Presider’s Page for 14 January (Ordinary Time 2) Now that the Christmas season is behind us and we are moving into the New Year, the liturgy challenges us to reflect on what following Christ means. We gather as God’s people, called to follow the Lamb of God and we praise God, with thanksgiving. Alternative Opening…
09 Jan 24 – Tuesday of Week 1 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 presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of…
08 Jan 24 – 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…
7 Jan 2024 – The Baptism of the Lord First Reading. Isaiah 55:1-11 Come to the waters, come buy and eat Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money…
6 Jan 2024 – 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…
Mon 6 January 2025 – The Epiphany of the Lord 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 cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;…
Presider’s Page for 7 January (Baptism of the Lord) Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord: it’s the last day of the Christmas season. The baptism of Jesus marked the end of his quiet years in Nazareth and the start of his public ministry. Penitential Rite options 1. BLESSING OF WATER Brothers and…
Presider’s Page for Saturday 6 January (Epiphany of the Lord) On this feast of the Epiphany we celebrate the revelation of who Christ is. The visit of the three wise men reminds us that Jesus came as the Saviour of all nations, including ours. We worship God who wants all people to be saved. Alternative…
5 Jan 2024 – Friday Before Epiphany Optional Memorial: Saint Charles St Charles of Mt. Argus, Dublin, Priest, Religious. Charles John Houben (1821-1893), was a Dutch Passionist priest who served in Dublin in the late 19th-century. He showed extraordinary compassion for the sick and those in need of guidance. Many came asking his prayers, and in…
4 Jan 2024 – Thursday Before Epiphany 1st Reading: 1 John 3:7-10. How we are reborn as children of God Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been…
3 Jan 2024 – Wednesday Before Epiphany Optional Memorials: The Holy Name of Jesus; St Munchin (Feast in Limerick), seventh century, patron of Limerick. 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, you may be…
2 January 2024 – Tuesday Before Epiphany Memorial: Ss Basil the Great, 330-379, Bishop of Caesarea and theologian of note; and Gregory Nazianzen, 329-89, friend of Basil, Bishop of Sasima, and later of Constantinople. 1st Reading: 1 John 2:22-28 The Holy Spirit received from Jesus, teaches you all things Who is the liar but…
01 Jan 2024 -Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God 1st Reading: Numbers 6:22-27 A new-year prayer for God to bless and protect his people The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep…
31 Dec 2023 – Sunday after Christmas. The Holy Family Today we celebrate the domestic life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, an an inspiration for all families everywhere. 1st Reading: Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3 Abraham and Sarah are given a child as a reward for their faith After these things the word of the Lord came…
30 Dec 2023 – 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas 1st Reading: 1 John 2:12-17 Do not be absorbed by the world or the things in the world I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know…
29 Dec 2023 – 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas Optional Memorial: Thomas a Becket (1118-1170) from Cheapside in London, was appointed first as chancellor and then archbishop (1162) by order of his friend, King Henry II. As archbishop he sided with the pope on the respective authority of church and state and was…
Presider’s Page for 31 December (Holy Family) On this first Sunday after Christmas Day, we honour the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. We entrust our families to their patronage, and pray for all who have been part of our families, those still alive and those whom we hope have joined the great family…
28 Dec 2023 – Thursday – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs 1st Reading: 1 John 1:5-2:2 Those who walk in darkness, and those who walk in the light Beloved: This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all….
27 Dec 2023, Wednesday – Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 1st Reading: 1 John 1:1-4 What we have seen with our eyes, what we have touched with our hands Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard,what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns…
December 26: Feast of St. Stephen, the First Martyr 1st Reading: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 The martyrdom of Stephen the deacon, according to Luke Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia,…
