09 January 2022. The Baptism of the Lord Theme: Jesus brings justice and divine life to the nations. As his baptised family, we seek the kingdom of God through justice and peace. [Two sets of readings are options to choose from. These below are from Year C.] First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 He will feed…
08 January, 2022. Saturday after the Epiphany 1st Reading: 1 John 4:7-10 Love’s divine origin and its influence on our lives Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s…
07 January 2022. Friday after Epiphany 1st Reading: 1 John 3:22–4:6 Distinguishing the spirit of truth from the spirit of error Beloved, we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus…
On this feast of the Epiphany we celebrate the revelation of who Christ is. The visit of the Magi from foreign lands reminds us that Jesus came as the Saviour of all nations, including ours. We worship God who wants all people to be saved.
Thursday 6 January 2022 – The Epiphany of the Lord Prayer (ICEL 1998) Lord God of the nations, we have seen the star of your glory rising in splendour. The radiance of your incarnate Word pierces the darkness that covers the earth and signals the dawn of peace and justice. Make radiant the lives of…
05 January 2022. Wednesday before Epiphany 1st Reading: 1 John 3:11-21 The original Christian message, that we should love one another For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And…
04 January, 2022. Tuesday before Epiphany 1st Reading: 1 John 3:7-10. Being 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 sinning from the…
03 January, 2022. Monday before Epiphany The Most Holy Name of Jesus (Opt. Memorial); St Munchin (Mainchin), bishop (Opt. Memorial) 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 sure that everyone who…
We gather to celebrate the first Sunday of 2022, moving with gratitude into a new year of God’s grace. We thank God for the vaccines developed to protect humanity and ask for God’s continuing care and protection until everyone is safe and COVID variants no longer threaten us.
2 January 2022 – Second Sunday of Christmas Prayer (ICEL 1998) God most high, your only Son embraced the weakness of our flesh to give us the power to become your children; your eternal Word chose to dwell among us, that we might live in your presence. Grant us a spirit of wisdom to know…
Happy New Year! On this first day of the Year of Our Lord 2022, we acclaim Mary as Mother of God and ask her to mind us and those we love during this new year. We pray that the world may be freed from COVID-19 through a global programme of vaccination.
[Background: The Virgin Mary was already venerated as Mother of God when, in 431, the Council of Ephesus acclaimed her Theotokos (God-bearer). Her role in the mystery of the incarnation was celebrated on this day in Rome in the seventh century but was soon eclipsed by other feasts of Mary. Restored to the liturgical calendar in 1931, and to this day in 1969, the feast celebrates from a Marian perspective the Word made flesh, and so enriches the observance of the octave of Christmas and provides a solemn beginning to the New Year.]
1 January 2022 – Mary, The Holy Mother of God 1st Reading: Numbers 6:22-27 The solemn priestly prayer for God to bless and protect us is especially apt at the beginning of a new year The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You…
31 December 2021 – Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas Saint Sylvester, pope. Sylvester (250?-325) was born in Rome and served as a priest under pope Marcellinus before the persecutions of Diocletian. He saw the triumph of Constantine in the year 312 and succeeded Melchiades as bishop of Rome in 314. Later that year,…
30 December 2021 – Sixth Day in the Christmas Octave First Reading: 1 John 2:12-17 (The world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever) I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you,…
29 December 2021 – Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas Saint Thomas a Becket (opt.mem.) 1st Reading: 1 John 2:3-11 The link between love and walking in the light of God Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does…
28 December 2021 – The Holy Innocents, martyrs 1st Reading: 1 John 1:5–2:2 Our fellowship with God through Jesus Christ the righteous one 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. If we say, “We…
27 December 2021, St 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 the…
On the day after Christmas Day, Irish people traditionally honour St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. This year, we also reflect on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, whom St Stephen loved so much that he gave his life for the message of forgiveness that Jesus brought. We pray that these qualities will be seen in our families.
Sunday 26 December 2021 – The Feast of the Holy Family (St Stephen, first martyr, is not celebrated this year.) 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:20-22 Hannah dedicates her son, Samuel, to God In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”…
We celebrate today an amazing mystery — God is born in time. The eternal God shares our nature, he has pitched his tent in the midst of humanity. With joy in our hearts, we contemplate the mystery of the Word made flesh.
