Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In today’s Gospel we read about how Jesus overturned the tables of the merchants and the moneychangers in the Temple at Jerusalem. In order to understand the relevance of Jesus’ action, we must learn more about the activities that were going on in the temple area. Worship at the Temple in Jerusalem included animal sacrifice, and merchants sold animals to worshipers. Moneychangers exchanged Roman coins, which bore the image of the Roman emperor, for the temple coins that were needed to pay the temple tax.
Jesus’ action at the Temple in Jerusalem is recorded in all four Gospels and is often understood to be among the events that led to Jesus’ arrest and Crucifixion. The Gospel of John, however, places this event much earlier in Jesus’ public ministry than do the Synoptic Gospels. In John’s Gospel this event occurs at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, after his first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana.
We must read the Gospel of John carefully, especially in its presentation of Jesus’ relationship to Judaism. The Gospel of John tends to reflect greater tension and animosity between Jesus and the Jewish authorities than the Synoptic Gospels. The Gospel of John was the last of the four Gospels to be written, and its narrative reflects the growing divide between the Jewish community and the early Christian community. Thus, greater emphasis on the distinction between Christianity and Judaism is found in John’s Gospel.
Reflecting upon the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem (A.D. 70), John recalls Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple and uses that story to interpret this later event. John explains to his audience, an early Christian community, that temple worship would no longer be necessary because it was surpassed in the passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus. With greater frequency than the other Evangelists, John intersperses post-Resurrection reflections of this Christian community in his narrative.
After clearing the Temple of the merchants and the moneychangers, John’s Gospel tells us that the people asked for a sign of Jesus’ authority to do such an audacious act. In response, Jesus predicted his death and Resurrection. Throughout John’s Gospel, the language of signs is distinctive. Jesus’ miracles are called signs, and the people look to these signs for proof of his authority. Here we learn that the sign par excellence will be Jesus’ passion, death, and Resurrection.
During Lent we reflect upon the meaning of this sign for us and for our world. We might take this opportunity to consider the quality of our prayer and worship. In our prayers we seek to deepen our relationship with the person of Christ. In our worship with the community, we gather to experience anew the passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus and its significance in our lives. Christ promises to be present with us when we gather for prayer. (source Loyola Press)
The Weekend eBulletin
Click here to download the eBulletin for the Third Sunday of Lent, Year B.
Reminder: The Oblates will be away from Monday 4th March to Friday 8th March. There will be NO ADORATION during that week, Masses only. Thank you and please keep the Oblates in your prayers.
Parish Office New Opening Hours
Parish Office will operate Tuesday to Friday 9am to 3pm only. The office can be contacted via email: parishmanager@fremantlestpatricks.org.au or a message can be left on 9335 2268.
Planned Giving 2024/2025
Please collect your new Planned Giving Envelopes which are now available in the side foyer of the Church. If you are not a member of the Planned Giving and would like to become a member, please contact the Parish Office.
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross continue every Friday until Good Friday. Stations in English after the Midday Mass and Stations in Italian at 6.30pm.
Parish Morning Tea
The next Parish Morning Tea will be held on Sunday 10th March after the 8am Mass in the Presbytery Carport.
St Patrick’s Day Concert
The Basilica invites all Parishioners to a St Patrick’s Day Concert on Friday 15th March at 7.30pm. Enjoy an evening of Choir, Strings & Organ. See noticeboard for more information.
Senior’s Morning Tea
The next Senior’s Morning Tea will be held on Monday 18th March at 10am in the Parish Centre. All Senior’s Welcome.
Palm Sunday – 23rd March 2024
Unfortunately, we will only have limited number of palms and olive branches available at Masses. Please bring your own palms or olive branches for blessing.
Annual Archdiocesan Chrism Mass
Most Reverend Timothy Costelloe SDB, Archbishop of Perth, wishes to invite all parishioners to attend the Annual Archdiocesan Chrism Mass, St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth on Tuesday 26th March at 7pm.
Holy Thursday – Mass of the Last Supper
We are seeking volunteers for the Washing of the Feet during the Mass of the Last Supper on Thursday 28th March at 7pm. If you can assist, please contact the Parish Office.
ATCO Upgrade to Gas Network in Fremantle
Please Note that there will be gas works on Elder Place, Point, Adelaide, Parry and Quarry Streets from 6th March to 1st May 2024 between 7am to 4pm. These works will cause some issues with traffic and detours maybe in place. Please be guided by traffic controllers during this time and perhaps allow some extra time to get to Church.
Planned Giving
The Planned Giving Programme is an important part of the Parish and assists 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 giving was 67%.
Please consider joining the Planned Giving Programme. For more information contact the Parish Office. Thank you!
EFT First Collection Details
BSB: 086 006
A/c No: 56187 5405
Reference: 1st Collection and your name
First Collection supports the Priests.
EFT Second Collection Details
BSB: 066 107
A/c No: 0080 0216
Reference: 2nd Collection and your name
Second Collection supports the Parish.
Safeguarding of our children in the Parish
The Archdiocesan Safeguarding Project was started in 2016 by Archbishop Timothy Costello SDB 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, visit http://fremantlestpatricks.org.au/parish-safeguarding-project/.
Coming Events
Sunday 10 March
Parish Morning Tea
Friday 15 March
St Patrick’s Day Concert
Monday 18 March
Senior’s Morning Tea
Sunday 23 March
Palm Sunday
Tuesday 26 March
Archdiocesan Chrism Mass