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Home / 2016 / October - Page 2
  • Weekday Homily Resources

    14 October. Friday, Week 28

    Saint Callistus, optional memorial 1st Reading Ephesians 1:11-14 We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, the down-payment God has made to his people In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were…

    Read More 14 October. Friday, Week 28Continue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    13 October. Thursday, Week 28

    1st Reading: Ephesians 1:1-10 God chose us in Christ before the world began, to be holy in his sight Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord…

    Read More 13 October. Thursday, Week 28Continue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    12 October. Wednesday, Week 28

    1st Reading: Galatians 5:18-25 The symptoms or fruits of the flesh contrasted with those of the spirit But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing,…

    Read More 12 October. Wednesday, Week 28Continue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    11 October. Tuesday, Week 28

    Saint John XXIII; St Canice, optional memorials 1st Reading: Galatians 5:1-6 In Christ Jesus, circumcision no longer counts; only faith acting through love For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be…

    Read More 11 October. Tuesday, Week 28Continue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    11 October. Tuesday, Week 28

    Saint John XXIII; St Canice, optional memorials 1st Reading: Galatians 5:1-6 In Christ Jesus, circumcision no longer counts; only faith acting through love For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be…

    Read More 11 October. Tuesday, Week 28Continue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    10 October. Monday, Week 28

    1st Reading: Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1 Through faith we are born free. It was for liberty that Christ freed us Now it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other,…

    Read More 10 October. Monday, Week 28Continue

  • Liturgy | Presider's Page

    Presider’s Page for 9 October (Ordinary Time 28)

    Songs this Sunday (Suggestions) Holy God, We Praise Thy Name; Glory and Praise to our God; Ag Críost an Síol; Now Thank We All Our God Opening Comment The Gospel gives the story of the ten lepers, of whom only one came back to thank Jesus. We praise and thank God who continues to do…

    Read More Presider’s Page for 9 October (Ordinary Time 28)Continue

  • Sunday Homily Resources

    09 October. Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    1st Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17 When Naaman the Syrian washes in the Jordan he is cured Naaman the leper went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy and he was clean. Then he…

    Read More 09 October. Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary TimeContinue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    08 October. Saturday, Week 27

    or Saturday Mass of the BVM 1st Reading: Galatians 3:22-29 In Christ, all the baptized are equally children of God, Jew or gentile, slave or free, male or female But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to…

    Read More 08 October. Saturday, Week 27Continue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    07 October. Friday. Our Lady of the Rosary

    This feast was established by pope Pius V in thanksgiving for the Christian victory over the Turks at the naval battle of Lepanto (1571), credited to the recitation of the Rosary. Our Lady is daily honoured in the prayer, which also invites us to meditate the mysteries of the life, death and resurrection of Christ…

    Read More 07 October. Friday. Our Lady of the RosaryContinue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    06 October. Thursday, Week 27

    Saint Bruno, optional memorial 1st Reading: Galatians 3:1-5 Is the Spirit received by law-abidingness or by trusting faith? You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by…

    Read More 06 October. Thursday, Week 27Continue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    05 October. Wednesday, Week 27

    1st Reading: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 Paul openly corrects Peter for compromising the principle of the equality of all believers Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them (though only in a private meeting…

    Read More 05 October. Wednesday, Week 27Continue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    04 October. Tuesday, Week 27

    Saint Francis of Assisi, memorial 1st Reading: Galatians 1:13-24 Paul persecuted the church but is converted, then goes to meet Cephas in Jerusalem You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among…

    Read More 04 October. Tuesday, Week 27Continue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    03 October. Monday, Week 27

    Blessed Columba Marmion, optional memorial 1st Reading: Galatians 1:6-12 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel, not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel…

    Read More 03 October. Monday, Week 27Continue

  • Liturgy | Presider's Page

    Presider’s Page for 2 October (Ordinary Time 27)

    SONGS FOR TODAY’S MASS The Lord’s My Shepherd; Ag Chríost an Síol; Eagles Wings; Holy God We Praise Thy Name. Opening Comment The Spirit of God lives in us, inspiring and guarding. In the Spirit, we worship our creator and entrust ourselves to the Lord’s loving care. (‘Day for Life’ is celebrated today by the…

    Read More Presider’s Page for 2 October (Ordinary Time 27)Continue

  • Sunday Homily Resources

    02 October. Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr Martin Hogan’s book, To Know the Love of Christ, with homily reflections for 2017 will be very welcome to all our readers.  Fr Martin has generously supplied weekday homily notes for this column, over the past two years. For more about his new book, click on the title Know the Love of Christ 1st…

    Read More 02 October. Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary TimeContinue

  • Weekday Homily Resources

    01 October. Saturday, Week 26

    Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. memorial 1st Reading: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 After Job repents of his complaining, he is blessed more than before Then Job answered the Lord: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’…

    Read More 01 October. Saturday, Week 26Continue

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  • 1 comments

    Brendan Hoban: Carney and Pope Leo have much in common                

    June 23 2026
    M G-B
    After attending the May 2025 Papal inauguration Mark Carney said his Catholic faith influences his sense of responsibility and service.
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  • 3 comments

    21 June 2026 – 12th Sunday, (A)

    June 21 2026
    Rev R.T. Reid
    12th Sunday [A] – 20/21 June 2026 • Day for Life – “an annual event, to celebrate the dignity and value of human life at every stage.” • This year the ‘Day for Life’ falls on Sunday, June 21st – which is Father’s Day. The theme is "The Wonder of the Child in the Womb", which reflects on the humanity of the unborn, and acknowledges the particular grief of mothers and fathers who have lost a child before birth or in infancy. • When parents lose a child, they instinctively grasp how precious and unique the child is whom they have lost and whom they often name. They know how no other child can ever replace a lost child. Science is clear that life begins at fertilisation, when a new and unique human being comes into existence. Every technological development in recent decades has given us insight into how life in the womb unfolds for each of us. For example, as early as five weeks, the heart begins to beat. Parents are now able to observe some of these stages during pregnancy, through ultrasound scans. – e.g. knowing whether it’s a girl or a boy.. • It’s a co-incidence that we’re celebrating this Day for Life just a few days after the Dail voted to abolish the compulsory three-day waiting period before abortion can be accessed: the Bill was passed on Wednesday night by 86 votes to 70. Back in 2018 Leo Varadkar, who was Taoiseach, promised “There will be a waiting period of 72 hours for reflection & counselling…” And Michael Martin [the current Taoiseach] referred to the waiting period as an “essential component of the legislative package”. He called it “a responsible measure that ensured women would have access to information regarding all alternatives and supports, before proceeding with an irreversible decision”. He said it was a “meaningful safeguard” which “gives people time to reflect”. The mandatory three-day waiting period was, indeed, meant to give women an opportunity to reflect on what they are proposing to do, and to choose a more life-affirming solution. On Wednesday night Michael Martin voted in favour of doing away with the waiting period. • It’s estimated that as many as 10,000 women might have changed their mind during the three-day waiting period: in other words, 10,000 abortions that may not have taken place. These figures are contested. But even if there were half that number who decided not to have an abortion, it would mean that 5,000 babies continued to live and, hopefully, to be born. But now the waiting period is to be abolished. • Bishop Kevin Doran, in an interview on Thursday, said that the Bishops want to alert the Catholic faithful to the gravity of the situation that has developed over recent years. Again, going back to 2018, we all remember being told repeatedly – by, among others, Leo Varadkar, – that “Abortion in Ireland will become safe, legal and rare. "Safe, legal and rare." Between 2019 and 2024, according to official Government statistics, there have been 50,000 abortions. Does that sound like something that’s “rare”? Bishop Doran reminds us that these are not just statistics: they represent individual human lives: 50,000 lives and each life lost is precious, - has meaning and significance. • Advocates of abortion focus exclusively on women’s health and their autonomy in making decisions about their own bodies. Women’s health and their right to make personal decisions are really important values. And yet, here is never any reference to or acknowledgement of the existence of another person – the child in the womb – who also has rights. And the reason they won’t acknowledge the existence of the child in the womb is that advocates of abortion want to believe – and they want all of us to believe, that the human embryo is nothing more than as a clump or collection of cells: something regarded as worthless. But, as I said earlier, a clump of cells doesn’t have a heart-beat within five weeks: that’s the heart-beat of a child. You can understand the rationale behind this: it’s much easier and more straightforward to abort a clump of cells. If it’s accepted that a baby or a child has been conceived, then it’s a much, much more difficult decision. • In today’s liturgy [Opening Prayer/Gospel], Jesus is inviting us to proclaim – “from the house-tops” – our objection to a culture that promotes and facilitates widespread abortion. Being unashamedly pro-life and declaring it “with boldness and conviction” will almost certainly be met with disapproval and hostility. But that’s just an example of the “cost of discipleship”. Jesus made no secret of the fact that his disciples would be “universally hated on account of his name”. All too often we remain silent; we fail to find our voice in the face of so much that’s contrary to the Gospel and to the values of Jesus. • We give thanks for the gift of Life. We give thanks for “the Wonder of the Child in the Womb”. We pray for parents who have lost a child before birth or in infancy. And we pray for those who have had, or who are currently experiencing a crisis pregnancy – that they will find the guidance, and care, and support, which they so desperately need. AMEN
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  • 38 comments

    The New Missal – Michael Commane OP

    January 10 2012
    Joe O'Leary
    Anger that we have been robbed of the First and Fourth Eucharistic Prayers (unless we can smuggle back the beautiful 1973 version of the first or the intelligible and usable 1973 version of the fourth) has not gone away. "I don’t think people care very much about the 1973 missal." The Vatican have ensured that they now care even less about the words of the Eucharistic Prayers. The words Stockholm Syndrome come to mind. Pope Leo frets about priests daring to alter the wording, but from the very first week of the monstrous new translation priests were desperately seeking ways to handle it, for instance by leaving out connectives such as "for" and "therefore". The subtle effects of the hopelessly horrible translation amount to "a pastoral disaster," as Bishop Trautmann warned (and was bullied for). Perhaps the popularity of the Traditional Latin Mass is partly due to this linguistic and liturgical crime.
    Go To Comment
  • 1 comments

    Vatican News: Vatican Dicastery maintains that a layperson cannot deliver the homily

    June 23 2026
    Joe O'Leary
    Can a lay person give a meditation, after communion say? Where is the spirit of synodality in the dicastery's reply?
    Go To Comment
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