Presider’s Page 30 June (Ordinary Time 13) Opening Comment As summer takes hold, we give thanks to God for all the gifts we enjoy. We rejoice in God’s saving power: death itself is in his hand and all the living depend on God alone. Alternative Opening Prayer (from 1998 ICEL Missal) God of the living, in whose image…
22 June 2024 – Saturday of Week 11 Optional Memorials: St Paulinus of Nola, bishop, 355-431; Ss John Fisher, bishop, 1469-1535 built Christ’s and St John’s Colleges, Cambridge as Vice-Chancellor. Bishop of Rochester, a lover of truth and Thomas More, martyrs, 1478-1535, the first commoner to be Lord Chancellor of England, martyred under Henry V111. Patron lawyers and…
21 June 2024 – Friday of Week 11 Memorial: St Aloysius Gonzaga, religious, born in Lombardy 1568, became a Jesuit in Rome, worked in teh plague hospital, caught the fever, died in 1591, aged 23. Patron of youth. 1st Reading: 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 The life of prince Joash is saved from Athaliah’s fury…
20 June 2024 – Thursday of Week 11 Memorial: The Irish Martyrs – see bottom of page for full details. 1st Reading: Sirach 48:1-14 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. By the…
19 June 2024 – Wednesday of Week 11 Optional Memorials: St Romauld, abbot in Tuscany. Died in 1027. (Cashel and Emly): Bl Dermot O’Hurley, bishop and Companions, martyrs – Bp Terence Albert O’Brien OP, John Kearney OFM and William Tirry OSA. Martyred in 1584 1st Reading: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 Elijah is carried up to heaven in…
Presider’s Page for 23 June (Ordinary Time 12) Opening Comment The sight of people being rescued from ricketty boats in the Mediterranean in recent years brings home the plight of immigrants and refugees; seeing rescuers coming to their aid inspires us. God is master of the deep; Jesus stilled the storm. May all in need…
18 June 2024 – Tuesday of Week 11 1st Reading: 1 Kings 21:17-29 Under Elijah’s warning, King Ahab repents and is forgiven Then word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he…
17 June 2024 – Monday of Week 11 1st Reading: 1 Kings 21:1-16 Ahab and Jezebel rob and kill Naboth the Jezreelite Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. And Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a…
16 June 2024 – 11th Sunday (Year B) (1) Ezekiel 17:22-24 It is the Lord who plants and grows; who raises and humbles Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the…
15 June 2024 – Saturday of Week 10 1st Reading: 1 Kings 19:19-22 Elijah chooses Elisha as his attendant and successor Elijah set out and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was ploughing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his…
14 June 2024 – Friday of Week 10 Optional Memorial: St Davnet, lived and died at Tydavnet, Sliabh Beagh, Co Monaghan. a virgin and founder of a church (or monastery). 1st Reading: 1 Kings 19:9-16 Elijah’s encounter with God, at the cave on Mount Horeb Elijah came to a cave, and spent the night there….
Thursday 13 June 2024 Memorial: St Anthony of Padua, died in 1231, aged 36. Born in Portugal, joined the Frans and preached against heresy in France and italy. 1st Reading: 1 Kings 18:41-46 A small dark cloud develops into a heavy rainstorm Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is a…
12 June 2024 – Wednesday of Week 10 1st Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-39 Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Ba’al [At Elijah’s prompting] Ahab sent to all the Israelites and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different…
11 June 2024 – St Barnabas, apostle Barnabas was born in Cyprus, one of the first converts in Jerusalem and taught at Antioch. A companion of St Paul on his first missionary journey, took part in the Council of Jerusalem. Returned to Cyprus where he died. 1st Reading: Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 The zealous beginnings of…
Presider’s Page for 16 June (Ordinary Time 11) Throughout these summer months, trees, plants and grasses grow and flourish. Our faith is also to grow and flourish during these Sundays of Ordinary Time. The green vestments worn by the celebrant signify continuing growth in faith. • Today is celebrated as Father’s Day, so in the…
10 June 2024 – Monday of Week 10 Optional Memorials: St Ephrem, deacon and doctor of the church; St Columba (Colum Cille), born in Gartan, Co Donegal in 521 of royal lineage. Founded monasteries in Derry, Durrow, Iona and (possibly) Kells. Iona was teh principal foundation. Columba died on 9 June 597. 1st Reading: 1 Kings…
9 June 2024 – 10th Sunday (Year B) Evil is too well documented to be dismissed as just a religious concept. It thrives precisely because many choose to ignore it. Like the psalmist, we recognise our complicity and seek forgiveness. (1) Genesis 3:9-15 Adam and Eve were tempted and sinned. The consequences of their fall…
08 June 2024 – The Immaculate Heart of Mary 1st Reading: Isaiah 61:9-11 I will greatly rejoice, my whole being shall exult in my God Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed….
7 June 2024 – The Most Sacred Heart, Year B 1st Reading: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9 I have no wish to destroy Thus says the Lord: When Israel was a child I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms; yet they…
06 June 2024 – Thursday of Week 9 Optional Memorials: St Norbert, 1080-1134, AB of Magdeburg, founder of the Norbertine Canons. St Jarlath, (Feast in Tuam), disciple of St Enda, taught by St Benignus. Was an abbot bishop of the monastery he founded in Tuam in the sixth century. 1st Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Faithfully…
