St Patrick’s Day – Liturgy Preparation – as Gaeilge agus Béarla! Blessing of Shamrock The Lord be with you. And also with you. May St. Patrick be a prayerful companion to the people of and may we be faithful to the faith of our ancestors Amen. May the Lord bless + these plants – symbols…
13 March 2026 – Friday of Week 3 of Lent (1) Hosea 14:2-10 How God supports those who trust in Him Take words with you and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all guilt; accept that which is good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria shall not save…
12 March 2026 – Thursday of Week 3 of Lent (1) Jeremiah 7:23-28 Life’s highest goal is obedient response to God But this command I gave them, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command you, so that it…
11 March 2026 – Wednesday of Week 3 of Lent Optional Memorial: St Aengus (Oengus), monk of Clonenagh, Co Laois, renowned for his devotion to native and foreign saints, wrote two martyrologies, was an abbot and bishop and died c. 824. (1) Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 God’s people have clear duties and a high destiny So…
10 March 2026 – Tuesday of Week 3 of Lent (1) Daniel 3:25, 34-43 Nebuchadnezzar admires the miraculous escape of the young Jews Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counsellors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O…
Presider’s Page for 15 March 2026 (Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday, Mother’s Day) Opening Comment Traditionally, this Sunday is called Laetare Sunday, which means ‘a day for joy’. At this midpoint of Lent, it is traditional to honour mothers, it’s Mother’s Day today, treasuring those still with us and praying for those we have lost…
09 March 2026 – Monday of Week 3 of Lent Optional Memorial: St Frances of Rome, d 1440, happily married, founded a society of women with the Rule of St Benedict, joined it after her husband’s death. (1) 2 Kings 5:1-15 Naaman the Syrian takes the prophet’s advice and is cured of leprosy Naaman, commander…
08 March 2026 – 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A (1) Exodus 17:3-7 God provides refreshes his people in the wilderness But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So…
07 March 2026 – Saturday of Week 2 of Lent Memorial: St Perpetua, a young upper class married woman and St Felicity, a slave girl – both martyred in Carthage in 203. (1) Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 Israel’s God is a God of mercy Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock that belongs to you, which…
06 March 2026 – Friday of Week 2 of Lent (1) Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13 17-28 Jacob’s sons envy their brother Joseph, and sell him into slavery Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with…
05 March 2026 – Thursday of Week 2 of Lent Memorial: St Kieran, born in Cape Clear, Cork, a pre-Patrician saint, went to the continent where he as ordained; returned to his father’s land in Ossory where he lived as a hermit. Joined by others at Saigir Monastery. (1) Jeremiah 17:5-10 Blessed are those who…
04 March 2026 – Wednesday of Week 2 of Lent Memorial: St Casimir 1458-84, sought promote peace and unity of the Western Church. A young prince, he chose a life of prayer and poverty. Patron saint of Poland. (1) Jeremiah 18:18-20 In desperate straits, Jeremiah pins his hope on God “Come, let us decide what…
Presider’s Page for 8 March 2026 (Third Sunday of Lent) Today’s readings about water and thirst remind us that this is a baptismal season. The holy water of baptism blesses and protects the faithful in every danger, it washes away sin and refreshes the faith of believers…. Penitential Rite To prepare ourselves for this gathering,…
03 March 2026 – Tuesday of Week 2 of Lent (1) Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 A call to personal conversion, to remove our sins from God’s sight Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil…
02 March 2026 – Monday of Week 2 of Lent (1) Daniel 9:4-10 Daniel’s prayer of shame and repentance I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love with those who love you and keep your commandments, we have sinned and done…
01 March 2026 – 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A (1) Genesis 12:1-4 Abraham shows complete obedience to God, prepared even to sacrifice Isaac Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a…
28 Feb 2026 – Saturday of Week 1 of Lent (1) Deuteronomy 26:16-19 Walking in the way of the Lord This very day the Lord your God is commanding you to observe these statutes and ordinances; so observe them diligently with all your heart and with all your soul. Today you have obtained the Lord’s…
27 Feb 2026 – Friday of Week 1 of Lent Memorial: St Gregory of Narek, c950-1003, Armenian monk, mystic and poet. Wrote Lamentations (aka Narek), a collection of 95 prayers each wit the title ‘Conversations with God from the depth of the heart’. (1) Ezekiel 18:21-28 Personal responsibility to replace the idea of shared guilt But…
26 Feb 2026 – Thursday of Week 1 of Lent (1) Esther 4:29-42 Queen Esther’s prayer wins God’s help in a time of crisis Queen Esther, seized with deadly anxiety, fled to the Lord. She prayed to the Lord God of Israel, and said: “O my Lord, you only are our king; help me, who…
25 Feb 2026 – Wednesday of Week 1 of Lent (1) Jonah 3:1-10 When Jonah’s preaching bears fruit, God has mercy on Nineveh The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah…
