Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Greetings to you all!
Third Sunday of Lent: Year C
We are all called by God to imitate him in and through our lives. As God is so kind, compassionate and patient with his sons and daughters, so we too are called to do the same. Our Lenten journey is a strong reminder of this message of God in our lives.
Moses was chosen by God to deliver the people of Israel from their slavery. It was a great act of love from God shown towards his people. He heard the cry of the people of Israel and chose Moses to deliver them and thus lead them into a land of their own. So, it is a powerful reminder for all of us that the liberation of Israel from the slavery of Egypt and their eventual establishment in the Promised Land of Canaan were outstanding proofs of God’s deep interest in those whom he loves. The love God showers on his children is not temporary but is permanent and lasts our lifetime.
St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians says, “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
So, our Lenten journey is to acknowledge the deep love of God in our lives. When we become aware of God’s love we will begin to respond to his love in and through our lives. Our God is also very patient with us. One may often fall away from the love of God, even then he is very patient with us and waits for our return to him.
Let the days of our Lenten journey not be a waste of time, rather let us go deep into our lives to make sure we do all the right things, to do our best to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter. The Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central crowning act of God’s love in history. So let us do our best in our preparation. Amen.
The weekend bulletin
Click here to download the eBulletin for the Third Sunday in Lent Year C.
We welcome Fr. Leo Mifsud OMI
This week we wish to welcome Fr Leo Mifsud OMI to St Patrick’s Parish Fremantle. Fr Leo will be assisting throughout the Parish. Fr Leo is a former provincial and has worked in many of our Oblate parishes over east. Please make yourself known to him and have a chat – he would love to meet you all.
I also wish to advise that Fr Angelo will be leaving us for a short period of time. Fr Angelo is going to be visiting and assisting in some other Oblate parishes. Due to COVID it had been delayed but with the ease of restrictions the Provincial thought it might be good time for him to visit other Oblate Parishes. We wish him safe travelling and a speedy return to us.
Make time to unite with Pope Francis in prayer
Catholics around the world are being encouraged to join their prayers with those of Pope Francis on March 25 when he consecrates Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The act of consecration places the warring countries under the protection of Mary, the Mother of Christ, trusting in the power of her intercession. Such an act looks towards God, the source of all peace, and seeks God’s peace through Mary.
“Acting as the Universal Pastor of the Church, Pope Francis will renew the consecration urged at Fatima more than 100 years ago,” Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Mark Coleridge said.
“The bishops of Australia are united with the Holy Father as he leads the faithful around the world in this act of consecration and we invite all people to join us in praying for peace in Ukraine.” Pope Francis will perform the act of consecration in Rome at 5pm, which will be the middle of the night in Australia.
Prayer for Peace and Justice in Ukraine
God of peace and justice,
who change the hardened heart and break the power of violence,
we entrust the people of Ukraine to you.
Protect them in this time of peril;
let them know not death but life, not slavery but freedom.
You are Father of all;
we are brothers and sisters.
Give us the strength to live that truth in love,
choosing peace not war.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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.”
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.
The first series of talks began on Monday 14 March, and continue every Monday (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.
Safeguarding of our children in the Parish
The Archdiocesan 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.
God bless!
Fr John Sebastian
Rector and Parish Priest