My Family Prayer Book

 2026-02-2026 First Sunday in Lent Opening prayer for Lent “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Lord Jesus, thank you for placing on our foreheads the sign of our mortality. By the blood of the cross you conquered death and redeemed us. One day all our lives on earth will end, though we know not the day or hour. Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee, Our Lord and Saviour. Let this holy season of Lent be a time of grace for all this troubled world, to turn away from the empty sinful promises of the Devil, and turn to you.  Give us the grace to spend more time in contemplative prayer when you open your heart to us, whether it is reading Holy Scripture, adoring of the Holy Eucharist or the Stations of the Cross. Let us willingly give up worldly comforts by fasting and abstaining so that we may journey with you in austerity as you walk the way of the cross. Let it not be a frivolous ritual but a stark reminder that the way to salvation is through spirit...

 2026-02-05 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Times   Isaiah 58:7-10 Postexilic Isaiah 58 was written during a time of deep uncertainty for Israel. The Babylonian exile and the destruction of the Temple and the monarchy left the faithful directionless. But now some of them are returning to the land. Many questions exist, Should we rebuild the temple and reestablish David’s throne? Perhaps one but not the other? Isaiah 58 is a call to social action - not just building symbols of God's covenant. It warns the faithful that religious ritual when unaccompanied by social action is self-serving. and empty. Psalm 112:1-9 Psalm 112, a wisdom psalm, provides instruction in right living and right faith 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 Throughout the first chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul is addressing the quarreling and division among the Christians in Corinth. The faithful were relying on the claim or boast of human wisdom among the various followers of Corinthian teachers resulting in egotistical divisions St...

 2026-02-01 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Welcome We will be discussing the readings for fouth Sunday in ordinary time on pages 40 and 41   Opening Prayer in the Spirit of the Beatitudes   Leader : Blessed are the poor in spirit. Lord, we ask you to take of our time, treasure and talent to serve  the poor and suffering. All : Empty us of selfishness and pride and fill us with Your grace to reach out to those on the edges of society Leader : Blessed are those who mourn. We bring before You our sins that causes sorrows and the suffering in the world. All : Comfort us in our grief, O God, and make us instruments of Your consolation. Leader : Blessed are the meek. Teach us to forgo our ego and find strength in gentleness and courage in humility. All : Empty our hearts and reshape it to trust in Your ways, not our rely on our own wisdom and power. Leader : Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Awaken in us a deep desire for justice and truth that bri...

2026-01-18 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time    Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 For a long time, the interpretation of this text was focused on the identity of the servant. Early New Testament writers drew a connection to Jesus of Nazareth who emerged as the ultimate Suffering Servant who through his sacrifice on the cross bring redemption and salvation for all.  The Servant of God probably also could, and should, be understood as referring both to a faithful individual who is called to bring about healing and liberation for those in need, as well as to the discipls of Christ. Thousands of years after the original words of this Servant Song were spoken, God continues to call people to service, called to be leaders in church and society. Psalm 40 In Psalm 40:1–10 the psalmist recounts being delivered from trouble, established securely, and given reason to praise the Lord leading scholars to classify it as a song of thanksgiving. Verses 12–17, however, have all the characteristics of an indi...

 First Sunday in Advent   Last week's action item Prayer To St Dismas Saint Dismas, you alone were Canonized a Saint by Christ Himself; you were assured of a place in Heaven with Him, “This day” because you confessed your sins to Him on Calvary; and you were truly sorry for them as you hung beside Him on a cross; you who opened the Heart of Jesus in mercy and forgiveness even before the centurion’s spear tore it asunder; you whose face was close to that of Jesus in His last agony, to offer Him a word of comfort; you who knew how to pray, teach me the words to say to gain pardon for my sins; and you who are close to Him now in Heaven, pray to Him for me that I shall never again desert Him, but that at the close of my life I may hear the words He addressed to you: “This day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.” Amen. … St Dismas, Pray for Us …    Prayer for the Advent Wreath Lord, our God, we praise You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, for He is Emmanuel, the Hope of all peop...

 Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost Malachi 4:1-2a The prophet Malachi is said to have prophesied around 450–430 B.C., making him the last of the Old Testament prophets - until we come to the era of John the Baptist and Jesus himself. Malachi warns the religious and political elites who shortchange tithe's meant for God by preying on the least powerful, for the perverse reason of accruing wealth and power. They will perish in the fire of eternal damnation. There we also find that those whom God loves are the labourers, the widows, the orphans, the foreigners and outcasts - who will find fulfilment in the Lord. Psalm 98 Today’s psalm is a prelude for  1) Next Sunday's “Christ the King” Sunday that celebrates his eternal, messianic reign 2) Start of Advent in two weeks with expectant prepartion for the coming Messiah. The key message is that our faith should be joyful and hopeful, trusting that on the last of Day of Judgement, the faithful will be duly rewarded 2 Thessalonians ...

   Thirtieth Sunday in ordinary time Welcome Welcome everybody - today we will read from pages 132 and 133 for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time.    But first we start with an opening prayer then recap action item from last week   Opening prayer In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus Christ, the light of the World, our Saviour and Redeemer, you gave us the words of eternal life. Grant us the wisdom to meditate on your words and take them to heart, so that your light may always guide our thoughts, words and actions. Open our eyes, minds and hearts to see clearly your wonderful truths, and fill us with the Spirit of understanding, so that our every thought, word and action is for the praise, honor and glory of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Mother Mary, full of grace, pray for us. Saint Jerome, Lover of Sacred Scripture, pray for us. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spi...

September 14, 2025 - The Exaltation of the Holy Cross  Welcome everybody - today we will read from pages  120 and 121  on the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross - the symbol of our salvation as also the call to discipleship. - Bishop Barron : most vile symbol of torture and cruelty in the Roman Empire  - Suffering is the way of discipleship but  yoke to Christ  Let's take a moment to say a silent prayer for the victims of 9/11 and all the senseless wars and violence all over the world - there are no winners, only losers. And sadness on the part of God for the havoc mankind is wreaking on his creation. Opening Prayer In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Heavenly Father, We thank You for gathering us here in Your name. As we open Your Holy Word, we ask You to send forth Your Holy Spirit to be among us. Open our hearts to receive Your truth. Open our minds to understand Your message. Open our lips to speak words of l...

  2025-06-29 Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul Welcome Welcome everybody - today we will read from pages 96 and 97 on the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul - the two pillars of the Church In the Catholic Church, a solemnity is the highest-ranking feast day in the liturgical calendar. It celebrates the most important events, beliefs, and people of the faith. Examples include: Christmas, Easter, The Immaculate Conception, All Saints’ Day and Saints Peter and Paul Opening prayer O Holy Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, we pray and honour both of you this day to be forever our special patrons and advocates. Saint Peter, the Rock on which Christ built His Church. And Saint Paul, because you were handpicked by God as the Apostle and Preacher of the Gospel to Gentiles all over the world. Obtain for us, we pray a lively faith, steadfast hope, and burning love; complete detachment from matters of the flesh and of the world, patience in adversity, humility in success and prosperity, attention in...