Presider’s Page

We’re two weeks into the Easter season now, but the Good News of the season continues to reverberate in the Liturgy. Joyfully we worship God who raised our Saviour from the dead.

A week from now, the Rising Sun will have dawned on Easter Sunday morning. But before we reach that feast, we recall the suffering and death of the Lord, believing his sufferings brought him glory, a destiny we share.

This weekend, the Church hears a call to rejoice: now that we have reached the midway point of Lent, the glory of Easter is so much closer. We renew our Lenten commitments and hasten towards the paschal celebrations.

Today, as we gather to listen to the Lenten call to repentance, we worship our God of kindness who, like a patient gardener, always gives people a second chance …

Bernard Cotter offers bidding prayers for use at masses next weekend. In his own parish of Newcestown, young people read out the intentions, so they are designed for this. Two young people read three intentions each.

The 40-day pilgrimage to Easter that began on Ash Wednesday is just a few days old. We pray that God, who sustained Jesus in his 40 days of temptations and suffering, will support us on our journey also.

Everyone who believes God’s Word is called to pass on the Good News. Like many who have gone before us, including the prophet Isaiah and the apostles Peter and Paul, we may not feel up to the task. But God helps us every day.

(This is the last Sunday before Lent, which is celebrated as Temperance Sunday.)

We gather this first Sunday in February as people love by God, people called to pass on the love we have received. The love God has put into the world will never fail, but will last as long as humanity lasts. We praise God for the gifts lavished on us.

The public launch of the Lord’s ministry in the synagogue in Nazara is described in today’s Gospel, which contains the very first lines of St Luke’s Gospel: the proclamation of God’s word, demonstrated in Nehemiah (First Reading), coming to perfection in the Word made Flesh.

There are echoes of the Christmas season in today’s Gospel, where Jesus lets his glory be seen at the wedding feast of Cana, just as he did at the Epiphany and on the day of his baptism. As on those days, we ‘proclaim the wonders of the Lord anong all the peoples’.

On this feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Christians remember Jesus’ baptism and the start of his public ministry, and pray that all who believe may be his true followers.

On this feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, Christians celebrate the revelation of who Christ is — the Saviour of all peoples.

On the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, Catholics honour the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and ask a blessing on every family.

Christians around the world today gather to celebrate the Saviour’s birth, the One whose life, death and resurrection brings salvation to all.

With Christmas Eve just one day away, the Church gathers to make its final preparations to greet the Infant King.

We’re over half way through Advent. Traditionally today is called Gaudete Sunday, which means ‘a day for rejoicing’. We celebrate today because the Lord’s coming is nearer.

The readings at Mass during the first part of the Advent season remind us more and more of the the end of time, and the glory awaiting believers. We trust that God stays with us always.

As we move into Advent, the readings at Mass during the first part of the season remind us more and more of the the end of time, and the glory awaiting believers. We trust that God stays with us always.

We celebrate the feast of Christ the King today, acclaiming Jesus as our king, the one who died for us and rose triumphant. We offer praise and worship – and ask for the grace to live as worthy citizens of his kingdom of justice, truth, love and peace.