19 Jan 2026 – Monday of Week 2 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 15:16-23 For disobeying the prophet Samuel, Saul is deposed as king Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” He replied, “Speak.” Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are…
18 Jan 2026 – 2nd Sunday, (A) (1) Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 God is preparing his people Israel to become a light for all nations The Lord said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant,…
17 Jan 2026 – Saturday of Week 1 Memorial: St Anthony, died 356, Father of monasticism, lived a life of solitude yet attracted people to form communities of hermits. 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 12-19; 10:1 Saul is anointed by Samuel as king of Israel, at God’s inspiration There was a man of Benjamin whose…
16 Jan 2026 – Friday of Week 1 Optional Memorial: St Fursa, Irish born missionary who went abroad, first with his brothers Foillan and Ultan to East Anglia; France circa 644 where he was given a hermitage at Lagny on the Marne. Died c 650 at Mézerolles, buried in Péronne, which became a centre of…
15 Jan 2026 – Thursday of Week 1 Memorial: St Ita, born in Waterford, of Christian nobility. Founded a monastery in Killeedy, CO Limerick. Called ‘the foster-mother of the Saints of Ireland’. She died in 570. 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 4:1-11 Misusing the Ark of the Covenant, the people are defeated in battle The word…
14 Jan 2026 – Wednesday of Week 1 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 etc From the sanctuary God calls Samuel, and sends him as a prophet Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli,…
Presider’s Page for 18 January 2026 (Second Sunday in Ordinary Time) Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins today The Christmas Season ended last Sunday, and we have entered Ordinary Time, moving slowly from winter to spring. The season of Lent begins on the 18th February, in less than five weeks’ time: between now and then,…
13 Jan 2026 – Tuesday of Week 1 Optional memorial: St Hilary, c 315- c 367, bishop of Potiers, stood up against Arianism, exiled, wrote books, most notably De Trinitate. 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:9-20 Eli promises that Hannah will give birth to a son After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and…
13 Jan 2026 – Tuesday of Week 1 Optional Memorial: St Hilary, c. 315-c. 367, elected Bishop of Potiers (353) and stood against Arianism. Exiled (356-59) by Emperor Constantius, he used his time to write. Works include De Trinitate. 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:9-20 Eli promises that Hannah will give birth to a son After…
12 Jan 2026 – Monday of Week 1 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-8 Hannah’s grief at being childless; her husband tries to comfort her There was a man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an…
11 Jan 2026 – The Baptism of the Lord – 1st Sunday (1) Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 A courageous servant of God will help others to keep the Covenant Thus says the Lord: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will…
10 January 2026 1st Reading: 1 John 4:19 – 5:4 Whoever loves God should love Jesus, and all of our fellow-Christians Beloved, we love God because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a sister or brother whom he…
09 January 2026 1st Reading: 1 John 4:11-18 God abides in those who recognise Jesus as the Son of God Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in…
Presider’s Page for the Baptism of Our Lord – 11 Jan 2026 This feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the last day of Christmas. At his baptism Jesus sees how much he is loved by God and is given the power to go out and spread the news. We share that power through…
08 January 2026 1st Reading: 1 John 4:7-10 Love’s divine origin and its influence on our lives Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among…
07 January 2026 Optional memorial: St Raymond of Penyafort, 1175-1275, a brilliant lawyer who became a Dominican, later Master General of the Doms and Bishop of Terragona. 1st Reading: 1 John 3:22 – 4:6 Distinguishing the spirit of truth from the spirit of error Beloved, we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey…
06 January 2025 – The Epiphany of the Lord (or the Sunday between 2 January and 8 January) 1st Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 In those days the Messiah will reveal his glory to all the nations Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall…
05 January 2026 Optional Memorial: Saint Charles of Mount Argus, John Andrew Houben (1821-1893) from Munstergeleen, Holland, was briefly in the Dutch army before being called to religious life with the Passionists in 1845, in Belgium, taking the name Charles. After ordination he was sent to England in 1852, where he met Irish emigrants fleeing…
04 Jan 2026 – 2nd Sunday after Christmas 1st Reading: Sirach 24:1-2, 8-12 Lyrical praise of the wisdom God has revealed to us Wisdom praises herself and tells of her glory in the midst of her people. In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, and in the presence of his hosts…
03 January 2026 Optional Memorials: The Holy Name of Jesus, and St Munchin (Mainchin) (Feast in Limerick), patron of Limerick. His traditional birthplace is Dal Cais, location of Cill Mainchin (Kilmanaheen). 1st Reading: 1 John 2:29 – 3:6 We are God’s children now; when he is revealed, we will be like him If you know that he is righteous,…
