21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
- St Paul's Catholic Parish
- Aug 23
- 5 min read
23 August 2026
Collect Prayer
O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. Through…
Readings
Isaiah 22: 15, 19-23 Psalm 138 Romans 11: 33-36 Matthew 16: 13-20
At that time: When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that l am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'
And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Readings next Sunday (22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Jeremiah 20: 7-9 Psalm 63 Romans 12: 1-2 Matthew 16: 21-27
Saints of the Week
Mon 24
Tue 25
Thu 27
Fri 28
Sat 29
St. Bartholomew, apostle (feast)
St. Louis, king (memorial)
St. Monica, layperson (memorial)
St. Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church (memorial)
Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (memorial)
You Are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!
Cf. Benedict XVI, Angelus 24.08.2008
This Sunday's liturgy addresses to us Christians but also at the same time to every man and every woman the double question that one day Jesus put to his disciples. He first asked them: "Who do men say that the Son of man is?". They answered him saying that some of the people said John the Baptist restored to life, others Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. The Lord then directly questioned the Twelve: "But who do you say that I am?". Peter spoke enthusiastically and authoritatively on behalf of them all: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". This solemn profession of faith the Church continues to repeat since then. Today too, we long to proclaim with an innermost conviction: "Yes, Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God!". Let us do so in the awareness that Christ is the true "treasure" for whom it is worth sacrificing everything; he is the friend who never abandons us for he knows the most intimate expectations of our hearts. Jesus is the "Son of the living God", the promised Messiah who came down to earth to offer humanity salvation and to satisfy the thirst for life and love that dwells in every human being. What an advantage humanity would have in welcoming this proclamation which brings with it joy and peace!
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". Jesus answers Peter's inspired profession of faith: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven". This is the first time that Jesus speaks of the Church, whose mission is the actuation of God's great design to gather the whole of humanity into a single family in Christ. Peter's mission, and that of his Successors, is precisely to serve this unity of the one Church of God formed of Jews and pagans of all peoples; his indispensable ministry is to ensure that she is never identified with a single nation, with a single culture, but is the Church of all peoples — to make present among men and women, scarred by innumerable divisions and conflicts, God's peace and the renewing power of his love. This, then, is the special mission of the Pope, Bishop of Rome and Successor of Peter: to serve the inner unity that comes from God's peace, the unity of those who have become brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
St. Augustine (354-430)
from dailygospel.org
He was born in Tagaste, Africa. He was brought up in the Christian faith, but was not baptized. As an ambitious schoolboy of brilliant talents and violent passions, he lost his faith and his innocence early on. He persisted in his irregular life until age 32. Being then in Milan and professing rhetoric, he tells us that the faith of his childhood had regained possession of his intellect, but he could not resolve to break the chains of evil habit.
One day, stung to the heart by an account of some sudden conversions, he cried out, "The unlearned rise and storm heaven, and we, with all our learning, for lack of heart, lie wallowing here." He then withdrew into a garden, where a long and terrible conflict ensued. Suddenly, a young fresh voice (he knows not whose) broke in upon his strife with the words, "Take and read." He alighted upon the passage, "Walk honestly as in the day"; and with that, the battle was won. Augustine received baptism, returned home and gave everything to the poor and the Church.
In Hippo, where he settled, he was consecrated bishop in 395. For 35 years, he was the center of ecclesiastical life in Africa and the Church's mightiest champion against heresy. His writings have been accepted everywhere as one of the principal sources of devotional thought and theological speculation. Among his many spiritual classics are Confessions and The City of God.
Weekly News
Francophone Spiritual Retreat
Retreat for French-speaking communities of the parishes of Cyprus. We are pleased to invite you to a day of spiritual retreat on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the Saint-Mary School in Limassol. To participate, please, contact Fr. Alessandro
Diocesan Retreat
At Kykkos Monastery. Date: 23-25 October. More information on the board. To register, please, contact one of the priests of the parish
First Communion and Confirmation 2027
The informative encounter for parents will be on Friday 2 October at the Shop. First Communion at 6:30 pm; Confirmation at 7:15 pm
Caritas St. Paul's
Thank you for your prayers, contributions, food and clothes donations … we can also reuse your shopping bags. If you wish to volunteer, please, contact Fr. Alessandro
Parish Community Shop
Refreshments, coffee and tea. Check our religious section for rosaries, Christmas Cards, scapulars, devotionals, etc. Check also our books sections. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet other parishioners and grow as community. All funds will go to the building of the new Church. If you’d like to volunteer, please talk to Fr. Ismael
Mass Schedule
24th - 30th August
Mon: No Mass
Tue: Mass at 9:00am in Agia Kyriaki
Wed: Mass at 12:00pm in Agia Kyriaki
Thu: Mass at 9:00am in Agia Kyriaki
Fri: Mass at 9:00am in Agia Kyriaki
Saturday: 4:30pm (Agia Kyriaki ); 6:15pm (Town of Polis)
Sunday: Masses in Agia Kyriaki at 10am (Latin), 11am (Polish) & 12pm (English)
Eucharistic Adoration: Wed at 10:50am in AK; Thu at 6pm in AK
Holy Rosary: Sat at 4pm in AK
Filipino Mass: last Sunday of the month at 12pm
Sri-Lankan Mass: 3rd Sunday of the month, 12pm (Presbytery chapel)
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