Theme: Family life can be severely challenged, from various causes. This feast invites us to renew our commitment to family life. 1st Reading. Book of Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 A practical application of the fourth commandment, to honour our parents For the Lord honors a father above his children, and he confirms a mother’s right over…
Saint Thomas a Becket 1st Reading: 1 John 2:3-11 The link between love and walking in the light of God Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not…
1st Reading. 1 John 1:5-2:2 We must not walk in darkness, but in the light of the Gospel Beloved: This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while…
1st Reading. 1 John 1:1-4 What we have seen with our eyes, what we have touched with our hands Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard,what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life. For the life was made visible;…
1st Reading. Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 Stephen is stoned outside the city, for proclaiming faith in Jesus Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but…
Opening Comment We celebrate today 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. Penitential Rite As we prepare ourselves to ponder the mystery of…
[Help our Homily Resources] Happy Christmas all! Please let us know who you are, and where you’re writing from… Midnight Mass >>Mass during the Day 1st Reading. Isaiah 9:2-7 God promises a saviour to rescue his people from darkness and bring them to peace and security The people who walked in darkness have seen a…
In the dark of this winter night, we proclaim the new light that has shone on the world: Jesus Christ is born! With the angels, we worship God who saves us — for through the life, death and resurrection of this child Jesus, salvation is ours.
For the Vigil (evening) Mass, Christmas Eve, click here 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, etc David is promised a “house” or dynasty When the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living…
Saint John of Kanty, priest 1st Reading. Malakiah 3:1-4, 4,4-6 God’s messenger will cause a conversion of hearts, before the great day of the Lord The Lord says this, “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger…
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:24-28 Samuel’s mother, Hannah, dedicates her young son to a life of service to God When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh;…
Saint Peter Canisius 1st Reading. Song of Songs 2:8-14 Lyrical love from the Song of Songs, about the arrival of the beloved The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall,…
Saint Fachanan of Kilfenora 1st Reading. Isaiah 7:10-14 King Ahaz refuses to ask a sign of the Lord; then Isaiah promises a child to be called Immanuel Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said,…
1st Reading: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25 Manoah’s wife bears her divinely-promised son, Samson There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren, having borne no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Although you are barren,…
The Season of Advent ends next Saturday, so the celebration of the birth of Christ is now quite close. We gather in preparation for that great event, worshipping God who was made flesh to bring us to glory.
50 years ago I was ordained a priest, by archbishop John Charles McQuaid. The half century since 1966 has seen many changes, and challenges too, both in society and in our church, but also many blessings for which to be thankful. I admire the tireless work of the diocesan clergy, but appreciate the support of…
1st Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8-10 The dying Jacob predicts future glory for the tribe of Judah Jacob called his sons and said to them: “Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob; listen to Israel your father. Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons…
First Reading: Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8 God gathers the outcasts into his merciful salvation Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it,…
First Reading: Isaiah 54:1-10 The future reversal, when those now abandoned will find God’s favour Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labour! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the…
Saint John of the Cross 1st Reading: Isaiah 45:6-8 The living God, creator of all, than whom there is no other They shall know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create…
