Presider’s Page for 21 December (Fourth Sunday of Advent) The Season of Advent ends on Wednesday next, so the celebration of the birth of Christ is now very close. We gather in preparation for that great event, worshipping God who was made flesh to bring us to glory. Penitential Rite As we prepare ourselves to…
16 Dec 2025 – Tuesday of Advent, Week 3 1st Reading: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 The people’s future conversion: the humble shall seek refuge in the Lord. Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city! It has listened to no voice; it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the Lord; it has not drawn near to…
15 Dec 2025 – Monday of Advent, Week 3 1st Reading: Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 Balaam predicts the glorious future, the Age of the Messiah Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. Then the spirit of God came upon him, and he uttered his oracle, saying: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,…
14 Dec 2025 – 3rd Sunday in Advent, A – Gaudete Sunday Theme: Society finds it so hard to tolerate dissent that those who step out of line are often harshly treated. John the Baptist dared to castigate King Herod for his immoral example, and paid for it with his life. 1st Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6,…
13 Dec 2025 – Saturday of Advent, Week 2 Memorial: St Lucy, martyred in 304 in Sicily during the persecution of Diocletian. 1st Reading: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 Lyrical praise of Elijah, whose prophetic word burned like a torch Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch. He brought a…
12 Dec 2025 – Friday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorials: Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron of the Americas. The memorial recalls teh apparition of December 1531 to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin near Mexico City. St Finnian, studied in Carlow and Wales and returned to Clonard, Co Meath around 520, where he set up a famous school….
11 Dec 2025 – Thursday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorial: St Damasus 1, born c 304, died in 384, elected pope in 366. Actively opposed heresies. Commissioned St Jerome to prepare the Vulgate. 1st Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20 The Lord says to his weary people, “Do not fear, for I will help you” For I,…
10 Dec 2025 – Wednesday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorial: Our Lady of Loreto, More details: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/our-lady-of-loreto/ 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31 Encouragement for the weary people, from God, who strengthens the powerless To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high…
Presider’s Page for 14 December (Third Sunday of Advent, ‘Gaudete Sunday’) Traditionally, this Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday, which means ‘a day for rejoicing’. Advent is about half over, and the day of the Lord’s coming is nearer. We worship God who promises us joy without end. Penitential Rite Confident of the happiness that lies…
09 Dec 2025 – Tuesday of Advent, Week 2 Optional Memorial: St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, 1474-1548, saw thw vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December 1531. 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort ye my people! — the promised return of the exiles from Babylon. “Comfort, O comfort my people,” says your God. Speak tenderly to…
08 Dec 2025 – The Immaculate Conception 1st Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Enmity between the serpent and the woman But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid…
07 Dec 2025 – 2nd Sunday in Advent, A Theme: John the Baptist’s life work was preparing the way for our Messiah. Once Christ came, it only remained for John to disappear gracefully. Like John, we should make way for Christ in the lives of others. 1st Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 The living branch from Jesse’s…
06 Dec 2025 – Saturday of Advent, Week 1 Optional Memorial (Feast in Galway): St Nicholas, 4th century Bishop of Myra in modern-day Turkey. Patron of Russia, sailors, pawnbrokers and Children. 1st Reading: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 Future days of blessed enlightenment, when the people turn aside from idolatry. Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of…
05 Dec 2025 – Friday of Advent, Week 1 1st Reading: Isaiah 29:17-24 A promise of good times, when deaf shall hear and blind shall see Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest? On that day the deaf shall hear the…
04 Dec 2025 – Thursday of Advent, Week 1 Optional Memorial: St John Damascene, 675-749, a Syrian Christian theologian, defender of icons, priested in the monastery of St Sabas near Jerusalem. 1st Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6 A hymn of confidence in the Lord God, our everlasting rock On that day this song will be sung in…
03 Dec 2025 -Wednesday of Advent, Week 1 Memorial: St Francis Xavier, 1506-52, one of the first seven Jesuits, sent to India by St Ignatius. Converted many in Goa and later in Japan, died trying to enter China. A Patron of the missions. 1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10 “God will wipe away the tears from all…
Presider’s Page for 7 December (Second Sunday of Advent A) John the Baptist is the focus of the Gospel reading on the Second Sunday of Advent each year. His words challenge and inspire. We worship God who uses many messengers to call us from darkness to light. Penitential Rite As we prepare to listen to…
02 Dec 2025 – Tuesday of Advent, Week 1 1st Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of…
Mon 01 Dec 2025 – 1st Week of Advent 1st Reading: Isaiah 4:2-6 (for use in Year A, when Is 2:1-5 has been read on 1st Sunday of Advent) On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of…
30 Nov 2025 – 1st Sunday in Advent, A 1st Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5 A happy future for all who seek the truth and work for peace The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of…
