St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Kogarah

13/09/2026

14 Sept ‘26 Year of our Lord
Feast: Triumph of the Cross

37 years ordained deacon today by His Eminence Jose Cardinal Sanchez, Prefect for Evangelisation of People in Rome. 7 of us ordained to the Order of Diaconate, in preparation for the Priesthood. 37 years is no joke to live a life of service. And so, am impelled early morning to reflect / ponder on the meaning, rationale, beauty and depth of the cross of Christ and our own cross/crosses.
Why cross? Can I live without the cross?
Following Jesus entails faithfulness, not just success or mundane happiness or satisfaction. Cross(es) {and crisis} are parts and parcels of following Jesus, of saying Yes to the Lord in the service of the Christ and His Church. It means embracing and taking up our daily cross (and/or crosses, coz for sure there will be plenty of them). In following Jesus, love and fidelity will be tested and proven in the difficulties and trials we encounter each day. In every cross we are asked to carry
we are given the opportunity to unite ourselves more closely to Jesus. Jesus gave a new meaning to the cross and human suffering by pouring all ( I mean ALL, not half-half ) His infinite love and mercy and grace for us. With this we know that our crosses as pathways that leads to Him, and ultimately to eternal life. From the perspective of faith, crosses are ‘blessings in disguise.’ When he wants us to be transformed more and more closely into His likeness He invites us to walk with Him to Calvary carrying our own cross(es). Hard to accept huh! That’s reality. But the reward will be great for those who BELIEVE and TRUST in Him. So, carry your cross(es) without resentments and/or grumbling in your heart and mind. Follow Jesus with love. You can scratch your head, but follow Him anyway.
Grateful to Jesus who helped me carry my cross(es) all these years, 37 years for now.
Amen to Jesus for the years ahead, cross-finger with trust.
So let it be!

12/09/2026

Fr Ed's Ireland Photos...

11/09/2026

20260913 24 Ordinary Time A
https://stpatrickskogarah.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260913-24-Ordinary-Time-A.pdf

05/09/2026

Fr Ed's Scotland Photos...

04/09/2026

20260906 23 Ordinary Time A
https://stpatrickskogarah.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260906-23-Ordinary-Time-A.pdf

28/08/2026

20260830 22 Ordinary Time A
https://stpatrickskogarah.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260830-22-Ordinary-Time-A.pdf

24/08/2026

24/08/2026

Memoir City2Surf 2026 for the building of St Pat's Kogarah PEAC

24/08/2026

24th August Year of our Lord
Feast of St Bartholomew

Reflection on the ‘fig tree moment’ of Bartholomew.

(Atm am here sitting under a tree, not a fig tree, along Kogarah lakes)…
Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was one of Christ’s Twelve Apostles and walked with Jesus during His three-year ministry as a friend and devoted disciple. His relics was brought to Rome and was placed in a hospital, the reason why he was referred as the patron saint of the sick.

(How did I come to know Bartholomew, not ‘up close and personal’ but at least visiting his relics in the middle of Tiber river in Rome. In one early morning of my running in Rome I happened to pass-by a tiny islet in-between the banks of Tiber river. I heard about this islet; it was opportune for me to visit (so why not?)
I could only remember my closeness to his relics but that moment has impacted me to some deeper degree- the proximity, not the physicality of the matter. That ‘fig moment’ infused in me the desire to always visit or pass-by that islet whenever am in Rome).

Bartholomew- a man seeker of truth, living a life of honesty and of deep faith.
Truth: When Philip invited him to meet Jesus, he asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Yet he set his rash judgment aside and allowed Philip to lead him to Jesus. Honesty: He asked Jesus, “How do you know me?” He learned that Jesus had seen him sitting under a fig tree before Philip called him. This response, rich in mystery and meaning not revealed in Scripture, convinced him that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
Deep faith: After Jesus revealed the “fig tree moment” to Bartholomew, he believed and professed Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. Jesus told Bartholomew he would see greater things, and he did. He preached, healed the sick, cast out demons, and brought many souls to Christ.
Such moments brought to mind the Gospel we heard and pondered yesterday on the 21st Sunday OT: ‘Who do you say I am!’ Our personal response to that question of Jesus will make a difference in our life. Let us pray through the intercession of St Bartholomew to always seek the truth, to live honest lives, and to deepen our faith.
St Bartholomew, pray for us. Amen

21/08/2026

20260823 21 Ordinary Time A
https://stpatrickskogarah.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260823-21-Ordinary-Time-A.pdf