After Our Lady’s Call to Carmela Grima, the first foreign country that received an Icon of Our Lady Ta’ Pinu was Tunisia, where some Gozitan people emigrated in the early years of the 20th century. These immigrants, besides personal devotion in their hearts, had carried to that country, an Icon of Our Lady Ta’ Pinu and installed it in one of the local Churches. To date, devotions to Our Lady Ta’ Pinu has spread all around the world, namely India, Guatemala, Toronto, Albania, Brazil, Rome,and the latest oratory was installed at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C in 2006.
In 1957, for some reasons, this Icon from La Goulette, Tunisia was removed from Tunisia and was brought to a Church in Kensington, Melbourne.
After remaining for some years in that Church, it was transferred again to St. Bernadette Church, in Sunshine Victoria. In 1989, a group of devotees of Our Lady decided to have some celebrations in honour of Our Lady Ta’ Pinu at St. Bernadette Church. In 1990, this group, wishing to have an icon of Our Lady for processions, commissioned a new Icon to artist, Chev. Paul Camilleri Cauchi. The painting was finished early 1991 and Msgr Benedict Camilleri, then Rector of Ta Pinu Shrine in Gozo, Malta was invited to come to Australia and conduct a few Marian Celebrations.
Devotions to Our Lady Ta’ Pinu were introduced in Horsley Park and Blacktown (Sydney) and She is also venerated in the Marian Centre of Berrima( NSW)
While Msgr Benedict Camilleri was in Sydney, some friends suggested that he could build a church here in Australia dedicated to Our Lady Ta’ Pinu. On his return to Melbourne, meeting the group that had invited him, he revealed this idea which they were ready to support. He then made the necessary requests to both Ecclesiastical Authorities, in Malta and in Melbourne, and began looking for a suitable place for such a devotion. After consultations, the Hill overlooking the Western Highway was selected, a loan to support the project was obtained and an application for a planning permit was lodged.
In 1992, a Low Mass was celebrated on the land. The first official Mass in the presence of a beautiful number of Pilgrims was celebrated on 27rd March 1993.
His Lordship, Archbishop Francis Thomas Little also gave permission for Mass to be said each first Saturday of the month. This began on the 26 March 1994 and Each month hundreds of people gather in front o the statue of the blessed Virgin Mary, duly built on the hillside and blessed by Bishop Nicholas Cauchi of Gozo, to pray the Rosary and attend Holy Mass.
The majestic concrete Cross overlooking the Western Freeway was erected, marking the site of the proposed church. was blessed by His Lordship Dr. Francis Thomas Little, Archbishop of Melbourne on Saturday, 24th February 1996.
He also placed a solid brass cross which had been previously blessed by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, at the foot of the cross.
The growing number of pilgrims, as in earlier times, demands that a suitable church to accommodate them be built.
Accordingly, it has been decided to commence construction, by building a replica of the ancient chapel. This too will be surrounded by fields, but one day, with God’s help, a beautiful church will also stand out, a sign of the Australian People’s wish to honour the Mother of God.
Our prayer is that she will grant peace and harmony to all the peoples of this great land. And that she will draw us in all into communion with Jesus, her Son and our Saviour.
The replica of the original Chapel in Gozo Malta marking the first stage of the building of the Shrine
On 28th February, 1998, His Lordship, Dr. George Pell, Archbishop of Melbourne blessed and opened to the Public, the Church dedicated to Our Lady Ta Pinu.
In 1999, His Lordship Dr. Joseph A .Grech, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, blessed 14 timber Crosses and erected the Way of the Cross.
43 life-size statues were brought from Vietnam and on Saturday 2nd December 2000 ,they were blessed by Archbishop Dr. George Pell.
