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Alloysius Frederick awarded MBE for services to education

Alloysius Frederick, chair of trustees for All Saint's Multi-Academy Trust, has been awarded an MBE in this year's King's Birthday Honours List for services to education. Over more than two decades, Alloysius has played a significant role in strengthening schools and supporting the development of Catholic education across Westminster Diocese. His work has focused on strong governance, clear leader... Read More


Conversions increasing as 'Ukraine defends peace in Europe with its blood', says archbishop

Mass at Three Holy Hierarchs Seminary, Knyazhychi, Kyiv  ©ACN

The war in Ukraine is seeing a surge in conversions, according to the head of Ukrainian Greek Catholics, who says traumatised people are turning to priests who act "as "wounded healers". Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk spoke to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) about the profound spiritual impact of the war, describing a "significant period of conversion". The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Cath... Read More


Newcastle: New state-of-the-art building for Catholic school

St John Vianney Catholic Primary

St John Vianney Catholic Primary in West Denton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is set to undergo a radical transformation, with work due to start on the construction of a new, state-of-the art school building, under the Department of Education's national School Rebuilding Programme. The move follows the earlier identification of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the original school building,... Read More


Oxford: Construction begins on Blackfriars' Good Habit cafe

Fr John with Rich and the Interiorbuild crew

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 in Art: Your Father knows what you need before you ask him

The Virgin in Prayer  by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato,   Painted 1640-1650  © National Gallery, London, UK

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


Plymouth: Bishop Nicholas Hudson and Jubilarian Priests mark significant Ordination anniversaries

l-r: Fr Gerard Wilberforce, Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Fr Anthony O'Gorman and Canon John Webb. Image: ben@nativemultimedia

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


Jerusalem: Israeli authorities confiscate historic Church property

Bulldozers smash fence and demolish orchard

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


Nigeria: Summit launches new network to combat trafficking in Africa

Cardinal Baggio at the Abuja conference

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


Nigeria: Bishop demands justice on anniversary of Yelewata massacre

Internally displaced people,  queuing for food in Daudu Camp,  Benue State. Image ACN

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


St Benedict Week and AWAKEN! Study Days

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


US Catholics seek abolition of death penalty

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


Holy Land: The Lizard Memorial in Battir

The inscription reads: 'Animals love, fear, and feel pain just like us'

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 in Art: Beware of practising your righteousness before other people

Beggars in India, Gujarat, Baroda (Vadodara),  by Henri Cartier-Bresson,  1948 © Henri Cartier-Bresson/Magnum Photos

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


Pope Leo highlights faith, hope and love as themes that can help us reflect on climate crisis

Screenshot

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

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