Catholic calendar 25 October – 31 October 2026

Sunday, 25 October 2026 — Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time — the greatest commandment

Liturgical designation: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (green), Year A, weekday cycle II; Psalter Week II.
Readings: Exodus 22:20–26; Psalm 18; 1 Thessalonians 1:5c–10; Matthew 22:34–40.
Meaning of the day: In Exodus, God protects the stranger, the widow, the orphan and the poor. Love of the Creator cannot be separated from concern for those who are vulnerable. Paul praises the Thessalonians for the faith that has become an example to others. In the Gospel, a lawyer asks Jesus which commandment matters most. Jesus unites wholehearted love of God with love of neighbour as oneself. These are not competing duties: authentic worship changes the way we treat other people, especially those who are lonely, excluded or in need. Sunday Mass nourishes this love and sends us out to put it into practice. Jesus binds love of God to love of neighbour because both commandments arise from the same divine love. Religious observance cannot be separated from the needs of a lonely neighbour, a family under strain or a person who has been overlooked. The Gospel invites an examination of conscience: does our prayer lead to patience, honesty and the willingness to forgive? Love is more than a feeling; it becomes a choice expressed in ordinary encounters, particularly when no reward or public recognition is expected.
Scripture: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me to love you wholeheartedly and recognise your image in everyone who needs my help.
Practice: Call someone who is lonely, or offer practical help to a person who cannot repay you.
Remembrance: Prayer for the poor, migrants, families and the grace to love God and neighbour.
Parish reading: See the parish announcements for 18 October and Mass intentions including Sunday 25 October (Polish).

Monday, 26 October 2026 — Monday of Week 30 — Saints Chad and Cedd

Liturgical designation: Weekday in Ordinary Time (green), or optional memorial of Saints Chad and Cedd, Bishops, in England (white). Psalter Week II.
Readings: Ephesians 4:32–5:8; Psalm 1; Luke 13:10–17.
Meaning of the day: Paul asks Christians to be kind, forgiving and to imitate God in love. Jesus heals a woman who had been bent over for many years. Some object because the healing takes place on the Sabbath, but Jesus shows that God’s law cannot be used to postpone compassion. He restores dignity and freedom. Saints Chad and Cedd were brothers, bishops and missionaries in early medieval England. Their service offers a local example of humble leadership and patient evangelisation. For Catholics living in England, their memory invites faithful witness without pride, together with respect and concern for our neighbours. The woman had been bent over for eighteen years. Jesus does not postpone her suffering as an inconvenience; He calls her a daughter of Abraham and restores her dignity. His action teaches that religious practice and the law are ordered towards life and mercy. Saints Chad and Cedd, remembered for their missionary and episcopal ministry in early medieval England, offer a particular invitation to pray for the Church in this country. Their witness joins courageous evangelisation to patient care for local communities.
Scripture: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted” (cf. Ephesians 4:32).
Prayer: Jesus, free me from quick judgement and make me attentive to the suffering of others.
Practice: Respond to someone’s weakness with patience and practical support rather than criticism.
Remembrance: Saints Chad and Cedd — bishops and missionaries; prayer for clergy and evangelisation in England.
Parish reading: October is a month of the Rosary: the parish step-by-step guide (Polish).

Tuesday, 27 October 2026 — Tuesday of Week 30 — the mustard seed

Liturgical designation: Weekday in Ordinary Time (green); Psalter Week II.
Readings: Ephesians 5:21–33; Psalm 128; Luke 13:18–21.
Meaning of the day: Paul speaks of love and responsibility within marriage, pointing to Christ’s self-giving love for the Church. It is a call to fidelity, respect and mutual service, not domination. In the Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed and yeast. God’s reign often grows quietly, away from public acclaim. A small act of kindness, an honest conversation, a prayer, or a step towards reconciliation can gradually change a family or community. Faith does not need to be spectacular to be fruitful. As the month of the Rosary draws to a close, we can recognise the patient work of grace in ordinary prayer. A mustard seed is tiny, while leaven works almost unseen. In a similar way faith usually grows through small acts: a patient conversation, a decade of the Rosary, practical help and a promise kept. We need not witness spectacular results for such actions to matter. The Letter to the Ephesians also challenges family relationships to reflect the self-giving love of Christ. Mutual reverence excludes domination and calls spouses to responsibility, respect and concern for one another’s good.
Scripture: “What is the kingdom of God like?” (Luke 13:18).
Prayer: Lord, bless the small beginnings of goodness in our homes and parish.
Practice: Do one thoughtful thing for your family without seeking thanks or attention.
Remembrance: Prayer for marriage, family life and patient spiritual growth.
Parish reading: For personal prayer, see the parish Rosary guide (Polish).

Wednesday, 28 October 2026 — Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Liturgical designation: Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles (red); Psalter Week II.
Readings: Ephesians 2:19–22; Psalm 19; Luke 6:12–16.
Meaning of the day: Before choosing the Twelve, Jesus spends the night in prayer. The apostolic mission begins in communion with the Father, not human ambition. Paul describes the baptised as members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. Simon, called the Zealot, and Jude, also known as Thaddeus, remind us that Jesus calls people of different backgrounds into one Church. Little can be established with certainty about their later lives, yet their witness is treasured in the Church’s worship. Saint Jude is especially invoked as an intercessor in desperate or apparently hopeless situations. Simon the Zealot and Jude are mentioned only briefly in the New Testament, yet they belong to the apostolic foundation of the Church. Their feast reminds us that Christian communion does not rest on the personal perfection of its members but on the fidelity of Christ. Jesus brought together disciples of varied backgrounds and temperaments. The parish today likewise unites people with different histories; such unity requires patient listening and forgiveness. In popular devotion St Jude is invoked particularly in seemingly hopeless situations.
Scripture: “You are no longer strangers and aliens” (cf. Ephesians 2:19).
Prayer: Saints Simon and Jude, pray that we may be faithful to the Gospel and build up the unity of the Church.
Practice: Pray for someone who has lost hope and take one step towards strengthening your community.
Remembrance: Saints Simon and Jude — Apostles of Christ, witnesses of faith and unity.
Parish reading: Read the parish feature on Saints Simon and Jude (Polish).

Thursday, 29 October 2026 — Thursday of Week 30 — faithfulness in difficulty

Liturgical designation: Weekday in Ordinary Time (green); Psalter Week II.
Readings: Ephesians 6:10–20; Psalm 144; Luke 13:31–35.
Meaning of the day: Ephesians calls believers to put on the spiritual armour of God: truth, righteousness, faith, salvation and God’s word. This is not a summons to hostility against people, but to resistance against evil through fidelity to Christ. Jesus receives a warning that Herod is a threat. He continues towards Jerusalem in spite of danger and rejection. His lament over the city expresses a deep longing to gather people together like a mother bird sheltering her young. Christian courage does not mean never feeling fear. It means trusting God enough to continue doing good when circumstances are difficult. Jesus refuses to turn aside from His journey to Jerusalem even when warned of danger from Herod. His courage does not express hostility; it is steadfast obedience to His mission. The image of Jerusalem gathered beneath protective wings also reveals divine tenderness. The spiritual struggle described by St Paul never authorises aggression towards others. Truth, righteousness, faith and prayer protect the heart from discouragement, falsehood and the temptation to retaliate.
Scripture: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (cf. Ephesians 6:10).
Prayer: Lord, give me patient courage and keep me faithful when doing good becomes difficult.
Practice: When met with unkindness, choose a calm and truthful reply.
Remembrance: Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem is remembered in Christian tradition, though not as a required observance in England.
Parish reading: For deeper reflection see the parish guide to Confession (Polish).

Friday, 30 October 2026 — Friday of Week 30 — compassion beyond appearances

Liturgical designation: Weekday in Ordinary Time (green); Psalter Week II.
Readings: Philippians 1:1–11; Psalm 111; Luke 14:1–6.
Meaning of the day: Paul thanks God for the Philippians and prays that their love may grow in knowledge and discernment. Mature love is not merely an emotion; it learns to recognise what is genuinely good. Visiting a Pharisee’s house, Jesus heals a man who is unwell and questions interpretations of the Sabbath that fail to make room for mercy. Holiness cannot be indifferent to pain. In the days leading to All Saints and All Souls, we are invited to care for those who are living and suffering, while also remembering the departed in prayer and entrusting them to the mercy of God. The healing of a man suffering from dropsy takes place during a meal at a Pharisee’s house. Jesus asks whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath and meets silence. Mercy exposes the limitations of comfortable excuses. St Paul meanwhile prays that Christian love will deepen in knowledge and discernment. As November approaches, that attentiveness can become a practical act of remembrance: prepare names for the November prayers, care for a grave or pray for someone who has no one else to remember them.
Scripture: “That your love may abound more and more” (cf. Philippians 1:9).
Prayer: Merciful Father, help me to choose what is good and never hide indifference behind religious appearances.
Practice: Prepare a remembrance intention for departed loved ones and pray for them by name.
Remembrance: Prayer for people who are ill, carers and all the faithful departed.
Parish reading: For November prayer see five ways of helping the souls in purgatory (Polish).

Saturday, 31 October 2026 — Saturday of Week 30 — humility and remembrance

Liturgical designation: Weekday in Ordinary Time (green); the optional Saturday memorial of Our Lady may also be celebrated. Psalter Week II.
Readings: Philippians 1:18b–26; Psalm 42; Luke 14:1, 7–11.
Meaning of the day: Paul speaks of a life centred on Christ: he longs to be with the Lord, yet recognises the value of remaining to serve the community. In the Gospel, Jesus observes guests choosing places of honour and teaches the freedom of humility. Our worth does not depend on status. As October ends, our thoughts turn towards the saints and those who have died. The parish has announced prayers at cemeteries beginning today, ahead of All Saints on 1 November and All Souls on 2 November. Prayer beside a grave expresses more than remembrance: it proclaims Christian hope in the resurrection and God’s lasting mercy. When guests seek the most prestigious places at a banquet, Jesus reveals the human desire for status and praise. Humility is not self-contempt; it is the truthful recognition that every person depends upon grace and on others. As the solemnity of All Saints approaches, this perspective becomes especially meaningful. Visiting a cemetery and offering prayers for the departed expresses Christian hope in eternal life, not simply nostalgia for the past. We entrust our dead to the God who is faithful to His promise of resurrection.
Scripture: “All who exalt themselves will be humbled” (Luke 14:11).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach us humility, and grant eternal rest to our relatives and friends who have died.
Practice: Join prayers for the departed if possible, or pray at home for those who have no one to remember them.
Remembrance: Parish cemetery prayers announced for 2.30 pm; check the parish posters for the specific locations.
Parish reading: Consult the parish cemetery prayer notices and articles on All Saints (Polish) and All Souls (Polish).

Spiritual message of the week

Sunday shows that love of God and neighbour form an inseparable whole. Monday’s healing reveals how religious observance loses its meaning when it becomes an excuse for withholding compassion.

Tuesday’s mustard seed and yeast encourage confidence in small beginnings. The feast of Simon and Jude reveals the Church as a community built on Christ, gathering people with different histories into one faith. The following days call for perseverance, discernment and a humility that seeks service rather than status.

The end of October turns our attention towards the departed. Prayer in a cemetery is more than a family custom: it expresses belief in the resurrection, the communion of saints and the mercy of God.