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The Requiem Mass for Benet Walter Bano "Ben" - took place at St Thomas of Canterbury's Catholic Church in Deal, Kent on Monday 20 July 2026 - attended by family, friends, local councillors and MPs. The celebrant was Fr Brian Coyle. A reception was held in Deal Town Hall after the funeral. Ben's daughter Sophie Skardon gave the following Eulogy. Dad was born on the 3rd February 1950 to Emmerich and... Read More

St Francis Leprosy Guild is the UK's only Catholic leprosy charity. We have cared for people with leprosy for over 130 years. We operate in eleven countries in Africa, Asia and Brazil where leprosy is endemic. By supporting over 30 leprosy centres and projects, we play our part in caring for those affected by the disease and working towards a leprosy-free world. We believe that a leprosy-free worl... Read More

Gospel of 26 July 2026 Matthew 13:44-52 At that time: Jesus said to the crowd: 'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 'Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought... Read More

Under Conservative rule, combatting Islamophobia tended to be relegated to the realm of 'whataboutery' and to lack substance. Government's recent commitment to funding protective Mosque security, and the Muslim Trust for its work researching data on anti-Muslim hate crime and its victim support, is welcome. Threats and attacks on Mosques, imams, and 'microaggression' against Muslims in distinctive... Read More

Today, Saturday 25 July, Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York. Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 24, 1968. He was ordained priest on May 21, 1994 and incardinated in the Archeparchy of Beirut of the Maronites. A graduate Doctor of Civil Law and Doctor of C... Read More

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 109 I find it difficult to visualise the Kingdom of Heaven, but I believe that is a very good thing. Jesus gives us many different images of what it is like in terms of comparison and we hear some of these in our gospel today, but there is no one, solid, definable image except of the completion of all things in a glory we can only glimpse. I thank th... Read More

Gospel of 25 July 2026 Matthew 20:20-28 At that time: The mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Jesus with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, 'What do you want?' She said to him, 'Say that these two sons of mine are to sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom.' Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you ab... Read More

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has appealed to Governor Ron DeSantis to stay two executions scheduled for next Tuesday, July 28, 2026. James Duckett is scheduled to be executed at noon for the 1987 murder of eleven-year-old Teresa McAbee. Dominick Occhicone, Jr is scheduled to die at 6pm for the 1986 murder of Martha Artzner. Occhicone also received a life sentence for the murde... Read More

A British Childhood. How Our Children Live Now. Publisher: Picador, Dublin 2026 No teacher needs to read this book - unless they wish to marvel at the extraordinary work that they do, guiding their young charges through the post-Austerity, post-Covid, over-stimulated, over-connected and yet strangely isolated mlieu we have created. The rest of us would benefit enormously from engaging with Frank ... Read More

This year the Feast Day of Saint Anne along with her husband Saint Joachim takes place on July 26, 2026. Saint Anne is the Patron Saint of Canada sharing that distinction with Saint Joseph, who is the primary saint of the country. She's also the Patroness of the Province of Quebec. French Canadian voyageurs and early fur traders held a deep devotion to Saint Anne, frequently praying to her for saf... Read More

A schoolboy who first took up rowing to complete his Duke of Edinburgh award has set himself the challenge to row 500 kilometres (310 miles) to support persecuted Christians around the world. Anselme Decouttere, 14, has so far rowed 280 km (175 miles) while balancing his studies at Dame Alice Owen School in Potters Bar. Inspired by the work of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), he is taking part in ... Read More

An ecumenical delegation led by World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay yesterday met with the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as officials from the Zimbabwe Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition to Pillay, those meeting with Mnangagwa included general secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches Rev Wilfred Dimingu; president of the Zimba... Read More

Gospel of 24 July 2026 Matthew 13:18-23 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it w... Read More

Pope Leo's brother John Prevost came from Chicago recently for a visit during the Pope's summer break at Castel Gandolfo. On Wednesday morning they made an excursion by car from Castel Gandolfo to the Shrine of the Holy Trinity in Vallepietra, before visiting the Monasteries of St Benedict and St Scholastica in Subiaco, on the journey back to Castel Gandolfo. Built into the rock of Mount Autore, t... Read More