Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Greetings to you all!
First Sunday of Lent: Year C
Lent is a great time to take a break from the busyness of our lives. We are always on a move to do something either for oneself or for others. Lent is a reminder that we also need to stay calm and quiet with ourselves, so that we know where we stand and what needs to be amended to be happy and a better person.
Lent is a door to conversion. By conversion I do not mean forcing someone to embrace another religion. It is a personal choice that a person makes in his or her life to embrace a new way of life. To embrace a change in life is not that easy unless I allow myself to be challenged. If you truly allow yourself to take on the spirit of Lent, then you will be challenged to look at your lives with a fresh eye. Are you ready for this challenge as you embark on this journey of Lent?
Lent also gives you a time to look at the brighter side of your life, which you have enjoyed over the years. Sometimes, failure to acknowledge the goodness of our lives may also lead us into a stressed life. The first reading today mentions how the Israelites had every reason to be grateful to the good God who had liberated them from the slavery of Egypt and had given them a land of their own, a territory in which they could live their lives free from oppression and free to serve the God who had made them a Chosen People. In return he asked them to remember his goodness to them and to show their gratitude by offering to him some of the fruits of the land he had given them year after year. So, during this grace-filled time, let us also take time to remember what God has done for me.
Lent is also a time to step up in my Christian vocation. I am not a perfect person. In order to be a perfect person, let us allow the Word of God into our lives. Because God’s word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Ps 119:105). When Jesus faced temptations of power and glory from Satan, he resisted them with the power of God’s Word. So, we too can win many battles in life with the power of God’s Word. Amen.
This weekend bulletins
Click here to download the ebulletins for the First Sunday in Lent Year C
On Sunday 6th March: Monthly Parish Morning Tea
On 6th March after the 8am Mass we will have the Parish Morning Tea. Please come along to meet friends and to make friends from our Basilica community.
Project Compassion for 2021
A Special Collection for Project Compassion will be taken up at all Masses during the weekend of 12th and 13th of March 2022.
Donation boxes and weekly offering envelopes for Project Compassion are also still available from the foyers of the Church this weekend. Please donate generously to bring a great change in the lives of those who are in need.
St Patrick’s Day Celebration Thursday March 17, 2022
Please join us on this important day as we celebrate the Feast of our Patron Saint. After the concelebrated Mass at Midday in the Basilica there will be a light lunch in the Presbytery Carport. All welcome to be part of this community occasion and bring along a ‘plate’ to share.
Stations of the Cross in Lent
During the Lenten season it is a great tradition in the life of the Church to make the Stations of the Cross, and thus unite ourselves with Christ by meditating on His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
So, in our Basilica, on every Friday during Lent we will make the stations of the Cross at 12.30pm. Please join us and make every effort to make this Lent a joyful preparation to celebrate the joy of Easter.
Parish Lenten Retreat 2022
“It was because of love that the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Lent is a time of journeying, when we are preparing ourselves to join with Jesus on the last days of his life which led from the Last Supper to his show trial, conviction, and death by crucifixion, coming to completion three days later as the risen Christ of St Pauls’ letters.
You are invited as part of your Lenten preparation to come together for a series of one-hour prayerful evenings (we will be using some of the meditation exercises from the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola as our guide for the journey) where we will journey with Jesus Christ through his life to his death and resurrection. Commencing on Monday 14 March, and continuing every Monday for five weeks (14, 21,28 March, 4 & 11 April) in the Parish Centre at 6pm.
To register your interest please contact the Parish Office on 9335 2268, Mon to Fri 9am to 3pm or via email parishoffice@oblates.com.au.
The journey is best experienced over the five weeks, however if you cannot attend all five weeks you are still welcome to be part of the journey.
Children’s Liturgy
During the school terms, Children’s Liturgy will be celebrated at 5pm Mass on Sunday. If you have your children attending the Mass with you kindly send them to the Children’s chapel, (located on the left-hand side of your entrance to the Church) where the Children’s Liturgy coordinators will guide your children in the liturgy. Thanks for your co-operation.
Safeguarding of our children in the Parish
The Archdiocese Safeguarding Project was started in 2016 by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe 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 please click here.
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 71%.
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