Archbishop Smith inaugurates Shrine of St Augustine History was made on Sunday when the official shrine of Saint Augustine at Pugin’s personal church in Ramsgate, was formally inaugurated by Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark. The event marked the beginning of St Augustine’s week, during which there are a number of historical and cultural events taking place, including talks and lectures inside the church as well as walks, visits Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 10:58 pm
Bishop urges Catholics to respond to GMC consultation Bishop Tom Williams, Chairman of the CBCEW Healthcare Reference is calling on doctors and patients to take part in the General Medical Council consultation on Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice. Bishop Williams said: “I strongly encourage Catholic doctors who work in the health service, and all those who have an interest as patients, carers or potential patients to respond Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 10:22 pm
Burmese refugee children put on a show for visitors At the Hsa Mu Htaw School in Mae Sot on the Thai border with Burma children living at the boarding house are always happy to put on a show for visitors. Many of them are talented singers and dancers. But behind their cheerful faces are some very sad stories. Most of these students are in Thailand without their families. Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 9:53 pm
Take a virtual journey to time of Jesus at IEC Pilgrims will have the opportunity to take a virtual journey back to the time of Jesus at a unique exhibition held during the 50th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2012). This three dimensional exhibition titled 'Through the Eyes of the Apostles: Life Overwhelmed by a Presence' will transport visitors to Capernaum, the village on the shores of the Sea of Galilee Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 9:19 pm
Human rights priest leave Mexico after death threats A priest who has devoted his life to helping migrant workers in Mexico, Father Alejandro Solalinde, has been forced to leave the country temporarily after receiving death threats. Fr Solalinde, founder of the Hermanos en el Camino Migrant Shelter in Ixtepec, Oaxaca, received six death threats in the past two months because of his work in defense Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 8:38 pm
Catholics invited to lead 2012 celebrations Following the successful street parties that took place to mark the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton last year, hundreds of local communities – ten times more than in 2011 in fact – are reported to be planning similar parties during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations this coming week. More Than Gold, the churches’ joint 2012 charity, has partnered with the ecumenical agency Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:22 pm
Historic day for Jain-Catholic Relations Archbishop Kevin McDonald, Chair of the Bishops’ Conference Office for Relations with Other Religions, enjoyed a warm welcome from the Jain community during a recent visit to the Oshwal Centre near Potters Bar, the CCN announced today. The Jain community, represented notably by Mr Nemu Chandaria, Chairman of the Institute of Jainology, Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:15 pm
Engage with Rio+20, says J&P Network The National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales (NJPN) is calling for stronger action to tackle climate change, illegal logging and access to clean water at next month's Earth Summit in Brazil. It urges the Rio+20 gathering of world leaders to come up with a programme of transition towards more sustainable development, particularly in the area of food and agriculture. Read More ... Ellen Teague - Posted: Monday, May 21, 2012 11:28 pm
Volunteers needed to hand out a million cups of water during Olympics An appeal to churches to help distribute a million free drinks of water during this summer’s Olympics has been launched by More Than Gold, the agency helping churches make the most of the 2012 Games "At every recent Olympics the distribution of free water has been a way for Christians to show God’s love," says David Willson, CEO of More Than Gold. Read More ... Posted: Monday, May 21, 2012 11:08 pm
Being a Parent Today: Children, Faith & Family Life A new resource for parents has been published by Ten Ten Theatre and the Catholic Truth Society. Being a Parent Today: Children, Faith and Family Life, edited by Fr Stephen Wang, gathers together the thoughts and ideas of ordinary mothers and fathers, based on their own experiences of bringing up their children. It also draws on the experience of Catholic priests, deacons and lay Read More ... Posted: Monday, May 21, 2012 5:10 pm
Cardinal Hume Centre appoints new Chairman The Cardinal Hume Centre has appointed Paul Goggins, Member of Parliament for Wythenshawe and Sale East, as the new Chairman of its Board. As a former National Director of Church Action on Poverty, he has a clear understanding of the issues facing homeless young people and the need to put in place the right pastoral and policy responses. Read More ... Posted: Monday, May 21, 2012 4:07 pm
CoE begins major study on Church growth Research teams have been appointed to start work on an 18-month project on growth in the Anglican Church, supported by funding set aside by the Archbishops' Council and Church Commissioners. The Programme will focus on a range of growth areas including cathedrals, church plants, different patterns of deploying clergy and the union of parishes. Read More ... Posted: Monday, May 21, 2012 3:21 pm
Franciscan Friar from Assisi signs major record deal Decca Records/Universal Music have announced the global signing of Franciscan Friar, Alessandro Brustenghi, from the original friary founded by Saint Francis of Assisi: the Porziuncola in Assisi. Senior Universal Executives from 25 different territories have flown into London today to hear Friar Alessandro’s first performance outside Italy, at the 2012 International Read More ... Posted: Monday, May 21, 2012 2:55 pm
Chiara Luce Youth Space at Eucharistic Congress Hundreds of Irish young people are preparing to 'Get Set Go' with an ambitious programme of events at the 50th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2012) Chiara Luce Youth Space running at the RDS, Dublin from 11-16 June 2012. The Youth Space will feature a rich mix of interactive catechesis, workshops, drama, dance and music, Read More ... Posted: Monday, May 21, 2012 2:34 pm
Night of Witness - standing up for persecuted Christians The plight of Christians persecuted for their faith was the focus of prayer, song and reflection at the first-ever Night of Witness held at Westminster Cathedral. Bishops from the UK and overseas, led the event on 18 May, at which Christians from countries marked by persecution played central roles in raising awareness of ongoing acts of religious oppression. Read More ... John Pontifex - Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2012 11:48 pm
Pax Christi brings peace message to Olympic celebrations Pax Christi has reported great interest from schools in Westminster, Southwark and Brentwood dioceses in the ‘100 days of Peace’ initiative which is building a peace legacy based on the ancient idea of an Olympic Games’ peace truce. Speaking at its AGM in Bristol on Saturday, Pax Christi’s General Secretary Pat Gaffney, announced that a vigil of prayer Read More ... Ellen Teague - Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2012 11:28 pm
Shrewsbury: Bishop reaffirms 'enduring value of priestly celibacy' The witness of priestly celibacy is needed more than ever before, the Rt Rev Mark Davies, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, said today. In an address to seminarians and staff of St Mary’s College, Oscott, Birmingham, Bishop Davies said celibacy was rightly understood as “a radical self-gift by which we give ourselves completely to Christ and make ourselves totally Read More ... Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2012 12:49 pm
Shrewsbury Diocese: key lay staff face redundancy The position of Justice, Peace and Social Responsibility co-ordinator is one of a number of redundancies being considered by Shrewsbury Diocese. Justice, Peace and Social Responsibility co-ordinator for more than 15 years, Joan Sharples was recently informed that a compulsory redundancy process had been initiated concerning her position. Read More ... Paul Donovan - Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2012 12:38 pm
Crowds attend funeral of Phyllis Bowman DSG Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Acton, in West London, was packed to bursting last Tuesday with over 400 in the congregation for the Funeral Mass of global pro-life leader, Phyllis Bowman DSG, the Founder and Director of Right to Life. The main celebrant, Fr John Leahy, was joined by four concelebrants who had Read More ... Chris Whitehouse - Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2012 12:25 pm
Text: Archbishop George Stack at Communications Day Mass Archbishop George Stack gave the following homily on the World Day of Prayer for Communications Mass at Farm Street in London on 14 May. Those of us old enough to remember the 1960’s will have happy memories of the music of Simon and Garfunkel. In verse three of their classic “Sound of Silence” they sang: Read More ... Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2012 12:15 pm
New guide for pilgrims to Holy Island Taking holidaymakers ‘beyond the tourist trail’ is the aim of a new multi-agency faith tourism initiative that promotes the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The high-quality mini-brochure offers prayers and practical information for visitors to the tidal island – known as England’s ‘cradle of Christianity’. Read More ... Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2012 12:00 pm
Debt threat returns in developing world Call for a 'new jubilee' as financial crisis and ballooning private debt create new vulnerability in impoverished countries. A ground-breaking new report from Jubilee Debt Campaign has found that debt burdens in impoverished countries have increased significantly since the debt cancellation of the 2000s, following fallout Read More ... Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2012 11:38 am
China frees blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng Blind Chinese human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng and his family are on their way to the US tonight after the authorities released them from Chaoyang Hospital in Beijing. Cheng had been kept there for three weeks after making a daring escape from his own house, where he had been imprisoned for 19 months by officials in China's north-eastern Read More ... Posted: Saturday, May 19, 2012 8:14 pm
Sunday Reflection with Fr Terry - 20 May 2012 Recently I was privileged to visit Crete, and on a brilliantly sunny day I was driven on snaking mountain roads to the north coast. We paused on a mountainside above a coastal plain. Below us the fishing port appeared tiny in comparison with the bright sky and the sparkling sea that surrounded all. You could just make out fields, houses Read More ... Posted: Friday, May 18, 2012 9:32 pm
Some of this week's Catholic blogs Mary, who lives in California, has some thoughts on what we should and should not include on our Facebook pages on Young and Catholic; Fr Stephen Wang writes of the joy of being read to; Fr Tim Byron SJ who is working in India talks about the transformative power of hope; Paul Donovan in London would like to see the renationalization of water Read More ... Posted: Friday, May 18, 2012 9:23 pm
