UK & Ireland

On 20th December in Cork, Ireland, the Presentation Sisters launched a year of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Presentation Congregation by Nano Nagle. On Christmas Eve 1775 in Cork, Nano Nagle, with her three companions - Mary Ann Collins, Mary Fouhy and Elizabeth Burke, founded a religious community in response to God's call to them to become consecrated women who would ... Read More

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Bishop Marcus Stock as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough. Following acceptance of the resignation, in accordance with Canon 401 - 11, of the Rt Rev Terence Drainey as Bishop of Middlesbrough, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Marcus Stock as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough, whilst retaining his c... Read More

Church Leaders: "The gift of hope is as precious as ever ... In our own country there are many who live in fear and uncertainty, struggling to make ends meet and fearful of what the future may bring ... Every life should be lived out in hope" Christmas 2025 message His name will be called Emmanuel, which means 'God with us' (Mt 1:23). For Christians, what happened on the first Christmas night ov... Read More

Christian leaders across Wales have come together to issue a joint Christmas message to the people of Wales. The Most Revd Mark O'Toole, Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, The Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales (Church in Wales), and Rev Dyfrig Rees, President of the Free Church Council of Wales, reflect on the profound truth of Emmanuel - God with us. Drawing on the witness of theolo... Read More

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has today, 22 December 2025, appointed Canon Gerard Bradley as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Southwark. Welcoming the news, the Most Reverend John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark, said: "It fills me with great joy to welcome Bishop-elect Gerard Bradley as Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark. I thank the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for his generosity and care in prov... Read More

The latest victim of a fatal stabbing in Islington, north London, 15-year-old Adam John Henry, was remembered today at St Mellitus Church, Finsbury Park. Adam John Henry was attacked at around 1pm last Tuesday. He died later that day in hospital. A 20 year old man has now been charged with murder.. Morning Mass-goers gathered in silence to pray for the young man, his family, and all the victims ... Read More

Since news of the appointment of Bishop Richard Moth as the new Archbishop of Westminster was released this morning, many messages of congratulation have been arriving. Aid to the Church in Need Dr Caroline Hull, director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK), said: "I am delighted to learn of Bishop Moth's appointment as the new Archbishop of Westminster. His help and support of the work of ACN has b... Read More

Guests at Farm Street Jesuit Centre homeless lunch in Mayfair were in for a treat yesterday when they were entertained with a concert by singer Patricia Hammond and instrumentalist Matt Redman and seasonal readings by Gabrielle Lister and Kenneth Michaels from CaAPA - the Catholic Association of Performing Arts. Kenneth read a very heartwarming piece from Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. Pa... Read More

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has today, 19 December, appointed the Right Reverend Richard Moth as Archbishop of Westminster. Ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Southwark on 3 July 1982, Archbishop-elect Moth has served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton since 2015. Prior to that, he was the Catholic Bishop of the Forces from 2009 to 2015. Archbishop-elect Moth will become the 12th Archb... Read More

A Latvian seafarer who had to spend several months in hospital in Glasgow received one of the best gifts he could get for Christmas - after a long and difficult recovery, he will be discharged tomorrow (19 December) and will be home in time for Christmas with his family. The 44-year-old, who had been working out of Cairnryan for many years, collapsed earlier this year from a massive heart attack a... Read More

Christmas churchgoing is increasing, with nearly one in two UK adults (45%) planning to attend a church event or service this year, up from 40% last year, according to a new nationwide poll of 2,017 UK adults by Savanta1 for Christian humanitarian & development agency Tearfund. People are drawn to church for a mix of tradition, spiritual meaning and support: of those who go nearly two in five ... Read More

A wide variety of conversations are coming up in the All Kinds of Catholic podcast over the next few weeks. The weekly episodes with 'ordinary' Catholic people are available wherever you get your podcasts - and on Substack. In Episode 80, out now, Carol reports that, when asked if she wanted to change the world or change the Church, she knew she wanted to change the world. For Carol, 'Jesus was th... Read More

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has sent the following message of sympathy to the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, following yesterday's terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. I write to offer my deepest condolences following the devastating terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. I was profoundly saddened to hear of the loss of life and the i... Read More

Archbishop Eamon Martin delivered this statement during the annual Christmas Carol Service today in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh: As we gather this evening for our Christmas carol service, and light the third candle on our Advent wreath, we unite with our Jewish brothers and sisters around the world who are celebrating the festival of Hanukkah today, and whose festival of light this year has... Read More