FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Easter Time
The celebration of Easter is prolonged throughout the Easter season.
The fifty days from Easter Sunday (5th April 2026) to Pentecost Sunday (24th May 2026) are celebrated as one feast day, the "great Sunday".
CHRIST IS RISEN, ALLELUIA!
Thursday 16th April
Anniversary of the death of St. Bernadette in the year 1879.
Saturday 18th April : St. Laserian
He worked in both Ireland and Scotland in the seventh century and later entered the monastery at Leighlin, where he became abbot. His monastery thrived and gave its name to the diocese established in 1110; he was the first Bishop of Leighlin. (The previously separate Dioceses of Kildare & Leighlin came together in 1678). He adapted church discipline in accordance with the practices of Rome and introduced the Roman method of dating the celebration of Easter. Laserian died in the year 639.
Sunday 19th April : 3rd Sunday of Easter
The Gospel story contains a wealth of teaching on the meaning of the Eucharist as a celebration of the presence of the Risen Lord. Christ takes, blesses, breaks and gives the bread to his disciples and is known to them in the action. It is in the context of two or three gathered in his name that they come to faith. It is he who opens their minds and hearts explaining their doubts in the light of Sacred Scripture. And it is on the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, that the Lord of Days walks with them in the cool of the evening.
Monday 20th April
Anniversary of the birth in 1842 of Cardinal John Murphy Farley. Archbishop of New York. Native of Newtownhamilton - Lower Creggan Parish.
Tuesday 21st April
Feast of St. Anselm : From Lombardy, he joined the monastic school at Bec in Normandy in 1059 under the direction of Lanfranc whom he succeeded as Archbishop of Canterbury. He was exiled twice and died in 1109.
Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Rev. Eamon Martin in 2013.
Anniversary of the death in 2025 of Pope Francis.
Thursday 23rd April : St. George
Was venerated as a soldier saint at Lydda in the Holy Land, where he was probably martyred around the year 300. He is patron saint of England.
Friday 24th April : St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen
A Capuchin who preached to the Calvinists in Switzerland, where he was killed by a group of extremists.
Saturday 25th April : St. Mark, Evangelist
He was closely connected with the preaching of Ss Peter, Paul and Barnabas. His Gospel was probably written at Rome when he was with Paul, and is traditionally viewed as representing St. Peter's approach to the preaching of the good news. His symbol is a winged lion.