In the word of God, we don’t just encounter words, we encounter Jesus Christ Himself. If we are to be witnesses to Jesus in the world, that can only happen from our own relationship with Jesus; not from our knowledge of Jesus, but from our relationship with the person of Jesus, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, Vicar General of the Perth Archdiocese said recently.
Delivering the homily at the Mass for the 94th annual feast of St Anthony at St Anthony of Padua Church in Wanneroo, Fr Vincent said a parish dedicated to St Anthony of Padua – a renowned, influential and engaging preacher – must be a parish where the word of God is alive.
“When the word of God is alive in our hearts,” he said, “it calls us and leads us to show the presence of Jesus to others by what we say and do.”
“When the word of God takes root in our hearts, it can transform us because it is so powerful. The word of God is not just something that we hear. The word of God should be meditated on and touch our hearts in such a way that it can transform us,” he added.
Shaped by the migrant story of the Church in Western Australia, the annual feast or festa of St Anthony has been celebrated in Wanneroo since the original church opened in 1932.
In the early days, parishioners, many of whom hailed from an Italian migrant background, would celebrate Mass before taking to the streets in procession, carrying a statue of St Anthony. Ninety-four years later, that tradition continues.
Today, as with many parishes, the parish of Wanneroo now comprises a very diverse community.
In recognition of that and in honouring the life and work of St Anthony, Fr Vincent said the community should strive to be a place of welcome for strangers, for those who are new to our country, for those who may be feeling lost, and a place of healing where people do not feel forgotten.
“We know that St. Anthony is often called the finder of lost things, but I think in truth what he helped people really discover was not lost things, but something much deeper; he helped them to see their place in God’s love,” he said.
Similarly, he said the Wanneroo parish community offered a place of God’s love, evident in the kindness, invitation and presence that they provided.
“And for a parish dedicated to St Anthony, this parish community should also be missionary,” he added. “It should be a parish that reaches out to other people and reaches out in a way that they come to know who Jesus Christ is, and they come to know the love that God has for them.”
“Pope Francis often said that all of us, not just priests and bishops, but all of us are called to be missionary disciples, and when we leave this church, we don’t leave our faith at the pew, we go out and spread the gospel by what we say and do.
“Every person in this parish is part of this mission. All of us are called to be missionary disciples. Today as we honour St Anthony, we ask his intercession on this parish, so that we truly reflect his spirit; a parish rooted in the gospel, a parish rich in compassion, a parish alive in faith, and a parish reaching out in mission.”
Following Mass, the community gathered in fellowship before taking to the streets for the procession of St Anthony. Joining the clergy and parishioners in the procession were students from St Anthony’s Primary School, St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School, and Mater Dei College, and members of the Western Australia Fire and Emergency Services Concert Band.
Now in its 94th year, the St Anthony of Padua Church procession exists as one of the Archdiocese’s longest-running devotional traditions. Its endurance speaks to the strength of faith carried by migrant communities and nurtured within parish life.
At the heart of the celebration is St Anthony, a beloved Franciscan saint known for his preaching, charity and deep spirituality. Widely invoked as the patron saint of lost things, St Anthony holds a special place in the hearts of the faithful, and the annual procession serves as a visible reminder of his enduring presence in the life of the Church.
