Saturday 1 October 2022

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Greetings to you all!

All three readings today speak a lot about “faith” and how it works in our lives. The first reading taken from the book of Habakkuk defines Faith “as trusting in God and living with fidelity to the Covenant”.

Habakkuk was a minor prophet. He lived during the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. He encouraged his fellow Jews to retain their Faith during this disaster. The first two chapters of the book of Habakkuk are in the form of a dialogue between the prophet and God. The prophet repeatedly complains, and the Lord answers each time. 

Around 600 BC, God’s people had been unfaithful, and, as a deserved punishment for their sins, they were invaded by Babylon. What distressed the prophet was that Judah’s punishment came at the hands of brutal pagans who were overly aggressive. It looked as if bad were being punished by worse. 

To Habakkuk, it seemed that the Lord God was strengthening the arm of injustice instead of punishing the excesses of His people’s enemy. He saw this as unworthy of God’s holiness and justice. Hence, the prophet cried out to God, “How long, Lord, am I to cry for help while you will not listen?  I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’–Yet you do not save.”   But God told His prophet to trust in Him, to persevere and to be patient, because He was aware of both the goodness of the good people and the evil they fought against.  

The reading concludes with the positive answer from God: “The just man, because of faith, shall live” [Hb 2:4; Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38].  This means that the righteous, or just one, is steadfast in faithfulness, even in the midst of violence and destruction, and this faithfulness assures life. Faith here is not simply assent to a series of doctrines, but includes trust, with a steadfast expectation of release in the face of suffering and delay. 

The just man lives because he keeps his relationship with God.  The word “Faith” (Emunah) used here refers to a living Faith, a Faith expressed in actions, a Faith with works (James. 2:17, 26).  Therefore, it can only be concluded that faith without works is indeed dead. “Faith is composed of belief and love as well as of trust and confidence amid trials and tribulations” (The Jerome Biblical Commentary, page 297, # 39, 4b).

In the gospel we see Jesus used the parables of the mustard seed and the good servant to help them understand the need for strong Faith. “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you. By saying this Jesus wanted to emphasize thelimitless possibilities of faith and that too, with a faith the size of a mustard seed.

When we are facing a problem that seems as big and immovable as a mountain, we are called to turn our eyes from the mountain and look to Christ for more faith. 

If we have faith like that of a mustard seed every problem of evil: suffering, misery, frustrations, fear, oppression, and injustice can be overcome. 

With faith, we may not be able to literally move mountains, but we will have power to overcome obstacles, to do great things for the glory of God and the world.

When Jesus compares the faith to the tiny seed, it only means that the power of a seed does not depend on its size, but on the life hidden within itself. 

So let us turn to trust in God and develop a deep bond with Christ so that we can overcome all our afflictions in our life, with the strong faith we have. 

Fr. John Sebastian OMI
Rector & Parish Priest

The weekend eBulletin

Click here to download the eBulletin for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.

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 56%.

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

Thursday 13 October: IONA Graduation Mass.

Sunday 16 October: SPPS Family Mass.

Monday 17 October to Thursday 20 October: Aquinas Retreats.

Tuesday 18 October to Thursday 20 October: Blessing of the Fleet Triduum.

Friday 21 October: CBC Graduation Mass.

Saturday 22 October: Ursuline Sister’s 70th Anniversary.

Sunday 23 October: Blessing of the Fleet Mass, Procession and Benediction.