What is Fiat and what are we invited to pray for?
For the second year running, our local communities of grace across the Archdiocese of Melbourne will unite for a weekend of prayer from Friday 31 May to Sunday 2 June 2024. The weekend coincides with the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).
A pivotal moment in the history of salvation occurred when a young woman, Mary, listened to God’s call and then gave a free and wholehearted ‘yes’ to the Lord and his mission, and to his gift of salvation. We too are assured of new life in Jesus Christ.
Following the example of Mary and Elizabeth, Fiat is an opportunity for us to celebrate and rejoice in prayer, in communion with the Lord and the local Church in Melbourne.
Fiat ends with the feast of Corpus Christi, when we renew our devotion to the Eucharist and commit ourselves to be bearers of Jesus Christ to others.
As we continue on our journey towards the Jubilee Year, may this time be an opportunity to renew our hearts and minds in the Lord and reach out to others in prayer and hope.
Fiat at St Augustine
Fiat opens on Friday night at St Augustine’s Church on Bourke Street, 5–9pm, with different youth groups and communities leading prayer at various times during the evening. There will also be live music, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and various priests present to offer the sacrament of Reconciliation.
There will also be an element of outreach, with parishioners inviting those visiting the city area to ‘come and see’. All are welcome.
Fiat around Melbourne
This schedule is a selection of events across the Archdiocese and will be regularly updated.
Friday 31 May
5–9pm
St Augustine’s Church
631 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Opening of Fiat
A night of prayer, adoration, music and Reconciliation
7.45-9.45am
St Fidelis’ Church (Brunswick–Moreland Catholic Community)
49 Clarendon Street, Coburg
Rosary at 8.45am before 9.15am Mass. Adoration at 9.45am immediately following Mass.
10am–6pm
St Joseph’s Church (Brunswick–Moreland Catholic Community)
183 Hope Street, Brunswick West
Church will be open for private prayer, adoration of Blessed Sacrament and Rosary meditations, concluding with Benediction.
6–7pm
Church of the Good Shepherd
88 South Circular Road, Gladstone Park
Holy Hour
Join us for an hour of silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Holy hour will conclude with Benediction.
6.30–7.30pm
St Kilda East and Balaclava Parishes
St Mary’s Church
208 Dandenong Road, St Kilda East
Holy Hour on the feast of the Visitation
An hour of Eucharistic adoration followed by Benediction.
Friday 6.30pm – Sunday 10am
St Michael’s Parish
Chapel of the Guardian Angels
460 Dryburgh Street, North Melbourne
Join us in Melbourne’s newest perpetual adoration chapel for a time of Eucharistic adoration.
Begins with Mass on Friday at 6.30pm
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to follow until 10am Sunday
Saturday 8am
Sunday 9.15am, 11.15am, 4.45pm
Christ the King Church (Holy Family Parish Maidstone)
67 Churchill Avenue, Braybrook
We will pray the Joyful Mysteries 15 minutes before Mass at Our Lady’s Church and Christ the King Church on Saturday and Sunday 1–2 June 2024. The Rosary will be prayed after the 8am Mass on Saturday.
Saturday 9am, 4.45pm
Sunday 8am, 9.45am, 6.15pm
Our Lady’s Church (Holy Family Parish Maidstone)
46A Ballarat Road, Maidstone
We will pray the Joyful Mysteries 15 minutes before Mass at Our Lady’s Church and Christ the King Church on Saturday and Sunday 1–2 June 2024. The Rosary will be prayed after the 9am Mass on Satuday and after the 8am Mass on Sunday.
9.30–11am
St Thomas’ Church (St Thomas’ Parish Drysdale),
27 Peninsula Drive, Drysdale
Parking available in carpark to the side of the church.
We warmly welcome you to join us at St Thomas’ Drysdale for 9.30am adoration, 10am Mass and 10.30am Rosary.
10–11am
St Patrick’s Church (St Thomas’ Parish Drysdale),
18 Harding Street, Portarlington
Parking available in Harding Street. Disability access to the church available.
We warmly welcome you to join us at St Patrick’s Portarlington for a Holy Hour of prayer.
1.30–2.30pm
St Peter Apostle Mission Parish,
38 Guinane Avenue, Hoppers Crossing
Parking available, Disabled access available.
Holy Hour of Prayer
Adoration, Rosary, reflection and Benediction
3–4pm
Lumen Christi Church (St Thomas’ Parish Drysdale)
72–78 Kensington Road, Leopold
Parking is available along Kensington Road, and at the back of the church. Disability access is from the church carpark.
We warmly invite you to join us at Lumen Christi Leopold as we present our afternoon music and prayer program, which includes the Rosary with the five Joyful Mysteries and musical selections. Please join us at our parish Facebook page if you are not able to join in person.
4–5pm
St Joseph’s Parish
St John the Baptist Church
5 Mercer Street, Winchelsea
Rosary, adoration and Benediction, followed by Corpus Christi Mass
5–7pm
St Philip and St James Church (St Thomas’ Parish Drysdale)
1343–1349 Murradoc Road, St Leonards
Parking available around the church, and disability access available.
We warmly invite you to join us at St Philip and St James St Leonards for Holy Hour of prayer prior to the 6pm Vigil Mass for the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, concluding St Thomas’ Parish Drysdale’s celebration of Fiat—A Weekend of Prayer.
5.30pm
St Fidelis’ Church (Brunswick–Moreland Catholic Community)
49 Clarendon Street, Coburg
Rosary at 5.30pm immediately before 6pm Vigil Mass
7–8.30pm
St Andrew’s Parish
76 Springs Road, Clayton South
Rosary, praise and worship, talk
8am
Holy Trinity Parish
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church
68 John Dory Drive, Ocean Grove
Holy Hour preceding 9am Sunday Mass
9am–6pm
Brunswick–Moreland Catholic Community
All BMCC parishes will participate in prayerful recitations of the Rosary after each Sunday Mass.
Mass times and locations: Brunswick and Moreland Catholic Community (bmcatholiccommunity.org.au)
Please note: Rosary at St Fidelis’ Church will be prayed at 10.30am immediately before 11am Mass.
1–4pm
Sacred Heart Church
Rathdowne and Pelham Streets, Carlton
to
St Patrick’s Cathedral
1 Cathedral Place, East Melbourne
Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Corpus Christi Procession to the Cathedral, ending with Vespers and Benediction. More info
5–7pm
St Andrew’s Parish Church
105 Greaves Street, North Werribee
Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, adoration and Benediction
Prayer ideas
Here are some ideas for local communities to consider:
Eucharistic adoration
Does your parish have an adoration chapel or regularly gather for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament? Think about hosting an additional hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This may be a time of silent prayer, or you may like to incorporate a Scripture reading, music and time of intercession.
Rosary
Many parishes have groups of parishioners who meet regularly to pray the Rosary. Perhaps your parish has a Legion of Mary praesidium. As Fiat concludes the month of Mary, asking for our Blessed Mother to intercede for our own needs and the needs of the Church, what better opportunity to introduce the rest of your community to this form of prayer. When we pray the Rosary, the prayer can slow us down, calm our hearts and enable us to rest in God’s presence. It draws out the deepest desires in our souls, desires for God and God alone.
Lectio divina
Consider bringing your community together to reflect on the Scriptures using the account of the annunciation and the visitation. The four stages of lectio divina are like having a good meal: you take a bite (lectio), you chew on it (meditatio), enjoy the taste (oratio) and then swallow it (contemplatio). It is a ‘feasting on the Word’ that leads to a better knowledge of Christ.
Ignatian contemplative prayer
Is your community familiar with Ignatian contemplation or another form of contemplative prayer? This is a way you can engage your prayer groups or regular parishioners in reflecting more deeply on the Scriptures. Ignatian prayer is a method of prayer that involves using our imagination to bring Scripture to life. Ignatian contemplation allows us to see stories that we may have heard countless times with new eyes.
Taizé
Looking for a simple, meditative form of worship? Bring your community together for a time of Taizé prayer that calls us to dwell deeply on Christ’s presence around and within us. Chants (like ‘Jesus, remember me’), prayerful silence and short readings guide the focus of the prayer, often in a candlelit environment.
Let us know what you’re planning!
See the variety of prayer opportunities our communities of grace offered at our inaugural Fiat weekend in 2023.