Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This week and next, our Gospel readings invite us to consider John the Baptist and his relationship to Jesus. John the Baptist appears in the tradition of the great prophets, preaching repentance and reform to the people of Israel. To affirm this, Luke quotes at length from the prophet Isaiah. John baptizes for repentance and for forgiveness of sins, preparing the way for God’s salvation.
The three Synoptic Gospels—Mark, Matthew, and Luke—attest to the importance of the baptism of John in preparing for Jesus. Only the Gospel of Luke, however, extends the connection between these two men to their birth. The first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel contain the Infancy Narrative, which tells about the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. These stories set the stage for the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in chapter 3.
The evangelist Luke is the author of the Gospel that bears his name, and he also wrote the Acts of the Apostles as a continuation of the story of Jesus and the Church. In these two works, Luke’s sense of time and history emerges. He identifies three epochs of salvation history: the time before Christ, the time of Christ, and the time of the Church and the Holy Spirit. In today’s Gospel reading, as elsewhere, John the Baptist is presented as the figure who bridges the time before Christ and prepares the way for Christ’s own ministry.
In today’s Gospel we also note Luke’s attention to political and historical detail. Luke shows that salvation is for all people and situated in world events. Therefore, Luke lists the political and religious leaders at the time of John’s appearance in the desert. Salvation is understood as God’s breaking into this political and social history.
John’s preaching of the coming of the Lord is a key theme of the Advent season. As John’s message prepared the way for Jesus, we too are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming. We respond to John’s message by repentance and reform of our lives. We are also called to be prophets of Christ, who announce by our lives the coming of the Lord, as John did. (Source: Loyola Press)
The Weekend eBulletin
Click here to download the eBulletin for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year C.
Please Note: that due to a large funeral on Thursday 12 December at 1.15pm the school grounds will be open for more parking.
Senior’s Morning Tea
The last senior’s morning tea for 2024 will be held on Monday 16th December at 10am in the Parish Centre. All senior’s welcome.
Final Parish Morning Teas for 2024
Please join us for the last two Parish Morning Teas for 2024 which will be held on Sunday 8 December and Sunday 22 December after the 8am Mass in the Presbytery Carport. All Welcome.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated on Monday 9th December due to the 8th of December being a Sunday.
MAMI Christmas Gift Cards
This year give a Christmas Gift that helps support those less fortunate. A MAMI Christmas Card, supports the Missions supported by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Chickens $10, Development $15, Toolboxes $20, Education $25 and Goats $30. Cards available from the parish office or online at www.oblates.com.au/christmas-cards.
Annual Advent & Christmas raffle
Tickets for the Christmas Raffle will go on sale at Masses on the weekend of the 30 November/1 December and then will be available every weekend until Sunday 22 December when the raffle will be drawn at the Parish Morning Tea. Please support this raffle.
Carols, Corelli and Candlelight
The Basilica Chorale invites you to a night of Carols, Corelli and Candlelight on Friday 20th December at 7pm in the Basilica. Mulled wine and cake will be served in the Presbytery Carport at 6.30pm prior to the event. BYO cushion for the pews. Donation entry fee.
Pilgrimage to Shrines of Italy 2025
Rome, Assisi, Loreto, Padre Pio, Puglia, Calabria, Sicily. 14 days 11 nights. 16th May 2025 to 29th May 2025. Spiritual Director: Mgr. Michael Keating. More information on noticeboards in foyers.
Christmas Timetable
Copies of the Christmas Mass Timetable are available in the side foyers of the Church. Please distribute them to your family and friends.
Christmas Eve 24th December
No Adoration or Midday Mass
Carols at 5.15 pm prior to the 5.30pm Children’s Mass
Carols at 8pm prior to the 8.30pm Mass
Carols at 11.30pm prior to the Midnight Mass
No Mass at St Anne’s Church, North Fremantle
Christmas Day 25th December
Basilica Masses: 8am, 9.30am (Italian) and 11am
St Anne’s Church, North Fremantle Mass: 8.15am
No 5pm Evening Mass
New Year’s Eve 31st December
11am Adoration and Midday Mass
New Year’s Day 1st January 2025
No longer a Holy Day of Obligation
11am Adoration and Midday Mass
Please Note: From 26 December to 27 January Saturday Reconciliation only at 10am to 12noon
Christmas Office Opening Hours
The parish office will close at midday on Friday 20th and reopen at 9am on Wednesday 15 January. During this time there will be no parish bulletins printed for weekend Masses. If you have any urgent matters, please email parishmanager@fremantlestpatricks.org.au.
Basilica Carpark
The Basilica grounds are open at 7am to 7.30pm Mon to Sunday. Any cars that are parked in the grounds after lockup will need to be collected the following morning. Parking in the Basilica grounds is at your own risk.
Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope
What is a Jubilee? A Jubilee is a special year of grace and conversion, involving prayer, pilgrimage and sacramental repentance, held every 25 years, or during other years as called for by the Pope.
Through a series of concrete rituals, acts and commitments, the goal of a Jubilee year is to inspire and encourage holiness of life among the faithful and therefore to strengthen the Church’s witness to God’s loving mercy in and for the world.
Pope Frances will open the Holy Doors to the Jubilee Year on 25 December 2024.
This year the Basilica of St Patrick has been chosen as one of the five Churches in the Archdiocese of Perth as a place of pilgrimage. So we will be seeking volunteers to assist on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday so that we can keep the Church open, until 3pm for pilgrims to visit the Basilica. If you can assist, please advise the parish office
Weekly Giving
The collections are an important part of a Parish life. Your weekly 1st collection donations support the Priests in the parish to minister to the needs of the parish community and the Fremantle boarders.
Your weekly 2nd collection donations help us to maintain all aspects of the Basilica, Presbytery and Administration Centre. Without your assistance we would not be able to provide and maintain the Parish and its community. Thank You!
Please continue to give generously via the collection plate, tap and go tablets or direct deposits into the accounts below.
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/.
Coming Events
Sunday 8 December
Parish Morning Tea
Monday 16 December
Senior’s Final Morning Tea for 2024
Friday 20 December
Carols, Corelli & Candlelight Concert
Tuesday 24 December
Christmas Eve
Wednesday 25 December
Christmas Day