Presider’s Page for 24 December (Christmas Night Mass) 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. Alternative…
Presider’s Page for 23/24 December (Fourth Sunday of Advent) Advent is drawing to a close; we have just a day left to prepare for the birth of Christ. On this Sunday, we’re invited to follow Mary’s example and imitate her faith. Alternative Opening Prayer (from 1998 ICEL Missal) Here in our midst, O God of mystery, you…
23 Dec 2023 – Sat Advent Week 3 Optional Memorial: St john of Kanty, 1390-1473, theologian and scripture scholar in Uni of Krakow, Poland. 1st Reading: Malachiah 3:1-4, 4,4-6 God will send a fore-runner to prepare for the final day The Lord God says this: “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way…
22 Dec 2023 – Fri Advent Week 3 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:24-28 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…
21 Dec 2023 – Thurs Advent Week 3 Optional Memorial: St Peter Canisius, 1521-97, Dutch Jesuit, drew up a 211 question (and answers!) catechism in 1555, priest and doctor of the Church. 1st Reading: Song of Songs (2:8-14 Lyrical love-poetry from king Solomon, about the beloved who is coming The voice of my beloved! Look,…
20 Dec 2023 – Wed Advent Week 3 Kilfenora Feast: St Fachanan, bishop, founded a monastery in and patron of Kilfenora, part of Galway diocese. 1st Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 King Ahaz refuses to ask a sign of the Lord; Isaiah promises a child to be called Immanuel Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask…
19 Dec 2023 – Tuesday Advent Week 3 1st Reading: Judges (13:2-7, 24-25 Manoah’s wife yearns for a son. Samson will be dedicated to God 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…
18 Dec 2023 – Monday, 3rd Week of Advent Killaloe Feast: St Flannan, 7th century renowned preacher. 1st Reading: Jeremiah 23:5-8 A righteous Branch who will rule with wisdom and justice “The days are surely coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king…
17 Dec 2023 – 3rd Sunday in Advent, B 1st Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 The Messiah, guided by God’s Spirit. This text describes Jesus’ ministry The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the…
16 Dec 2023 – Saturday of Advent, Week 2 1st Reading: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 Lyrical praise of Elijah, whose prophetic word burned like a torch Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch. He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal he made them few in number….
15 Dec 2023 – Friday of Advent, Week 2 1st Reading: Isaiah 48:17-19 If you kept my commandments, your name would last forever Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should…
14 Dec 2023 – Thursday of Advent, Week 2 Memorial: St John of the Cross, 1542-91, Carmelite reformer, writer, doctor of the Church and poet – With the divinest Word / The Virgin made pregnant / Down the road comes walking / If you’ll grant her a room in your abode. 1st Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20…
Presider’s Page for 17 December (Advent 3, GAUDETE) We’re two thirds of the way through Advent. Traditionally, today is called Gaudete Sunday, which means ‘a day for rejoicing’: the pink candle is lit on the Advent wreath. The reason for celebration today is that the day of the Lord’s coming is very near. Alternative Opening…
13 Dec 2023 – Wednesday of Advent, Week 2 Memorial: St Lucy, martyred in 304 in Sicily. 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31 Encouragement for the weary people, from God, who strengthens the powerless To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and…
12 Dec 2023 – Tuesday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorials: Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron of the Americas; Hymn to Our Lady of Guadalupe St Finnian, settled in Clonard, Co Meath c 520, taught Canice, Colum Cille and Brendan, died in 549. Known as the Tutor of the Saints of Ireland. 1st Reading:…
12 Dec 2023 – Wednesday of Advent, Week 2 Memorial: St Lucy, martyred in 304 in Sicily 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31 Encouragement for the weary people, from God, who strengthens the powerless To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and…
11 Dec 2023 – Monday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorial: St Damascus 1, c 304-384, pope who commissioned St Jerome to prepare the Vulgate version of the Bible. 1st Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10 They shall see the glory of the Lord, and the ransomed exiles shall return to Zion The desert and the dry land…
Presider’s Page for 10 December (Second Sunday of Advent) John the Baptist is the focus of the liturgy on the Second Sunday of Advent each year. His challenge to us to ‘prepare a way for the Lord’ is at the heart of the Advent message. We worship the one who will surely come to us….
10 Dec 2023 – 2nd Sunday in Advent, B John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ by raising expectations. Once Jesus had arrived, there only remained for John to quietly disappear from the scene. 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 God is coming to save his people and to open up our way into the…
09 Dec 2023 – Saturday of Advent, Week 1 Optional Memorial: St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, 1474-1548, saw the vision of our Lady of Guadalupe in December 1531. 1st Reading: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 Future days of blessed enlightenment, when the people turn aside from idolatry. Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep…
