16 Jan 25 – Thursday of Week 1 Optional Memorial: St Fursa, a great Irish missionary. Went to East Anglia with his brothers Foillan and Ultan. Moved on to France. Died c 650. 1st Reading: Hebrews 3:7-14 Hearts opened to God, not hardened by sin Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear…
15 Jan 25 – Wednesday of Week 1 Memorial: St Ita was born in Waterford, founded a monastery in Killeedy, Co Limerick. Given the title of ‘foster-mother of the saints of Ireland’. She died in 570. 1st Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18 Jesus shared our flesh and blood and so is able to help us in our…
14 Jan 25 -Tuesday of Week 1 1st Reading: Hebrews 2:5-12 Jesus, crowned with glory, having been tested through suffering Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere, “What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care…
13 Jan 2025 – Monday of Week 1 Optional memorial: St Hilary, c.315-c.367, Bishop of Potiers, exiled by Emperor Constantius, wrote De Trinitate, a study of the Trinity. 1st Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6 God spoke in many and varied ways, but now through Jesus, his Son and heir Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in…
12 Jan 25- The Baptism of the Lord – 1st Sunday (Year C) Scroll down for alternative readings. Theme: Jesus brings justice and divine life to the nations. As his baptised family, we seek the kingdom of God through justice and peace. (1) Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 A chosen servant of God will courageously help others…
Sat 11 Jan 2025 1st Reading: 1 John 5:5-13 (God has testified to his Son, Jesus, who grants victory over this world) Beloved: Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,…
Fri 10 Jan 2025 1st Reading: 1 John 4:19 – 5:4 Whoever loves God should love Jesus, and all of our fellow-Christians Beloved, we love God because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a sister or brother whom…
Thurs 9 Jan 2025 1st Reading: 1 John 4:11-18 God abides in those who recognise Jesus as the Son of God Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected…
Wed 8 Jan 2025 1st Reading: 1 John 4:7-10 Love’s divine origin and its influence on our lives Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed…
Tues 7 Jan 2025 Optional Memorial: St Raymond of Penyafort, 1175-1275, A Dominican leader and Archbishop of Tarragona. 1st Reading: 1 John 3:22 – 4:6 Distinguishing the spirit of truth from the spirit of error Beloved, we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this…
6 January 2025 – The Epiphany of the Lord (or the Sunday between 2 January and 8 January) 1st Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 In those days the Messiah will reveal his glory to all the nations Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall…
Presider’s Page for Monday 6 January (Epiphany of the Lord) On this feast of the Epiphany we celebrate the revelation of who Christ is. The visit of the three wise men reminds us that Jesus came as the Saviour of all nations, including ours. We worship God who wants all people to be saved. Alternative…
05 Jan 2025 – 2nd Sunday after Christmas 1st Reading: Sirach 24:1-2, 8-12 Lyrical praise of the wisdom God has revealed to us Wisdom praises herself and tells of her glory in the midst of her people. In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, and in the presence of his hosts…
Sat 4 January 2025 – Before Epiphany 1st Reading: 1 John 3:7-10. How we are reborn as children of God Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been…
Fri 3 January 2025 – Before Epiphany 1st Reading: 1 John 2:29 – 3:6 We are God’s children now; when he is revealed, we will be like him If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him. See what love the Father has…
Thurs 2 Jan 2025 Memorial: Ss Basil the Great (330-79, Bishop of Caesarea, theologian of note), and Gregory Nazianzen (329-89, friend of Basil. Both were bishops and doctors of the church). 1st Reading: 1 John 2:22-28 The Holy Spirit received from Jesus, teaches you all things Who is the liar but the one who denies…
Wed 01 Jan 2025 – Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God 1st Reading: Numbers 6:22-27 A new-year prayer for God to bless and protect his people The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, The Lord bless you…
Presider’s Page for 5 January 2025 (Second Sunday of Christmas) We gather to celebrate the first Sunday of 2025, moving with gratitude into a new year of God’s grace. We thank God for the gifts of Christmas, particularly the gift of the Word made flesh, the one nearest the Father’s heart. Confident that God’s mercy…
Tues 31 Dec 2024 – 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas Optional memorial: Saint Sylvester, pope. Sylvester (250-325) was born in Rome in the mid-3rd century and served as a priest under pope Marcellinus before the persecution under Diocletian (303). After the victory of emperor Constantine in 312 he succeeded Melchiades as bishop of…
Mon 30 Dec 2024 – 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas 1st Reading: 1 John 2:12-17 Do not be absorbed by the world or the things in the world I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you…
