✝️Faith and Mission
Burn with the fire of God’s love: Pope Leo XIV
18 August 2025
Spending the day with the poor, Pope Leo XIV prayed that Catholics would make sure their parishes are welcoming of all people and would be “on fire” with God’s love.
“We are the Church of the Lord, a Church of the poor — all precious, all active participants, each one bearing a unique word from God,” the Pope said as he celebrated Mass at the Shrine of Santa Maria della Rotonda in Albano Laziale, Italy, with about 110 clients and volunteers of the Diocese of Albano’s Caritas programs, including people experiencing homelessness and residents of its shelter for families.
In his homily at the Mass, the Pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading, which began “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!’”
The fire Jesus was speaking of, the Pope said, was “not the fire of weapons, nor the fire of words that burn others down. No. But the fire of love — a love that stoops to serve, that responds to indifference with care and to arrogance with gentleness; the fire of goodness, which doesn’t cost like weapons do, but freely renews the world.”
“Let us not leave the Lord outside of our churches, our homes or our lives,” the Pope said in his homily at the Mass.
“Rather, let us welcome him in the poor — and then we will make peace even with our own poverty, the kind we fear and deny when we seek comfort and security at all costs.”
This metaphor of “fire” is nothing new, St. Eugene de Mazenod expressed a strong desire for zeal and commitment, stating, "I have no use for smoldering wicks in this society. I want you to burn, give light, or get out."
Knowing, Loving and Serving You
Eternal God,
who are the light of the minds that know you,
the joy of the hearts that love you,
and the strength of the wills that serve you;
grant us so to know you
that we may truly love you,
and so to love you
that we may fully serve you,
whom to serve is perfect freedom,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
… St Augustine of Hippo, Pray for Us …
Third Anniversary of the Cathedral Outreach
When The Shopfront started the Cathedral Outreach as a response to people facing homelessness and hunger in the City of Perth, Mazenod students and staff were there from the beginning. At one stage, along with St Brigid’s College, we were the only two schools running the outreach on Tuesday’s nights every week at St Mary’s Cathedral. Now the outreach service runs both Tuesday and Wednesday nights and is supported by a dozen or so Catholic Colleges, parishes and other community organizations.
The outreach service runs to offer food, drink and hospitality to people needing such support in the Perth CBD. Students and staff have been preparing the food at The Shopfront premises in Bentley and then serving it to the visitors at the Cathedral.
Sometimes we only get half a dozen people come in but other times we can have up to 30 people drop in for a light dinner and a chat. What ever the number, this is a very essential service to those in need of our support. Thank you to the students and staff who volunteer every week, without you this valuable outreach to the poor of Perth would not be possible. You are following in the footsteps of our founder St Eugene de Mazenod.
“Among yourselves practice charity, charity, charity; and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls.” - St Eugene de Mazenod (21st May 1861)
FRIENDS OF WILKINS ROAD BUSHLAND - EVENT
A guided walk conducted by Penny Hussey
On Sunday, 14th September
From 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Students and their families are welcome to attend.
Meet at the Corner of Wilkins Rd and Lesmurdie Rd East
Bring a hat or raincoat (depending on the weather), and a water bottle.
Wear enclosed footwear.
Contact Mr Wallis via email if you would like to attend. Students receive 2 hours towards CSL for attending this event.
Damian Wallis
Director of Faith and Mission