17 Feb 2023 – Friday of Week 6 Optional Memorials: early thirteenth century in Florence, Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order, known as the Servants of Mary, they followed the Rule of St Augustine. St Fintan d 603, born in Leinster, foundation in Clonenagh, Co Laois. 1st Reading: Genesis 11:1-9 When people sought independence…
16 Feb 2023 – Thursday of Week 6 1st Reading: Genesis 9:1-13 The rainbow, a perpetual sign of God’s covenant with Noah and the human race God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal…
15 Feb 2023 – Wednesday of Week 6 1st Reading: Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22 The Lord promises never again to destroy the earth At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried…
14 Feb 2023 – Saints Cyril and Methodius Cyril and Methodius were brothers born in Byzantine Thessalonika, northern Greece, in the 9th century, who brought Christianity to the Slavic peoples of modern Czech Republic and Hungary. For their work they were declared co-patrons of Europe in 1999, by Pope John Paul II, to stand alongside…
13 Feb 2023 – Monday of Week 6 1st Reading: Genesis 4:1-15 Cain’s jealousy leads to his murder of Abel Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a…
12 Feb 2023 – 6th Sunday, (A) Using freedom well. It is not our misdeeds which accuse us before God, but our hearts, fractured and divided as they are. Jesus insists that we go deeper than our external deeds. The vital question is what is going on in our hearts, our thoughts and motivations? The…
Presider’s Page for 12 February (Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time) Today’s readings ask for decisions, challenging Christians to choose the right path. We gather to worship God, who can help us in all our choices. Penitential Rite To prepare ourselves for the challenges of God’s Word, let us call to mind the good and bad…
11 Feb 2023 – Saturday of Week 5 – World Day of the Sick Optional Memorials: Our Lady of Lourdes – Is 66:10-14. Ps Jud 13:18-19, R/15:19. Jn 2:1-11 Lect 11:955. Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous (14) on this day in 1858 – “I am the Immaculate Conception.” World Day of the Sick. St Gobnait, associated…
10 Feb 2023 – Friday of Week 5 Memorial: St Scholastica died c543, sister of St Benedict. Patron of convulsive children. 1st Reading: Genesis 3:1-8 Woman and man disobey God and try to hide from him in the garden The serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made….
9 Feb 2023 – Thursday of Week 5 1st Reading: Genesis 2:18-25 Woman stands equal to man, as they are joined as one flesh The Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord God…
8 Feb 2023 – Wednesday of Week 5 – International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. Optional Memorials: St Jerome Emiliani d 1537, military man, founded the Clerks Regular of Somaschi for the care of orphans and the poor. Patron saint of orphans. St Josephine Bakhita 1868-1947, Sudan native brought to Italy as…
7 Feb 2023 – Tuesday of Week 5 Optional Memorial: St Mel (Ardagh & Clonmacnoise), d 488, a Brit who arrived with Patrick, gave the religious veil to Brigid. 1st Reading: Genesis 1:20, 2:4 After forming man and woman to the divine likeness, God rested on the seventh day God said, “Let the waters bring…
6 Feb 2023 – Monday of Week 5 1st Reading: Genesis 1:1-19 God creates light, sky, earth and sun, moon and stars, in the act of creation In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind…
Presider’s Page for 5 February (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time) February 4 2023 Over these Sundays, we listen to what Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount. In today’s liturgy, we hear that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Rejoicing in this calling, we praise God who…
5 Feb 2023 – 5th Sunday, (A) Theme: Salt and Light Tyranny and oppression still flourish in many places abroad; and in less spectacular fashion closer to home. Unfairness and structural abuse often stare us in the face, such as long-term poverty, unemployment and homelessness. Christ invites us to solidarity with people in dire need….
4 Feb 2023 – Saturday of Week 4 1st Reading: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21 God raised up Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep Through him, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what…
3 Feb 2023 – Friday of Week 4 Optional Memorials: St Ansgar, French born, ninth century, AB of Hamburg, preached in Denmark and Sweden. Apostle of Scandinavia. Patron of Denmark. St Blaise, d 315, bishop (of Sebaste) and martyr, physician, patron saint of people who suffer from disease of the throat. Prayer using two crossed…
Bidding Prayers for 5 February (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time) BIDDING PRAYERS for Sunday Mass on 5 February Introduction (by the Presider) Let us bring our prayers to the Lord, in whom we place our trust: For peace in the Middle East (pause for five seconds). Lord, hear us For an end to war in Ukraine (pause for five seconds). Lord,…
2 Feb 2023 – Presentation of Our Lord World Day for Consecrated Life 1st Reading: Malachi 3:1-4 When God’s Messenger arrives, he will refine the people See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant…
1 Feb 2023 – Saint Brigid of Kildare, Secondary Patron of Ireland 1st Reading: Job 31:16-20; 24-25; 31-32 Job’s generosity towards the needy is reflected in St Brigid’s works of charity I have never withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel…
