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St Muredach's College in Ballina is one of the most historically significant educational institutions in County Mayo. Opened in 1906, it was established by the Diocese of Killala to provide a Catholic secondary education for boys at a time when there was no comparable school between Belmullet and Sligo. Its story mirrors many of the major developments in Irish education during the twentieth centur... Read More

The Players of St Peter's, based in St Saviour's Church, Chalk Farm, will be holding auditions for their forthcoming December production of scenes from Medieval Mystery Plays on Thursday, 20th and Monday, 24th August, at 7pm. If you want to take part but can't come on either of those dates, please email to discuss an alternative arrangement. The audition pieces are on the Players' website: https:... Read More

Eighteen men considering whether God may be calling them to the priesthood have gathered for a day of prayer, conversation and discernment in Milton Keynes. The Vocations Discernment Day, organised by the Diocese of Northampton's Vocations Director, Fr Pius Amoako, yesterday, brought together men from across the Diocese at St Augustine's Catholic Church in Milton Keynes. The day was an opportunity... Read More

Gospel of 10 August 2026 John 12:24-26 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my serv... Read More

During his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Leo told the crowds of pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square that "the presence of Jesus changes everything." He also expressed concern over the growing catastrophic wars in Sudan, Ukraine and Russia. Reflecting on the day's Gospel reading, which describes how Jesus "joins his disciples in the middle of a storm, walking on the water", Pope Leo said the ... Read More

Justin Butcher is playing in his beautiful and profoundly moving one-man play Scaramouche Jones at the Edinburgh Fringe in a celebratory silver anniversary run. He plays a centenarian holy fool who has witnessed atrocity and inhumanity throughout his life, with seven cataclysmic moments evoking the seven sorrows of Mary. Yet he manages to pour a balm upon the world with life-affirming comedy and c... Read More

Archbishop John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark, has issued a message warning of the dangers of a renewed attempt by some MPs to legalise assisted suicide, urging each of us to make our voices heard in opposition to this deadly proposal. In his message, Archbishop Wilson describes the proposed legislation as "a terrifying and deadly law: a law whose ultimate purpose is to end human life". The Arch... Read More

Sunday 9 August, was the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. On September 13, 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The UN tells us that: "There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They represent 5,000 different cultures...Indigenous Peoples make up less than 6% of the glob... Read More

St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth, near Guildford, is presenting three fascinating public events this autumn. Members of the public of all faiths and none are welcome. Discover the Meaning of the Roman Catholic Mass Benedictine monk Fr John Seddon OSB continues his seven part series exploring the beauty, meaning and mystery of the Mass, based on the teachings of Bishop Robert Barron. Remaining talks... Read More

For nearly 200 years, the soaring spire of St Muredach's Cathedral has stood as Ballina's most recognisable landmark, rising above the River Moy and serving as both a place of worship and a symbol of the town's enduring heritage. Generations of residents have celebrated baptisms, marriages and funerals within its limestone walls, while countless visitors have paused to admire one of the finest exa... Read More

Gospel of 9 August 2026 Matthew 14:22-33 After the crowd had eaten and were satisfied: Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by... Read More

Ish, directed by Imran Perretta and co-written with Enda Walsh, tells the story of two friends Ish (Farhan Hasnat) and Maram (Yahya Kitana). At the beginning of their teenage years, their friendship is changed forever when Maram is traumatically snatched from the street in a stop and search. Set in Luton, the film is primarily about friendship, family, and coming of age. Juxtaposing the fathers ... Read More

If you find it difficult to imagine what it might be like to live in a war zone, I recommend this deeply moving book. In fact, I recommend it to anyone and everyone, with no ifs and no buts. It is inspirational. The heroes of this story are the ordinary people of Gaza, and particularly the members of the tiny Christian community (now shrunken to around a thousand people in the Catholic and larger... Read More

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Cosmic Christ It isn't often that I look at the three Sunday readings and discover them as a unified whole, there is always the problem of our second reading seeming slightly difficult to weave into the pairing that is the OT first reading and the gospel, there is of course a link through our second reading, more in the continual opening out for us of the te... Read More