28 Feb 2023 – Tuesday of Week 1 of Lent (1) Isaiah 55:10-11 God’s word comes down from heaven like rain, to make the earth fruitful For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving…
27 Feb 2023 – Monday of Week 1 of Lent Optional memorial: St Gregory of Narek, c950-1003, Armenian Church monk. mystic and poet. A Church doctor, Lamentations is his best known work, 95 ‘conversations with God’ prayers. (1) Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 Practical guidance for worship and for social compassion The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to…
26 Feb 2023 – 1st Sunday of Lent (A) During Lent we may reflect on our Baptism as a sharing in the life of Jesus. Our growing in the image of God has an aspect of dying to self and another aspect of rising to God’s new life of love. The seed of this movement…
25 Feb 2023 – Sat after Ash Wednesday (1) Isaiah 58:9-14 If they are converted, they are blessed, with waters that never fail Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am.” If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of…
24 Feb 2023 – Fri after Ash Wednesday Worldwide Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse (1) Isaiah 58:1-9 True religion differs from merely external observance Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins….
Bidding Prayers for 26 February (First Sunday of Lent) BIDDING PRAYERS for Sunday Mass on 26 February Introduction (by the Presider) As we begin the lenten journey, let us remember all those in need: For Francis our pope and Fintan our bishop, we pray (pause for five seconds). Lord, hear us For Christians who suffer for their faith, we…
23 Feb 2023 – Thurs after Ash Wednesday Optional Memorial: St Polycarp, Bishop fo Smyrna, disciple of St John. Martyred in 155. (1) Deuteronomy 30:15-20 A warm call to fidelity. Choose life, that you and your offspring may live! Keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving…
22 Feb 2023 – Ash Wednesday (1) Joel 2:12-18 Return to me with all your heart. Spare your people, Lord “Now, now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord, your God, for he…
21 Feb 2023 – Tuesday of Week 7 Optional Memorial: St Peter Damian 1007-72, bishop, doctor of the church, hermit, later Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. Reformer of Church life and discipline. 1st Reading: Sirach 2:1-11 Those who hope in the Lord are not forsaken My child, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself…
20 Feb 2023 – Monday of Week 7 1st Reading: Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10 All wisdom comes from God and returns to him All wisdom is from the Lord, and with him it remains forever. The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity, who can count them? The height of heaven,…
19 Feb 2023 – 7th Sunday, (A) We naturally resent those who do us wrong. But nurtured hatred can come between us and God, who wants us to be forgiving. (1) Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 God calls each believer to love his neighbour as her/himself The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to all the congregation…
18 Feb 2023 – Saturday of Week 6 Saturday Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1st Reading: Hebrews 11:1-7 By faith we understand that the world is ruled by God’s will Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith…
Bidding Prayers for 19 February (Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time) BIDDING PRAYERS for Sunday Mass on 19 February Introduction (by the Presider) We bring our prayers to our God of compassion and love, who is slow to anger and rich in mercy: For Francis our pope and all leaders (pause for five seconds). Lord, hear us For an end…
17 Feb 2023 – Friday of Week 6 Optional Memorials: early thirteenth century in Florence, Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, known as the Servants of Mary, they followed the Rule of St Augustine. St Fintan d 603, born in Leinster, foundation in Clonenagh, Co Laois. 1st Reading: Genesis 11:1-9 When people sought independence…
16 Feb 2023 – Thursday of Week 6 1st Reading: Genesis 9:1-13 The rainbow, a perpetual sign of God’s covenant with Noah and the human race God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal…
15 Feb 2023 – Wednesday of Week 6 1st Reading: Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22 The Lord promises never again to destroy the earth At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried…
14 Feb 2023 – Saints Cyril and Methodius Cyril and Methodius were brothers born in Byzantine Thessalonika, northern Greece, in the 9th century, who brought Christianity to the Slavic peoples of modern Czech Republic and Hungary. For their work they were declared co-patrons of Europe in 1999, by Pope John Paul II, to stand alongside…
13 Feb 2023 – Monday of Week 6 1st Reading: Genesis 4:1-15 Cain’s jealousy leads to his murder of Abel Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a…
12 Feb 2023 – 6th Sunday, (A) Using freedom well. It is not our misdeeds which accuse us before God, but our hearts, fractured and divided as they are. Jesus insists that we go deeper than our external deeds. The vital question is what is going on in our hearts, our thoughts and motivations? The…
Presider’s Page for 12 February (Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time) Today’s readings ask for decisions, challenging Christians to choose the right path. We gather to worship God, who can help us in all our choices. Penitential Rite To prepare ourselves for the challenges of God’s Word, let us call to mind the good and bad…
