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  Fr Joseph Houston 14 December 1940 - 14 May 2022 Fr Joseph Houston was from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and was ordained at Easter 1969. He spent the early years of his priesthood in Chile before coming back to Ireland to teach in our seminary. He later returned to Chile but was to spend the last 25 years of his life in China. Father Joe was a Christian gentleman to the core.  Solas na bhFlaitheas air -  The light of Heaven upon him. You will find his obituary  here . My Lagan Love Played by Innisfree Ceoil, featuring the uilleann (elbow) pipes The River Lagan flows through Belfast, Father Joe's native city. St Columban's Cemetery, Dalgan Park, Ireland

Transfiguration Blessed Fra Angelico [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readiings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 9:28-36  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)    Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.   And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.   And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,   who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.   Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.   And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us ...

Transfiguration , Fra Angelico, 1440-42 Gospel Luke 9:28B-36 (NRSV, Catholic Edition, Can.) Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When th...

Transfiguration of Christ , Paolo Veronese,1556, Cathedral of Santa Maria, Montagnana, Italy  Gospel   Mark 9:2-10      Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,   and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one   on earth could bleach them.   And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.   Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings,   one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”   He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.     Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved;   listen to him!”   Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. continue reading Bishop Edward Galvin (1882 -...

Our Lady, Help of Christians ,  Mexico [ Wikipedia] Day of Prayer for China Pope Benedict XVI designated the 24th May each year as a special day of prayer with the Church in China urging the universal Church to join together with a special prayer at the weekend Masses in all our parishes. There is a special prayer for China to Our Lady of Sheshan written by Pope Benedict  You can read more in an article by John Battle on the website of the Columbans in the USA  here . P RAYER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI  TO OUR LADY OF SHESHAN ON THE OCCASION OF THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH IN CHINA (24 MAY 2008)   Our Lady of Sheshan Continue here .

  Sandhill Mass Rock   ('Carraig an Aifrinn', in Irish), County Donegal, Ireland. During the 17th century, when Catholics in Ireland were persecuted, Mass was often celebrated in remote places, with a   Mass rock   as the altar . Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)  Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)  Gospel   John 6:51-58   (Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition) Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you...

La Disputà (Disputation of the Holy Sacrament) , Raffaello Sanzio, painted 1510-11 You will find a description of this magnificent fresco here and a video on its restoration here . The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)  Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)  Gospel Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 (Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition) On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?" And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the householder, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' ...