From the beginning of the Diocese, Our Lady has been revered as the patron. Bishop Dunne was consecrated Bishop on the vigil of Mary's Assumption, 14th August 1887, in Goulburn Cathedral and that feast was considered a Diocesan day.

1950 was a Holy Year in the Church. On 6 September 1950, following a submission by Bishop Fox based on the local devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pope Pius XII declared the Blessed Virgin Mary as Diocesan Patron under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (succour is from the Latin term for help or assistance).

These days, the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help hangs in every church of the Diocese. The parish of Warren is also named in honour of her. The parish church in Warren has a magnificent life-size  mosaic of the icon on the main wall of the sanctuary.

The story within the icon

The history of this image goes back to the earliest years of the Christian era, probably the second century, on the island of Crete. There is a long history of one particular icon - the original - and of the devotion to Mary under this title which was encouraged in Rome from the end of the 15th Century.

During the 19th Century the Redemptorist Fathers took this devotion as a special work to Mary. It became popular in Australia and especially in our Diocese during the first half of this century.

The Cyrillic letters ('MP' and 'QY') near Mary's crown are a shortened form of the Greek words for Mother of God.

The archangels Michael and Gabriel watch over Mary and Jesus. St Michael carries the symbols of the Passion of Jesus: a lance, a reed with a sponge on its point, and a vinegar pot. St Gabriel holds the cross and nails and the crown of thorns.

The cross is in an 'eastern' form Antiochene Cross, with three crossbars

The letters beside Jesus are a shortened form of Jesus Christ.

Jesus the child is clasping His mother but looking in a frightened manner at the instruments of the passion. The loosened sandal indicates that his trembling has shaken the clasp from it.

Mary holds her child in a protecting manner. Her eyes are upon us, yet her right hand gently points to Jesus.

The icon speaks to us in different ways but it invites us to see Mary as our help always as she protects her Son, the Church and us. Mary calls us to her Son to lead us to our God in heaven.

June 27th is celebrated in the Diocese as the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Pray for us