Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Greetings to you all!
Feast of the Epiphany Year C
At the start of the Year, I wish you all A Happy New Year 2022. My sincere prayer goes to you all. I also pray that all our dreams and all our efforts come true.
Holy Mother Church celebrates today the Feast of the Epiphany. The word ‘epiphany’ comes from Greek, meaning, a ‘showing’ or ‘manifestation’. Originally the word Epiphany referred to the visit of a king to the people of his provinces.
The Epiphany story highlights two important truths. First of all, it reveals the royal messiahship of Jesus and secondly, of God’s revelation to the Gentiles.
The evangelist Matthew talks about these three wise men, who are central to the feast of the Epiphany. They were pagans who did not know anything about the true God of the Jews. Yet that God revealed to them the birth of the king, whom he had promised to the Jews.
These three men came in search of the newly born King. When they found Him, they worshiped him and paid their homage by offering him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Today, when we go on a journey, there are many things we think about. When we go to an unknown place immediately we look at the road maps, or now the easily available thing is the GPS, which gives us the direction to the desired destination.
To these three men the star in the sky was their GPS, which led them to the Child Jesus. For them the Star was their symbol of hope, of joy and of peace. To them, the star was but a small reflection of the fullness of the Light of the world that awaited them at the end of their journey.
Today’s gospel finishes by saying that they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod and returned to their own country by a different way.
Yes, dear friends, when the star appeared in heaven, they were very joyful and after paying their homage to the newborn baby Jesus, they went back to their country by a different way. It only tells us that when we meet God and experience God in our lives, life is not going to be the same; rather our lives will be transformed.
God always guides us daily through various signs. If we could pay attention to them then there will be much newness in one’s life and thus, we will move away from our farmer way of life and start to live in Christ.
As we begin this New Year, let us pay attention to the hope and guidance that God gives to each one of us throughout this New Year.
I wish you and your families a Happy New Year 2022.
Thank you from Fr. Colbert OMI
Fr. Anthony Colbert OMI expresses his sincere thanks to everyone who wished him and presented him with many gifts on his diamond jubilee of ordination anniversary. Please continue to pray for Fr. Colbert’s good health.
Basilica Parish Office Opening Hours during Christmas and New Year
Dear Parishioners, the Basilica Parish office will be closed from Friday 24th December to Tuesday 4th January 2022. You can leave a message via the phone or email parishoffice@oblates.com.au. Christmas and New Year Mass times are available on the recorded message on the phone, the website fremantlestpatricks.org.au and on our Facebook page St Patrick’s Basilica Fremantle. Thanks for your understanding.
Safeguarding of our children in the Parish
The Archdiocese Safeguarding Project was started in 2016 by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe with the aim of providing a safe and secure environment for all its members, leaders and especially children and vulnerable adults. The parish of St Patrick’s Basilica is committed to creating a safe parish. To read more please click here.
Mass Intentions
Please click here for the Mass Intentions of the week (from 2nd January to 8th January 2022).
To book your Mass Intentions please contact the Parish office on 9335 2268 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm).
The Planned Giving Programme
The planned giving programme is an important part of the Parish as it allows us to maintain all aspects of the Basilica, Presbytery and Parish Administration Centre. To keep the Parish viable, we must maintain a target of 95% and above each week. Last week’s giving was 89%.
Please consider joining the Planned Giving Programme. If you are not already a member, for more information contact the Parish Office. Thank you!
God bless.
Fr John Sebastian
Rector and Parish Priest