Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This Sunday’s Gospel invites us to continue our reflection on the person and mission of John the Baptist. Today we depart from the Gospel of Mark and read a selection from the Gospel of John.
The Gospel for today combines a brief passage from the prologue to John’s Gospel with a report about John the Baptist. As in Mark’s Gospel, the Gospel of John contains no birth narrative. Instead, John’s Gospel begins with a theological reflection that has come to be called the “prologue.” This prologue places the story of Jesus in its cosmological framework. It speaks of Jesus’ existence with God since the beginning of time. In John’s Gospel, Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of the Old Testament and the culmination of the Word, the light that is coming into the world’s darkness.
Following this prologue, John reports on the ministry of John the Baptist. We learn about the attention that John the Baptist received from the Jewish authorities. Messengers from the Jewish priests, the Levites and the Pharisees question John about his identity and the meaning of the baptisms that he is performing. John’s Gospel uses these questions to establish the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist. John the Baptist is not the Messiah, nor is he Elijah or the Prophet. In John’s denials, we hear echoes of the kind of messianic expectations that were common in first-century Palestine.
The only affirmative response that John the Baptist gives is when he quotes the prophet Isaiah. Upon answering the next question, John announces that the savior they seek is already among them, but as yet unrecognized. John’s response highlights for us an important Advent theme: Jesus has already come into the world as our savior. During Advent, we pray that we will be able to recognize Jesus’ presence in our midst. Advent also reminds us that Jesus will come again to fulfill the promise of salvation. We pray that we will continue to be watchful as we anticipate that great day.
The third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete, a Latin word which means “rejoice,” is taken from the entrance antiphon for Sunday’s Mass. This theme is echoed in today’s second reading from the first Letter to the Thessalonians. It is a reminder that Advent is a season of joy because our salvation is already at hand. (Source Loyola Press)
The Weekend eBulletin
Click here to download the ebulletins for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year B.
Advent Retreat
The final Monday session will be on 18th December at 6.00 pm at St. Patrick’s Basilica Fremantle Parish Centre.
MAMI Christmas Cards
MAMI Christmas Cards, available from the Parish Office or online at www.oblates.com.au/christmas-cards. You can purchase:- Chickens $10, Development $15, Toolboxes $20, Education $25 and Goats $30. By purchasing one of these Christmas Cards it supports the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in their Missions.
Parish Morning Tea
The final parish morning tea for 2023 will be on Sunday 17 December after the 8am Mass in the Presbytery carport. All Welcome. Please Note: there will be no morning tea in January 2024. The Christmas Raffle will be drawn at the morning tea.
De Mazenod Family Adore Advent Program
Join the online Advent Program Adore which will be held on Thursdays during December leading up to Christmas. See the link below and the time for WA.
Zoom link: HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/83793869667. WA 5.00 pm.
Senior’s Morning Tea
The final Seniors Morning Tea for 2023 will be held on Monday 18th December in the Parish Centre. All seniors welcome. Please Note: there will be no Seniors Morning Tea in January.
Weekend Bulletin
Please be advised that there will be no Weekend Bulletin printed and no eBulletin on website after Sunday 24th December until the end of January. Bulletin and eBulletin will recommence the first weekend in February, 2024.
Basilica Parish Office
The Basilica Parish Office will close at Midday on Friday 22 December and will reopen at 9am on Wednesday 3 January, 2024.
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 62%.
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/.
Upcoming Events
Sunday 17 December
Final Parish Morning Tea for 2023
Monday 18 December
Final Seniors Morning Tea for 2023
Final Retreat Session
Sunday 24 December
Christmas Eve
Monday 25 December
Christmas Day