JANUARY LITURGICAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE DATES & RESOURCES 2025
“At the beginning of the New Year, then, let us place ourselves under the protection of this woman, the Mother of God, who is also our mother. May she help us to keep and ponder all things, unafraid of trials and with the joyful certainty that the Lord is faithful and can transform every cross into a resurrection. Today too, let us call upon her as did the People of God at Ephesus. Let us stand and, facing Our Lady as did the people of God in Ephesus, let us together repeat three times her title of Mother of God: ‘Holy Mother of God, Holy Mother of God, Holy Mother of God!’ Amen.”
Source: Vatican Archives
A TIME FOR REFLECTION
This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.
As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life,
Remember each experience for the good that has come of it
and for the knowledge you have gained.
Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.
Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought.
Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.
And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.
Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life.
Countdown to ‘2025 Jubilee Year of Hope’
in Ireland, Rome and around the world
Last May, Pope Francis announced that the theme for the Jubilee 2025 as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ (Spes non Confundit – Hope Does Not Disappoint). This theme of hope encourages each of us to be messengers of hope in our very troubled world. Everyone is invited to participate in this special year of faith.
The Jubilee has its origins in an ancient biblical tradition (Leviticus). Every 50th year was celebrated as a time for setting slaves free, for forgiving debts, and for allowing the land to rest. In our Christian tradition the Jubilee has a strong focus on reconciliation and renewal, including reaching out to people on the margins. It is normally celebrated every 25 years, so that more people can celebrate it at least once in a lifetime. Already in Ireland, many different groups: clergy, religious various ministries and lay apostolates, are preparing to celebrate specific jubilee occasions throughout 2025 locally and in Rome.
On Christmas Eve, 24 December at 7.00pm, the Holy Year will begin with the opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome. To echo the theme of hope, Pope Francis is calling on all Catholics to renew in the hope of Christ, using Saint Paul the Apostle as a guide for this special year. In Ireland, and around the world, each diocesan bishop will celebrate Mass on Sunday, 29 December, to mark the solemn opening of the Holy Year.
For Jubilee Year 2025, each diocese in Ireland will nominate a local pilgrimage site, and the bishops have designated the following three as national pilgrimage sites:
- Our Lady’s Shrine, Knock, Co Mayo
- Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo
- Saint Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg, Co Donegal
Another focus of hope during the Jubilee Year will be the commemoration and appreciation of the great heritage of saints and martyrs we have in Ireland. In 2025, there will be a special commemoration to mark the birth, in 1625, of Saint Oliver Plunkett 400 years ago, and also to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the death of Venerable Matt Talbot.
Bishops invite the faithful of all ages to participate in this Holy Year by browsing https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html, and to stay informed with the dedicated app IUBILAEUM25. To encourage engagement, Jubilee Year updates, and a ‘countdown timer’ to the opening on Christmas Eve, are live on CatholicBishops.ie where many events will be featured as they arise.
- The Dicastery for Evangelization www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html hosts the official prayer, hymn and logo for Jubilee Year 2025.
The Holy Father’s Intentions for the Month of January 2025
For the right to an education
Let us pray for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.
- The Pope’s monthly intentions for 2025 can be sourced HERE
- The Pope’s prayer intention for the year 2025 can be sourced HERE
- Each month also the Pope provides a video on the monthly theme which can be sourced here: HERE
- For a great lesson plan on New Year’s Resolutions just click HERE
Christian Unity Week of Prayer
18th to 25th of January 2025
The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity [DPCU] is pleased to publish the texts for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025. The theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 is based on a text from the Gospel of John: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). The prayers and reflections have been prepared by the brothers and sisters of the monastic community of Bose in northern Italy.
The year 2025 will mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council. This commemoration provides a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the common faith of Christians as expressed in the Creed formulated at that Council. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 is an invitation to draw on this common heritage and to enter more deeply into the faith that unites all Christians.
About the Nicene Creed
A creed is a summary statement of what is believed by the Church and its members.
The Nicene Creed could be more accurately titled the ‘Constantinopolitan Creed’, as it was formulated in 325 by the Council of Nicaea and later modified by the Council of Constantinople in 381 to the wording we have today.
For both Christian Prayer of Unity and Catholic Schools Week why not give the challenge of a creative art project using the Nicene Creed for inspiration within the title ‘What it Means to be Catholic’ The creative art ideas could be art, poetry, project, etc
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son, is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the Prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Resources for Christian Unity Week
For downloading Pamphlet: Do you believe this?
WPCU 2025 English Pamphlet (PDF, 7MB)
(Please note this is a large file – see download guide) * This is designed to be printed as an A5 booklet on A4 paper (please see the printing help from 2013) but can also be printed as A4 (in Adobe Acrobat Reader, choose File/Print, then under Size Options select ‘Fit’). For a Large Print version print the pamphlet as A4 (see above).
WPCU 2025 English accessible text-only (Docx, 61k)
WPCU 2025 Irish Pamphlet (PDF, 6.6MB)
WPCU 2025 Irish accessible text-only (Docx, 97k)
WPCU 2025 English Poster (PDF, 2.9MB)
WPCU 2025 Poster (PDF, 2.9MB) (English, Irish, Welsh and Scots gaelic)
Catholic Schools Week 2025
19th of January to the 25th of January, 2025.
This year’s theme for Catholic Schools Week 2025 is ‘Alive in Christ’.
Reflecting on the theme, Catholic schools will explore what it means to be fully alive as a human being – living life to the full in Christ. Sensitive to the age appropriateness of the various classes and years, the theme will explore how we exist for one another in Christ, building from the wellbeing of the individual, extending the notion of true wellbeing to others, to our families and communities, and to The Other, in God. The theme will mediate on hope, the true purpose and meaning of human life, and, in the more senior years, on true freedom.
Link to all resources for Catholic Schools Week are found in the Catholic Education Partnership Website by following this link HERE
For your convenience the links resources for each of the themed days are accessible below:
CSW 2025: Post-Primary Resources
Monday
Monday Presentation – Friendship:
Tuesday
Wednesday
Wednesday Presentation – Family:
Thursday
Friday
Friday Presentation – Common Good:
Teacher Resources
January |
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Christmas Time |
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1 |
Wednesday |
S |
The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God |
I |
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2 |
Thursday |
M |
Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church |
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3 |
Friday |
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Friday of Christmas Time |
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m |
Saint Munchin of Limerick, bishop |
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m |
The Most Holy Name of Jesus |
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4 |
Saturday |
Saturday of Christmas Time |
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5 |
Sunday |
Second Sunday of Christmas |
II |
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6 |
Monday |
S |
The Epiphany of the Lord |
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7 |
Tuesday |
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Tuesday after Epiphany |
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m |
Saint Raymond of Penyafort, priest |
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8 |
Wednesday |
Wednesday after Epiphany |
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9 |
Thursday |
Thursday after Epiphany |
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10 |
Friday |
Friday after Epiphany |
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11 |
Saturday |
Saturday after Epiphany |
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12 |
Sunday |
F |
The Baptism of the Lord |
III |
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13 |
Monday |
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Monday in the 1ˢᵗ Week in Ordinary Time |
I |
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m |
Saint Hilary, bishop and doctor of the Church |
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14 |
Tuesday |
Tuesday in the 1ˢᵗ Week in Ordinary Time |
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15 |
Wednesday |
M |
Saint Ita of Limerick, virgin |
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16 |
Thursday |
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Thursday in the 1ˢᵗ Week in Ordinary Time |
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m |
Saint Fursa, abbot |
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17 |
Friday |
M |
Saint Anthony, abbot |
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18 |
Saturday |
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Saturday in the 1ˢᵗ Week in Ordinary Time |
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m |
The Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday |
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19 |
Sunday |
2ⁿᵈ Sunday in Ordinary Time |
II |
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20 |
Monday |
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Monday in the 2ⁿᵈ Week in Ordinary Time |
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m |
Saint Fabian, pope and martyr |
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m |
Saint Sebastian, martyr |
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21 |
Tuesday |
M |
Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr |
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22 |
Wednesday |
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Wednesday in the 2ⁿᵈ Week in Ordinary Time |
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m |
Saint Vincent, deacon and martyr |
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23 |
Thursday |
Thursday in the 2ⁿᵈ Week in Ordinary Time |
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24 |
Friday |
M |
Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church |
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25 |
Saturday |
F |
The Conversion of Saint Paul, apostle |
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26 |
Sunday |
3ʳᵈ Sunday in Ordinary Time |
III |
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27 |
Monday |
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Monday in the 3ʳᵈ Week in Ordinary Time |
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m |
Saint Angela Merici, virgin |
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28 |
Tuesday |
M |
Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church |
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29 |
Wednesday |
Wednesday in the 3ʳᵈ Week in Ordinary Time |
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30 |
Thursday |
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Thursday in the 3ʳᵈ Week in Ordinary Time |
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m |
Saint Aidan of Ferns, bishop |
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31 |
Friday |
M |
Saint John Bosco, priest |
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List of Feast Days & Saints Day for January 2025 by Franciscan Media
(click on the individual names for more information)
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January Social Justice and Awareness Days
(click on day to source more information)
World Braille Day (A/RES/73/161) 04 Jan
International Day of Education (A/RES/73/25) 24 Jan
International Day of Clean Energy (A/RES/77/327) 26 Jan
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust 27 Jan
January 1st / Eanáir 1ú
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God / Sollúntacht Muire, Máthair Dé
On January 1st, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, our Lady’s greatest title.
Explanation:
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a liturgical celebration observed on January 1. It is a holy day of obligation for Catholics, meaning that Mass attendance is required. The use of the word “solemnity” here is not a statement about Mary’s personality. It is a designation used for certain days within the liturgical (church-based) calendar of the Church. Solemnities are the highest rank of liturgical celebration, higher than feast days or memorials. By celebrating a solemnity dedicated to Mary’s motherhood, the Church highlights the significance of her role in the life of Christ.
- For more on this theme from Busted Halo whose website is filled with resources click HERE
- For a very clever and catchy 2 min video on ‘Why Catholics pray to Mary just click HERE
- See what Fr Columba has to say about Our Lady and how we honour her HERE in a 10 min video in his unique and interesting style!!
Teacher: Our Lady has appeared in so many places throughout the world. A great project would be to research where, when and why she has appeared. What has been her key messages and was there significance in her timing? For eg. In Rwanda, she appeared to 3 girls in the 1980’s prior to the Rwandan Civil War.
In France she has appeared 12 times, why? Is it always young people she appears to? Is she still appearing?
What about Medjugorje where the Pope has now given permission to all Dioceses to organise pilgrimages there where it is believed Our Lady is still appearing on a daily basis.
- The Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Medjugorje is taking place next April the 26th to the 1st of May for TY students. Fully booked.
- The Annual Trip to Knock for the Donal Walsh Live Life Day is taking place Thursday 8th of May. Places available.
Please email fernsda@ferns.ie for more details
January 1st : World Day of Peace / Lá Tiomnaithe do Shíocháin Domhanda
Pope’s World Day of Peace message: ‘We are all in debt to God’
In his message for the 58th World Day of Peace marked on 1 January, Pope Francis reflects on the central theme of the upcoming Jubilee of Hope and reiterates his pressing appeal for debt forgiveness, reminding us that we are all “debtors” to God and one another.
- To access the Pope’s message for World Day of Peace just click HERE
- For a summary of that message just click HERE
January 2nd : St Basil the Great & St Gregory Nazianzen
Today the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors. This is the ninth day of the Christmas season.
St. Basil was a brilliant student born of a Christian family in Caesarea, Cappadocia (Turkey). For some years, he followed the monastic way of life. He vigorously fought the Arian heresy. He became Bishop of Caesarea in 370. The monks of the Eastern Church today still follow the monastic rules which he set down.
St. Gregory was also from Cappadocia. A friend of Basil, he too followed the monastic way of life for some years. He was ordained priest and in 381 became Bishop of Constantinople. It was during this period when the Arian heresy was at its height. He was called “The Theologian” because of his great learning and talent for oratory. For further information click HERE
January 3rd : The Most Holy Name of Jesus
The Most Holy Name of Jesus (LordShadowblade,
2008)
Devotion to the Holy Name is deeply rooted in the Sacred Scriptures, especially in the Acts of the Apostles. It was promoted in a special manner by St. Bernard, St. Bernardine of Siena, St. John Capistrano and by the Franciscan Order. It was extended to the whole Church in 1727 during the pontificate of Innocent XIII. The month of January has traditionally been dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.
It is a special feast among Franciscans because of the mission and ministry of the Franciscan friar St. Bernardine of Siena (b.1380 – d.1444). When on his preaching and conversion missions to the turbulent cities of Italy, he carried with him a copy of the monogram of the Holy Name, surrounded by rays, painted on a wooden tablet. They held the symbol aloft when they blessed the sick; many great miracles were reported from these blessings – all done in the Holy Name of Jesus. At the close of his sermons, he exhibited this emblem to the faithful and asked them to prostrate themselves in adoration of the Redeemer of humanity. He recommended the faithful to have the monogram of Jesus placed over the gates of their cities and above the doors of their dwellings to remind them always of the blessings of their Lord and Savior.
The tile shown here is likely close to the symbol that St. Bernadine used (although most likely without the cross raised above the “H”). This is the most common Christogram, denoting the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus, iota-eta-sigma, or ΙΗΣ. The Greek letter iota is represented by I, and the eta by H, while the Greek letter sigma is represented by S.
“IHS” is sometimes interpreted as meaning Iesus Hominum Salvator (“Jesus, Savior of men” in Latin) or connected with In Hoc Signo – short for In hoc signo vinces meaning, “in this sign you will conquer.”
- Lovely lesson plan on ‘The Real Jesus’ from Waterford Lismore can be sourced HERE
- Check out this song entitled ‘What a beautiful name it is’ HERE
- Why not use today as an opportunity to learn more about Carlos Acutis who spent so much of his life concentrating on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and who will become a Saint in 2025. Learn more about him HERE in a packed resource pack by Waterford Lismore Diocese.
January 6th: The Epiphany / An Eipeafáine
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany. “The Lord and ruler is coming; kingship is his, and government and power.” With these words the Church proclaims that today’s feast brings to a perfect fulfilment all the purposes of Advent. Epiphany means manifestation. What the Church celebrates today is the manifestation of our Lord to the whole world; after being made known to the shepherds of Bethlehem He is revealed to the Magi who have come from the East to adore Him. Christian tradition has ever seen in the Magi the first fruits of the Gentiles; they lead in their wake all the peoples of the earth, and thus the Epiphany is an affirmation of universal salvation.
- For more information on this topic just click HERE
- A lovely gentle 3 minute video for 2022 on this feast day can be
found here: HERE
- Did you know that there is a tradition of chalking the doors on the Feast of the Epiphany? This tradition is becoming more popular in Ireland each year. Check out HERE for a pdf on how to do it.
- This is a contemporary look at how the story of the Wise Men can be interpreted today – 3 minute video can be sourced HERE after watching it, the students could be asked to think about how they can do something for someone else that could make a positive difference in their lives.
- Faitharts have pages of art/video/poetry and lesson plans exploring the themes of this feast day which you can check out HERE
January 12th: Feast of the Baptism of our Lord / Féile Bhaisteadh an Tiarna (normally celebrated on the 8th)
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. The Baptism of the Lord commemorates the Baptism of Jesus Christ by St. John the Baptist. This brings to an end the season of Christmas. The baptism of Jesus is reported in each of the three Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Clearly, Jesus’ baptism was an event of great significance for Jesus and for the early Christian community.
Mark and Luke report the story from Jesus’ perspective; the voice from heaven is addressed to Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, the voice from heaven speaks to all who are present. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism shows that something new is beginning through the baptism and ministry of Jesus.
- For more info on this feast day check out here: HERE
- A 2 minute movie clip on the Baptism of Jesus here HERE
- Why was Jesus baptised? Pope Benedict XVI (writing as Joseph Ratzinger), in hisJesus of Nazareth, offers some illuminating insights on all this, check out the article HERE
January 19th: World Religion Day
Our World has hundreds of nations with thousands of cultures that stretch back into pre-history, and throughout all that time we have had countless religions rise to prominence. Whether you are Hindu, Jewish, Catholic, Shinto, Buddhist, or one of a million other faiths, World Religion Day is your chance to share your culture with others and take an opportunity to learn from others about theirs. The aim of World Religion Day, held on the third Sunday in January every year, is to promote inter-faith understanding and harmony. Through a variety of events held around the globe, followers of every religion are encouraged to acknowledge the similarities that different faiths have.
For further information, reflections, facts and resources check HERE
January 20th Martin Luther King Day / Lá in onóir Martin Luther King
“The Christian is called, with the grace of God invoked in prayer, to a sometimes-heroic commitment”.
Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth)—Pope John Paul II, 1993
Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader.
The 1968 assassination of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. stunned the nation, but his work continues to inspire the pursuit of racial equality in America.
On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to hear what is now considered one of the most powerful speeches in history. A young Baptist minister named Martin Luther King Jr. addressed the crowd, assembled that day for the March on Washington, a protest rally he helped organise.
“I have a dream, that one day this nation will rise up [and]
live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”.
You can find the speech here: HERE
Let us take this day with our students, to reflect on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King is one of the most influential men of our times. His life and ministry continue to remind our nation and the world that the acts of injustice we confront daily require the faith-filled and faith- guided engagement of our heads, hearts, and hands.
- For more information click HERE
- For 10 key facts on Martin Luther King click HERE
- For Powerpoints, resources, reflections and prayers click HERE
January 24th St. Francis de Sales / Naomh Proinsias de Sales
Francis was ordained and elected provost of the Diocese of Geneva, then a centre for the Calvinists. Francis set out to convert them, especially in the district of Chablais. By preaching and distributing the little pamphlets he wrote to explain true Catholic doctrine, he had remarkable success. At 35, he became bishop of Geneva. While administering his diocese he continued to preach, hear confessions, and catechize the children. His gentle character was a great asset in winning souls.
Besides his two well-known books, the Introduction to the Devout Life and A Treatise on the Love of God, he wrote many pamphlets and carried on a vast correspondence. For his writings, he has been named patron of the Catholic Press. His writings, filled with his characteristic gentle spirit, are addressed to lay people. He wants to make them understand that they too are called to be saints.
In spite of his busy and comparatively short life, he had time to collaborate with another saint, Jane Frances de Chantal, in the work of establishing the Sisters of the Visitation. These women were to practice the virtues exemplified in Mary’s visit to Elizabeth: humility, piety, and mutual charity. They at first engaged to a limited degree in works of mercy for the poor and the sick. Today, while some communities conduct schools, others live a strictly contemplative life.
Salesian Perspectives
The De Sales Spirituality Centre offers a series of pamphlets entitled Salesian Perspectives. These tri-fold resources examine many aspects of the daily attempt to live a life of Christian perfection from the perspective of Salesian spirituality. Each pamphlet provides encouragement for the journey, food for thought, questions for reflection and discussion and suggestions for further reading. These can be used for individual consumption or for small groups like materials from RENEW, Disciples in Mission and Little Rock Scripture Study. These are a perfect option for small church/faith-sharing groups. Find out more https://oblates.squarespace.com/salesian-perspectives
- For further information just click HERE
January 25th: The Conversion of St. Paul / Iompú Naomh Pól
Saint Paul is one of the most important and influential of all the saints. Many of his writings are contained in the Canon of the Bible and have influenced the growth and development of the Church since the first century. Saint Paul’s entire life can be explained in terms of one experience—his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
St. Paul was originally known as Saul, and he was a Roman citizen and a Pharisee. He even presided over the persecutions of the early Christians and was present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen. However, Saul experienced a powerful vision that caused him to convert to Christianity while on the road to Damascus. He was duly baptized and took the name Paul and began travelling and preaching the Faith. He was martyred as an Apostle in Rome around 65 AD.
- For further information please click HERE and HERE
- What drove St Paul’s change of heart, watch this 2 min video HERE
- Who was Paul the Apostle, read an interesting article HERE
January 26th Saints Timothy and Titus / Naoimh Timóteas agus Titas
St. Timothy, born in Galatia in Asia Minor, was baptised, and later ordained to the priesthood by St. Paul. The young Galatian became Paul’s missionary companion and his most beloved spiritual son. St. Paul showed his trust in this disciple by consecrating him bishop of the great city of Ephesus. St. Timothy was stoned to death thirty years after St. Paul’s martyrdom for having denounced the worship of the goddess Diana.
St. Titus, a convert from paganism, was a fellow labourer of St. Paul on many apostolic missions. St. Paul later made him bishop of Crete, a difficult charge because of the character of the inhabitants and the spread of erroneous doctrines on that island. St. Paul’s writings tell us that St. Titus rejoiced to discover what was good in others and drew the hearts of men by his wide and affectionate sympathy.
- For more information just click HERE
January 28th Feast Day of St. Thomas Aquinas / Féile Naomh Tomás Acuin
Saint Thomas Aquinas, whose feast day is celebrated each year on the 28th of January was a Dominican, a member of the Order of Preachers.
Thomas was not afraid of new ideas, rather he engaged with them through study, listening, talking with others and by praying. Thomas was concerned with understanding how people would know what was right and what was wrong. While study was important to Thomas, praying was even more so. To sit and listen to God and to delight in God in our lives. He understood the need to look and listen paying attention to how God is a part of our lives. If we can do this perhaps, we can be joyful and compassionate as Thomas was and as he was remembered by those who lived with him. He had a strong desire to know God.
While Thomas is very much remembered for his brilliant mind, his written work, as being somewhat of a genius and highly regarded in the academic world his life in prayer and study of scripture were central to him. He was very much a man of prayer. One of his many quotes was ‘Humility is what makes a person capable of God’ and he openly declared that ‘prayer and the help of God had been of far greater service to him in the search for truth than his natural intelligence and habit of study’.
Thomas always attempted to look at everything from the inside and could be regarded in the most exact sense of the term, Humanist, because he insisted on the immense importance of the human being in the theological scheme of things…for in his very humanism he affirmed the doctrine of Incarnation, the divinity of Christ.
He died on March 7th, 1274. His pursuit of truth and desire to know God are what hold him in high regard. He was declared Patron of all Universities and Catholic Schools.
A man in search of God, Tomas Aquinos died 750 years ago in January 2024. In recognition of this ETWN along with Bishop Barron released a film entitled Journeying with Tomas Aquinos which was premiered this day last year and can be viewed HERE
Grant me, O Lord my God,
a mind to know you,
a heart to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
conduct pleasing to you,
faithful perseverance in waiting for you,
and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.
(A prayer of St Thomas Aquinas)
January 29th Holocaust Memorial Day / Lá Cuimhneacháin ar an Il-loscadh
Holocaust Education Ireland
HEI aims to educate and inform people about the Holocaust. The National Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration takes place in Dublin every year on the Sunday nearest to the 27 of January, in the Mansion House. It is organised under the auspices of Holocaust Education Trust Ireland in association with The Department of Justice and Equality and Dublin City Council.
Pope Francis visited the Auschwitz concentration camp on 29th July 2016
The Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration cherishes the memory of all who perished in the Holocaust. It recalls six million Jewish men, women and children and millions of others who were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis because of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliations, or their religious beliefs. The ceremony includes readings, survivors’ recollections, candle-lighting, and music. It is attended by people from all walks of life and is a moving and dignified event.
- For more information and resources on this topic click HERE
- For more resources and to check out the UK’s theme for this year click HERE
- To view the artists impression of the Holocaust and the background to the artist and the art piece click HERE
January 30th Feast Day of St. Aidan of Ferns / Naomh Maodhóg (Aodhán) Priomhéarlamh Deoise Fhearna
Aidan was born in Inis Breachmhaigh, now known as Port, Inch or Mogue’s Island, in Templeport Lake, near Bawnboy in County Cavan, around 550. Both his father Setna and his mother Eithne were of noble origin. There was no boat to take the infant to the mainland to be baptised, so he is said to have been miraculously floated across the lake on a slab of stone to where Saint Kilian was waiting to baptise him. The parish church of Templeport parish (St. Mogue’s Church in Bawnboy) in the diocese of Kilmore is called after him and the church’s holy water font is said to be made from part of that stone.
The written “vitae” of Saint Aidan are composed mostly of miracles attributed to him. He is attributed with astonishing feats of austerity, such as fasting on barley bread and water for seven years, as well as reciting 500 Psalms daily. This saint illustrates the close co-operation that existed between the Celtic churches in Ireland and Wales. He was the greatly loved disciple of Saint David for many years and during that time he was usually known by his baptismal name of Aedan but later in Ireland, where he founded the famous abbey at Ferns in County Wexford, he was given the prefix of endearment making his name Maedoc that was usually pronounced Mogue. He continued on with his missionaries and founded thirty churches and numerous monasteries. Many are still in use today. He died of natural causes on January 31 (his patronal feast day) c 632 and is buried under the cathedral in Ferns.
Read more here: https://catholicsaints.day/maedoc-of-ferns/
- For more information click here: http://fernsparish.ie/st-aidan/ and HERE
- To delve more into the life of this remarkable Saint just click HERE
January 31st Feast Day of St. Don Bosco / Féile Naomh Eoin Bosco
Born in Castlenuovo d’Asti on August 16, 1815, John was educated in the faith and in living according to the Gospel message by his mother. He was just nine years old when he had a dream, which called him to dedicate himself to the education of young people. While still a boy, he began to entertain his peers with games alternated with work, prayer, and religious education.
On becoming a priest (1841), he chose as his life’s programme: “Da mihi animas cetera tolle” (“Give me souls, take all the rest” Gen. 14: 21). He began his apostolate among poor young people with the founding of the Oratory, which he placed under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales.
He led young people to meet Christ by means of his educational style and pastoral practice, based on reason, religion, and loving kindness (the Preventive System). He led young people to reflect, to meet Christ and their brothers and sisters, to the study of the faith and to apostolic, civil, and professional commitment. St. Dominic Savio stands out among the most outstanding fruits of his work.
The source of his indefatigable activity and of the effectiveness of his work was his “constant union with God” and his unlimited confidence in Mary Our Help who he considered to be the inspiration and support of his whole work. He left, as an inheritance for his Salesian sons and daughters, a form of religious life that was simple but founded on solid Christian virtue and on contemplation in action, which may be summed up in the words “work and temperance.”
- For more information on St Don Bosco just click HERE
- For a good video (3 mins) on who he was just HERE
PRAYERS FOR THE NEW YEAR
O God of new beginnings and wonderful surprises,
thank you for the gift of a new year.
May it be a time of grace,
a time to grow in faith and love,
a time to renew commitments to following Your Son, Jesus.
May it be a year of blessing,
a time to cherish family and friends,
a time to renew efforts at school, work and home,
a time to embrace faith more fully,
a time to work for peace and justice.
Walk with us, please,
in every day and every hour of this new year,
that the light of Christ might shine through us,
in spite of our weaknesses and failings.
Above all, may we remember this year
that we are pilgrims on the sacred path to You.
Dear Lord,
We pray that this New Year will bring us closer to You.
May we take the time to get to know You.
Help us to truly celebrate the gifts You have graciously given us
and use them to serve You and spread Your word,
May we also see and love you in all the people we meet,
so that in turn, they can see You in us.
We know that all human relations take time
if they are to grow and deepen.
This is also true of our relations with You,
the Father and the Holy Spirit, which must grow
over the course of our lives.
In this New Year, let us realise that every action of ours
no matter how great or small, enables us to be in touch with You.
Let us accept You in our lives as,
Truth, to be spoken
Life, to be lived
Love, to be shared
Joy, to be given
Peace, to be spread
and as Sacrifice, to be offered among our relatives, friends, neighbours and all people.
Amen (prayer from Lourdes)
God, thank you for a new year.
May everyone in our class/school community be willing to begin anew with a clean slate.
We know that you are always ready to forgive us.
Help us to be willing to forgive ourselves and to forgive one another.
As we begin a new year,
remind us of our truest values and our deepest desires.
Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what you want us to do.
Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past,
so that we might live in peace with you now, one day at a time.
Amen.
Welcoming the new year as a gift
Hymn
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.
Come, bow before him now in reverence and fear.
In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around
He burns with holy fire with splendour He is crowned
How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of Light
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal to minister His grace
No work too hard for Him, in faith receive from Him
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place
Presence
Loving God,
as we gather in this place,
we are drawn into your light
shining in our world and in our lives…
Draw us close to you this day.
Scripture Reading – Deuteronomy 30:19-20
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today; I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, in the love of Yahweh your God, obeying his voice, clinging to him; for in this your life consists, and on this depends your long stay in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob he would give them.
What life-giving things is the Lord offering me
as I begin this new year?
Litany of the Year
In January, the month of darkness and silent growth
– Be with us, Lord.
In February, the month of lengthening days and peeping buds
– Be with us, Lord.
In March, the month of lambs, Lent and new life
– Be with us, Lord.
In April, the month of swallows, growth and Easter joy
– Be with us, Lord.
In May, the month of Mary our mother, of visitations and fresh flowers – Be with us, Lord.
In June, the month of mid-summer sun and light-filled days
– Be with us, Lord.
In July, the month of holidays and summer joys
– Be with us, Lord.
In August, the month of shortening days and summer’s end
– Be with us, Lord.
In September, the month of fruits, of harvesting and gathering
– Be with us, Lord.
In October, the month of falling leaves and letting go
– Be with us, Lord.
In November, the month of the dead, the souls and the saints
– Be with us, Lord.
In December, the month of the gift and the light of our Saviour, Jesus – Be with us, Lord.
As companions on the journey with Jesus, we say together,
Our Father
Closing Responses
Leader: For all that God can do within us,
for all that God can do without us,
All: Thanks be to God
Leader: For all in whom Christ lived before us,
for all in whom Christ lives beside us,
All: Thanks be to God
Leader: For all the Spirit want to bring us,
for where the Spirit wants to send us,
All: Thanks be to God
Leader: Let us go forth, glorifying the Lord with our lives.
All: Thanks be to God
New Year’s Resolutions: The Pope Francis List
This post on Rappler by Paterno Esmaquel II is an amazing overview of Pope Francis’ primary concerns. “He preaches against gossip, reminds us to finish our meals, and even tells us not to fear marriage. Described as the “world’s parish priest,” Pope Francis goes beyond abstract theology, and gives us advice we can use daily. What lessons from him can we bring into 2017?”
Rappler compiles 10 of the Pope’s most memorable quotes in the form of New Year’s resolutions. This is the Pope Francis list.
- Don’t gossip. It’s one of our hobbies. For Francis, it’s also one of the most evil activities.
The Catholic leader denounces gossip as “murder.” He says when we gossip, we “are doing what Judas did,” and “begin to tear the other person to pieces. Every time we judge our brother in our hearts or worse when we speak badly of them with others, we are murdering Christians,” Francis says. “There is no such thing as innocent slander.”
- Finish your meals. No leftovers, please. Named after a 12th-century saint who lived in poverty, Francis slams a “culture of waste” that neglects the plight of the hungry. The Pope says: “We should all remember… that throwing food away is like stealing from the tables of the poor, the hungry! I encourage everyone to reflect on the problem of thrown away and wasted food to identify ways and means that, by seriously addressing this issue, are a vehicle of solidarity and sharing with the needy.”
- Make time for others. Tending to 1.2 billion members, Francis seems too busy for anything else. That is, until he calls up strangers. Or entertains a random biker. Or sends a handwritten letter to a Jesuit he has never met. The Jesuit who got the letter, Fr James Martin, says “If the Pope can find time to be kind to others, if he can pause to say thank you, if he can take a moment make someone feel appreciated, then so can I. So can we.”
- Choose the ‘more humble’ purchase. The Pope preaches against materialism. “Certainly, possessions, money, and power can give a momentary thrill, the illusion of being happy, but they end up possessing us and making us always want to have more, never satisfied. ‘Put on Christ’ in your life, place your trust in him, and you will never be disappointed!”
- Meet the poor ‘in the flesh.’ “It is not enough to mediate this commitment through
institutions, which obviously help because they have a multiplying effect, but that is not enough. They do not excuse us from our establishing personal contact with the needy. The sick must be cared for, even when we find them repulsive and repugnant. Those in prison must be visited. Charity that does not change the situation of the poor isn’t enough.”
- Stop judging others. In the same way he denounces gossip, Francis condemns prejudice. He reminds “intolerant” Catholics, for one, to respect atheists. “If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good.”
- Befriend those who disagree. “When leaders in various fields ask me for advice, my response is always the same: dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. It is the only way for individuals, families, and societies to grow, the only way for the life of peoples to
progress, along with the culture of encounter, a culture in which all have something good to give and all can receive something good in return. Others always have something to give me, if we know how to approach them in a spirit of openness and without prejudice.”
- Make commitments, such as marriage. The Pope says: “Today, there are those who say that marriage is out of fashion; in a culture of relativism and the ephemeral, many preach the importance of ‘enjoying’ the moment. They say that it is not worth making a life-long commitment, making a definitive decision, ‘forever,’ because we do not know what tomorrow will bring. I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes that you are incapable of responsibility, that you are incapable of true love. I have confidence in you and I pray for you. Have the courage ‘to swim against the tide.’ Have the courage to be happy.”
- 9. Make it a habit to ‘ask the Lord.‘ “Dear young people,” he says, “some of you may not yet know what you will do with your lives. Ask the Lord, and he will show you the way. The young Samuel kept hearing the voice of the Lord who was calling him, but he did not understand or know what to say, yet with the help of the priest Eli, in the end he answered: ‘Speak, Lord, for I am listening’ (cf. 1 Sam 3:1- 10). You too can ask the Lord: What do you want me to do? What path am I to follow?”
- Be happy. The true Christian, says the Pope, exudes great joy. He says keeping this joy to ourselves “will make us sick in the end. Sometimes these melancholy Christians’ faces have more in common with pickled peppers than the joy of having a beautiful life.” Francis says, “The Christian sings with joy, and walks, and carries this joy.” This joy, he reminds us, should translate to love of neighbour.