Mary Help of Christians, Marian devotion with a feast day celebrated on May 24. 

In 1844, Mary, under the title of Our Lady Help of Christians was chosen as the patroness of Australia at the First Provincial Synod of Sydney.

Our Lady has been invoked under the title Auxilium Christianorum or Help of Christians since at least the sixteenth century. After the battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571, at which a Turkish fleet was defeated by a Christian fleet, Pope Pius V, who had previously called upon Catholics to invoke Mary’s assistance so that the Turkish threat may be averted, inserted the title “Help of Christians” into the Litany of Our Lady as he believed that the threat of invasion had been averted through Mary’s intercession.

It is customs in Australia that the Church prays that through Our Lady, Help of Christians will “grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens”, so that ,”under her protection, Australia may be granted, harmony, justice and peace”

In 2011, suggestion was made by  four Legion of  Mary members that Australia have no oratory for Our Lady Help of Christians.  Thanks to some generous  donations and the helping hands of devotees  constructions soon began after the blessing of the land by Father Bert Fulbrook.

It was not until early 2013 that  another effort was made to get the building materials again, which were either donated and paid at cost price, thanks to some great Australians, some also donating their time, too.

Work was finished finally in mid-May and on the 26th May 2013, the oratory was inaugurated by His Rev Bishop Hilton Deacon with Msgr. Benedict Camilleri and Father William surrounded with other religious  members and many other devotees