17 Dec 2024 – Tuesday, 3rd Week of Advent 1st Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8-10 The dying Jacob predicts future glory for the tribe of Judah Jacob called his sons and said to them: “Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob; listen to Israel your father. Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be…
16 Dec 2024 – Monday of Advent, Week 3 1st Reading: Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 Balaam predicts the glorious future, the Age of the Messiah Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. Then the spirit of God came upon him, and he uttered his oracle, saying: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,…
15 Dec 2024 – 3rd Sunday in Advent, C 1st Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18 Jerusalem rejoices because salvation is near and God himself will protect his people Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has…
14 Dec 2024 – Saturday of Advent, Week 2 Memorial: St John of the Cross, 1542-1591, Carmelite man of prayer, outstanding poet, spiritual writer and declared doctor of the Church. With the divinest Word / The Virgin made pregnant / Down the road comes walking / If you’ll grant her room in your abode. …
13 Dec 2024 – Friday of Advent, Week 2 Memorial: St Lucy, martyred in 304. 1st Reading: Isaiah 48:17-19 If you kept my commandments, your name would last forever Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads…
12 Dec 2024 – Thursday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorial: St Finnian (Feast in Meath), settled in Clonard, Meath, c 520 where he set up a school teaching Canice, Colum Cille and Brendan. Known as the Tutor of the Saints of Ireland. Died in 549. 1st Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20 The Lord says to his…
11 Dec 2024 – Wednesday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorial: St Damasus 1, c 304-384. Pope in 366. Commissioned St Jerome ot prepare the Vulgate version of the Bible. 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31 Encouragement for the weary people, from God, who strengthens the powerless To whom then will you compare me, or who is…
Presider’s Page for 15 December (Gaudete Sunday: Advent 3) We’re well over halfway through Advent. Traditionally, today is called Gaudete Sunday, which means ‘a day for rejoicing.’ The reason for celebration is that the day of the Lord’s coming is nearer. Penitential Rite Entering into that spirit of joy, we recall the sins that hold us…
10 Dec 2024 – Tuesday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorial: Our Lady of Loreto – (Lect 11, 1428; 1423; 1443) 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort ye my people! — the promised return of the exiles from Babylon. “Comfort, O comfort my people,” says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she…
09 Dec 2024 – The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1st Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Enmity between the serpent and the woman But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I…
08 Dec 2024 – 2nd Sunday in Advent, C 1st Reading: Baruch 5:1-9 God will level out a highway for the exiles to return The Lord says this: Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of…
07 Dec 2024 – Saturday of Advent, Week 1 Memorial: St Ambrose, 340-97, defender of orthodoxy and Bishop of Milan. Patron of Milan, beekeepers and domestic animals. 1st Reading: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 Future days of blessed enlightenment, when the people turn aside from idolatry. Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep…
06 Dec 2024 – Friday of Advent, Week 1 Optional Memorial: St Nicholas (Feast, Galway), 4th century Bishop of Myra (Turkey). Patron of Russia, sailors, pawnbrokers and children. 1st Reading: Isaiah 29:17-24 A promise of good times, when deaf shall hear and blind shall see Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a…
05 Dec 2024 – Thursday of Advent, Week 1 1st Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6 A hymn of confidence in the Lord God, our everlasting rock On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, so that…
04 Dec 2024 – Wednesday of Advent, Week 1 Optional Memorial: St John Damascene 675-749, a Syrian Christian theologian, a monk at St Sabas near Jerusalem. 1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10 “God will wipe away the tears from all faces.” — a Messianic vision of the final age. On this mountain the Lord of hosts will…
Presider’s Page for 8 December (Advent 2) Though the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady is usually celebrated on the 8th December, the church reckons the Second Sunday of Advent to be more important, so that is the feast we mark today (and the Immaculate Conception on Monday 9th this year). John the Baptist is thus…
03 Dec 2024 – Tuesday of Advent, Week 1 Memorial: St Francis Xavier, 1506-52, one of the first seven Jesuits sent to India by Ignatius. Patron of the missions. 1st Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and…
02 Dec 2024 – Monday of Advent, Week 1 1st Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5 In the Messiah’s day, they shall beat their swords into ploughshares The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains,…
01 Dec 2024 – 1st Sunday in Advent, C Theme: Advent is a time for new thoughts, new beginnings, new projects, as we start a new year of Christian prayer and worship. The Gospel calls us to be ready to welcome Jesus as the anchor of our lives, our true Saviour, and prepare for his…
