Presider’s Page for 10 August (19th Sunday in Ordinary Time) We are challenged by today’s Gospel to stand ready for our Master’s return, in triumph at the end of time, or more immediately, in the least of his brothers and sisters. We gather to worship God who sustains us all the days of our life,…
05 Aug 2025 – Tuesday of Week 18 Optional Memorial: Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major. 1st Reading: Numbers 12:1-13 Despite the envy of Aaron and Miriam God appoints Moses as supreme leader of his people Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he…
04 Aug 2025 – Monday of Week 18 Memorial: St John Mary Vianney, 1786-1859, the Curé d’Ars, was not an intellectual just a caring priest. Patron of priests. 1st Reading: Numbers 11:4-15 A rebellion during the Exodus from Egypt The rabble among the Israelites had a strong craving; and they also wept again, and said,…
3 Aug 2025 – 18th Sunday (C) The Rich Fool stands as a warning against clinging to our comforts while knowing that others starve. The heartless economic model proposed by globalised capitalism and our accumulative society adds to the world’s inequalities and tensions. (1) Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23 “Vanity of vanities!” You can’t take it with…
02 Aug 2025 – Saturday of Week 17 Optional Memorials: St Eusebius of Vercelli, renowned preacher against Arianism; St Peter Julian Eymard, 1811-68, established the Blessed Sacrament Fathers. 1st Reading: Leviticus (25:1, 8-17 Land can never be sold or mortgaged beyond the next Jubilee year The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai,…
01 Aug 2025 – Friday of Week 17 Memorial: St Alphonsus Ligouri, 1696-1787, founder of the Redemptorsists. 1st Reading: Leviticus 23:1, 4-11 etc Sacred festivals of Pasch, Pentecost, Atonement and Tabernacles The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: These are the appointed festivals of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall celebrate at the time…
31 July 2025 – Thursday of Week 17 Memorial: St Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556, from north of Spain, founded the Society of Jesus, wrote the famous Spiritual Exercises. 1st Reading: Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 The tabernacle and its contents are consecrated and God’s glory settles there Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him….
30 July 2025 – Wednesday of Week 17 Optional memorial: St John Chrysologus, bishop and doctor of the church. 1st Reading: Exodus 34:29-35 Moses veils his face when speaking to the people Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand,…
Presider’s Page for 3 August (18th Sunday in Ordinary Time) God’s Word calls us to recognise the transience of life, to keep our eyes on what is lasting. Penitential Rite We gather to ask God’s help and to praise God for forgiving our failures: (pause) You raise the dead to life in the Spirit: Lord,…
29 July 2025 – Ss Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany Mary, Martha and Lazarus are mentioned in the Gospels of Luke and John. They lived in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem. Mary and Martha welcomed Jesus and the disciples into their home, and were witnesses to the raising of their brother, Lazarus. 1st…
28 July 2025 – Monday of Week 17 1st Reading: Exodus 32:15-24 etc Despite the scandal of the golden calf, Moses leads his people on toward the Promised Land Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, tablets that were written on both sides,…
27 July 2025 – 17th Sunday (C) (1) Genesis 18:20-32 Abraham intercedes and haggles with God to spare the city of Sodom The Lord said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry…
26 July 2025 – Saturday of Week 16 Memorial: Ss Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus. Special readings: Lect 11:1115. See bottom of this page. Link to Catholic Grandparents Association: https://www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org/ 1st Reading: Exodus 24:3-8 Moses offers sacrifice, and the people accept the book of the covenant Moses came and told the people all the…
25 July 2025 – Saint James, Apostle 1st Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Although only a “clay jar” Paul is willing to die, that others may live But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We…
24 July 2025 – Thursday of Week 16 Optional memorials: St Sharbel Makhlūf, ordained in 1859 at Annaya Monastery, a hermit from 1875 until his death in 1898, great devotee of the Blessed Sacrament. Also (feast in Waterford & Lismore) St Declan, pre-Patrician saint, nobleman baptised by Colman, studied in Europe, settled in Ardmore and…
23 July 2025 – Saint Bridget of Sweden Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373) was a mystic also given to works of charity and founder of the Bridgettine nuns after the death of her husband, to whom she had borne eight children. She is one of the six patron saints of Europe, along with Benedict of Nursia,…
Presider’s Page for 27 July (Ordinary Time 17) July 22 2025 We can ask God for help whenever we need to, today or any day. We gather to worship God who is always concerned for us. • Today, the Sunday closest to the feast of St Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, is the…
22 July 2025 – St Mary Magdalene 1st Reading (Option 1): Song of Songs (3: 1-4 I have found him whom my heart loves. The bride says this: On my bed, at night, I sought him whom my heart loves. I sought but did not find him. So I will rise and go through the City;…
21 July 2025 – Monday of Week 16 Optional Memorial: St Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor of the church, 1559-1619, Capuchin who preached the Counter-Reformation. 1st Reading: Exodus 14:5-18 Is it better to be slaves in Egypt than risk death in the desert? When the king of Egypt was told that the people had…
20 July 2025 – 16th Sunday (C) (1) Genesis 18:1-10 Welcoming the strangers, Abraham was really in the presence of God The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near…
