We have switched to winter time, which means that at 3 a.m. the clocks were turned back by one hour.

Today, the Legion of Mary will be presented at all Holy Masses, so let us make an effort to listen and respond to the invitation!

On Saturday, October 31, the confirmation candidates will hike to Sljeme with Fr. Boris. While there, they will attend Mass and spend time together. These outings are part of their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The parish priest invites parents of preschoolers and children preparing for First Communion to spend time at the parish office after dropping their children off for catechism, enjoying meaningful conversation, fellowship, and refreshments.

Auditions for our Academic Choir will take place from October 13 to November 10, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at noon. We encourage young people to sign up, as they will be the future singers in the Basilica!

The spiritual vocation discernment program for young men, "Perhaps a Jesuit After All," will take place in Zagreb from November 13 to 15.

Regular catechism classes are starting according to the following schedule:

Next year, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our parish on Palmotićeva Street. We would like to mark this occasion with a commemorative monograph. An editorial board has been appointed, with Fr. Ivan Šestak serving as editor-in-chief. We invite all parishioners to contribute by sharing documented recollections of important events, photographs, or other materials and information. You can contact us and bring your photographs to the parish office or sacristy.

Dear parishioners, in today's readings we hear about love. Have we ever asked ourselves whether our love for God can be recognized by the way we treat the people around us? Recently, I came across the thought that we have become overwhelmed by religious content. We watch videos, read articles, and listen to podcasts, sometimes forgetting that true faith is not made up of these things alone. Devotions and Holy Mass are important, but if we begin to neglect those closest to us because of our many religious "obligations," we should ask ourselves what kind of faith we are actually living. The true witness of our faith begins in our own homes. Devotions should not exhaust us; rather, they should give rise to a love that we show to our families and the people around us. Sometimes it is easier to fulfill religious obligations than to resolve disagreements within the family or to be more patient with those who most easily try our patience. The two commandments of love in today's Gospel should be the very foundation of our lives. Love begins where indifference ends. We do not always have to hurt someone directly to act contrary to love. Sometimes it is enough to turn away from another person's suffering or carry on with our lives even when we notice that someone is lonely and rejected. We cannot help everyone, but we can choose not to close our eyes to those we are able to help. Every day, we have the opportunity to show someone that they are loved, valued, and not alone. We must not hide behind our many devotions and allow our faith to become empty, existing only within church walls. It is precisely when our love becomes a source of comfort to someone else that our faith begins to shine in a truly meaningful way.

Iva Smolćić