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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

Gospel of 8 August 2026 Luke 9:57-62 At that time: As Jesus and his disciples were going along the road, someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' To another he said, 'Follow me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, ... Read More

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was in Assisi this week, for the inauguration of the Global House of Friendship and Hope, a new international project promoted by the Elijah Interfaith Institute. During his visit he spoke with journalists about his concerns over the situation in the Holy Land.. Asked about the upcoming Israeli elections on 27 October, he said: ... Read More

This year's service to commemorate the life and witness of Bl Franz Jagerstatter will take place at the Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer, Cheyne Row, London SW3 5HS at 4pm on Sunday, 9 August It has been organised by members of Pax Christi England and Wales. Bl Franz Jägerstätter, was an Austrian farmer and conscientious objector during World War II who refused to fight for Nazi Germany because ... Read More

The final stages of a sponsored walk marking 125 years since the Catholic Association (CA) first made its pilgrimage to Lourdes will conclude in the Diocese of East Anglia this weekend. The CA Lourdes 125 Sponsored Walk is raising funds to celebrate the milestone anniversary, with organisers aiming to raise £1,250. Having reached the halfway point towards the fundraising target, supporters are be... Read More