Presider’s Page for 15 December (Gaudete Sunday: Advent 3) We’re well over halfway through Advent. Traditionally, today is called Gaudete Sunday, which means ‘a day for rejoicing.’ The reason for celebration is that the day of the Lord’s coming is nearer. Penitential Rite Entering into that spirit of joy, we recall the sins that hold us…
10 Dec 2024 – Tuesday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorial: Our Lady of Loreto – (Lect 11, 1428; 1423; 1443) 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort ye my people! — the promised return of the exiles from Babylon. “Comfort, O comfort my people,” says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she…
09 Dec 2024 – The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1st Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Enmity between the serpent and the woman But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I…
08 Dec 2024 – 2nd Sunday in Advent, C 1st Reading: Baruch 5:1-9 God will level out a highway for the exiles to return The Lord says this: Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of…
07 Dec 2024 – Saturday of Advent, Week 1 Memorial: St Ambrose, 340-97, defender of orthodoxy and Bishop of Milan. Patron of Milan, beekeepers and domestic animals. 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…
06 Dec 2024 – Friday of Advent, Week 1 Optional Memorial: St Nicholas (Feast, Galway), 4th century Bishop of Myra (Turkey). Patron of Russia, sailors, pawnbrokers and children. 1st Reading: Isaiah 29:17-24 A promise of good times, when deaf shall hear and blind shall see Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a…
05 Dec 2024 – Thursday of Advent, Week 1 1st Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6 A hymn of confidence in the Lord God, our everlasting rock On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, so that…
04 Dec 2024 – Wednesday of Advent, Week 1 Optional Memorial: St John Damascene 675-749, a Syrian Christian theologian, a monk at St Sabas near Jerusalem. 1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10 “God will wipe away the tears from all faces.” — a Messianic vision of the final age. On this mountain the Lord of hosts will…
Presider’s Page for 8 December (Advent 2) Though the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady is usually celebrated on the 8th December, the church reckons the Second Sunday of Advent to be more important, so that is the feast we mark today (and the Immaculate Conception on Monday 9th this year). John the Baptist is thus…
03 Dec 2024 – Tuesday of Advent, Week 1 Memorial: St Francis Xavier, 1506-52, one of the first seven Jesuits sent to India by Ignatius. Patron of the missions. 1st Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and…
02 Dec 2024 – Monday of Advent, Week 1 1st Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5 In the Messiah’s day, they shall beat their swords into ploughshares The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains,…
01 Dec 2024 – 1st Sunday in Advent, C Theme: Advent is a time for new thoughts, new beginnings, new projects, as we start a new year of Christian prayer and worship. The Gospel calls us to be ready to welcome Jesus as the anchor of our lives, our true Saviour, and prepare for his…
30 Nov 2024 – St Andrew, Apostle 1st Reading: Romans 10:9-18 How will they hear the faith, unless it be preached? If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with he heart and so…
29 Nov 2024 – Friday of Week 34 1st Reading: Revelation 20:1-4; 21:1-2 Those who reject the beast will reign with Christ for 1000 years Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent,…
28 Nov 2024 – Thursday of Week 34 1st Reading: Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9 The happy guests at the Lamb’s wedding feast I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendour. He called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon…
27 Nov 2024 – Wednesday of Week 34 Optional memorial: St Fergal (Virgil), lived in France then Bavaria where he founded Chiemsee monastery. Became Bishop of Salzburg around 754 and died in 784, leaving a reputation of learning and holiness. 1st Reading: Revelation 15:1-4 The seven plagues sent by the wrath of God Then I…
Presider’s Page for 01 Dec 2024 – First Sunday of Advent Advent begins today. During these days, we look forward, waiting in hope. We watch for the end times, when Christ will come in glory, Christ who was born for us 2,000 years ago. Advent Wreath Blessing (may take the place of the Penitential Act)…
26 Nov 2024 – Tuesday of Week 34 1st Reading: Revelation 14:14-19 The grapes are thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in…
25 Nov 2024 – Monday of Week 34 Optional Memorials: St Colman (feast in Cloyne), born c. 530, probably in West Cork, a bard by profession, influenced by St Brendan and priested. Main foundation was at Cloyne, apostolate in east Cork; St Catherine of Alexandria, martyred in Alexandria in 310. Her body is venerated at the monastery in…
Link to Gerry O’Connor’s homily: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnwkzSyFP_M (1) Daniel (7:13-14 Glorious vision of the Son of Man As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory…
