UK & Ireland

Baroness Sheila Hollins is the new President of the Catholic Union. The crossbench peer and professional psychiatrist was approved by members of the Catholic Union at their AGM on Tuesday 28 November, at the London Jesuit Centre. She takes up the role with immediate effect. Baroness Hollins is the first woman to hold the office of President in the Catholic Union's 150-year history. She takes over... Read More

Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has issued the following comments on the Autumn Statement presented to Parliament by the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, last Wednesday 22 November. CSAN appreciates the hopeful news that the rate of inflation is slowing, offering a potential alleviation for those facing financial strain in the face of the cost-of-living crisis. We call for continued vigilance to guaran... Read More

Starting on Friday, 1 December, CAFOD will be sharing daily Bible reflections, stories of our global family, prayers and practical ideas for action, as we create a space to prepare for the coming of Christ. The online Advent calendar of daily prayer and reflection will offer an opportunity to pause, reflect, pray and take action as we prepare for Christmas. For more information and to sign up for ... Read More

The Community of the Passion is a dispersed community of women and men, finding together a new way of being Passionist, under the auspices of the Passionist Province of Ireland and Britain. Married and single (and including some vowed Passionist members), the Community engages in practical solidarity with the Crucified people in their daily lives. Committed to prayer with and for each other, we fi... Read More

World Aids Day Mass will take place in London on Friday 1 December, 6pm, at Farm Street Jesuit Church, Mayfair, in the presence of the Chity of Westminster Deputy Lord Mayor, the Hon Alderman Cllr Guthrie McKie. The Chief Celebrant and preacher will be Fr Keiran Fitzsimmons OFM. (For those joining the Music Group for this Mass, there will be a practice at 5.30 prompt.) A display on HIV/AIDS pastor... Read More

Some 50 odd members of 'Catholics in Fundraising' forum gathered in the City. on Thursday, 23 November to reflect on their work and its relationship to the Church's mission. Hosted by Evelyn Partners, Inno van den Berg emphasised the need for religious charities to 'optimise rather than maximise returns.' Headline speaker Jean Pierre Casey, who serves on the Holy See's Investment Committee, calle... Read More

A webinar organised by the World Council of Churches and the World Association for Christian Communication on 5 December will explore how churches can seek and serve the truth in the age of social media and digital communication. Participants will learn about the ways 'fake news' is spread. Through case studies and investigative journalism, panelists will share about the reality of disinformation ... Read More

Following the Chancellor's Autumn Statement today, Wednesday 22 November, the Catholic Union has issued the following statement. Catholic Union Director, Nigel Parker, comments: "The Chancellor has once again missed the opportunity for fundamental reform of the tax and benefit system to help families struggling with the cost of living. "While a higher National Living Wage and lower National Insur... Read More

Thirty six men from dioceses across Ireland enrolled in this year's weekend gathering on 18 and 19 November, in the national seminary of Saint Patrick's College, Maynooth, to help discern if God is calling them to the priesthood. According to Father Willie Purcell, director of the National Vocations Office of the Irish Bishops' Conference: "The weekend offers those discerning a vocation to the di... Read More

A study produced by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life reveals that people of faith in Britain are significantly happier than atheists and non-religious people. The study, titled 'Keep the Faith: Mental Health in the UK', authored by Dr Rakib Ehsan for the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) shows that, on average, people for whom religion is an important part of their iden... Read More

Today on World Fisheries Day, maritime welfare charities have joined forces to support a new annual National Fishing Remembrance Day for those who have lost their lives while fishing at sea. The first National Fishing Remembrance Day will take place on Sunday 12 May 2024. Fishing to catch, and bring to land, our much-needed seafood is still one of the most dangerous jobs in the UK with recent trag... Read More

Readers are warmly invited to join the next regular Taizé Prayer at London's French Church: Notre Dame de France, 5 Leicester Place WC2H 7BX, on Saturday 25th November at 7.30 pm on the eve of the feast of Christ the King. The theme will be: Christ the King - present in the poor and those in need. All are welcome! "And the King will answer, "I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one o... Read More

Today, on Children's Day, we share the testimonies of children across Hebron in the West Bank about how the military lockdown and intensifying violence across Palestine has impacted their lives. Once the war started [Israeli soldiers] closed all the checkpoints in our area and life became totally like a prison. We are prevented from going out to go to our schools and to play around with our frien... Read More

Faith leaders from across the UK gathered to meet King Charles in the Library at Lambeth Palace to mark Inter Faith Week on Thursday, 16 November. Speaking of the importance of the occasion, Cardinal Vincent said: 'At a time of heightened community tensions, with fear, anger and protest all too evident, this was an important gathering, expressing His Majesty's deep commitment to the harmony and we... Read More