Presider’s Page for 14 September (Exaltation of the Holy Cross) Opening Comment The Exaltation of the Cross is celebrated each year on 14 September, when in AD 335 a church marking the site of the crucifixion was first dedicated in Jerusalem. We honour the cross today and reflect on its meaning in our lives. Alternative…
09 Sept 2025 – Tuesday of Week 23 memorial: St Ciarán, born in Roscommon circa 512, arrived in Clonmacnois in 512 where he founded a monastery and died while it was being built, aged 33. 1st Reading: Colossians 2:6-15 Spiritually, baptism “buries” us with Christ and raises us to live in and with him As…
08 Sept 2025 – The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Micah 5:1-4 Now you are walled around with a wall; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel upon the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you…
07 Sept 2025 – 23rd Sunday (C) Theme: To share the vision of Jesus we need detachment from our possessions. Without the spirit of detachment we cannot be full disciples. (1) Wisdom 9:13-18 God gives us all the knowledge we need to be saved For who can learn the counsel of God? Or who can…
06 Sept 2025 – Saturday of Week 22 1st Reading: Colossians 1:21-23 Hold the faith firmly, to come before God free of all blame You who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and…
Presider’s Page for 7 September (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time) The Season of Creation is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October. It celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment. The theme for the Season of Creation 2025 is “Peace with Creation”,…
05 Sept 2025- Friday of Week 22 1st Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 Through Christ everything was created and reconciled to God Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or…
04 Sept 2025 – Thursday of Week 22 Optional Memorial: St Mac Nissi, baptised and taught by St Patrick. Associated with diocese of Connor, died in sixth century. 1st Reading: Colossians 1:9-14 We can endure whatever comes, being rescued from the power of darkness For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have…
03 Sept 2025 – Wednesday of Week 22 Memorial: St Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church. 540-604, a Roman noble who became a monk, then pope. Patron of musicians. 1st Reading: Colossians 1:1-8 Paul commends “love to the saints” and Christian growth Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of…
02 Sept 025 – Tuesday of Week 22 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 The day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. Be ready Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the…
01 Sept 2025 – Monday of Week 22 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation See Message for the day from Pole Leo: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/creation/documents/20250630-messaggio-giornata-curacreato.html 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 We will be reunited with our deceased when Christ returns We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who…
31 Aug 2025 – 22nd Sunday (1) Sirach/ Ecclesiasticus 3:17-20, 28-29 A person attentive to God will never reject wisdom My child, perform your tasks with humility; then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favor in the sight…
30 Aug 2025 – Saturday of Week 21 Optional Memorial; St Fiacre, Irish saint given a hermitage near Breuil, died there c 670. 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11 To live lovingly and responsibly Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have…
29 August 2025 – The Passion of Saint John the Baptist 1st Reading: Jeremiah 1:17-19 Like Jeremiah, we must speak out against domineering rulers But as for you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them….
28 Aug 2025 – Thursday of Week 21 Memorial: St Augustine, 354-430, Bishop of Hippo, theologian of note! Patron of theologians. 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 Paul recalls the faith of the Thessalonians and prays for their spritual growth Brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through…
27 Aug 2025 – Wednesday of Week 21 Memorial: St Monica, c 332-87, mother of St Augustine. Patron saint of mothers. 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 The gospel is no mere opinion but is God’s own word You remember our labour and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might…
Presider’s Page for 31 August (22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time) Who gets the places of honour in God’s house, the pushy or the humble? The Word of God this Sunday teaches us that the humble are the ones who find favour with God. • The Season of Creation is marked throughout the Christian world from…
26 Aug 2025 – Tuesday of Week 21 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 How gently Paul treated the Thessalonians You yourselves know, my brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our…
25 Aug 2025 – Monday of Week 21 Optional Memorials: St Louis of France, 1214-70, king of France, father of eleven children, Franciscan tertiary, patron of French monarchy and military, and barbers. St Joseph Calasanz, 1556-1648, founded the Piarists to run free schools, patron Catholic schools. 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10 Paul recalls the…
24 Aug 2025 – 21st Sunday (C) The value of a disciplined life is little mentioned in a permissive society. But the theme of the “narrow door” is there to make us think. (1) Isaiah 66:18-21 The returning Jews bring non-Jews to join in the worship of God The Lord Says: “I am coming to…
