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The conference in Paris on 15 April, led by organisers France, Germany, and the European Union, emphasised the urgent need to end the war in Sudan, guarantee full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, and mobilise funding to reach those most in need. Kayode Akintola, Head of Region for Africa at CAFOD, said: "We welcome the pledges made by various countries to support relief efforts in Suda... Read More

Every child born in the UK, whatever their circumstances, is a member of our society. Society has a choice - we can do our best to support and nurture those children, to help them grow into healthy, happy adults, or we can turn our backs on them, allow them to struggle and then condemn them if their adult lives do not meet with our approval. This month marks the seventh anniversary of the two chil... Read More

Mariapolis 2024 is coming to Shropshire this summer for the first time. The Mariapolis is a summer gathering for people of all backgrounds and ages, providing an opportunity to build a small, temporary society based on mutual respect and to experience how mutual love creates connections. The programme will include moments of reflection, workshops, games, outings and inspiration for all ages. The ... Read More

Last week we reported the Archbishop of Canterbury had expressed his concern after a young Christian Palestinian woman was taken from her parents' home in the West Bank on Saturday, to an unknown destination. The Israeli soldiers arrived at about 4am to take 23-year-old Layan Nasir away in handcuffs at gunpoint from her parents' home in the West Bank town of Birzeit. There was no arrest warrant or... Read More

Delegates from the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union will gather in Łomża, Poland, for the Spring COMECE Plenary Assembly on 17-19 April 2024. Marking 20 years after the big EU enlargement, the Assembly will delve into the voices of Central and Eastern Europe in light of the forthcoming European elections. The Assembly's agenda includes three main sessions, focusing on the European Unio... Read More

Every day, thousands become victims of armed conflict, facing injury, death, or the heartbreak of displacement. Wars disproportionately devastate civilian lives, with guided bombs, missiles, and artillery shattering communities and infrastructure. Beyond the battlefields, the shadow of gun violence looms large; globally, it claims over 500 lives daily. "War is always a defeat - always, always". Po... Read More

Gospel of 16 April 2024 John 6:30-35 The people said to Jesus, 'What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Jesus answered: 'I tell you most solemnly, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven,... Read More

A bishop and several parishioners were injured in a knife attack during a church service in Sydney today (Monday) Syrian Orthodox Bishop Mari Emmanuel was stabbed as he was preaching during early morning Mass at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in the Wakeley area of Sydney. New South Wales Police said in a statement that they have arrested a man who is helping officers with their enquiries. In a m... Read More

Sir Vincent Fean will be leading the latest Balfour Project webinar entitled: 'What price the two-state solution?' on Tuesday 16th April 2024 at 3pm UK time Sir Vincent is a retired member of the British Diplomatic Service (DS) 1975-2014. His last post was as Consul-General, Jerusalem (2010-14). Before Jerusalem, he was Ambassador to Libya, and previously High Commissioner to Malta. He advocates ... Read More

One year from the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), representatives of humanitarian organisations working in Sudan and its neighbouring countries are sounding the alarm that Sudan is balancing on the precipice of one of the world's worst hunger crises, urging all actors to immediately scale-up efforts to prevent famine and avoid the potent... Read More

Pope Francis has released his message for the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations, celebrated on Sunday, 21 April, and urged Christians to welcome our shared vocation to sow the seeds of hope and peace in our world. He said: "Our life finds fulfilment when we discover who we are, what our gifts are, where we can make them bear fruit, and what path we can follow in order to become signs and inst... Read More

In his pastoral message for Good Shepherd Sunday, the Chair of the National Office for Vocation, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, has affirmed the value of being a good listener in order to hear God's call to holiness. "One of our modern problems is that our world is very noisy, and it is often difficult to hear our own voices and thoughts in the surrounding din, let alone the words of others," he writ... Read More

This Sunday, 21 April, Good Shepherd Sunday, Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly SMA will celebrate a Mass of Welcome at 1pm for the relics of Polish martyrs, Blessed Zbigniew Strzałkowski and Michal Tomaszek. This Mass will be celebrated at Saint Joseph and Saint Brigid Church, Bohernanave, Thurles, Co Tipperary, E41 KF98, in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. Looking forward to Sunday's special celebra... Read More

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay, on behalf of the global fellowship, expressed grave concern regarding the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East following the first direct confrontation between Iran and Israel. "We firmly believe that violence and warfare offer no sustainable solutions and only serve to further harm vulnerable communities and destabi... Read More