On Sunday, January 14, the third in this series of Devotions in honour of Our Lady, La Divina Pastora took place. As we continue celebrating 250 years of the establishment of the Catholic Church in Siparia, we went in motorcade to the Thick Village community, passing through Hickling Village, and stopping briefly at Saltmine Trace Junction for another snippet of the history of our parish, and a word of prayer.

When we returned to the church, the prayers for the third day of the novena to La Divina Pastora began. La Divina Pastora Men’s Group played an instrumental role in this, leading the praying of the rosary, the singing at Mass, the prayers of the faithful, and doing the Liturgy of the Word.

The celebrant at Mass was the dynamic and fervent Fr Steve Duncan. His homily was on the Gospel of the day – Jesus changing of the water into wine, at the prompting of His Mother Mary.

Fr Steve pointed out that no one had to tell Mary that the wine had run short, but she, watchful as any good mother, knew it, and she understood her role.

She knew that Jesus would act, and so He did. Mary, through her motherhood, brought out the glory of her Son – “.....and He let His glory be seen.....” John 2:11.

Fr Steve continued, telling us that life is such that the wine will run out. When the wine of idealism and enthusiasm runs out water remains. When the water of routine, dullness, frustration and powerlessness overwhelms us, we converge on Our Lady, La Divina Pastora, as we have done over the past 250 years since the devotion came to us in 1756 from Spain via Venezuela; and she responds to our needs saying: “Do whatever He tells you.”

And we taste the wine – not a cheap wine that thrills the senses, but the best wine; the wine of the sweetness of Our Lord Jesus Christ. And we share that wine when we speak to others about what the Lord has done for us through the intercession of His Blessed Mother.

So we welcome all to this place, whether they be Catholic or Protestant, Hindu or Muslim, because Our Lady, La Divina Pastora, is the mother of all.

There were some very special moments during this Mass: When the song Holy Ground was sung at the incensing of the altar prior to the consecration; when we heard the beautiful voices of John Plaza (15) and Jordan O’Brian (11), and the instrumentation of Elijah Phirangee (10) on drums, maracas and scratcher.

Let me just say that there was a great deal of dancing by the congregation during this Mass. Bind Us Together was sung as a meditation hymn, and it was indeed touching to see three aged ladies embrace each other for the duration - this hymn obviously holds great meaning for them.

We wish to thank very sincerely all those who joined in the motorcade, including the pilgrims, all those who welcomed the statue of La Divina Pastora along the way, all who attended the devotions, the members of La Divina Pastora Men’s Group and their young friends, and, of course, Fr Steve Duncan, for his most inspiring celebration of the Mass.

The next in the series of devotions takes place next Sunday, February 11 at 3.00 p.m. We take the image of Our Queen in motorcade to the Quarry Village community. The motorcade leaves the church at 1:30 p.m. All are cordially invited to come join us.