31 Jan 24 – Wednesday of Week 4 Memorial: St John Bosco 1815-88, born in Piedmont, founded the Salesians, to educate boys for life. Patron saint of youth and Catholic publishers. 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 Having sinned by counting the people, David wants to pay the price himself The king said to Joab…
30 Jan 24 – Tuesday of Week 4 Optional Memorials: St Aidan (Feast in Ferns), aka Maedoc (Mogue) born c 550 probably in Cavan, Studied in Wales, returned and founded a monastery in Ferns where he became Bishop. Died there in 626. …
29 Jan 24 – Monday of Week 4 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 While fleeing Jerusalem during Absalom’s revolt, David is cursed and accepts it as the will of God A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the Israelites have gone after Absalom.” Then David said to all his officials who…
28 Jan 24 – 4th Sunday (Year B) (1) Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Moses predicts the coming of a future prophet greater than himself Moses said to the people: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet lie me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you…
27 Jan 24 – Saturday of Week 3 Optional Memorial: St Angela Merici, 1474-1540, founder of the Ursulines. 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17 Nathan warns David; his sin with Bathsheba will be punished within his own family The Lord sent Nathan to David. He went to him, and said to him, “There were two…
26 Jan 24 – Ss Timothy and Titus, Bishops Both died toward the end of the first century. Disciples and associates of Saint Paul the apostle, who seem to have attended the Council of Jerusalem with him. Timothy represented Saint Paul to various communities and, according to tradition, was eventually placed in charge of the…
25 Jan 24 – The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle 1st Reading: Acts 22:3-16 Paul’s account of his conversion, to his fellow-Jews, on the steps of the Temple “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law,…
24 Jan 24 – Wednesday of Week 3 Memorial: St Francis de Sales, 1567-1622, Bishop of Geneva, founder of the Visitation Sisters. Worked hard to rebuild the Catholic faith after the Reformation. Patron of writers, editors and journalists – ‘writers and critics who prophesize with your pen…’ 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-17 Samuel hears God’s…
23 Jan 24 – Tuesday of Week 3 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19 David dances before the ark being brought into Jerusalem. The celebration ends with a sacred banquet King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So…
Presider’s Page for 28 January (Ordinary Time 4) We come together to listen to God’s word and share the bread of life together. As God’s family here, we praise the one who has rescued us from sin and darkness, and brought us the hope of heaven. Alternative Opening Prayer (from the 1998 ICEL Missal) Faithful God, your…
22 Jan 24 – Monday of Week 3 Optional Memorial: St Vincent, deacon of Saragossa, Spain, martyred in 304. 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10 David is anointed and establishes Jerusalem as capital of both north and south, of Israel and Judah All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look,…
21 Jan 24 – 3rd Sunday (Year B) (1) Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Jonah’s preaching finds an unexpected response from the pagan Ninevites The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set…
20 Jan 24 – Saturday of Week 2 Optional Memorials: St Fabian, pope and martyr, died under Decius in 250. St Sebastian, martyr, a soldier (?) in the persecution of Diocletian. 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-4 etc David’s grief at the death of Saul and Jonathan After the death of Saul, when David had returned…
19 Jan 24 – Friday of Week 2 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 24:3-21 David refrains from killing Saul and gains the moral high ground He came to the sheepfolds beside the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts…
Presider’s Page for 21 January (Third Sunday in Ordinary Time) Opening Comment The calling of disciples is described in today’s Gospel. We too are called to follow Christ, even in difficult times. As believers, we listen to God’s word, allowing it to steer and support us, every day of our lives. • The Week of Prayer…
18 Jan 24 – Thursday of Week 2 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18-25 Jan) starts today. The theme is based on a text from the Gospel of St Luke, with material prepared by an ecumenical team from Burkina Faso, West Africa, facilitated by the local Chemin Neuf Community. 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 18:6-9,…
17 Jan 24 – Wednesday of Week 2 Memorial: St Anthony, died 356, ‘Father of monasticism’ whose life in solitude attracted many to form communities of hermits. A special blessing on all our lay preachers and leaders today… Gentle reminder – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity starts tomorrow – 18-25 Jan. 1st Reading: 1…
16 Jan 24 – Tuesday of Week 2 Optional Memorial: St Fursa, Irish-born but brought the Gospel abroad, with his brothers Foillan and Ultan to East Anglia. Went to France c 644, died c 650 in Mézerolles and is buried in Péronne. 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 In Bethlehem Samuel anoints David (Jesse’s youngest son)…
15 Jan 24 – Monday of Week 2 Memorial: St Ita (Feast in Limerick), Waterford born, founded a monastery in Killeedy, Co Limerick. Known as ‘Foster-Mother of the Saints of Ireland, she died in 570. 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 15:16-23 For disobeying the prophet Samuel, Saul is deposed as king Then Samuel said to Saul,…
14 Jan 24 – 2nd Sunday (Year B) (1) 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19 The call of young Samuel, one of the great vocation stories Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to…
