31 Aug 2023 – Thursday of Week 21 Optional Memorial: St Aidan of Lindisfarne, monk of Irish descent in Iona. Headed to Lindisfarne at the invitation of the King of Northumbria and died there in 651. 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 Paul recalls the faith of the Thessalonians and prays for their spiritual growth Brothers…
30 Aug 2023 – Wednesday of Week 21 Optional memorial: St Fiacre, Irish monk, travelled to Normandy and met Faro, patron of Irish pilgrims at Meaux. Fiacre was given a hermitage near Breuil and stayed until his death c 651. 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 The gospel is no mere opinion but is God’s own…
29 Aug 23 – The Passion of Saint John the Baptist 1st Reading: Jeremiah 1:17-19 Like Jeremiah, we must speak out against domineering rulers But as for you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them….
28 Aug 2023 – Monday of Week 21 Memorial: St Augustine, 354-430, Bishop of Hippo and a serious theologian! Big on grace and left a a huge theological influence on the Church. Patron of theologians. 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10 Paul recalls the dramatic conversion of the people of Thessalonica Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,…
27 Aug 2023 – 21st Sunday, (A) (1) Isaiah 22:19-23 Isaiah warns Shebna that the key, the symbol of his authority, will be taken from him Thus says the Lord to Shebna, the master of the palace: “I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your post. On that…
26 Aug 2023 – Saturday of Week 20 1st Reading: Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 How Ruth the foreigner came to become king David’s great grandmother Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me…
25 Aug 2023 – Friday of Week 20 Optional Memorials: St Louis of France, 1214-70, King of France, father of 11 children, Franciscan tertiary, died in Tunisia on his second Crusade. Patron French monarchy and military, and barbers. St Joseph Calasanz, 1556-1648, founded the Piarists to run free schools. Patron of Catholic schools. 1st Reading: Ruth…
24 Aug 23 – Saint Bartholomew, Apostle 1st Reading: Revelation 21:9-14 The City of God has 12 gates, representing the 12 apostles Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the…
Presider’s Page for 27 August (21st Sunday in Ordinary Time) This hour of worship brings us into the presence of the God whose mystery we can never comprehend. All we have comes from the Lord, and we can only bow down in awe, and bring forward the praise that is due to the Almighty. Penitential…
23 Aug 2023 – Wednesday of Week 20 Optional Memorials: St Rose of Lima, 1586-1617, Dominican tertiary, seen as originator of social services in Peru. …
22 Aug 2023 – The Queenship of Mary 1st Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6 God’s promise of joy and restoration to those who sat in darkness There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the…
21 Aug 2023 – Monday of Week 20 Memorial: St Pius X, 1835-1914, Cardinal Patriarch of Venice before he became Pope in 1903. 1st Reading: Judges 2:11-19 The era of the Judges alternates between falling away and being restored Then Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and worshipped the Baals;…
20 Aug 2023 – 20th Sunday, (A) (1) : Isaiah 56:1. 6-7 The Lord will bring foreigners to worship in Jerusalem Thus says the Lord: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity be manifest. Foreigners who have attached themselves to Yahweh to serve him and…
19 Aug 2023 – Saturday of Week 19 Optional Memorial: St John Eudes, 1601-1680, from Normandy, France, founded a congregation and Sisters of Our Lady of Charity and Refuge, promoted the Sacred Heart. 1st Reading: Joshua 24:14-29 At the covenant ceremony at Shechem, the whole people promise loyalty to God Joshua said to all the…
Presider’s Page for 20 August (20th Sunday in OrdinaryTime) Everyone is welcome in God’s house, everyone who loves God’s name. We gather to experience the warmth of this embrace. Penitential Rite To prepare ourselves, let us call to mind our sins, remembering God’s compassion for sinners: (pause) Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations…
18 Aug 2023 – Friday Week 19 (1) 1st Reading: Joshua 24:1-13 Joshua narrates God’s help to Israel, from the patriarchs to entering the Promised Land Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God….
17 Aug 2023 – Thursday of Week 19 Memorial: Our Lady of Knock – Readings, Lect 11: 1421-1449 ‘I saw everything distinctly. The figures were full and round as if they had a body and were alive. They said nothing, but as we approached, they seemed to go back a little towards the gable.’ Patrick Hill,…
16 Aug 2023 – Wednesday of Week 19 Optional Memorial: St Stephen of Hungary, 975-1038, first King of Hungary and teh country’s patron saint. 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 The great Moses dies within sight of the Promised Land Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which…
15 August 2023 – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1st Reading: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 The woman and the dragon depicted the persecuted church; but came to include the Assumption of our Lady Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there…
14 Aug 2023 – Monday of Week 19 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 10:12-22 God’s chosen people must show mercy to foreigners, the orphan and the widow And Moses said to th people, “So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all…
