Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This Sunday, called Palm or Passion Sunday, is the first day of Holy Week. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday are called the Triduum—three days that are the highlight of the Church year. There are two Gospels proclaimed at today’s Mass. The first Gospel, proclaimed before the procession with palms, tells of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Riding on a borrowed colt, Jesus was hailed by the crowds as they blessed God and shouted “Hosanna!” This event is reported in each of the four Gospels.
At the Liturgy of the Word on Palm Sunday, the events of Jesus’ passion are proclaimed in their entirety. In Lectionary Cycle B, we read the passion of Jesus as found in the Gospel of Mark. We will hear these events proclaimed again when we celebrate the Triduum later in the week. On Good Friday, we will read the passion of Jesus from the Gospel of John.
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ passion and death are presented as the consequence of the tension between the Jewish authorities and Jesus that had been building throughout his public ministry. This tension reached its breaking point when Jesus drove the merchants and moneychangers from the Temple. After this event, the chief priests and scribes began seeking a way to put Jesus to death, and yet, this is only the surface explanation for his death.
When Jesus was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin—the council of Jewish priests, scribes, and elders—he was charged with blasphemy, citing his threat to the Temple. When he was brought before Pilate, however, the religious authorities presented his crime as a political one, charging that Jesus claimed to be king of the Jews. In continuity with a theme of Mark’s Gospel, the messianic claim of Jesus is widely misunderstood.
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples are rarely models of faith and do little to invoke confidence in their capacity to continue his ministry after his death. They fare no better in Mark’s narrative of Jesus’ passion and death. At the Last Supper, the disciples insisted that none among them would betray Jesus. When Jesus predicted that their faith would be shaken in the events ahead, Peter and the other disciples protested vehemently. Yet in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus returned three times to find them sleeping. Jesus prayed in agony over his impending fate while his disciples slumbered through the night. Just as Jesus predicted, Peter denied Jesus, and the disciples were absent during Jesus’ passion and death. Only the women who had been followers of Jesus in Galilee are said to have been present at the Crucifixion, but they remained at a distance.
Throughout this Gospel, Mark challenges the reader to consider the claim with which the Gospel begins: Jesus is the Son of God. When we read Mark’s account of the passion, we begin to comprehend the deeper theological statement being made about Jesus’ death. In Mark’s telling of the passion narrative, Jesus understood his death to have been preordained, and he accepted this death in obedience to God’s will. Jewish Scripture is quoted only once, but there are several references to the fulfilment of the Scriptures. Jesus understood his anointing in Bethany as an anticipation of his burial, and he announced that this story would be told together with the Gospel throughout the world. Jesus predicted his betrayal by Judas as well as Peter’s denial. At his arrest, Jesus acknowledged that the preordained time had arrived. Jesus was both confident and silent before his accusers. After he was sentenced to death, Jesus did not speak again until his final cry from the cross. The bystanders misunderstood and believed that he was calling for Elijah. The Roman centurion, however, affirmed what Mark has presented throughout this Gospel: Jesus is the Son of God. Nowhere was this revealed more fully than in his death on the cross.
During Holy Week, we prayerfully remember the events of Jesus’ passion and death. As we meditate on the cross, we ask again and anew what it means to make the statement of faith that Jesus, in his obedient suffering and dying, revealed himself to us as God’s Son. (Source Loyola Press)
The Weekend eBulletin
Click here to download the eBulletin for Palm Sunday/The Passion of the Lord, Year B.
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.
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.
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.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER CEREMONIES 2024
MONDAY 25TH, TUESDAY 26TH & WEDNESDAY 27TH MARCH
Adoration: 11am; Mass: Midday
HOLY THURSDAY – 28TH MARCH
No Adoration and No Midday Mass
7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
8pm till 9pm Reconciliation in English
Adoration 8pm till 10pm
GOOD FRIDAY – 29TH MARCH
No Adoration and No Midday Mass
11am Stations of the Cross at the Basilica of St Patrick
12noon to 1pm Reconciliation
3pm Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
4.30pm-5.30pm Reconciliation
HOLY SATURDAY – 30TH MARCH
No Adoration and No Midday Mass
9.30am, 11am and 4.30pm Reconciliation
4pm Polish Blessing of Food
7pm Easter Vigil Mass
EASTER SUNDAY – 31ST MARCH
MASSES: 8am, 9.30am (Italian), 11am and 5pm
8.15am St Anne’s, North Fremantle
Easter Offerings
Usually twice a year you are invited, as a community, to make a special effort to financially support the Priests of the Basilica. As the special season of Easter is fast approaching, you are encouraged to support the Priests during this special season of Easter. The envelopes are in the pews, so kindly use them and support your priests generously.
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 63%.
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
Tuesday 26 March – Archdiocesan Chrism Mass
Thursday 28 March – Holy Thursday
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Saturday 30 March – Holy Saturday
Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday