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Taybeh, the only remaining Christian village in the West Bank, includes Christian archaeology dating back to the Roman era and early Christianity. Located in the Ramallah area of the West Bank, the village's population has dwindled to 1,200 people, all of them Christians. During the 1980s, the population was around 3,000 people. Today, Taybeh is surrounded by four illegal Israeli settlements: Ofr... Read More

In England and Wales this year, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1. Mary in our Christian journey. Where did you first discover a love and devotion to Our Lady, Saint Mary the mother of our Saviour? In our Catholic tradition it is not difficult to discover her either in image or devotion because she is so deeply rooted in our faith, particularly in forms of popular expres... Read More

A special online discussion will take place today, Saturday, August 15 at 7pm UK time, 2pm EST, with Father Bashar Fawadleh, Parish Priest of Taybeh at Christ the Redeemer, in Taybeh, the last remaining fully Christian village in the West Bank. Taybeh and its people have fallen victim to repeated violent incursions by extremist Israeli settlers, threatening residents and their property. Israel rec... Read More

Gospel of 15 August 2026 Matthew 19:13-15 At that time: Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.' And he laid his hands on them and went away. Reflection on the Baptistery This year in England and Wales, the Sol... Read More

Pope Leo XIV has encouraged priests to respect the liturgical norms for the celebration of Mass, in a message to participants in a Vatican-organized meeting in the US state of Oregon. As Cardinals, Bishops, and lay people gathered at the Benedictine Abbey of Mount Angel, Pope Leo XIV sent a message on Friday to emphasise the importance of properly celebrating the liturgical rites. The event which ... Read More

A powerful artwork honouring hundreds of children killed in Gaza has won the public vote at this year's National Eisteddfod art exhibition. The Josef Herman Award - The People's Choice was awarded to Diane Williams from Ynys Môn for the emotional work - a child's nightdress embroidered with the names of 300 children who did not attain the age of one in Gaza - displayed at Y Lle Celf, the National... Read More

"The cry of displaced children rises to God today," Pope Leo says in his Message for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which the Church will observe on September 27th. This year's day features the theme 'Even just one of these children,' from the Gospel according to St Matthew. Pope Leo begins his Message by insisting that the title 'Even just one of these children,' draws our attentio... Read More

Two schools in Coventry and Birmingham are celebrating a stellar set of A-level and Level 3 vocational results. Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School - Coventry This school, part of the Romero Catholic Academy, has reported improvement in the number of students achieving the highest grades, with many securing places at leading universities and highly competitive degree apprenticeships. Students will n... Read More

Reports are still arriving but already several schools Catholic schools in Westminster and Brentwood dioceses have reported another year of excellent exam results. Bishop Challoner Catholic School - Tower Hamlets Bishop Challoner Catholic School Sixth Form posts another fantastic year of post-16 success Executive Headteacher Adam Hall said, "These results are a wonderful celebration of everythin... Read More

The long-awaited exam results are finally through, and once again, a record number of students at Catholic schools in Liverpool are celebrating excellent A-level and BTEC grades. Congratulations to all! The following schools have sent in their results - so far. St Francis Xavier's Catholic Academy, Woolton Strong results pave the way for exciting futures at St Francis Xavier's Catholic Academy ... Read More

The scale of the destruction caused by Colombia's earthquake has been laid bare by Church leaders struggling to provide hope after entire communities were made homeless by the natural disaster. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which has an office in the capital, Bogotá, bishops described grappling with a humanitarian crisis amid reports of nearly 300 dead, almost 4,000 injured and m... Read More

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