Presider’s Page for 5 January 2025 (Second Sunday of Christmas) We gather to celebrate the first Sunday of 2025, moving with gratitude into a new year of God’s grace. We thank God for the gifts of Christmas, particularly the gift of the Word made flesh, the one nearest the Father’s heart. Confident that God’s mercy…
Tues 31 Dec 2024 – 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas Optional memorial: Saint Sylvester, pope. Sylvester (250-325) was born in Rome in the mid-3rd century and served as a priest under pope Marcellinus before the persecution under Diocletian (303). After the victory of emperor Constantine in 312 he succeeded Melchiades as bishop of…
Mon 30 Dec 2024 – 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas 1st Reading: 1 John 2:12-17 Do not be absorbed by the world or the things in the world I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you…
29 Dec 2024, Sunday – The Holy Family (Year C: 1 Samuel, 1 John and Luke) 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28 Hannah dedicates her son, Samuel, to God In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.” Her husband Elkanah…
Presider’s Page for 29 December (Holy Family) Today, the Sunday after Christmas, is part of the continuing celebration of the Lord’s Nativity. In today’s Mass, we honour the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. As we say goodbye to 2024 we entrust our families to their patronage, and pray for God’s help in 2025,…
Sat 28 Dec 2024 – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs 1st Reading: 1 John 1:5-2:2 Those who walk in darkness, and those who walk in the light Beloved: This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If…
Fri 27 Dec 2024 – Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 1st Reading: 1 John 1:1-4 What we have seen with our eyes, what we have touched with our hands Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard,what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns…
Thurs 26 December 2024: Feast of St Stephen, the First Martyr 1st Reading: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 The martyrdom of Stephen the deacon, according to Luke Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia…
Presider’s Page for 25 December (Christmas Day Mass) We celebrate today an amazing mystery — God is born in time. The eternal God shares our nature, he has pitched his tent in the midst of humanity. With joy in our hearts, we contemplate the mystery of the Word made flesh. Alternative Opening Prayer (from the 1998…
Christmas Midnight Mass Scroll down for Readings for Dawn Mass and Mass During the Day 1st Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7 God brings them from darkness and bring them to peace and security The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has…
24 December 2017. Christmas Eve. (Vigil Mass)
Tues 24 December 2024 – 4th Week of Advent 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 David is promised a “house” or dynasty Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now,…
Presider’s Page for 24 December (Christmas Night Mass) In the dark of this winter night, we proclaim the new light that has shone on the world: Jesus Christ is born! With the angels, we worship God who saves us — for through the life, death and resurrection of this child Jesus, salvation is ours. Alternative…
Mon 23 December 2024 – 4th Week of Advent Memorial: St John of Kanty, 1390-1493, taught in Kraków, Poland. 1st Reading: Malachiah 3:1-4, 4,4-6 God will send a fore-runner to prepare for the final day The Lord God says this: “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord…
22 Dec 2024 – 4th Sunday in Advent, C 1st Reading: Micah 5:2-5 Salvation would come from insignificant Bethlehem — to unite the nation under God The Lord says this: But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is…
Sat 21 December 2024 – 3rd Week of Advent Optional Memorial: St Peter Canisius, 1521-97, born in Holland. A Jesuit who prepared a catechism in 1555 of 211 questions and answers. 1st Reading: Song of Songs (2:8-14) Lyrical love-poetry from king Solomon, about the beloved who is coming The voice of my beloved! Look, he…
Fri 20 December 2024 – 3rd Week of Advent Optional Memorial: St Fachanan (Feast in Kilfenora, where he founded a church in the 6th century. Patron of Kilfenora Diocese.) 1st Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 King Ahaz refuses to ask a sign of the Lord; Isaiah promises a child to be called Immanuel Again the Lord spoke…
Thurs 19 December 2024 – 3rd Week of Advent 1st Reading: Judges (13:2-7, 24-25) Manoah’s wife yearns for a son. Samson will be dedicated to God There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren, having borne no children. And the angel of…
Wed 18 December 2024 – 3rd Week of Advent Optional Memorial; St Flannan (Feast in Killaloe), renowned 7th century preacher. 1st Reading: Jeremiah 23:5-8 A righteous Branch who will rule with wisdom and justice “The days are surely coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall…
Presider’s Page for 22 December (Advent 4) Advent is drawing to a close; we have just another two days left to prepare for the birth of Christ. On this Sunday, we rejoice that the promise made to Mary by the Lord has been fulfilled. Penitential Rite Reflecting on the mystery of endless love, we call…
