Presider’s Page for 2 February (The Presentation of the Lord – Candlemas) It’s forty days since we celebrated the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Today we remember his Presentation in the Temple. This feast is also called Candlemas; candles are blessed because today Jesus was revealed in the Temple as the light of all peoples….
30 Jan 2025 – Thursday of Week 3 Optional Memorial: St Aidan (Feast, Ferns and Dublin) or Maedoc (Mague),c 550-626, studied in Wales, founded monastery in Ferns. Bl Margaret Ball, imprisoned for teaching Catholicism, harbouring priests and having Mass said in her home. Died in Dublin Castle 1584; and Bl Francis Taylor, born in Swords, Dublin, Mayor…
29 Jan 2025 – Wednesday of Week 3 1st Reading: Hebrews 10:11-18 Jesus offers one sacrifice that sets up a new covenant with God Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a…
28 Jan 2025 – Tuesday of Week 3 Memorial: St Thomas Aquinas, 1224-74, Italian theologian. Patron of schools, universities, students and booksellers. 1st Reading: Hebrews 10:1-10 The temple rituals were a type of the new covenant, brought by Jesus for all Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and…
27 Jan 2025 – Monday of Week 3 Optional Memorial: St Angela Merici, 1474-1540, founder of the Ursulines 1st Reading: Hebrews 9:15, 24-28 Jesus as the mediator of a new covenant Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has…
26 Jan 2025 – 3rd Sunday (C) (1) Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10 Ezra the Scribe set out to re-instate the Jewish Laws The priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it…
25 Jan 2025 – The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle 1st Reading: Acts 22:3-16 Paul’s account of his conversion, to his fellow-Jews, on the steps of the Temple “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law,…
24 Jan 2025 – Friday of Week 2 Memorial: St Francis de Sales, 1567-1622, Bishop of Geneva, founder of the Visitation Sisters. Patron saint of writers, editors and journalists. 1st Reading: Hebrews 8:6-13 Mediator of a new covenant Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of…
23 Jan 2025 – Thursday of Week 2 1st Reading: Hebrews 7:25-8:6 Jesus our high priest serves in the true tabernacle of heaven Jesus he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have…
22 Jan 2025 – Wednesday of Week 2 Optional Memorial: St Vincent, deacon, martyred in Valencia in 304. 1st Reading: Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 The priesthood of Jesus is mysterious and eternal, like Melchisedek’s King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed…
21 Jan 2025 – Tuesday of Week 2 Memorial: St Agnes, martyred in early fourth century in Rome. Patron of betrothed couples, gardeners and young girls. 1st Reading: Hebrews 6:10-20 Abraham’s long-delayed son. A lesson in patience God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his…
Presider’s Page Sunday 26 Jan 2025 The Word of God is the focus this Sunday, read by Ezra the priest in the Old Testament reading, and by Jesus in the Gospel. By his Word, God reassures the people of his closeness, especially in the Word made flesh, Jesus of Nazareth. • Today is the ‘Sunday…
20 Jan 2025 – Monday of Week 2 Optional Memorials: St Fabian, martyred c 250; St Sebastien, martyred. 1st Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10 Jesus is our Priest, and the source of eternal salvation for all Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer…
Presider’s Page for 19 January (Ordinary Time 2) There are echoes of the Christmas season in today’s liturgy, particularly in the Gospel story of the wedding feast of Cana, in which God’s glory becomes visible in Jesus, as it did at his Epiphany and Baptism. • Catholic Schools week begins today. Penitential Rite To prepare…
19 Jan 2025 – 2nd Sunday (C) (1) Isaiah 62:1-5 God has prepared joyful feast for his people For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication,…
18 Jan 2025 – Saturday of Week 1 1st Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16 Our merciful high priest has passed into heaven Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the…
17 Jan 2025 – Friday of Week 1 Memorial: St Anthony, died 356, ‘father of monasticism’. 1st Reading: Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 Through faith we shall enter into God’s day of rest While the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to…
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…
