Conversations Irish parishes need to have — Tony Butler
I thank Pat Seaver for his challenging words (posting below). I believe he may have started an important conversation, one that is being avoided and indeed with other necessary conversations…
I thank Pat Seaver for his challenging words (posting below). I believe he may have started an important conversation, one that is being avoided and indeed with other necessary conversations…
An Opening Comment for Sunday’s Mass, short introductions to the readings and sample Prayers of the Faithful are provided to help the hard-pressed presider; they can be printed out and read from at the altar.
Opening Comment At this time of year, our deceased relatives and friends are often in our minds. Our faith tells us that we needn’t grieve over them like people with…
One of the readings at Mass today gives a vision of the feast in heaven, when death is no more and tears are a thing of the past. Those who gather to worship God this Sunday get a fore-taste of that heavenly meal in the sweet Communion they share on earth…
Bishops set too much store by seniority. Talent should matter, says Bernard Cotter, in an article recently published in The Tablet. He argues that the priority in parish appointments should be to find the person who has the particular gifts needed in a specific post.
There are reassuring words in God’s Word this Sunday, with Paul reminding believers that there is no need to worry (see Philippians 4:6-9). As they gather for worship, they hope that if there is anything they need, they can pray for it and God’s peace will be theirs.
A parish’s harvest thanksgiving can take the form of a special Eucharist or an ecumenical Service, or it can take place over the varied liturgies of a weekend. Relevant local people can be involved in in planning this event: in rural areas, members of organisations like the IFA or Macra might participate. Schoolchildren decorate the church for the celebration, reflecting all the beautiful elements of creation.
Christians believe God’s love is displayed in the life and death of Jesus. At the Sunday Eucharist they rejoice in this love, and celebrate the victory over sin and death won for them. God’s challenging word is read and the Bread of Life shared by all who gather.
The unusual parable of the payment of workers in the vineyard is told in the Gospel of today’s Mass. It challenges those who gather for worship to see that ‘God’s ways are not our ways. God’s love and generosity are beyond our understanding.’
The anniversary of the attack on New York falls on a Sunday this year —and it coincides with Mass readings that focus on forgiveness as a Christian virtue. In the liturgy this Sunday, those who gather for worship will celebrate God’s mercy, and ask for the grace to pass it on to those who cause hurt.
Catholics gather for Sunday Mass as God’s family, concerned for each other, supporting one another in sadness and joy. The challenge of living as part of the Christian family is laid out in this Sunday’s readings.
James Good argues that priests against whom allegations are made should not be removed from their priestly ministry pending investigation. Punitive action against such priests would be unjust, illegal and unconstitutional; they remain innocent until proved guilty
This weekend, Christians gather to praise God and to ask for help and grace. They know the difficulties that can come when they try to live the right way. Often the road of life is like the way of the cross…..
Presiders at weekend liturgies may like to welcome groups or individuals from continental Europe with greetings like these at the beginning or end of Mass. Phonetic versions are given for priests or congregation leaders unfamiliar with these languages. Corrections and other suggestions most welcome.
At their services this weekend, worshippers come into the presence of the God whose mystery they 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….’ —the purpose of the gathering.
The theme for this Sunday’s liturgy is: ‘Everyone is welcome in God’s house, everyone who loves God’s name’. In that spirit, Catholics gather for weekend celebrations to experience the warmth of the divine embrace.
In this Sunday’s liturgy, Catholics gather to celebrate our beautiful God, who was revealed to Elijah as a gentle breeze and who calmed the storm on the lake. The liturgy expresses gratitude that this God takes our fears away and gives rest to our souls.
Great wonders are proclaimed in today’s Liturgy. God’s love and God’s care for humanity are made manifest, and those who gather for Mass are invited to join in God’s feast.
This summer Sunday, those who gather for worship rejoice in many gifts, including the promise that all will share in Christ’s glory. At Mass, they give thanks for these treasures, as they continue on the journey to the fullness of the kingdom of heaven.
At the start of Mass for this mid-July Sunday, the celebrant may greet the people in these words: “We have been called together by the Spirit of God to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The Spirit teaches us to pray, and moves us to glorify the Lord’s name.”
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