12 May 2024 – The Ascension of the Lord, (A, B, C.) 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…
11 May 2024 – Saturday of Week 6 Easter 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 place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Now there came to Ephesus a…
10 May 2024 – Friday of Week 6 of Easter Optional Memorials: St Comgall born c 516 in Antrim. Studied under Finnian of Moville, priested and established a monastery at Bangor c 555-8 and Tiree in Scotland. Died c 602-5. St John of Avila, 1499-1569, priest, apostle of Andalucia, great preacher. 1st Reading: Acts 18:9-18 Paul’s trial by…
09 May 2024 – Thursday of Week 6 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 18:1-8 The early days of Paul’s mission in Corinth, and the friends he found there After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with…
08 May 2024 – Wednesday of Week 6 of Easter Optional Memorial: Bl John Sullivan, convert, born in Dublin 1861, ordained SJ 1907 then to Clongowes Wood College, Kildare, a man of prayer. Died 19 Feb 1933, declared blessed on 13 May 2017 in St Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner St, Dublin – the first ever…
Presider’s Page for 12 May (Ascension of the Lord) The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated today, ‘World Communications Day’. As he left his disciples, Jesus sent them out to spread the Good News. This is our task too. We ask for the grace we need. Alternative Opening Prayer (from the 1998 ICEL Missal) God of power…
07 May 2024 – Tuesday of Week 6 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 16:22-34 By their courage, Paul and Barnabas win new converts, in the Philippi jail The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them…
06 May 2024 – Monday of Week 6 of Easter 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 Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of…
05 May 2024 – 6th Sunday of Easter (B) 1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10:25-26, 33-35, 44-48 Peter baptises the household of Cornelius On Peter’s arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshipped him. But Peter made him get up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.”Then Peter proceeded to speak…
04 May 2024 – Saturday of Week 5 Easter Optional Memoria; St Conleth (Kildare), abbot and bishop, friend of Brigid. 1st Reading: Acts 16:1-10 Timothy, a half-Jew, joins Paul in the missionary work Paul went on to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who…
03 May 2024 – Saints Philip and James, Apostles 1st Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Paul lists the original witnesses of the resurrection, including himself Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it…
02 May 2024 – Thursday of Week 5 of Easter Memorial: St Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the church, born 295, Alexandria. 1st Reading: Acts 15:7-21 Peter and James defend Paul’s missionary practice After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days…
Presider’s Page for 5 May (Sixth Sunday of Easter) We gather in the love of God, redeemed in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are people with a mission, challenged to grow in love each day. We ask God for divine help with this mission, today and during the coming week. Alternative Opening Prayer (from…
01 May 2024 – Wednesday of Week 5 of Easter Optional Memorial: St Joseph the Worker (optional readings Lect 11: 1013 – see commentary and readings below) 1st Reading: Acts 15:1-6 The Council of Jerusalem, on what is needed for salvation Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching, “Unless you are circumcised according…
30 April 2024 – Tuesday of Week 5 of Easter Optional Memorial: St Pius V, 1504-72, Dominican elected pope in 1565, a reformer of the Breviary, Catechism and Missal. 1st Reading: Acts 14:19-28 Paul is stoned and left for dead; but survives to continue his ministry Jews came over from Antioch and Iconium and…
29 April 2024 – Saint Catherine of Siena 1st Reading: 1 John 1:5, 2:2 The message we have heard from him and proclaim to you This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that…
28 April 2024 – 5th Sunday of Easter (B) 1st Reading: Acts 9:26-31 Barnabas introduces Paul the convert to the church in Jerusalem When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took…
27 April 2024 – Saturday of Week 4 Optional Memorial: St Asicus, in charge of Elphin church, founded by St Patrick, an expert craftsman in metal work for the patron saint. 1st Reading: Acts 13:44-52 After failing to convert Jews, Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered…
26 April 2024 – Friday of Week 4 of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 13:26-33 Jesus was put to death, but raised and exalted by God [Paul went on to say] “My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. Because the residents…
25 April 2024 – Saint Mark, Evangelist 1st Reading: 1 Peter 5:5-14 Peter’s homily includes mention of Mark among the Christians in Rome (“Babylon”) When the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders….
