16 Aug 2025 – Saturday of Week 19 Optional Memorial: St Stephen of Hungary, 975-1038, first king of Hungary and its patron saint. 1st Reading: Joshua 24:14-29 At the covenant ceremony at Shechem, the whole people promise loyalty to God Joshua said to all the people: “Revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and…
15 August 2025 – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1st Reading: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 The woman and the dragon depicted the persecuted church; but came to include the Assumption of our Lady Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there…
14 Aug 2025 – Thursday of Week 19 memorial: St Maximilian Kolbe, priests and martyr, 1894-1941, a Conventual Franciscan, died in Auschwitz. 1st Reading: Joshua 3:7-10, 11, 13-17 Carrying the Ark into the Jordan allowed the people cross safely The Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight…
13 Aug 2025 – Wednesday of Week 19 Optional Memorials: Ss Pontian, (pope in 231), and Hippolytus, priests, martyrs; St Fachtna, founder of the monastery of Ross Carbery, died c 600. 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 The great Moses dies within sight of the Promised Land Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount…
Presider’s Page for 17 August (20th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Following Jesus may not bring us happiness in this life, but we are challenged to follow him nevertheless. We come together to worship our gracious God and to ask for help in our Christian life this week. Penitential Rite We begin by calling to mind…
12 Aug 2025 – Tuesday of Week 19 Optional Memorials: St Lelia, baptised by St Patrick, associated with a church at Kileely, Thomond Bridge; St Attracta (Achonry), a great healer from 6-7 century, convents famous for hospitality and helping the poor; St Muredach (Killala), founder of the church in Killala; St Jane Frances de Chantel, 1572-1641, …
11 Aug 2025 – Monday of Week 19 Memorial: St Clare, born in Assisi in 1193, founded Poor Clares, died 1253. 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 10:12-22 God’s chosen people must show mercy to foreigners, the orphan and the widow And Moses said to th people, “So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require…
10 Aug 2025 – 19th Sunday (C) (1) Wisdom 18:6-9 Learn from the Exodus: God will save us from all dangers That night was made known beforehand to our ancestors, so that they might rejoice in sure knowledge of the oaths in which they trusted. The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their…
09 Aug 2025 – Saint Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) – Patron of Europe Born on 12 October 1891 in Wroclaw (Poland). Died on this day in 1942 at Auschwitz/Oswiecim. Edith Stein, born of Jewish parents, became an outstanding philosopher, author and teacher, then discovered Christianity and Teresa of Avila, and so was baptised in 1922….
08 Aug 2025 – Friday of Week 18 Memorial: St Dominic, 1170-1221, Spanish priest who founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) to counter the Albigensian heresy. See https://dominicanfriars.org/st-dominic-preaching-albigenses/ 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 4:32-40 Moses calls the people to appreciate God’s works and keep God’s commands Moses said to the people: “Ask now about former ages, long…
07 Aug 2025 – Thursday of Week 18 Optional Memorials: St Sixtus II & Companions, pope and four companions martyred in 258. St Cajetan, 1480-1547, founder of the Theatines to renew sacramental life in the Church. 1st Reading: Numbers 20:1-13 Grumbling at the lack of food, the people wished to return to Egypt. Moses will not see…
06 Aug 2025 – The Transfiguration of the Lord Theme: Three apostles were priveleged to witness the inner life of Christ, revealed to them in splendour oh4>the holy mountain. We pray for a deeper experience of God in our own lives, and to share in his divine life 1st Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Daniel sees…
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,…
