13 May 2026 – Wednesday of Week 6 of Easter Optional memorial: Our Lady of Fatima – optional readings, Is 61:9-11; Ps 44:11-12, 14-17, R/v11. Lk 11:27-28. Lect 11, 1431, 1426, 1448. See The Message of Fatima 1st Reading: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 Paul’s clever sermon in the Areopagus, to lead the Greeks to the true…
12 May 2026 – Tuesday of Week 6 of Easter Optional Memorials: Ss Nereus and Achilleus, martyred in 304, Roman soldiers who refused military service after conversion. St Pancras martyred at 14 in Rome. 1st Reading: Acts 16:22-34 By their courage, Paul and Barnabas win new converts, in the Philippi jail The crowd joined in attacking them,…
Presider’s Page for 17 May 2026 (Ascension of the Lord) World Communications Day is an annual, Church-wide celebration to reflect on the impact of modern media and its role in promoting Gospel values. Established by Pope Paul VI in 1967, it encourages the use of communication tools, including the internet and social media, as bridges…
11 May 2026 – Monday of Week 6 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 16:11-15 When Paul reaches Philippi, Lydia becomes his first European convert We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of…
10 May 2026 – 6th Sunday of Easter, (A) 1st Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Philip’s mission in Samaria shows the joy of the original Gospel faith Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and…
09 May 2026 – Saturday of Week 5 1st Reading: Acts 16:1-10 Timothy, a half-Jew, joins Paul in the missionary work Paul went on to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well…
08 May 2026 – Friday of Week 5 of Easter Optional Memorial: Bl John Sullivan, born in Eccles St, Dublin 8 May 1861, baptised Church of Ireland, became a Catholic at 35 and joined the Jesuits, ordained and ministered in Clongowes Wood College, Kildare. Had a reputation for prayer and holiness, and always available to…
07 May 2026 – Thursday of Week 5 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 15:7-21 Peter and James defend Paul’s missionary practice After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one…
06 May 2026 – Wednesday of Week 5 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 15:1-6 The Council of Jerusalem, on what is needed for salvation Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no…
05 May 2026 – Tuesday of Week 5 of Easter Optional Memorial: Bl Edmund Rice, 1762-1844 from Callan, Co Kilkenny. Sold all and dedicated his life to the poor after his wife died. Gathered similar thinking men and took religious vows to work for the education of Catholic boys. Founded the Christian Brothers and Presentation…
04 May 2026 – Monday of Week 5 of Easter Optional Memorial (Feast in Kildare): St Conleth, from Wicklow, persuaded by Brigid to minister to her community in Kildare, recognised as a great saint and called a bishop and abbot of Kildare monks by Cogitosus in Life of Brigid. 1st Reading: Acts 14:5-18 At Lystra…
Presider’s Page for 10 May 2026 (Sixth Sunday of Easter) Opening Comment Each Sunday in Easter time, we celebrate the gifts we have received in Baptism and Confirmation. We rejoice that the Spirit is our Advocate, who continues to support us in the difficulties of life. Penitential Rite As we gather for this celebration, we…
03 May 2026 – 5th Sunday of Easter, (A) 1st Reading: Acts 6:1-7 Under pressure, a solution is found to deal with new needs of the community Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of…
Presider’s Page for 5th Sun. Easter (3 May) Opening Comment Today’s liturgy puts the life-giving words of Jesus before us. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, the one in whom we can place all our trust. Because we believe these things, we gather to praise God. Alternative Opening Prayer (from ICEL Missal 1998)…
02 May 2026 – Saturday of Week 4 Memorial: St Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the church, born c 295 in Alexandria, fought against Arian heresy, exiled several times. 1st Reading: Acts 13:44-52 After failing to convert Jews, Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear…
01 May 2026 – Friday of Week 4 of Easter (St Joseph the Worker) Optional Memorial: St Joseph the Worker – readings Lect 11:1013 – see below 1st Reading: Acts 13:26-33 Jesus was put to death, but raised and exalted by God [Paul went on to say] “My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and…
30 April 2026 – Thursday of Week 4 of Easter Optional Memorial: St Pius V, pope, 1504-72, a Dominican, elected pope in 1565, implemented the reforms of Trent, including the breviary, Missal and Catechism. Noted for his Christian defence against the Ottoman empire. 1st Reading: Acts 13:13-25 Paul’s summary of Israel’s history, up to the…
29 April 2026 – Saint Catherine of Siena 1st Reading: 1 John 1:5, 2:2 The message we have heard from him and proclaim to you This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that…
28 April 2026 – Tuesday of Week 4 of Easter Optional Memorials; St Peter Chanel, priest and martyr, 1803-41, first martyr of the church in Oceania. St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, 1673-1716 a priest for missions, the sick and the poor. Wrote about Mary’s role in salvation. Promoted the Rosary. 1st Reading: Acts 11:19-26 Barnabas goes to…
27 April 2026 – Monday of Week 4 of Easter Optional Memorial: St Asicus, St Patrick’s craftsman in metalwork. Left in charge of teh church in Elphin which Patrick is reputed to have founded. 1st Reading: Acts 11:1-18 By inspiration, Peter baptises the first pagan converts The apostles and believers in Judea heard that the…
