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Friends of Blackfriars Oxford will be pleased to hear that the project to create their new venue is finally under way! The Regent of Blackfriars, Fr John O'Connor OP, and the future café proprietor, Mr Rich Sewell, met yesterday with the crew from Interiorbuild as they began work to reconfigure the Blackfriars Annexe ground floor. The project is taking a currently unused retail space and transfor... Read More

Gospel of 18 June 2026 Matthew 6:7-15 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: 'When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then, like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as... Read More

Priests celebrating significant anniversaries of ordination - Golden, Ruby, and Silver Jubilarians - were remembered today at a Jubilarians' Mass in the Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Boniface in Plymouth marking decades of priestly service and ministry. Bishop Nicholas Hudson, who is celebrating his Ruby anniversary, began the Mass by sharing: "I am deeply moved to come alongside Fr Gerard Wi... Read More

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expressed grave concern over the Israeli raid and land grab targeting its Church property in Silwan on June 15, 2026. During the operation, the Patriarchate's representative was forcibly removed, his equipment was confiscated, trees were uprooted, and the property was enclosed with fencing and gates. The Patriarchate said the incident constitutes an unlawful ... Read More

The Inaugural Summit of the Pathways to Freedom Africa Network (PFAN) was held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 19-20 May 2026 under the theme "Inclusive Strategies for Ending Human Trafficking: Reaching the Most Marginalised." The summit brought together more than 100 participants from across Africa and beyond, including Catholic bishops, government officials, United Nations agencies, civil society organi... Read More

On the first anniversary of one of the worst massacres in Nigeria a bishop has called for justice and the return of displaced families to their homes. Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that those who slaughtered more than 250 Christians in Yelewata, Benue State, between 13th and 14th June 2025 must answer for their crimes. He said: "The taking of human life rem... Read More

The Lay Community of St Benedict invites parishes, monasteries, and Christian communities to take part in St Benedict Week and the AWAKEN! Study Days, a period of prayer, study, and reflection centred on the theme 'Rule of Life.' Held from 6-19 July, around the feast day of St Benedict, St Benedict Week offers lay people, religious, and clergy an opportunity to reflect on the Rule of St Benedict a... Read More

As the United States saw a sharp rise in executions of people on death row in 2025, the Executive Director of Catholic Mobilizing Network calls for US Catholics to uphold the Church's teaching on human dignity, from conception to natural death. In 2025, US states executed 47 men and women on death row, more than double the average number of executions over the past 10 years. "This is a marked, tra... Read More

Sharing the story of the (Stellagama) Lizard Memorial in the Palestinian village of Battir during the tours and hikes I lead has been a unique and inspiring experience. It has shown me how art, environmental education, and nature conservation can come together to convey a meaningful message to both local communities and visitors. It is uncommon to find a monument dedicated to an animal anywhere in... Read More

Gospel of 17 June 2026 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: 'Beware of practising your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 'Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by othe... Read More

In order to effectively respond to the climate crisis, we must address social and ethical issues at the foundation of our society, such as the equal dignity of all human beings and the value of human rights, Pope Leo XIV said in a video message to the Tenth Austrian World Summit, released today. "The environmental crisis 'is not an isolated issue, but rather the ecological aspect of the contempora... Read More

Priests in Cuba were recently advised to ration communion wafers, because of severe shortages. For many years, the Discalced Carmelite Mothers of the Monastery of Saint Teresa and Saint Joseph, in El Vedado, have been the sole producers of communion wafers for Catholic parishes across Cuba. However, their operations have virtually come to a halt due to prolonged power cuts, made worse by a five-mo... Read More

Archbishop Mark O'Toole, Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, has issued a statement in response to the announcement that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is to be re-introduced to the House of Commons, where it is expected to be debated in the Autumn. Archbishop O'Toole said: "It is immensely disappointing that the Bill to legalise assisted suicide is being re-introduced to Parliament. It ... Read More

Fr Laurence Freeman from World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) writes: There is rejoicing in heaven and sadness on earth. Sr Ruth (born October 8, 1941) died on 14 June in Trinidad where she was born, entered the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny and devoted her life for love of Christ and for those she served through Servol which she co-founded with her soul-friend Fr Gerry Pantin. Her sk... Read More