27 Mar 2024 – Wednesday of Holy Week (1) Isaiah 50:4-9 The Suffering Servant trusts in God for rescue The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens, wakens my ear to listen as those who…
Presider’s Page for 31 March (Easter Sunday) This Easter morning we celebrate the central mystery of our faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He suffered on the cross and died for us, but now he is risen! Introductory Rites: Filled with the spirit of Easter joy, let us proclaim the might and glory…
Presider’s Page for 30 March (The Easter Vigil) Opening Comment (after the Service of Light and Exsultet) We gather around the Easter candle, 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. These readings remind us what happened at the highpoints…
Presider’s Page for 28-29 March (Easter Triduum) Opening Comment (Mass of the Lord’s Supper) The liturgy that begins now continues until we reach Easter. 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 tonight, from there to Calvary tomorrow, and…
26 Mar 2024 – Tuesday of Holy Week (1) Isaiah 49:1-6 The life of God’s servant seems a failure, but it bears great fruit Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He…
25 Mar 2024 – Monday of Holy Week Solemnity of the Annunciation is transferred to Monday 8 April (1) Isaiah 42:1-7 My servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, the One in whom my soul delights Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon…
24 Mar 2024 – Palm Sunday, (Passion Sunday) Years A, B, C Procession of Palms: Mark 11:1-10 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you…
23 Mar 2024 – Saturday of Week 5 of Lent Optional memorial: St Turibius of Mogrovejo, 1538-1606, Archbishop of Lima. (1) Ezekiel 37:21-28 I will bring them back, and I will cleanse them Say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have…
22 Mar 2024 – Friday of Week 5 of Lent Optional memorial: St Macartan (Clogher), first Bishop of Clogher, St Patrick’s ‘strong man’. (1) Jeremiah 20:10-13 Though many plot against God’s servant, he is safe in God’s hands For I hear many whispering: “Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” All my…
21 Mar 2024 – Thursday of Week 5 of Lent Optional memorial: St Enda, one of the three great late vocations in Ireland. Associated with Cill Áine, Co Louth, Boyne Valley and Árainn, Co Galway. Died c 520. (1) Genesis 17:3-9 Abraham believe in God’s promises, despite delays and disappointments Then Abram fell on his…
20 Mar 2024 – Wednesday of Week 5 of Lent (1) Daniel 3:14-20, 24-25 Trusting in God, they are saved from the fiery furnace Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set…
Presider’s Page for 24 March (Palm Sunday) Today’s liturgy gives a preview of the events we will celebrate between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday: the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. These events are also the focus of this and every Sunday celebration. We ask for God’s help in understanding their significance. Alternative Opening prayer (from…
19 Mar 2024 – Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-6, 12-14, 16 From king David’s offspring will come the universal spiritual King But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one…
18 Mar 2024 – Monday of Week 5 of Lent Optional Memorial: St Cyril of Jerusalem, 315-86, Bishop of Jerusalem. (1) Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 31-62 Susanna is falsely accused; Daniel’s questions uncover the truth There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. And he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of…
17 Mar 2024 – Lent, 5th Sunday, Year B St Patrick, Patron of Ireland 2 Kgs 4: 18-21, 32-37; Ps 16:1, 6-8, 15, R/ v15. Jn 11:1-45 (Lect 1:316) may be used instead of the Lenten readings any day this week. (Reflections on St Patrick at the bottom of this page). (1) Jeremiah 31:31-34 The…
16 Mar 2024 – Saturday of Week 4 (1) Jeremiah 11:18-20 The Just One is led like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter It was the Lord who made it known to me, and I knew; then you showed me their evil deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter….
15 Mar 2024 – Friday of Week 4 of Lent (1) Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 Malice against the good foreshadows the Passion of Jesus Foolish people reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, “Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end, and no one has been known to…
14 Mar 2024 – Thursday of Week 4 of Lent (1) Exodus 32:7-14 Though his people rebel, Moses begs another chance for them The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from…
13 Mar 2024 – Wednesday of Week 4 of Lent (1) Isaiah 49:8-15 God promises the exiles, “You’ll be a sign of salvation!” Thus says the Lord: ‘In a time of favour I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant…
Presider’s Page for Sunday 17 March (Lá Fhéile Pádraig, on the Fifth Sunday of Lent) Opening Comment As the fifth week of Lent begins in other countries, we pause from our lenten penances to honour Patrick, the apostle of the Irish. In our celebration of this solemn feast, we worship God, creator, redeemer and sanctifier,…
