By Angelina Bonifacio
This year marked a remarkable milestone for the Lady of Grace Fraternity Marsfield, as the pilgrims came together, from near and far, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of this enduring devotion.
The tradition began in 1955, when a group of Sangiovannesi migrants commissioned a replica statue of their village’s beloved patron saint, Lady of Grace, and arranged for her to be shipped to Sydney. Since then, the Feast of Our Lady of Grace has been celebrated each year on the third Sunday of September at St Anthony’s Church, Marsfield, preceded by a week of prayer and devotion.
The Novena week held each year, embraced special themes each evening, including a Candlelight Procession, Anointing of the Sick and Elderly, a Youth Mass, a Mass of Thanksgiving for Migrants and Predecessors, a Mass for Deceased Loved Ones, and a Mass for the Poor and Disadvantaged. The week concluded with a night vigil, where devotees kept prayerful watch before Our Lady of Grace.
The 70th anniversary feast day commenced with the Rosary, followed by a Solemn Mass celebrated by Most Rev Charles Balvo, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, together with Chaplain Fr Pasquale Pizzoferro, Parish Priest Fr Greg Walsh, and Fr Aldrin Valdehueza. Music for the Mass was beautifully led by Roseanna Gallo and Luciano Mesiti.
The offertory was brought to the altar by the descendants of the Fraternity’s first President, Raffaele Marcellino. His son Tony, wife Cathy and 4 generations of Marcellino family were honoured to be participating.
Only living members of the first committee are Vince Olivieri who attended, and apologies from Carmelo Iemma and Vincenzo Murdocca who now reside in care facilities.
Heartfelt thanks were expressed on the day by Fraternity President Vince Murdocca. Thanks to the clergy, the liturgy committee, musicians, and all volunteers for their tireless efforts. Following Mass, the statue of Our Lady of Grace was carried in solemn procession, accompanied by the Giuseppe Verde Brass Band whose music stirred memories and devotion among the faithful.
To mark the occasion, Archbishop Balvo blessed flowers that were distributed to hundreds of attendees. John Belcastro of Dural has been providing carnations for the past 60 years. The anniversary was further commemorated with the release of seven white doves, symbolising peace and seven decades of faith, and seventy blue balloons in honour of the Fraternity’s 70 years.
Festivities continued in the parish hall, where a celebratory cake was shared, and a special cheque presentation was made to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. A first payment of $25,000 was presented to representatives Alex Hyvonen and Melanie Russo, supporting the establishment of a therapy room in the cardiac ward at Westmead Children’s Hospital.
This contribution was made possible through the Fraternity’s major fundraising initiative, the Debutante Ball held in June, which raised over $75,000 thanks to the generosity of debutantes, their families, sponsors, and donors.
Over the decades, the Lady of Grace Fraternity has been dedicated not only to preserving faith and culture but also to supporting charitable causes. Its efforts have benefitted the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, St Merkorious Charity, St Vincent de Paul Society, and many other community initiatives. This year’s La Campana magazine paid tribute to the founders, and honoured past and present committee members, featuring heartfelt congratulatory messages acknowledging seven decades of devotion, service, and community spirit.
