UK & Ireland

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Philip Moger as the new Bishop of Plymouth. A priest of the Diocese of Leeds for over 40 years, Bishop Moger has, until now, served as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Southwark. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and Archbishop of Westminster sent this message: "I congratulate the Right Rev... Read More

Archbishop Mark O'Toole has issued Pastoral Letter announcing the creation of the United Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. In a pastoral letter to be read across the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia on the weekend of 14th-15th September, Archbishop Mark O'Toole shared the joyful news of the creation of the new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. The announcement was promulgated from Rome, following the de... Read More

Synodal conversion for the sake of mission. A multi-parish day of reflection, discernment, and action to prepare for the October 2024 Synod Assembly in Rome will take place this Saturday, 14 September at 10 for 10.30am - 4pm, in the London Jesuit Centre, 114 Mount Street W1K 3AH. To register to attend, by 12 September, email FarmStreetOffice@rcdow.org.uk . For further details call 020 8986 0... Read More

Archbishop George Stack, Chair of the Patrimony Committee of the Bishops' Conference, has welcomed a new multi-million pound initiative that could see significant sums of money earmarked for urgent repairs and restoration projects for historic places of worship including Catholic church buildings. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced a three-year strategic initiative to invest £100m t... Read More

Christians from around the UK and British Isles are being urged to join church leaders and Christian organisations, NGOs and civil society in a National Week of Prayer from 12-20 October. The campaign, which has been created from a partnership - including Open Doors UK & Ireland, 24-7 Prayer, CARE, the Evangelical Alliance and other national prayer networks - is hoping to gather Christians fro... Read More

The autumn edition of 'Carmelite News' is now available. It has been written by the Prior Provincial, Brendan Grady, O Carm, for the friends of the Shrine of Saint Jude and the Carmelite Order. In this issue, Brendan reflects on admiring creation and seeing gardens as a sacred space, plus he shares news on recent events at the Shrine including a visit from 'The Sun' newspaper and news from the Pro... Read More

Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Bishops' Conference, is encouraging Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action as Parliament prepares to renew the debate around assisted suicide. 'Parliament returned this week, and with it the prospect of renewed debates on the ethics of assisted suicide. The second reading of Lord Falconer's 'Assisted Dying for Terminally I... Read More

Fr Toby Lees OP, Priest Director of Radio Maria writes: Mother Teresa, that great saint whose feast was Thursday, but whose death was largely hidden by that of Princess Diana, was once invited to give the commencement address at Harvard University. She began by reading their invitation to her, which said something like this: 'We invite you, Mother Teresa, as the most well-known citizen of India, ... Read More

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales with the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA), announces the news that Nazir Afzal, Chair of the CSSA, is stepping down at the conclusion of his three-year appointment. Nazir has been instrumental in developing the CSSA in structure and function, which was recommended by an independent review of safeguarding in the Catholic Church by I... Read More

Cardinal Vincent Nichols and the Directors of the Trustee of the Diocese of Westminster have thanked the CSSA for their work on the baseline audit report into safeguarding arrangements in the diocese. The overall grading for the baseline audit was 'Firm Progress'. The audit noted the following areas of strength: - The 'good work [that] has been completed to embed a culture of safeguarding within t... Read More

The Diocese of Westminster has announce the appointment of Catherine Edginton as Head of Safeguarding from 2nd September 2024. Catherine has been the Senior Safeguarding Lead and Technical Advisor at the Charity Commission since 2019. Before her time at the Commission, she served as Detective Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police with a specific focus on safeguarding. She served in the North ... Read More

The Relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes are being brought on their first-ever visit to Ireland this week. Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Achonry and President of the United Irish Pilgrimages to Lourdes, said: "We hope that many people will be able to share in the blessings of the Pilgrimage, by gathering to pray with Saint Bernadette in cities ... Read More

In his series about the Religious Congregations living and working in the Diocese of East Anglia, Fr Karol Porczak MS, Vicar for the Religious, introduces the Discalced Carmelites (ODC). Pictured from left to right, top row: Sr Teresa, Sr Kay Elizabeth, Sr Elizabeth Ruth, Sr Deborah, Sr Maria Joseph; middle row: Sr Paula, Sr Anna, Sr Stephanie (Prioress), Sr Eleanor, Sr Penelope; bottom row: Sr An... Read More

Brother John writes from the Monastery of Christ Our Saviour, Turvey. The day begins with a Hobby flying very low and fast through the garden on the prowl for any unwary bird to feed its young. The Swifts have now gone and so the object of its affections is the many juvenile passerines (perching birds) which are filling the garden now attentive in their turn to the masses of blackberries, honeysuc... Read More