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Gospel of 11 December 2025 Matthew 11:11-15 At that time: Jesus said to the crowd: 'Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets ... Read More

Last week a parish in Massachusetts, St Susanna Parish in Dedham, changed their outdoor Nativity scene - replacing the figures of Mary and Joseph with a sign saying 'ICE was here' in protest at the 'Immigration and Customs Enforcement' raids often targeting churchgoers. Many thousands of people have been arrested across the USA, separated from their families and often taken to unknown locations. B... Read More

On International Human Rights Day - commemorated each year on 10 December - the UN's children agency launched a new appeal for humanitarian action next year to provide aid to 73 million children across 133 countries. 75 years ago the world observed Human Rights Day for the first time on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of the global pledge - the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a... Read More

The Theology of John Henry Newman & Its Relevance for Today's Church - A Six-Part Online Course - Starts in January 2026, hosted by the Margaret Beaufort Institute, Cambridge. 2026 begins with a remarkable opportunity to engage in deep learning rooted in the profound insights of one of Britain's most influential saints. Saint John Henry Newman-renowned theologian, educator, and spiritual guide... Read More

Pope Leo XIV met today with a delegation of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) of the European Parliament, a centre-right political group within the European Union's legislative body. He thanked the democratically elected politicians for their service to their constituents and the wider European community and urged them never to forget their duty to include people on the margins... Read More

Swedish singer songwriter Björn Ulvaeus - from the supergroup Abba, features in the Christmas edition of Faith Matters, just published by student reporters at St John Bosco College in Battersea, south London, under the guidance of editor-in-chief Fr Andrew. They succeeded in contacting Björn through Abba's manager, Görel Hanser - an achievement in itself. Instead of just focussing on the band, ... Read More

St Mary's University, London, welcomed students, staff, alumni, and members of the local community yesterday for the annual Patronal Feast Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This year's Feast Day had special significance as it formally concluded the University's 175th Anniversary celebrations. To mark the occasion, St Mary's Chancellor HE Cardinal Vincent Nichols celebrated Mass in the U... Read More

Gospel of 10 December 2025 Matthew 11:28-30 At that time: Jesus declared, 'Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.' Reflection on the Linocut We often think that advancing age naturally brings declining e... Read More

Pope Leo XIV welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday morning, 9 December. The Holy See Press Office issued a statement describing the cordial meeting, saying discussions centred mainly on the war in Ukraine. During their talks, the Pope reiterated the importance of ongoing dialogue and once again stressed his "urgent hope that ongoing d... Read More

The Holy See's official Pontifical Yearbook is now available online, providing up-to-date information on the Catholic Church's institutions across the globe. The new platform offers data on the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, Dioceses, Religious Institutes, and Apostolic Nunciatures. The project was jointly developed by the Secretariat of State and the Dicastery for Communication. Archbishop Edgar... Read More

In response to increasing Catholic congregations and housing growth, one of the first episcopal acts of the new Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Reverend Nicholas Hudson, was to celebrate a Mass for the Dedication of the new church and altar of St Benedict's, formerly a Methodist chapel, in Gillingham, Dorset on Tuesday 9 December. The Gillingham church project was identified against the background ... Read More

New Hall School in Chelmsford hosted an exceptional St Cecilia Concert, delighting a packed audience in its historic Chapel with an evening of musical excellence. For the first time since the School's founding in 1642, the entire programme was unified by a distinctive jazz influence, marking a significant and memorable moment in the School's cultural calendar. This annual concert honours St Cecil... Read More

One hundred of the 253 schoolchildren who were abducted in an armed raid on St Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger State were transported to the state capital, Minna, yesterday, 8 December, where they were officially received by Governor Mohammed Umar Bago before being handed over to government officials. Nigeria's Fed... Read More

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) expresses concern in a statement over a recent ruling by the EU Court of Justice on the recognition of same-sex marriages across Member States. In a statement released on Tuesday, December 9, the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) expressed concern over a recent judgment issued by the Cou... Read More