Presider’s Page for 16 November (33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time) The readings this Sunday focus on the end of the world, though we are also reassured that people of faith have nothing to fear. (Today is also World Day of the Poor.) Penitential Rite We renew our trust in God’s promises, as we call to…
11 Nov 2025 – Tuesday of Week 32 Memorial: St Martin of Tours, 316-97, Bishop of Tours, apostle of rural Gaul, founder of monasteries. Patron of France, soldiers, beggars and innkeepers. 1st Reading: Wisdom 2:23-3:9 The dead may seem extinct, but their souls are in peace God created us for incorruption, and made us in…
10 Nov 2025 – Monday of Week 32 Memorial: St Leo the Great, died 461, taught the two natures, human and divine, of Christ, at the Council of Chalcedon 451, and the primacy of the See of Peter. 1st Reading: Wisdom 1:1-7 Think of the Lord constantly, and seek his guidance truly Love righteousness, you…
09 November 2025 – Dedication of the Lateran Basilica 1st Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-10, 12 Ezekiel sees life-giving river flows out from the Jerusalem temple, to bring new life to the desert Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple toward…
08 Nov 2025 – Saturday of Week 31 1st Reading: Romans 16:3-9, 22-27 Greeting Paul’s co-workers, and praise of God’s unfolding plan Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the…
07 Nov 2025 – Friday of Week 31 Optional Memorial: St Willibrord, bishop and missionary, born in Northumbria in 658, Benedictine, spent 12 years in Carlow then established a mission in Utrecht. Ordained archbishop of Utrecht in 695. Founded a monastery at Echternach in Luxembourg in 700, where he died in 739. 1st Reading: Romans…
06 November 2025 – All the Saints of Ireland 1st Reading: Hebrews 11:2 12:1-4, 15, 13:1 Celebrate the faith of our ancestors It was by faith our ancestors received approval. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so…
05 Nov 2025 – Wednesday of Week 31 Optional Memorial: St Martin de Porres, religious, 1579-1639, Dominican lay brother noted for caring for the sick and poor. Renowned for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. 1st Reading: Romans 13:8-10 Paul’s summary of all God’s commandments,”love one another.” Owe no one anything, except to love one…
04 Nov 2025 – Tuesday of Week 31 Memorial: St Charles Borromeo, 1538-84, Cardinal Archbishop of Milan at the age of 21, a reformer, drafting the Catechism of the Council of Trent. Patron catechists and seminarians. 1st Reading: Romans 12:5-16 Though many, we are one body in Christ, with a variety of gifts We who…
09 Nov 2025 – Presider’s Page – Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Opening Comment Every year on 9 November, we celebrate the dedication of the pope’s cathedral in Rome, the Lateran Basilica, which is dedicated to our Most Holy Saviour. We praise our loving God who provides a home for us on earth as in…
03 Nov 2025 – Monday of Week 31 Memorial (Feast in Armagh, Down & Connor): St Malachy, born near Armagh in 1094, restored Bangor monastery, founded Mellifont in 1142, teh first Cistercian house in Ireland. Met St Bernard of Clairvaux, introduced the Canons Regular to Ireland. Died in 1148 in Clairvaux en route to Rome,…
02 November 2025 – All The Faithful Departed 1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9 A vision of hope for the future, when God will restore his people to happiness On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow,…
01 November 2025 – Feast of All Saints 1st Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 Vast numbers were sealed with the sign of the Living God I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had…
31 Oct 2025 – Friday of Week 30 Optional Memorial: (Coyne) Bl Dominic Collins , martyr, born c 1566, Youghal, Co Cork. Entered the SJs in 1598 after a military career, returned to Ireland in 1601, captured by the English, handed ion 31 October 1602. 1st Reading: Romans 9:1-5 Paul would endure anything to win…
30 Oct 2025 – Thursday of Week 30 1st Reading: Romans 8:31-39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for…
29 Oct 2025 – Wednesday of Week 30 Feast (Kilmacduagh): St Colman, from Kilmacduagh, Co Galway in the 7th century. Studied in Árainn and founde dtwo churches on Inis Mór, also a foundation at Kilmacduagh. 1st Reading: Romans 8:26-30 All things work together for good The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do…
Presider’s Page for Sunday 2 November (All Souls) On All Saints Day and today, we remember all the dead, those in heaven and those still be on the way there: God alone knows where each soul is. Today we pray for all souls, for the faithful departed still on the journey to their heavenly home….
28 Oct 2025 – Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles 1st Reading: Ephesians 2:19-22 God has appointed apostles so that his people’s needs will be served So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the…
27 Oct 2025 – Monday of Week 30 Feast (Waterford): St Ottarman, monk, identified as Odhrán who preceded Columba in Iona. Died in 548, his grave being revered in Iona. Chosen by Vikings as patron of Waterford in 1096 and later patron of the diocese. 1st Reading: Romans 8:12-17 In the Spirit, we are God’s…
26 Oct 2025 – 30th Sunday (C) (1) Sirach/ Ecclesiasticus 35:15-22 The prayer of the humble will reach to the clouds The Lord is the judge, and with him there is no partiality. He will not show partiality to the poor; but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. He will…
