25/07/2026
Notice: On Sunday July 26 we will celebrate the feast of saint James the apostle (our patron saint) at 10:30 am. Also remember your patronal offering.
Sample Text: The Feast of Saint James the Apostle, celebrated on July 25, honors James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, who was among the first to answer Jesus’ call to discipleship.
Together with Peter and John, James belonged to the intimate circle of three who witnessed key moments in Jesus’ ministry—the raising of Jairus’s daughter, the Transfiguration, and the agony in Gethsemane.
Known for his zeal and fiery temperament, James earned from Jesus the nickname “Boanerges,” meaning “Son of Thunder.” Yet that passion was transformed into courage and faithfulness, leading him to become the first of the apostles to suffer martyrdom.
As the Acts of the Apostles records, “Herod…killed James the brother of John with the sword,” making him a witness to the gospel in both life and death.
According to long-standing tradition, his relics were later carried to Compostela in Spain, where the great shrine of Santiago de Compostela became one of Christianity’s most famous pilgrimage sites.
James’s feast celebrates his steadfast devotion and calls the faithful to serve Christ with the same spirit of bold and self-giving love.
Collect
O Gracious God, we remember before you today your servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that you will pour out upon the leaders of your church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
