Presider’s Page

We gather to celebrate the first Sunday of 2014, with thankfulness for the year just gone. We ask God for continuing care and protection as face this New Year, not knowing what it will bring.

The Holy Family is the focus on the first Sunday after Christmas, so we honour Jesus, Mary and Joseph today. We worship God who shared the life of the human family, and thank God for all the gifts we continue to receive in each other.

Christians celebrate an amazing mystery — God is born in time. The eternal God has taken human flesh, has pitched his tent in the midst of humanity. With joy in our hearts, we contemplate the mystery of the Word made flesh.

The Season of Advent ends on Tuesday, so the celebration of the birth of Christ is now very close. We gather in preparation for that great event, worshipping God who was made flesh to bring us to glory.

Traditionally, this Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday, which means ‘a day for rejoicing’. Advent is more than half over, and the day of the Lord’s coming is nearer. We worship God who promises us joy without end.

Catholics gather today to celebrate the beginning of the life of Mary the Mother of Jesus, free from sin from the moment she was conceived.

John the Baptist is the focus of the Gospel reading on the Second Sunday of Advent each year. His words challenge and inspire. We worship God who uses many messengers to call us from darkness to light.

The season of Advent begins today. During the next 24 days we will look forward in hope. We will watch for the end times, when Christ will come in glory — Christ whose birthday we will celebrate very soon.

Catholics celebrate the feast of Christ the King this Sunday, remembering that our king’s life ended on a cross. Today we worship this wounded and resurrected God, who promises us a place in Paradise.

The readings this bleak November Sunday focus on the end of the world —  though we are also reassured that people of faith have nothing to fear.

At this time of remembrance, our dead are often in our minds. Today’s readings challenge us to believe in eternal life after death. We worship God who sustains us in this life and promises us a share in the resurrection.

Zacchaeus is the star of today’s Gospel, the man who has been called ‘everybody’s favourite underdog’. Zacchaeus took Jesus at his word and changed his life. We worship God, whose mercy for all people never fails.

On All Saints Day and today, we remember all the dead, those in heaven and those still be on the way there: God alone knows where each soul is. Today we pray for all souls, for the faithful departed still on the journey to their heavenly home.

The Gospel story of the Pharisee and the tax collector is read at this Sunday’s Mass. It reminds us of the value of being humble before God. In today’s gathering, we praise God who is always merciful to us.

‘Growing in Faith’ is suggested as the theme for this year’s Mission Sunday, as the Year of Faith draws to a close. These words remind us that faith is God’s precious gift — a gift we can’t keep to ourselves.

The Gospel this Sunday gives the story of the ten lepers, of whom only one came back to thank Jesus. We praise and thank God who continues to do great things for all peoples

The Spirit of God lives in us, inspiring and guarding. In the Spirit, we worship our creator and entrust ourselves to the Lord’s loving care — an uplifting theme for this Sunday’s gathering in faith….

Today’s readings, from the prophet Amos and St Luke, remind Christians that God is on the side of the poor, defending their rights. Those who assemble for Eucharist pray to be on God’s side.

Christians gather today to worship the Lord of glory, asking for help to be God’s servants before all else.

Our God seeks out sinners to forgive them. At the community’s gathering for Mass this weekend, we worship our loving and compassionate God.