UK & Ireland

A special Mass to mark the one-year anniversary of the hijacking of the Galaxy Leader vehicle carrier ship took place at St Anselm and St Cecilia's church in Holborn, central London, on Tuesday evening. The celebrant was Father Francisco Cruz CM, Chaplain to the Filipinos of London, assisted by Stella Maris Chaplain, Deacon Martin Matheson. On 19 November 2023, the Galaxy Leader was highjacked by ... Read More

The Abbot President of the Subiaco-Cassinese Benedictine Congregation, Dom Ignasi Fossa, with his Council of Assistants, has appointed Dom Simon Piątkowski as Prior Administrator of Pluscarden, until the next regular canonical Visitation: that is, until June 2027. This decision was recommended to the President by our Abbot Visitor, Dom Cuthbert Brogan of Farnborough Abbey, who reached it togethe... Read More

As well as those who faithfully pray the rosary in their parishes, modern technology is now enabling those with busy life styles who can't make it to the church prayer group, to nonetheless be part of a prayer community! As part of the preparations for the Jubilee Year called for by Pope Francis, the Southwark Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis together with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal ... Read More

Dr Tom Shakespeare, Professor of Disability Research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, delivered the 2024 Craigmyle Lecture on Tuesday evening. Baroness Sheila Hollins, President of the Catholic Union, chaired the event held at the Royal Society of Medicine in Wimpole Street. Entitled: 'Make a level path for my feet: disability equality, and love' Professor Shakespeare's infor... Read More

The annual World AIDS Mass will take place at 6pm on Tuesday, 26 November, at Farm Street Jesuit Church, 114 Mount Street, Mayfair, London W1K 3AH. Organised by LGBT+ Catholics Westminster with Positive Faith & Catholics for AIDS Prevention & Support, the theme of the celebration is: Journeying Together for an HIV+ Free World. Father Brendan Callaghan SJ will preside and preach. The music ... Read More

This General Election, on 29 November, is an opportunity for voters to bring to bear their influence on the values, policies and wider conversations that will shape our country's future, not just during the term of the new Dáil Éireann, but for years to come. As followers of Jesus Christ, we share this reflection based on the values of the Gospel and developed by Catholic Social Teaching, rooted... Read More

On the occasion of World Poverty Day 2024 on Sunday, the Apostolic Nuncio Miguel Maury Buendía visited East London homelessness charity Providence Row's kitchen and helped out at the lunch service on Monday, 18 November. Last year, the Providence Row kitchen served over 15,000 meals to 1,500 people affected by homelessness. The charity also provides services including Advice & Support, Crisis... Read More

The National Police Requiem Mass took place at Westminster Cathedral on Thursday 7 November 2024. Organised by The Catholic Police Guild, this was the 101st National Police Requiem Mass, commemorating all officers and staff who have died on duty and all members of the Guild. The procession began at 2.30pm led by ten force standard bearers; representatives from different police forces; cadets accom... Read More

Canon Rob Esdaile, Parish Priest of St Dunstan's, Woking and St Hugh of Lincoln, Knaphill, Surrey, has sent the following letter to Will Forster, MP for Woking. Dear Mr. Forster, It was a pleasure to speak with you briefly at the Knaphill Armistice Day commemoration on Monday. Thank you for all you are doing in service of your constituents. I am writing with reference to the Terminally Ill Adults... Read More

A virtual press conference was held on Friday, 15 November to discuss the Bishops' plenary meeting in Leeds that took place between 11-14 November at Hinsley Hall. The event was chaired by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops' Conference Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues and Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Chair of the Bishops' Conference International Affairs department. ... Read More

The evening of 14th November saw the third Diocese of Westminster 'Love in Action' Volunteering Awards, hosted by Caritas Westminster in Westminster Cathedral Hall. The event recognised volunteers from across the diocese for outstanding commitment to voluntary service, with finalists selected from a pool of over 60 nominations. The ceremony opened with a welcome from Cardinal Vincent Nichols and R... Read More

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales issued the following statement today, commemorating the 91st Anniversary of the Ukrainian Holodomor Famine-Genocide which took place from 1932-1933. Last year, on 26 November, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, spoke the following words during the celebration of the Angelus, in St Peter's Square: "Yesterday tormented Ukraine commemorated the Holodomor, the ge... Read More

The Catholic Bishops of England, Wales and Scotland have issued the following statement on Assisted Suicide ahead of the Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Be compassionate As Catholic Bishops in England and Wales, and in Scotland, we believe that genuine compassion is under threat because of the attempts in Parliament to legalise assisted suicide. 'Compassion' means t... Read More

The Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich has today (November 14) been revealed as "at risk" by Historic England in its annual Heritage at Risk Register 2024. The Cathedral, which was completed in 1910, is deemed "at risk" due to issues with the rainwater pipes, which are at full capacity, and failing gutters, leading to leaks into the roof. Investigation work will be carried out to... Read More