Sunday Reflection with Fr Terry - 5 February 2012 Scripture is like a mirror held up in front of the human race. We see ourselves depicted. Of course, the Bible is the story of God revealing himself to us, but it is also a picture of who we are. Sadness and joy, generosity and selfishness, anger and peace, all human emotions can be found in scripture. Take today’s first reading from Job. It is a chillingly accurate description of serious depression. Read More ... Posted: Friday, February 3, 2012 5:48 pm
Thai children enjoy that Friday feeling Children in the UK are not the only kids to experience that Friday feeling when school kicks out. After the weekday regimen, the children of Sarnelli House in Nongkhai, Thailand, many of whom are born with HIV, are only too keen to unwind and play. To fit their care around school, the children rise at 5.30am to shower and dress, ready for their 6am anti retroviral medication. Read More ... Posted: Friday, February 3, 2012 5:32 pm
Australia: judge says Pope broke canon law in firing bishop An Australian judge and a canon lawyer, have both said in independent reports, that Pope Benedict broke canon law and natural justice when he sacked Mgr Bill Morris from his post as Bishop of Toowomba last May The Queensland Supreme Court judge WJ Carter found that Bishop Morris was denied procedural fairness and natural justice and his Read More ... Posted: Friday, February 3, 2012 4:51 pm
Ireland: new Parish Priest for National Shrine at Knock Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam, has appointed Father Richard Gibbons as the new Parish Priest of Knock in succession to the late Monsignor Joseph Quinn, RIP. Archbishop Neary said: "the appointment as Parish Priest of Knock is a very demanding position, and one that requires great spiritual, pastoral and administrative skills and sensitivity. I have every Read More ... Posted: Friday, February 3, 2012 4:29 pm
Vatican promotes exhibition on history of universe A scientific exhibition on "the history of the universe, from the particles which make up the atoms in our bodies to distant galaxies" was announced today by Fr Jose Gabriel Funes SJ, director of the Vatican Observatory. Fr Funes defined the exhibition as: "Stories from another world. The universe inside and outside us". Read More ... Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 11:35 pm
New BBC TV series: 'Catholics' The Catholic Church in the Diocese of Westminster is set to feature in a new series of three films to be shown on BBC 4 Television in February and March 2012. Produced by documentary film maker Richard Alwyn, 'Catholics' goes behind the headlines to explore what it is like to be Catholic today. Each of the three films - one about men, one about Read More ... Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 10:40 pm
India: Mob attacks Jesuit College in Anekal Political groups protested inside the Jesuit run Political groups protested inside the Jesuit run St Joseph’s PU College, Anekal campus in Karnataka, south west India, on 26 and 27 January because they had failed to hoist the national flag on Republic Day. On 27 January, a mob of more than 100 members belonging to ABVP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad,
Read More ... Fr Melwin - Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 10:14 pm
Westminster: Mass for Religious A Solemn Mass for the Religious of the Diocese of Westminster was held at Westminster Cathedral today, (2 February) the feast of The Presentation of the Lord and World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. Representatives from most of the 107 female religious communities in the diocese attended. Archbishop Vincent Nichols was the principal Read More ... Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 9:30 pm
Advert: Cardinal Hume Centre seeks Chair of Board The Cardinal Hume Centre is looking for a new Chair to lead the Trustees and to be responsible for the strategic direction, governance and development of this highly regarded charity based in Westminster. The Chair will work with the Chief Executive Read More ... Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 11:37 am
World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life The ‘World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life’ takes place today, Thursday, 2 February, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Established in 1997 by Pope John Paul II, the day is being marked around the world by Dioceses and Religious Orders with special prayers, Masses and other events. In Glasgow, Archbishop Conti will be celebrating the 1pm Mass today in St Andrew's Read More ... Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2012 10:35 am
Click now to support much-needed women's project By simply voting for St Mary's Convent, on the form at the end of this page, you can help them receive funding to set up a new support group in Birmingham for women who are vulnerable due to domestic violence, forced marriage or those who feel isolated due to cultural traditions. Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 9:43 pm
UN Convention brings hope for domestic workers A Convention, drawn up by the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) could bring hope for millions of millions of domestic workers around the world, the Daughters of Charity report. Maids, nannies and other domestic workers are extremely vulnerable because they work away from public scrutiny and government oversight. Read More ... Claire Bergin - Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 9:18 pm
Jersey announces plans to crack down on vulture funds Jersey Chief Minister Ian Gorst, is proposing to introduce legislation to limit vulture funds profiteering on debt claims from some of the world's poorest countries. US vulture fund FG Hemisphere is currently suing the Democratic Republic of Congo for $100 million in the Jersey courts on a debt it bought for just $3 million. Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 8:32 pm
Archbishop Vincent Nichols on Radio 2’s Pause for Thought This morning (1 February), the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols was on Radio 2’s ‘Pause for Thought’ with Chris Evans. Below, you will find his Pause script: The other day, a rather famous author said that he would leave tweeting to the birds. I suppose I’m not that far behind him myself because I just cannot get the hang of all those abbreviations. Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 3:42 pm
London: Missio staff pray in solidarity with people of Nigeria Today, 1 February, staff at Missio held a minutes silence, in solidarity with those praying for peace in Nigeria. At 12 noon Nigeria stood still to pray for all the victims of recent terrorist bombings the country. Sr Anne Falola OLA from the Mission Secretary of the Department of Mission and Dialogue at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria said: Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 1:53 pm
Catholics encouraged to carry 'Faith Card' Parishioners across England and Wales are being invited to carry a card showing that they are Catholic. One million cards will be made available to 24 Catholic dioceses. The card features a space for the owner to sign, a statement that the carrier is a Catholic and a list of six things Catholics are called to do, and the sentence: ‘In the event of an emergency, please Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 1:16 pm
The writing is on the wall - Canon Pat Browne What is a prophet? The common view is, that a prophet is someone who can foretell the future! That may be so. But a prophet is not a fortune teller. They are people who can read the signs of the times and so see what is going to happen if we pursue this line of activity or what will happen if we do not change direction. The prophet has an in-built SatNav and sees Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 9:53 pm
Petition against against Welfare Reform Bill Liam Purcell from Church Action on Poverty writes: "This Wednesday, Parliament will debate the Welfare Reform Bill. In addition to many sensible and necessary changes, the Bill includes measures which will have a horrendous impact on some of the most vulnerable groups in our society - removing support from sick and disabled people, driving children into Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 9:14 pm
BBC censors 'Palestine' from rapper's performance The BBC has admitted it was ‘overcautious’ in editing the word ‘Palestine’ from an artist’s performance on Radio 1Xtra and has said it is ‘looking to learn’ from the way it handled the situation. However, in a ruling released today (31/01/12), the BBC Trust said the final content that was broadcast on the Charlie Sloth Hip Hop M1X – a music programme – was Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:03 pm
Podcast: Middle East Analysis - New Year, New Direction? In the first Middle East Analysis podcast of 2012, Dr Harry Hagopian discusses events in Egypt, in Syria, and reflects on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Will 2012 be as monumentally eventful as 2011? Perhaps even more so. Autocrats have been deposed, killed, put on trial or have been hospitalised. Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 7:30 pm
J&P chair addresses Occupy campaigners at St Paul's Church leaders from several denominations joined a day of music, poetry and talks with the Occupy campaigners by St Paul's Cathedral on Saturday. Fr Joe Ryan, chair of Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace Committee, and Parish Priest at St John Vianney's in West Green, north London, was one of the speakers. Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 6:49 pm
Christian student conference to debate education, faith & justice The Student Christian Movement (SCM) are inviting students of all denominations to join the debate about education cuts and the rise in tuition fees, and explore the relationship between faith, knowledge and wisdom at their 2012 annual conference. The conference, 'With All Your Mind', will take place at York St John University Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 3:15 pm
Birmingham churches open new winter shelter Five churches in Birmingham will be involved in a new Winter Shelter due to open in February providing basic accommodation to homeless people who would otherwise be sleeping rough. This new initiative to help homeless people is being led by the Anglican Diocese of Birmingham, Thrive Together Birmingham team with support from Housing Justice and the Birmingham Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 2:21 pm
Archbishop Nichols to give lecture on Jewish-Christian relations Archbishop Vincent Nichols is to discuss Jewish - Christian Relations at a lecture hosted by the Woolf Institute, Cambridge on Wednesday, 8 February 2012. The lecture is expected to tackle issues of social responsibility and how faith communities can individually and jointly work towards a more humane, just and compassionate society. Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 12:21 pm
London: Join the Great East End Walk The Great East End Walk for St Joseph's Hospice, is a great family fundraising event, which will have you walking an exciting 10 mile route past some of the East End's hidden treasures, as well as more familiar sights such as the now-famous Olympic Stadium. See it before the crowds descend! This year's event will take place on Sunday 20 May and the Read More ... Posted: Monday, January 30, 2012 9:52 pm
