spanish speaking community, greeting his Lordship Bishop Hilton Deakin (Episcopal Vicar for Migrants), Monsignor Benedict Camilleri (Rector of Our Lady Ta Pinu Marian Centre), Fr Delmar De Silva (Spiritual Director of the Spanish speaking community), Fr Jose Gzadalupe Hermendes, Fr Juan Pagnin GS, Fr Marcello Arevena, Fr Emmanual Adami MSSP, Fr Denis Carabott MSSP, and four seminarians, as well as all those who were in attendance. The concelebrated Mass commenced at 11:00am, which was led by the Bishop and conducted in English. Throughout the Mass, the readings and Hymns were conducted in Spanish. At 12:00pm, the procession commenced from the Our Lady Ta Pinu Chapel, and continued to the new Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whilst the Holy Rosary was being recited. Upon arrival, the Bishop Inaugurated and Blessed the Shrine, while the Clergy installed the Holy Icons of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Bishop also unveiled two plaques commemorating the Shrine's opening, to the sound of ringing bells and the release of coloured balloons overhead. To cap off the day's Spanish fiesta, everyone was invited to lunch and to partake in a festival of singing and dancing, outside the Our Lady Ta Pinu Chapel.

 This page was last updated in January 2009   

  © 2009 Christopher DeBrincat