Presider’s Page

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.”

On this July Sunday, Christians gather as pilgrims on a journey, asking God to keep them steadfast until they reach their eternal home: “In the Spirit, let us worship God who cares for us according to our needs.”

The Church returns to Ordinary Time this Sunday, after the Lent & Easter season, and the great feasts that followed. Green vestments are worn once more, and a little of the Good News according to Matthew is shared each Sunday……

The Liturgy of Corpus Christi invites those who gather for Mass on this Sunday to reflect on God’s care for the family of faith, especially through the gift of divine nourishment on our pilgrimage through life.

On Trinity Sunday, Christians are invited to reflect on the mystery of God: the One who creates, redeems and sanctifies, three persons, one God, without end.

On Pentecost Day Christians  celebrate ‘the great beginning of the Church’, the day the Holy Spirit first came to confused and frightened disciples. During the gathering for worship, we praise God for this great Gift, and ask for a new outpouring in our day.

On Ascension Day, we celebrate the departure in triumph of Jesus. We remember his sending out of the disciples, and his promise to remain with us until the end of time.

The Liturgy of the Fifth Sunday of Easter puts the life-giving words of Jesus before the worshipping assembly.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, the one in whom people can place all their trust. Because they believe these things, they gather to praise God……

The fourth Sunday of Easter is often called Good Shepherd Sunday, because the readings are about the care we receive from Christ, our true shepherd. This Sunday is also the day of prayer for vocations.

During the Easter season, the Church continues to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Today, we join together to worship God, who has brought about this great victory over sin and death. In joy and gratitude, we praise God who saves us ….

Even though a week has passed since Easter Sunday, today’s liturgy is still filled with good news. We praise God for the life and love poured out for us in the raising of Jesus, which makes divine mercy possible — and available to all.

On Easter morning the Christian family celebrates the central mystery of  faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He suffered on the cross and died for us, but now he is risen! Filled with the spirit of Easter joy, Christians proclaim the might and glory of God.

At the Easter Vigil, we gather around the Easter candle, inspired by its light and heated by the Spirit of God, celebrating the Lord’s resurrection. With that light to illumine our way, we remember how God has cared for humanity from the dawn of time. The readings read this night remind us what happened at the highpoints of our history.

The liturgy that begins at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper continues until Easter begins. At the Mass, we are at the start of a three-day celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. We journey from the Last Supper to Gethsemane the first night, from there to Calvary on the second day, and from the tomb to resurrection and new life on the third day, which ends with the Vigil of Easter Sunday.

This liturgy, for use in parishes in Holy Week, is a celebration of God’s forgiveness, and of our reconciliation with God and one another. The service has four parts. After a brief introduction (the first part), people listen to God’s word and reflect on it. Then all  celebrate the Rite of Reconciliation, during which everyone will have the opportunity of going to Confession. The service ends with an Act of Thanksgiving.

Today’s liturgy gives us a preview of the events we will celebrate in the Easter Triduum later this week. The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus are the focus of this and every Sunday celebration.