Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Greetings to you all!
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
For more than 15 months now, the entire world has continued to experience the severe storms of the COVID-19 virus. This virus continues to threaten all of us with lots of pain, suffering and deaths of so many people in the world; thus, leaving us with uncertainties in life.
The gospel for this weekend talks about a wild storm when Jesus and his disciples crossed to the other side of the sea. Jesus was asleep when the waves started breaking into the boat, and it was almost swamped. The storm that the disciples experienced was not that long in time. Even then, the disciples felt unprotected and thus they approached Jesus, who has control over everything. Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?’
It is said that “The Sea of Galilee is known for the violent storms that can arise without warning, as wind is funnelled through the steep valleys among the hills surrounding the lake. In this instance the gale is so fierce that it terrifies even seasoned fishermen.”[1] When the disciples experienced this unforeseen situation Jesus does not leave his disciples in their panic but immediately awakens and rebukes the raging elements. He does not pray that God would calm the storm, but commands it himself with sovereign authority: Quiet! Be still!
The pain of this painful pandemic also emerged as a sudden wind in the sea. I personally believe that we all need to persevere in our journey of faith. As the disciples rightly approached Jesus in their painful moments, we also need to turn to Jesus with strong faith that in and through Jesus everything is possible. And we will win this battle of threat that this COVID-19 virus brings to us. Stay firm in your faith journey. Pray and support one another during these uncertain moments in life. Amen.
Readings and Hymns
Please click here to download the readings and hymns for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.
CBC Family Mass
This weekend on Saturday we welcome all the staff, students, and their families from CBC Fremantle for a special Family Mass. The College is committed to celebrate one Mass a term with the Basilica community. We warmly welcome them to our Basilica Community.
Farewell to Fr Pierangelo Borali
Fr Pierangelo Borali who has been the Italian Chaplain at the Basilica of St. Patrick for nearly four and a half years will be farewelled on Sunday 18th July at the 9.30am Italian Mass. He is appointed to one of their communities in Sri Lanka. Please join us on Sunday 18 July after the Italian Mass for a farewell morning tea. Please RSVP the parish office on 9335 2268.
Important dates for June and July 2021
- Tuesday 29th June: Oblates Arrived in Australia 1894. It will be a special concelebrated Mass at noon.
- Tuesday 20th July: Fr. Don Hughes’ First Anniversary of Death Mass.
- Friday 30th July: Fr. Gaitano Nanni’s Anniversary of death Mass.
- Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August: Catholic Mission Appeal.
Mass Intentions
Please click here for the Mass Intentions of the week (from 20th June to 26th June 2021).
To Book your Mass Intentions please contact the Parish office on 9335 2268 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm).
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 46%.
Please consider joining the Planned Giving Programme. If you are not already a member, for more information contact the Parish Office. Thank you!
Have a wonderful weekend
God bless!
Fr John Sebastian
Parish Priest