Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Greetings to you all!
Jesus continues his journey towards Jerusalem. During this journey this question was put to him: ‘who will be saved’? To this question Jesus says that restrictions to entering the kingdom do not lie with God but with the human responses to this divine invitation. In other words, Jesus tells us that each one’s salvation is in his own hands. All those who accept Christ, his teaching, and the help he had made available to them will enter the kingdom of God.
God has given us the freedom to choose what we want in life. The Gospel passage today invites one to ask oneself, do I choose God or something else. To choose God in one’s life, one needs to trust him fully because he will not abandon us. Rather he will see that the purpose of our creation will come into completion.
The poem written by Robert Frost, titled “The Road not Taken” gives the daring nature of the traveller who took the road which was not taken by anyone.
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear.
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
The scriptures have many encouraging teachings to help a person to choose God all the time. If anyone could do it, then one could feel that they are all in safe hands and will never have to worry about the question: will I be saved? Jesus was aware of the path that he chose in his life in order to give glory to his father. What are your choices in life?
Fr. John Sebastian OMI
Rector & Parish Priest
The weekend eBulletin
Click here to download the eBulletin for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.
Oblate Priests on annual retreat
The Oblates in the Australian Province will commence their annual retreat from August 21st to 26th in Melbourne. Please keep us in your prayers as we will remember you all specially during our annual retreat time.
Parish Morning Tea
Please join us on the First Sunday of every month after the 8am Mass for our Parish Morning Tea. The next Parish Morning Tea will be held on Sunday 4 September. All Welcome.
Fr Angelo Wijewickrama OMI 30th Anniversary of Ordination
Fr Angelo’s anniversary of Ordination is on 22nd August, but a celebration will be held at the Parish Morning Tea on Sunday 4 September after the 8am Mass. All Welcome to attend. Please RSVP the parish office before 31 August for catering purposes.
Father’s Day Celebration: Wine & Cheese Night
The Parish will celebrate all Fathers with a Wine & Cheese Night on Saturday 10 September after the 6pm Mass in the undercover area of the Presbytery. Tickets will be available here for $10pp. Please come along and celebrate all fathers!
We are also seeking volunteers to help organise and run the event, if you can assist, please contact the Parish Office asap.
Monthly Senior’s Morning Tea
Monthly Senior’s Morning Tea is a special parish initiative to bring our seniors together to share a cuppa and a chat. The Senior’s morning tea is held every third Monday of each month in the Parish Hall from 10am to 11am.
The Next Senior’s Morning Tea will be held on Monday 19 September at 10am in the Parish Hall.
Basilica Guardians
We are urgently seeking volunteers who can assist with the Basilica Guardians. The Basilica Guardians allow us to keep the Church open on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from after midday Mass until 3pm. If you would like to volunteer, please call the Parish Office. Thank you to those who have already volunteered. As soon as we have enough volunteers, we will commence a roster.
Archbishop’s Pastoral Letter
You can read Archbishop Costello’s Pastoral Letter here. Copies will also be available in the foyers of the Church.
Parish Centre Toilets
Over the past few weeks, we have had some issues with the toilets and access to the toilet area. During the week if you wish to use the toilets and they are locked, please call into the parish office, and ask for them to be opened. On the Weekends the toilets will only be opened before Masses. Thank you.
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 54%.
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.
Regarding Masks
Masks are not mandatory; however, masks are encouraged where physical distancing is not possible if you have cold & flu symptoms, or you wish to safeguard yourself from the COVID-19 virus.
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 please click here.
Upcoming Events
Saturday 20 August: CBC Family Mass.
Sunday 21 August to Friday 26 August: Oblate Retreat.
Sunday 4 September: Parish Morning Tea; Celebration for Fr Angelo’s 30th Anniversary of Ordination.
Saturday 10 September: Wine & Cheese Night.
Sunday 11 September: Our Lady of Tindari (Black Madonna) Mass.
Saturday 17 September: Parish First Communion Mass.