Pages for presiders (including bidding prayers for the Sundays and holydays of August) have now been published on the ACP website. This is to facilitate those who prepare the liturgy, who may be planning several Sunday liturgies in advance due to key personnel taking summer vacations. Topical needs can be added by prayer ministers at the Mass time.
You can access the August presiders pages here
Our preparations for Christmas always include Mary, the Mother of God. Today, we honour her conception free from sin, a miracle that displays God’s power for believers. We worship God,…
Today’s readings ask for decisions, challenging Christians to choose the right path. We gather to worship God, who can help us in all our choices.
The Church is a People – not an aristocracy or an audience Historical and theological literature shows us that socio-economic dynamics have had a huge impact on the evolution of…
Seamus Ahearne offers his thoughts on some of the issues and people that have been in the spotlight recently.
“I thank God for working in me and I am in awe. It doesn’t make me good or great. But the fun, happiness and wonder of every day is miraculous. The holiness of each day shouts at me. I have been blessed. I never bother my head thinking if only. If only what. Married. Children. Grandchildren. What has been; is done. What is; I live with. What shape tomorrow is; I can help make. Are there things I would like to make different. Of course, but I don’t have the energy to dream backwards.”
It’s forty days since we celebrated the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Today we remember his Presentation in the Temple. This feast is also called Candlemas; candles are blessed because today Jesus was revealed in the Temple as the light of all peoples.
Maurice Taylor, a Scottish bishop who served for many years on the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), welcomes Pope Francis’ decision to change the criteria for liturgical translation.
Our thanks to Bishop Taylor and to Mary Cullen, editor of Open House, for their permission to publish this article.
In relation to weekly Prayers of the Faithful, Sean O’Conaill recently queried whether the handing down of these from the diocesan authorities, as in the Dublin Archdiocese, was another form of episcopal control. One would hope that this is not so but a recognition that many parishes do not have active Pastoral Councils or groups that could create these on the regular basis they are required. The ACP, by augmenting these is undoubtedly providing a welcome service to hard pressed PPs and curates. A further resource, where topical needs are added weekly, is to be found on the Association of Catholics in Ireland website under Resources – Liturgy. Reference is http://www.acireland.ie/category/liturgy/. To ensure these are relevant to the weekend masses, these are only uploaded each Friday evening.