Obituaries & Tributes

Three former US Democrat presidents and the current President of Colombia were among a vast array of speakers at a marathon final public memorial service for the late Baptist minister and trailblazing politician Rev Jesse Jackson in Chicago last Friday. Rev Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside the Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr, negotiated global hostage releases, and shamed c... Read More

A large congregation gathered at Holy Apostles, Pimlico last Monday for the Requiem Mass of a much-loved parishioner: Fleur Bridget Brennan, who died on 18 February 2026. The Mass was celebrated by Canon Pat Browne, with Parish Priest Canon Chris Vipers and Fr Charles Soyombo. Nicholas Lane played beautiful organ music. Fleur's son-in-law Matthew Knight read the following eulogy: "Fleur was born i... Read More

Professor Jack Scarisbrick MBE died on Saturday, 28 February at the age of 97. After announcing the sad news, Lord Alton wrote: "I count it one of the great privileges of my life to have known Jack - a brilliant historian, his powerful intellect and profound compassion were underpinned by remarkable energy and drive. "In charting a path to create a coherent and effective pro life movement - based ... Read More

Fr Thomas V Kunnunkal SJ, a distinguished Indian educationist, passed away at the age of 99 on January 28, 2026, leaving behind a rich legacy of service. He was laid to rest on January 30. Fr Kunnunkal served two terms as Principal of St Xavier's School from 1962 to 1979, during which time he made significant strides in the field of education. In recognition of his remarkable contributions, the Go... Read More

About forty people gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens, on the second anniversary of the murder of Alexei Navalny - that was about twice as many as last year. Most of those gathered in the cold and rain were Russian, they laid flowers against a wall and hung up posters. Most of them had been activists in their native land, supporting Navalny and getting arrested. One ... Read More

Simon Bryden-Brook (1941-2026) Simon Bryden-Brook, a regular correspondent to 'The Tablet', lived and died a Catholic, and it was his faith, considered by some Catholics as too liberal and/or unorthodox, that shaped his life. After becoming a Catholic at 18, he spent his life campaigning for change in the Church in accordance with the vision of the Second Vatican Council. For 40 years he was activ... Read More

We're very sad to announce the death on 23 January of Andrew Scadding, former Chief Executive Officer, of the Thai Children's Trust, (today known as Safe Child Thailand.) During Andrew's 17 years as CEO, his dedication and enthusiasm for the work founded by Redemptorist Father Ray Brennan, (CSsR) allowed the projects to grow and in turn support more underprivileged children and young people and st... Read More

John L Allen Jr, editor-in-chief of Crux whose decades-long career in journalism defined him as one of the authoritative voices on the Vatican and the Catholic Church, died in Rome last Thursday, 22 January after a long struggle with cancer. He was 61 years old. His Requiem Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of Sant'Eugenio in Rome on Monday, January 26, at 3pm. Born on 20 January 1965, John ... Read More

Angelo Gugel, who served as the Papal Chamber Assistant to Popes John Paul I, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, has died in Rome at the age of 90 after decades in service of the Popes, including standing beside John Paul II during the assassination attempt on May 13, 1981. For half a century, between the closing years of the twentieth century and the dawn of the new millennium, Angelo Gugel served t... Read More

Jesuits in Britain write: It is with sadness that we report that Fr Simon Bishop SJ, died on Sunday evening, 4 January 2026. Fr Simon was 58 years old, in the 33rd year of Religious life. He was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 28 March 1967 to his father George, who died on 30 November 2001 and his mother, Dawn. He was the youngest of four children. Simon was baptised at St Peter's church, Oys... Read More

It is with sadness we announce the death of Fr Edward Carroll on Sunday 4 January, peacefully at St Joseph's Hospice in Hackney. Fr Teave, as he was known by many, was admitted to St Joseph's on Wednesday afternoon for end of life care. Before that he was living at Nazareth House in Finchley where he was cared for by the Sisters, staff and Chaplain, Fr Terry Tastard. At St Joseph's the staff and C... Read More

The following tribute was given to Fr John Buckley by his niece Marian Williamson, during his Requiem Mass on Saturday, 6 December at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Ann in Cork. Good morning, everyone, and welcome. I would like to thank you all for being here today to join us in celebrating Father John's life in Christ. Father John was born in Dominic Street in Cork on the 12th of May, 1939. He ... Read More

The death has occurred of Fr John Buckley in Cork, on December 3rd 2025 peacefully at Marymount, in the presence of his loving family. Fr John, who served for years with the St Patrick's Missionary Society, Kiltegan, in Nigeria and also in the Dioceses of Westminster and Portsmouth, was brother of the late Bernadette, Theresa, Julia (Forsythe) and Margaret. Fondly remembered by his loving nieces,... Read More

We join the prayers for the repose of the soul of Rt Rev Thomas McMahon, Bishop Emeritus of Brentwood Diocese, who died earlier this week. Bishop Thomas was a great supporter of Pax Christi and one of our Vice Presidents for a number of years. Even before he became a Vice President, he was involved in setting up a J&P Commission in his Diocese which worked with us on the campaign for a Compre... Read More