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Gospel in Art: Saint Monica

Death of St Monica, Church of Sant'Agostino  by Benozzo Gozzoli,   painted1464 - 1465  © Church of Sant'Agostino, San Geminiano, Italy

Gospel of 27 August 2026 Luke 7:11-17 At that time: Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, '... Read More


Janusz Sikora-Sikorski recalls Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton with Janusz and his wife and daughter Grażyna and Kasia during her European tour.

Janusz Sikora-Sikorski, KC*SG, who leads several charities and is producer of the annual Chopin Festival and Polish Carols at Westminster Cathedral, has fond memories of Dolly Parton. The company he worked for - the Agency Group Ltd (founded by another Catholic Neil Warnock), were agents for all her live performances in Europe - including her historic performance on June 29, 2014, on the Pyramid S... Read More


US Catholic Diocese pays tribute to Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton died yesterday at the age of 80, leaving behind millions of grieving fans whose lives were touched by her extraordinary music and the legendary ways she shared her faith and God's love with others. Her nephew Bryan Seaver, shared in the family's official announcement: "Dolly has lived in the light, and is in the arms of Jesus… May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you. She ... Read More


Growing in Faith: new life takes root in Chilworth Abbey's monastery garden

Br Ambrose and visiting priest collecting plants

Exciting work is underway in the monastery garden at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth. Nestling in the Surrey Hills near Guildford, a new programme of planting has been gradually building in the hope to bring new life and spiritual expression to parts of the monastery grounds. The project is being undertaken by one of the new novice monks, Brother Ambrose, who has been overwhelmed by the kindness... Read More

Pope Leo: Active participation in liturgy leads us to relationship with God

Image: Vatican Media

During the General Audience today in St Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the importance of the liturgical reform enacted by the Second Vatican Council, which encouraged the faithful to participate more actively in the liturgy and enter into a deeper relationship with God. "Through the Church's ritual actions, whilst the memorial of the work of salvation is celebrated, the opportunity is... Read More


London exhibition: 50 Faces of the Holy Land at St Dominic's Rosary Shrine

Frima - Image by Marcin Mazur

A striking photographic exhibition that reveals the people and stories behind familiar images of the Holy Land is coming to the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic, St Dominic's Priory, Haverstock Hill, from Friday 4 to Sunday 13 September 2026. 50 Faces of the Holy Land features intimate black-and-white portraits by photographer Marcin Mazur. The project brings together Israeli and Pa... Read More


Ukraine: Bishop reports devastating destruction

Churches hold outdoor events - © ACN

A bishop serving on Ukraine's front line says he sees "constant signs of hope" - despite the wholesale destruction of villages and churches as drones and missiles land. Bishop Maksym Ryabukha of Donetsk told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): "The material destruction is devastating. Now they are razing houses, one by one, including rectories. "In Kostantynivka the church was destroyed. Through ima... Read More


Bishop Menezes: 'Assisted dying' is a threat to all vulnerable people

Photo by Steven HWG on Unsplash

Bishop Timothy Menezes, an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Birmingham, has called attention to the threat which assisted suicide poses not just to the elderly, but to all vulnerable people. In a video message, Bishop Menezes shares the concerns of a young parishioner with disabilities: "A young man spoke to me after Mass and he said, 'Thank you for mentioning assisted dying. As a disabled ... Read More


Gospel in Art: For you are like whitewashed tombs

Marilyn Diptych, Painting by Andy Warhol, 1962  Silkscreen and paint on canvas  © Alamy

Gospel of 26 August 2026 Matthew 23:27-32 At that time: Jesus said, 'Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 'Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites... Read More


Over 100 former ambassadors call for France and UK to act together on Palestine

Sir Vincent Fean, British Palestine Project trustee and former Consul General to Jerusalem writes: More than 100 British and French ex Ambassadors have asked President Macron and Prime Minister Burnham to take action together on Palestine/Israel. The letter below was published in le Monde on Saturday 22 August) and here as an open letter to Andy Burnham, with advance copies sent to No 10 and the ... Read More


Scottish Bishops call for Human Dignity and Common Good to shape Programme for Government

Bishops of Scotland

As the Scottish Government prepares to publish its Programme for Government, Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, has called for human dignity and the common good to be placed at the heart of its priorities. In a statement published today, Bishop Keenan urges the Government to judge its policies particularly by their impact on the poorest and most vulnerable. Bisho... Read More


Ian Linden: 'Suicidal empathy' and Catholicism

Dr Ian Linden

Right-wing extremist ways of bringing religion and ethics into politics seem to be gaining ground. Reform's recent attempt to redefine empathy is a further example. They are all interlinked so this gambit is particularly dangerous. If they weren't connected, Catholic Social Teaching would be all good intentions and no action. Gad Saad invented the term 'suicidal empathy'. He spent a decade in Conc... Read More


Children in war are more than a security crisis, warn African church leaders

As lightning illuminates the sky behind them, a man speaks during a nighttime prayer vigil for peace in Nakubuse, a small village near Kuron in South Sudan. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/WCC

Across Africa, churches are stepping up aid for children affected by civil wars and conflicts, as crises rise on the continent. South Sudan's Eastern Equatoria State especially has been plagued by cattle raiding and child abduction in recent years. The Catholic Church-sponsored Holy Trinity Peace Village, centered in Kuron, has worked for years to foster reconciliation and peace between the regio... Read More


Hospice founder discusses challenges of providing gold standard palliative care

Dr Karen Groves MBE

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will have its crunch vote and second reading in the House of Commons on Friday, 11 September. A diverse range of people, not just Catholics, have raised their voices in opposition to this Private Members' Bill that seeks to legalise assisted suicide. Our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has said that now is not the time for this debate and it would be ... Read More

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