Dear Parishioners and Friends!
Let me start this reflection while wishing you all a very happy feast of Christ the King. With today’s feast, we are coming to the end of a Liturgical year (year B) and next Sunday, with the First Sunday of Advent, we will be entering into a new Liturgical year (Year C). During every liturgical year, we reflect on the Incarnation, birth (Advent), passion, death and resurrection of Jesus (Lent and Easter Season) and during the Ordinary time, in light of the sacred Scripture we reflect on our personal and community life and on our spiritual journey.
We have known, heard from the history and know at present about kings, queens andleaders. Most of them tried or continue to try to establish their own kingdoms by force, waging wars against peoples and nations, and through means of violence and oppressions, leaders who manipulated their subjects, exercised their power and authority with powerful means in order to safeguard themselves and their families and to establish their name and fame. But today, we are celebrating and speaking about a King who never used force on his subjects, who never waged a war against other nations and who never withdrew or ran away in the face of danger. Instead, the King that we are celebrating today, came to establish the kingdom of God, and his authority and power was the power of love, mercy and compassion, and he paid the ransom for his subjects through the sacrifice of his own life and he made it very clear to the whole world that, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20:28).
As we read through the gospels, about the conspiracies, the plots against Jesus by the Jewish authorities and of the passion, crucifixion and death of Jesus, we feel angry at those Jewish leaders for their actions against Jesus. As we read through the OldTestament, we come to know that all the Kings of Israel starting from Saul, the firstKing of Israel, they were all political leaders, kings who fought against their enemies,captured lands in order to establish the Jewish Kingdom. Even today, we see thathappening. The Jews in general expected a political leader, a king who would fight against their enemies (Romans at the time of Jesus) and establish a powerful Jewish Kingdom. Jesus, his preaching, his actions were all against their expectations whichdisappointed the Jews, especially their leaders. Hence, they wanted to get rid of him.
However, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants wouldfight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (Jn 18:36-37).
Dear Friends, we have come to follow a King who sacrificed his life for his people, and who established his kingdom not on worldly power and authority but on the virtues of love, mercy, compassion, justice and equality and whose modus operandi was not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for his subjects, and who expects his people not to be masters but servants of all.
Following in his footsteps, you all have come forward to share your God-given gifts and talents with the parish community, taking up different ministerial roles in the parish and thus to serve God and one another. As we celebrate the solemnity of a servant King, on behalf of the parish community, I sincerely thank you all for your generosity, your love, support and commitment to the parish community. We all work for Christ and with Christ and through Christ, and we will receive our reward from Him.
Have a Blessed Sunday and I wish you all a wonderful Week.
Fr. Meno Basti OMI
The Weekend eBulletin
Click here to download the eBulletin for the Solemnity of the Feast of Christ the King, Year B.
November Mass Offering Envelopes
November is the month that we remember family and friends that have passed away by offering a Mass for their souls. November Mass Offering Envelopes are available on the pews or the parish office. Please place envelopes on the collection plate with your offering or return to the parish office.
Senior’s Morning Tea
The senior’s morning tea for November has been cancelled. The next senior’s morning tea will be held on Monday 16th December at 10am in the Parish Centre. All senior’s welcome.
Mass of Thanksgiving for all Volunteers and Parishioners
On Sunday 24th November at 10am a Mass of Thanksgiving will be held for all those Parish Volunteers who give their time and talents in any way possible to the Parish. This Mass will be a combination of Italian and English with both the Italian and English Choirs (please note that for this Sunday there will be no 9.30am Italian, 11am & 5pm English Masses
Final Parish Morning Teas for 2024
Please join us for the last two Parish Morning Teas for 2024 which will be held on Sunday 8 December and Sunday 22 December after the 8am Mass in the Presbytery Carport. All Welcome.
Aquinas Schola Boys Choir
This weekend will be the last weekend for Aquinas Scholas to sing at the Vigil Mass for this year. We sincerely thank Hugh Lydon and the boys for their support of the parish and for the outstanding level of singing they have brought to the Masses. We wish them all a wonderful break and look forward to welcoming them back in 2025.
Anointing of the Sick Mass
The next Anointing of the Sick Mass will be held on Tuesday 3rd December at the Midday Mass.
Annual Advent & Christmas raffle
Tickets for the Christmas Raffle will go on sale at Masses on the weekend of the 30 November/1 December and then will be available every weekend until Sunday 22 December when the raffle will be drawn at the Parish Morning Tea. Please support this raffle.
Carols, Corelli and Candlelight
The Basilica Chorale invites you to a night of Carols, Corelli and Candlelight on Friday 20th December at 7pm in the Basilica. Mulled wine and cake will be served in the Presbytery Carport at 6.30pm prior to the event. BYO cushion for the pews. Donation entry fee.
Leading to the Light: Advent Retreat for Young People
Join Scottish priest Fr Stuart Chalmers for a half-day Advent retreat as we prepare for Christmas. The theme will be ‘Leading to the Light’, drawing on the writings of St John of the Cross, who thought deeply about how to deal with difficulties in the spiritual life.
This retreat is open to all young people aged 18+ and is hosted by the Chaplaincy Team at The University of Notre Dame Australia.
Date: Wednesday 4 December
Time: 9am – 2pm
Location: Meet at the Holy Spirit Chapel (ND8), 38 Mouat Street, Fremantle WA 6160
FREE admission for Notre Dame students and $10 for general admission. Please RSVP by 2 December 2024: https://events.nd.edu.au/leading-to-the-light
Pilgrimage to Shrines of Italy 2025
Rome, Assisi, Loreto, Padre Pio, Puglia, Calabria, Sicily. 14 days 11 nights. 16th May 2025 to 29th May 2025. Spiritual Director: Mgr. Michael Keating. More information on noticeboards in foyers.
Please Note: The Sacristy is to be used by Priests, Acolytes, Altar Servers, Sacristans and Office Staff only. The toilet located inside the Sacristy is not for public use. For Safeguarding reasons please avoid entering the Sacristy.
If you wish to speak to a Priest, please ask the Sacristan or wait for the Priestbefore or after Masses outside of the Sacristy.
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 45%.
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 24 November
Mass of Thanksgiving and BBQ
Tuesday 3 December
Anointing of the Sick Mass
Sunday 8 December
Parish Morning Tea Monday
16 December
Senior’s Final Morning Tea for 2024