Advertisement MissioMissio Would you like to advertise on ICN? Click to learn more.

Latest News


Gospel in Art: Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field

Great Piece of Turf  by Albrecht Dürer , 1503 © Albertina Museum, Vienna

Gospel of 28 July 2026 Matthew 13:36-43 At that time: Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, 'Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.' He answered, 'The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is... Read More


Pope Leo returns to Vatican after break in Castel Gandolfo

Lake Albano from Castel Gandolfo. Image ICN/JS

Pope Leo XIV left Castel Gandolfo this evening, Monday, 27 July, to return to the Vatican, after a three week break. As his car left the papal residence, the Pope greeted a group of people who had gathered to see him off and blessed several children waiting with their parents. He will return to Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday, 29 July, to attend 'Canticle of Peace' (Cantico di Pace), an evening ga... Read More


Synod issues resources for local Church assemblies

Synod General Assembly, Paul VI Hall. Oct 2024

The General Secretariat of the Synod has published a new resource to help Dioceses prepare their evaluation Assemblies, which will conclude the local stage of the Synod's implementation process. Entitled 'Recollecting: Accompanying the preparation of the local Church's evaluation Assembly,' the document was released today, 27 July, and is available in several languages. "Evaluation is not a techn... Read More


Caritas Salford calls local Catholics to share priorities for letter to Andy Burnham

Caritas Salford Cornerstone Kitchen

As Andy Burnham starts work as our new prime minister, he will have a huge list of priorities to address as he hopefully hits the ground running. But, as a charity that supports people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, Caritas Salford is keen to make sure that the core issues affecting the lives of those people aren't lost in the mix. With almost one in th... Read More

Urgent message from Rev Munther Isaac in Bethlehem

In a message from the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice, Rev Munther Isaac appeals: "Every day we wake up wondering which Palestinian village will be attacked next. We are exhausted. We live in fear and terror." Settler violence in the West Bank has become a daily, relentless reality. Families attacked in their homes. Farms burned. People killed. And Palestinians left defenceless with no p... Read More


Cinema Paradiso at Farm Street Film Club

The wonderful film: Cinema Paradiso is showing this Thursday, 30 July, at the Tim Hetherington Film Club at Farm Street in the Arrupe Hall at 6.30 for 7pm. Cost: no charge, free refreshments but donations are welcome Written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, Cinema Paradiso is a 1988 coming-of-age comedy drama that has been credited as revitalizing the Italian film industry. Set in a small Sicil... Read More


Archbishop Martin: Grandparents have wisdom and vocation to pass on the faith

Archbishop Eamon Martin

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All Ireland, gave this homily yesterday, at Mass for the 2026 Grandparents' pilgrimage to the Shrine of Knock: 'I will never forget you'. Many grandparents nowadays say they get a whole new lease of life from being around young people. I was surprised recently when a 70 year-old grandad was able to explain to me all about TikTok and Snapchat, and I got a real s... Read More


Fr Michel Abboud at WeBelieve: Blessed are the Peacemakers

Fr Michel Abboud, image Caritas Lebanon

Fr Michel Abboud, OCD, President of Caritas Lebanon gave the following reflection at WeBelieve Festival of Catholic Life: entitled Blessed are the Peacemakers - From the Wounded Heart to the Healing of the World. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9 First of all, I would like to thank you for this invitation. I especially thank CAFOD for inviting me f... Read More


Gospel in Art: The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed

Mustard Pot, Meissen Manufactory, 1744-1745  © Metropolitan Museum, New York

Gospel of 27 July 2026 Matthew 13:31-35 At that time: Jesus put another parable before the crowd, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.' He told them anot... Read More


Pope Leo: God brings true fulfilment, not consumerism

Screenshot

Pope Leo XIV reflected on the mystery of the Kingdom of God as a treasure that transforms human life during his Angelus address on Sunday, 26 July, delivered from Castel Gandolfo, where he is taking a summer break. Commenting on the Gospel parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value (Mt 13:44-52), the Pope said that the Kingdom of God brings a joy so profound that leaving everythi... Read More


Third Annual St Ephrem Lecture in Syriac Studies

St Marina of Qanubin

On Saturday, 25 July 2026, the Liturgical Institute of Ealing Abbey welcomed scholars, clergy, students, and friends of the Syriac tradition for the Third Annual St Ephrem Lecture in Syriac Studies. The afternoon opened with a welcome from Abbot Dominic Taylor, who reflected on the importance of Eastern Christianity for understanding the origins of the Christian faith. He reminded those present th... Read More


A weekend of summer conferences and festivals

WeBelieve - Screenshot

We have just had a memorable weekend of Catholic summer conferences and festivals in England. (Perhaps next year the organisers could discuss dates in advance to avoid such big diary clashes!) People are still coming home from: 'One heart, one voice' - the National Network of Pastoral Musicians Conference in Highgate House, Northampton and the National Justice and Peace Network Conference at Swanw... Read More


'The West Bank is burning, bleeding, crying out in pain and suffering'

Palestinian man searches through wreckage of his home after an Israeli strike in Gaza.  24 July.

Fr Ibrahim Faltas, Head of Schools of the Custody of the Holy Land, has issued an urgent message deploring the situation in the West Bank and issing a warning both to those who fuel the violence and to those "who fail to intervene to stop this endless spiral." Fr Faltas writes: 'Once again, violence is intensifying in the Holy Land - a violence that has never left this land. 'It escalates into fur... Read More


Eulogy for Ben Bano

Ben Bano,  during his time serving as Mayor of Deal

The Requiem Mass for Benet Walter Bano "Ben" - took place at St Thomas of Canterbury's Catholic Church in Deal, Kent on Monday 20 July 2026 - attended by family, friends, local councillors and MPs. The celebrant was Fr Brian Coyle. A reception was held in Deal Town Hall after the funeral. Ben's daughter Sophie Skardon gave the following Eulogy. Dad was born on the 3rd February 1950 to Emmerich and... Read More

Mobile Menu Toggle Icon