“Today, as we pray together as one community, I ask you also to remember Ukraine and her suffering people,” Mykola Cardinal Bychok
On Saturday, February 7, a celebration in honour of Our Lady of Good Success was held at St Andrew’s Parish in Lidcombe. The event, organised in collaboration with St Joachim’s Catholic Parish, brought together around 500 faithful from various parts of the city and was a wonderful opportunity for communal prayer and a sign of spiritual unity.
The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, concelebrated by Bishop Richard Umbers, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Fr. Iurii Tychenok, administrator of St. Andrew’s Parish, and numerous local clergy. Fr. Vasyl Motrichenko, administrator of St. Volodymyr’s Parish in Canberra, also attended the celebration.
At the beginning of his homily, Bishop Mykola emphasised the significance of this event for both parish communities: “This procession in honour of Our Lady of Good Success is a beautiful moment of unity between our two communities—St Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish and St Joachim’s Roman Catholic Parish. Your shared presence is a powerful witness to the communion of faith that binds us together.”
The bishop also said that between 1594 and 1634, the Blessed Mother appeared seven times to Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres in the Convent of the Immaculate Conception in Quito, Ecuador. Her messages spoke frankly about a future time of deep confusion, a “near total corruption of faith and morals.”
Reflecting on this message in the contemporary context, Bishop Mykola called on the faithful to live a conscious Christian life: “Here in Lidcombe, as we honour Our Lady of Good Success, we are invited to become people of hope—people who live St Paul’s call to charity and Jesus’ call to vigilance. When we choose what is beneficial rather than merely permissible, we build up the Body of Christ. When we refuse to be led astray by the noise of the world, we bear witness to the truth. When we remain vigilant in prayer, we participate in the ‘marvellous restoration’ promised by Our Lady. And today, as we pray together as one community, I ask you also to remember Ukraine and her suffering people. May the Mother of God intercede for them, protect them, and bring peace to their land.”
At the end of his homily, Bishop Mykola emphasised the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Church and of every Christian: “Mary always leads us to her Son. She does not remove the challenges of our time, but she strengthens us to face them with courage, humility, and unwavering trust. As we continue this Divine Liturgy and later process with her holy image, let us ask Our Lady of Good Success to intercede for us: that our hearts may be purified, that our faith may be strengthened, and that our lives may reflect the hope that never disappoints.”
After the service, the faithful took part in a procession through the streets of the suburb of Lidcombe. The statue of Our Lady of Good Success was carried at the front, and the participants prayed the rosary together. The procession lasted about an hour and ended at St Joachim’s Church. Residents of the neighbourhood watched the procession from their homes, and many stopped to take photos or videos to commemorate the event.
