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Gospel of 14 August 2026 John 15:12-16 Jesus said to his disciples: 'This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants any more, because a servant does not know his master's business; I call you friends, because I have made known to ... Read More

In a video message to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the United States, marking the 70th anniversary of their founding, Pope Leo highlights the beauty of different communities, charisms, and histories that work together to "make the mission and mystery of the Church visible in our world." He offered "prayerful good wishes" to the women and men religious in different congregations ... Read More

Usama Nicola writes in Bethlehem Updates: What does it mean to choose joy when the reality around you gives you so many reasons to be afraid? Can joy itself become a form of resistance? I have been thinking about this a lot recently, especially during these summer weeks when our calendars seem to be filled with weddings, engagements, graduations, family gatherings, and visits with friends. We re... Read More

A private Requiem Mass was held at Buckfast Abbey, yesterday, Wednesday 12 August, for Ann Widdecombe. Around 100 family members, friends and colleagues, including former Tory ministers and broadcasters gathered to pay their last respects. Miss Widdecombe was a regular member of the congregation there. The homily was given by the Abbot of Buckfast, David Charlesworth OSB. He said: "In the midst ... Read More

More than one hundred people gathered at The Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick for the 48th National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) Conference. The theme was deceptively simple: Just Talk. But over the course of the weekend, it became clear that these two words carried a challenge. At a time when public conversation can so easily become angry, polarised and unforgiving, how do we continue to t... Read More

The Catholic parish of St Gregory, Stratford-upon-Avon, has commissioned a Benedictine monk, Fr Alex Echeandia, from Lurin monastery in Lima, Peru to write two icons of St Benedict and St Gregory. On Thursday 3 September, the Feast of St Gregory, they will be blessed at a special service in the medieval Guild Chapel in Stratford together with an icon of Christ Pantocrator, which will be installed ... Read More

The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations is appealing for churches everywhere to join a Worldwide Prayer for Ukraine during the 30th anniversary commemoration of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations on 16 July 2026 in Kyiv, Ukraine, attended by the ecumenical delegation from the World Council of Churches. Photo: Deacon Andrii Sydor/Orthodox Church of U... Read More

Nearly a thousand people gathered in Avila, the birthplace of Saint Teresa of Jesus, from 80 countries and participated in the first World Meeting of the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites. Though readers should note that it was felt that 'encuentro' or encounter was a better word than meeting or conference, because this really was a tangible experience of the Teresian family being together... Read More

Gospel of 13 August 2026 Matthew 18:21-19:1 At that time: Peter came up and said to Jesus, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. 'Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one w... Read More

The summer can be a time of heightened stress for married couples. Pressures around work, family routines, finances, and expectations can quietly build, and if left unattended they often lead to emotional disconnection, resentment, and a noticeable rise in separation enquiries. When we face a physical emergency, we instinctively know where to turn for help. Yet when the hurt is within our relation... Read More

The last Christian town in the West Bank, Taybeh, has been declared a closed military zone by the Israeli army. The army, the IDF, says that this is to address ongoing attacks by illegal settlers on the town. Bishop James Curry, Lead Bishop for the Holy Land for the Bishops' Conference, has expressed his concern at the move. "I was deeply alarmed to hear that Taybeh has been declared a closed mili... Read More

Following the confirmation that more than 2,000 people have now died from Ebola in eastern DRC, Christian Aid's Head of Global Humanitarian Response Salome Ntububa, who is based in Goma, said: "This is a terrifying time for people in eastern DRC. The fact it took nearly three months for the first 1,000 people to die from Ebola but less than three weeks to reach the grim milestone of 2,000 deaths s... Read More

The Catholic Medical Association have issued the following statement on the re-introduction of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) is dismayed by the re-introduction of the flawed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and by the possibility of it being pushed through the Lords using the Parliament Acts. The House of Commons failed to amend and m... Read More

St Dominic's Rosary Shrine, in Southampton Road, NW5, have announced the launch of a new teenagers group: 'The Frassati Society,' named in honour of St Pier Giorgio Frassati, the lay Dominican saint. The group is open to teenagers below 18 years of age. Permission forms are a requirement before attending, so please contact the parish office to obtain a copy. email: london.secretary@english.op.org.... Read More