St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta, Australia
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stpatsparramatta.bsky.social
St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta, Australia
@stpatsparramatta.bsky.social
The Cathedral Church of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, Sydney, Australia, led by Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFMConv DD.
Jesus makes the point today that as his disciples, we are called to have a new attitude to the religious practices of old. Fasting and so on will be undertaken with the purpose of giving thanks to God for our salvation, made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
January 18, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Jesus said: 'Nobody puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins too. No! New wine, fresh skins!' (Mark 2:22)
January 18, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, 'Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me.'
(John 1:29-30)
January 17, 2026 at 9:36 PM
This weekend's Gospel sets up for us the foundation of what we will hear over the next few weeks leading up to Lent. We know that the One who will preach the mesmerising words of the Sermon on the Mount is indeed the Messiah, God made flesh. Let us take his words to heart.
January 17, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Bulletin for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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January 17, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Jesus preferred the company of sinners because they were more open to his teaching, and the change that accompanied it, than the religious authorities who saw no need for personal change, since they kept the Law. As individual followers of Jesus, to which group do we belong?
January 16, 2026 at 9:05 PM
When Jesus was at dinner in his house, a number of tax collectors and sinners were also sitting at the table with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many of them among his followers. (Mark 2:15)
January 16, 2026 at 9:05 PM
17 January: Memorial of St Antony of the Desert (251-356), Abbot. Born in Egypt, Antony is the founder of the monastic life. After the death of his parents, he sold everything and went to live in the desert, attracting many followers. St Antony, pray for us!
January 16, 2026 at 9:05 PM
One of the most interesting aspects of today's Gospel is the fact that the miracle of the healing is facilitated by the paralytic's friends. It is they who bring him to Jesus. Our faith can never be lived fruitfully alone. We help one another as various parts of Christ's Body.
January 15, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Jesus was preaching the word...when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was...and lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. (Mark 2:2-4)
January 15, 2026 at 10:33 PM
So often, the people who have contact with Jesus, especially those who have been healed by him, tell others openly about their experiences, even when Jesus requests that they keep quiet. As believers, do we have the same enthusiasm when we encounter Jesus in a significant way?
January 14, 2026 at 8:18 PM
The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him. (Mark 1:45)
January 14, 2026 at 8:18 PM
With some advice from Eli, Samuel came to understand that it was the Lord who was speaking to him. God's desire to communicate with us is not restricted to the Old Testament times or even a few select people. God speaks to all, if only we are attentive to the signs.
January 13, 2026 at 7:20 PM
The Lord then came and stood by, calling as he had done before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel answered, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’
(1 Samuel 3:10)
January 13, 2026 at 7:19 PM
The authority of Jesus is made clear for us in today's Gospel. Jesus came to perfect the Law and, as God, has authority over it. This truth amazed many people who encountered him but upset many others. Let us not hesitate to turn to the authority of God in Jesus in times of need.
January 12, 2026 at 8:27 PM
The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And Jesus' reputation rapidly spread everywhere... (Mark 1:27-28)
January 12, 2026 at 8:26 PM
In calling his disciples, Jesus outlines for us the whole purpose of the Church, the Body of Christ. We are all called, with our various gifts and talents, and even our shortcomings, to do what Jesus modelled for us, preaching the Good News of salvation offered to all.
January 11, 2026 at 8:12 PM
As Jesus was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18)
January 11, 2026 at 8:12 PM
The Baptism of Jesus, along with the revelation to the Magi and the miracle at Cana, is a manifestation of the Saviour to the world. May we understand that our own baptism gives us a responsibility to make Christ manifest by our manner of living and relationships with others.
January 10, 2026 at 8:41 PM
As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’ (Matthew 3:16-17)
January 10, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Bulletin for The Baptism of the Lord.
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January 9, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Our First Reading today makes it clear that when we ask God for something in prayer, it needs to be in accordance with God's will. God will never grant us something that will possibly be bad for us. Let us discern God's will first, and then take it confidently to prayer!
January 9, 2026 at 10:31 PM
We are quite confident that if we ask the Son of God for anything,
and it is in accordance with his will,
he will hear us;
and, knowing that whatever we may ask, he hears us,
we know that we have already been granted what we asked of him.
(1 John 5:14-15)
January 9, 2026 at 10:31 PM
It is made clear in today's Gospel that our activity as Christians must be grounded in prayer, as modelled by Jesus. To not do so means we run the risk of losing sight of why we do what we do. We may then become discouraged and give up not just our actions, but also our faith.
January 8, 2026 at 8:08 PM
The reputation of Jesus continued to grow, and large crowds would gather to hear him and to have their sickness cured, but he would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray. (Luke 5:15-16)
January 8, 2026 at 8:08 PM