Bushfire at Perth Friary
In the afternoon of March 1st, 2010 a bushfire started near the friary in Perth, Australia and grew quickly. It jumped the main road and approached our backyard. We decided to evacuate the friary. We took the Blessed Sacrament, a few liturgical items of worth, a few personal items (passports, etc.) and the computers and loaded up the cars. We turned on the lawn sprinklers on the side facing the fire, closed all windows and doors, placed a statue of Our Lady to watch over the fire and drove down the road to a safe distance to wait it out. Roads were blocked by the police. After noticing that the smoke in the immediate area of the friary had died down and after the police told us the friary was ok, we went to a benefactor’s house for something to eat and drink only to be allowed back onto the property around 10:00pm. Damage was limited to a few sheds in the area, but no homes or loss of life and about 47 hectares (115 acres) burned.
Fr. Gabriel Pellettieri visits Perth
| For the Franciscans of the Immaculate, the beginning of Lent was not so penitential this year, as we were blessed to have the visit of Fr. Gabriel Pellettieri, our Cofounder. He arrived in Perth after a visit to the Philippines and, after staying a week in Perth visiting the friars and sisters, he returned to Italy. |
Fulton Sheen's love for Our Lady
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Ave Maria ! This is a presentation by Martin and Daniel Tobin of the Fulton J. Sheen Society, headquartered in Perth, WA, highlighting the love of the Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's love for Our Lady. (click image to watch video) |
Vocations video for young men in Australia
 | Ave Maria! We have put together a vocations video for the Australian Mission of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. It can be seen on the Vocations Page. |
Skateboarding Habit
 | Ave Maria! Yes, its Friar Gabriel again - with his particular style of cultivating devotion to Our Lady. 14 minute version of video available on AirMaria.com Shorter 10 minute version available on YouTube.com |
Bluff Knoll Men's Lenten Retreat
The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate in Perth led a Lenten Men's Retreat at Stirling Range Retreat Centre 27-29 March 2009. The "highlight" of the weekend event was the climb up Bluff Knoll and celebrating Holy Mass at the top. This video was produced for our "Mission Down Under" series on AirMaria.com - a video blog run by our friars in Connecticut, USA.
Divine Mercy Procession 2009
| Fr. Joseph Michael went on this 50km procession from St. Michael’s Cathedral in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Marian Hills, Tarcutta, NSW. He was the chaplain (and cameraman) to this group of approximately 70 Catholics of various ages. The journey was spread over the course of several days, camping along the way. |
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AusMaria (an abbreviation of the slogan "Australia pro Maria") is the official site of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in Western Australia and offers information on the life, mission and activities of the religious of the Franciscans of the Immaculate - friars and sisters. Updates of their apostolate and events can also be viewed through the site. Following the example of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, the friars are engaged in the use of mass media in the work of evangelisation. If you have any question regarding our site, please feel free to contact us. Ave Maria!
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