News from United Kingdom & Ireland covering parishes, dioceses, religious orders, community groups, homelessness, moral & political issues and pilgrims.
Alan Whelan writes: 2020 is likely to be a momentous year for the Catholic Church in Dublin and the whole island of Ireland. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has clearly indicated that he will submit his resignation letter to Pope Francis in a few months time when he reaches his 75th birthday. His time at the helm of Dublin archdiocese has rarely seen him out of the news and he has not been...
The 2020 annual conference of the UK Christian Meditation Community, which takes place from June 12-14, invites all who want to deepen their understanding of the ecological emergency and find a contemplative response.
Revisit the Christian understandings of creation.
Explore how meditation and contemplative practice can: • awaken us to a more sustainable life • help us...
The Diocese of Westminster is undertaking a strategic review of the role of sacred music in the mission of Westminster Cathedral.
In a statement issue this morning the Diocese states:
The musical tradition of Westminster Cathedral, in its excellence, constitutes a crucial and powerful part of the mission of the Cathedral. The Choir of Westminster Cathedral is recognised a...
St Beuno's Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Tremeirchion, north Wales is hosting a weekend is primarily for those caring for people living with dementia but would also suit anyone with an interest in dementia. It is led by Dr John Hindle, Mrs Rose McCrave and Dr Catherine Hindle.
Dementia is a common condition with consequences for the individual, their family, friends and society. It also r...
His Excellency Mr Lubomir Rehak, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Court of St James's, and Mr Anthony Bailey OBE, Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, hosted a New Year reception at the Slovak Embassy in Kensington, London on Thursday evening, which was attended by faith and community leaders, ambassadors from around the world, ...
Dr Austen Ivereigh will give the first Campion Lecture of 2020, entitled: 'The Papacy of Francis: Conversion & Resistance' on Thursday, 23 January.
Dr Ivereigh is Fellow in Contemporary Church History at Campion Hall and one of the leading interpreters of the Papacy. He is a writer, journalist and commentator, formerly deputy Editor of The Tablet.
His latest book 'Wounded Shephe...
Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, the current Eparch of New Westminster, Canada was appointed bishop of the Eparchy of the Holy Family of London for Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 15 January 2020.
Bishop Kenneth has issued the following pastoral letter:
To the Reverend Clergy, the Venerable Religious, and the Lay-Faithful of the Epa...
The Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who are an Ordinariate community based in Birmingham, are looking for a new convent. The building they currently use is due to be sold and they are urgently searching for a property of the right size which will allow them to continue their ministry of offering retreats.
The Superior, Mother Winsome, said: "We'd ideally like to stay in the archdioces...
The Bishops of Scotland have appointed Fr Gerard Maguiness to be the new General Secretary of the Bishops' Conference. Fr Maguiness is currently Parish Priest of St Ignatius' Wishaw, in the Diocese of Motherwell. He succeeds Fr Jim Grant who was appointed in 2018.
Commenting on the appointment, Bishop Hugh Gilbert, President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland said: "I am delighted to ...
Further to a letter addressed to the Parish of West Malling on 20th December 2019, Archbishop John Wilson has issued the following statement clarifying Southwark's position regarding West Malling parish:
"Since my letter of 20 December 2019 to the Catholic Community of the Parish of St Thomas More, West Malling, there has been contact from a number of individuals and media outlet...
The city of Glasgow is celebrating its saint's day with its most ambitious programme of events to date. The traditional Feast Day of St Mungo - or Kentigern - which took place yesterday, 13 January, is being supported by 10 days of activities and celebrations including exhibitions, musical events, a medieval food festival and church services.
The launch event was held last Wednesday, 8 Ja...
The Most Reverend John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark, has appointed Canon John O'Toole to the role of Episcopal Vicar for Kent until a new Auxiliary Bishop for the archdiocese is appointed by the Holy See.
Canon O'Toole has worked at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales since January 2015 serving as National Ecumenical Officer and Secretary to the Department for Dialogu...
Four churches in and around the City of London will consolidate over 15 years of working together by signing an Ecumenical Partnership on Thursday, 23 January 2020. This will take place during a 12.45 Lunchtime Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at the Methodist's historic Wesley's Chapel, 49 City Road, London EC1Y 1AU.
The various Church Councils of Jewin Welsh Presbyteri...
This year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on Saturday, 18 January.
This year's theme, "they showed us unusual kindness," is taken from Acts 28:2, and draws on the story of Paul finding safety in Malta after a shipwreck. The resources for the week have been prepared by members of different churches in Malta.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been jointly organiz...
