30 May 2023 – Tuesday of Week 8 1st Reading: Sirach 35:1-12 The wise person is generous to the poor and abhors extortion The one who keeps the law makes many offerings; one who heeds the commandments makes an offering of well-being. The one who returns a kindness offers choice flour, and one who gives…
29 May 2023 – Monday – The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church 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,…
Presider’s Page for 28 May (Pentecost Sunday) Opening Comment (Mass During the Day) Today we celebrate ‘the great beginning of the Church,’ the day the Holy Spirit first came to confused and frightened disciples. We praise God for this great Gift, and ask for a new outpouring in our day. Penitential Rite As we prepare ourselves…
28 May 2023 – Pentecost Sunday 1st Reading: Acts 2:1-11 The Spirit of God gives energy to the apostles and sends them out on their mission When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind,…
27 May 2023 – Saturday of Week 7 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 Paul is imprisoned in Rome, for two years, awaiting trial When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. Three days later he called together the local leaders of the…
26 May 2023 – Friday of Week 7 of Easter Optional Memorial: St Philip Neri, 1515-1595, founded the Congregation of the Oratory to foster good preaching and promote priestly holiness. 1st Reading: Acts 25:13-21 Paul, in prison at Caesarea, explains his predicament to king Agrippa After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived…
25 May 2023 – Thursday of Week 7 of Easter Optional Memorials: St Bede the Venerable, 673-735, monk of Jarrow, historian and biblical commentator. Patron of scholars. St Gregory V11, c1025-1085, Hildebrand of Tuscany was a Cluniac monk in Rome, became a reforming pope who died in exile in Salerno. St Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi,…
24 May 2023 – Wednesday of Week 7 of Easter World Day of Prayer for the Church in China 1st Reading: Acts 20:28-38 Paul’s final advice to the church leaders: shepherd the church of God [Paul said to the leaders of the church] ” Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which…
23 May 2023 – Tuesday of Week 7 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 20:17-27 Paul’s testament to church leaders, on his way to Jerusalem From Miletus Paul sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. When they came to him, Paul said: “You yourselves know how I lived among…
22 May 2023 – Monday of Week 7 of Easter Optional Memorial: St Rita of Cascia, 1386-1457, a widow who entered the Augustinian convent, spending 40 years in prayer and charity, and working for peace. 1st Reading: Acts 19:1-8 In Ephesus, followers of John the Baptist become full members of the church While Apollos was…
Presider’s Page for 21 May (Ascension of the Lord) Opening Comment We celebrate the Ascension of Jesus today. We remember his sending out of the disciples, and his promise to remain with us until the end of time. Penitential Rite Assured by Christ’s words, we renew our trust in his continuing help (pause): Lord Jesus,…
21 May 2023 – The Ascension of the Lord, (A) 1st Reading: Acts 1:1-11 Ascension concludes Jesus’ ministry on earth and prepares for the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up…
20 May 2023 – Saturday of Week 6 Optional Memorial: St Bernardine, 1380-1444, a Franciscan preacher who promoted devotion to The Holy Name and to St Joseph. 1st Reading: Acts 18:23-28 Aquila, a learned convert from Judaism, helps the church in southern Greece After spending some time there he departed and went from place to…
Bidding Prayers for 21 May (Ascension of the Lord) BIDDING PRAYERS for Sunday Mass on 21 May Introduction (by the Presider) With confidence, we bring our prayers before God, the Most High: That Christian missionaries may be full of enthusiasm (pause and pray for this…). Lord, hear us. That we may be sustained by Christ on our journey of…
19 May 2023 – Friday of Week 6 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 18:9-18 Paul’s trial by Gallio the proconsul breaks down for lack of evidence One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no one…
18 May 2023 – Thursday of Week 6 of Easter Optional Memorial: St John 1, pope and martyr, first Bishop of Rome to visit Constantinople. Involved in Arian controversies, imprisoned at Ravenna, where he died in 526. 1st Reading: Acts 18:1-8 The early days of Paul’s mission in Corinth, and the friends he found there…
17 May 2023 – Wednesday of Week 6 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 Paul’s clever sermon in the Areopagus, to lead the Greeks to the true God Those who were guiding Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after being asked to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible,…
16 May 2023 – Tuesday of Week 6 of Easter Optional Memorial: St Brendan, a Kerryman born in 486, went to Scotland and probably further. Founded a monastery in Clonfert in 568, died there in 578. 1st Reading: Acts 16:22-34 By their courage, Paul and Barnabas win new converts, in the Philippi jail The crowd…
15 May 2023 – Monday of Week 6 of Easter Optional Memorial: St Carthage (or Mochuta), Kerry bishop who moved to Lismore. Died in 638. 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…
14 May 2023 – 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…
