Catholic News

As the Social Justice department of the Bishops' Conference launches a new revised edition of the Bishops' teaching document on the environment The Call of Creation , Bishop John Arnold, our episcopal lead for environmental matters, has been speaking to us about the current ecological crisis, our responsibilities as Catholics and custodians of the created world, and his belief that we all need to...

The director of a new Ukrainian Welcome Centre in central London has urged Britons to keep their hearts and doors open to Ukrainians who are arriving in the UK fleeing the war in their homeland. Andriy Marchenko talks to us about the Centre, based at the cathedral of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family near Bond Street in central London It provides a single point of contact for essen...

The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family has opened a Welcome Centre in London in partnership with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain. Based at the Eparchy's cathedral near Bond Street in central London, the Centre provides a single point of contact for essential information for arrival, settling and long-term living in the UK. Bishop Kenneth Novakowski, the Ukrainian Catholic...

The Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life, Bishop David Oakley, has spoken to us about a new resource that offers reflections on the main themes of Amoris Laetitia - the 2016 Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation. 'The Joy of Love' looks at the themes of Joy, Love, Mercy, Realities and Discernment, and Mission encouraging prayer and reflection for individuals, couples and families. Download The Jo...

In December 1916, deep in the Sahara, an unknown French hermit was shot through the head and dumped in a ditch. He was 58. An accomplished geographer, linguist and explorer, in youth he had been a disillusioned soldier and aristocratic playboy. Why at 30 did he abandon family, career, everything, to search for 'the last place', close to the poor and suffering? This audiobook describes his epic pil...

Bishop Thomas Neylon, Lead Bishop for Asia for the Bishops' Conference, has recorded a short reflection on Blessed Lazarus, also called Devasahayam, an 18th-century Indian martyr. He was a married Hindu man who converted to Catholicism and suffered much persecution for his faith. A Catholic for only seven years, he was shot dead in the Aralvaimozhy forest on January 14, 1752. Image Statue of Devas...

As an important part of our resources for the Day of Prayer for the Survivors of Abuse , we have produced an audio reflection on Psalm 121. We listen to an introduction before hearing a reading of the Psalm. Then a survivor offers her personal reflection on the psalm before we offer prayers for survivors of abuse, their families, friends and communities. Introduction Psalm 121, I lift up my eyes t...

Bishop Paul Swarbrick, Bishop of Lancaster, introduces us to Charles de Foucauld, a former soldier and Trappist who will be canonised by Pope Francis on Sunday 15 May 2022. Photo © Jean-Louis Zimmermann (CC BY 2.0)

Titus Brandsma was a Carmelite friar who was killed in the Dachau concentration camp on 26 July 1942. The Nazi invasion of Holland took place on 10 May 1940. Their persecution of the Jews is well known. Titus defended the Jewish people - especially Jewish children who attended Catholic schools. He said: "the Church in carrying out her mission makes no distinction between sex, race or people." In l...

Cardinal Vincent Nichols spoke to journalists, remotely, about the Bishops' first plenary meeting in Wales for 18 years. The Cardinal, President of the Bishops' Conference, looked back on the five-day meeting and talked about their discussions. The meeting took place in Cardiff from 2 - 6 May 2022. Cardinal Nichols gave a briefing on the deliberations of the bishops, including Ukraine and refugees...

The Most Reverend John Wilson spoke passionately to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community in the UK about the disastrous consequences that war has brought to Ukraine. The Archbishop of Southwark was invited to preach at the Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in central London on Sunday 27 February. He spoke to us afterwards: "The gospel today in the Ukrain...

The Most Reverend John Wilson spoke passionately to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community in the UK about the disastrous consequences that war has brought to Ukraine. The Archbishop of Southwark was invited to preach at the Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in central London on Sunday 27 February. He spoke to us afterwards: "The gospel today in the Ukrain...

In a pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful of his diocese, Plymouth, Bishop Mark O'Toole has urged the community to pick up the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent for the people of Ukraine. This follows Pope Francis’ call to observe Ash Wednesday, 2 March, as a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace. “We all feel somewhat impotent,” said the Chair of the Department of Ev...

In a pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful of his diocese, Plymouth, Bishop Mark O'Toole has urged the community to pick up the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent for the people of Ukraine. This follows Pope Francis’ call to observe Ash Wednesday, 2 March, as a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace. “We all feel somewhat impotent,” said the Chair of the Department of Ev...

Speaking at a Mass in Brixton, South London, a week before Racial Justice Sunday , Archbishop John Wilson has talked about how important it is we use the occasion to affirm the dignity and place of every person in the life of the Church. Stating explicitly that there is no place in the Church for racism and racial injustice, the Archbishop of Southwark said: "One of the challenges for us is to thi...

Speaking at a Mass in Brixton, South London, a week before Racial Justice Sunday , Archbishop John Wilson has talked about how important it is we use the occasion to affirm the dignity and place of every person in the life of the Church. Stating explicitly that there is no place in the Church for racism and racial injustice, the Archbishop of Southwark said: "One of the challenges for us is to thi...

Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine as the threat of Russian troops invading the Eastern European country continues to rise. Catholics around the world will join in prayer on Wednesday, 26 January. The Right Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski is the Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. We spoke to Bishop Nowakowski about the alarmin...

Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine as the threat of Russian troops invading the Eastern European country continues to rise. Catholics around the world will join in prayer on Wednesday, 26 January. The Right Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski is the Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. We spoke to Bishop Nowakowski about the alarmin...

Providing a hot meal and friendly conversation is an act that sits well with those of a Franciscan persuasion. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are known for embedding themselves alongside the poor, the homeless and the destitute. Saint Fidelis Friary, in Canning Town, London, was established in 2000. As part of their work of ‘making all things new in Christ’, the friars provide material and s...

Providing a hot meal and friendly conversation is an act that sits well with those of a Franciscan persuasion. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are known for embedding themselves alongside the poor, the homeless and the destitute. Saint Fidelis Friary, in Canning Town, London, was established in 2000. As part of their work of ‘making all things new in Christ’, the friars provide material and s...

Pope Francis has given BBC Radio 4 his ‘Thought for the Day’ reflection focussing on the environment and climate change ahead of the COP26 UN climate summit. Used with kind permission of BBC Radio 4.

Pope Francis has given BBC Radio 4 his ‘Thought for the Day’ reflection focussing on the environment and climate change ahead of the COP26 UN climate summit. Used with kind permission of BBC Radio 4.

Bishop Robert Byrne has recently returned from the week-long International Eucharistic Congress that took place in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Established in 1881, these congresses take place every four years and celebrate the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Bishop Byrne’s diocese, Hexham and Newcastle, is about to embark on a ‘Year of the Eucharist’. It’s an opportunity, he says,...

Bishop Robert Byrne has recently returned from the week-long International Eucharistic Congress that took place in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Established in 1881, these congresses take place every four years and celebrate the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Bishop Byrne’s diocese, Hexham and Newcastle, is about to embark on a ‘Year of the Eucharist’. It’s an opportunity, he says,...

Stella Maris, the Catholic charity that supports seafarers, fishers, and their families, has just completed a year-long celebration of its 100 years of service. To mark the end of the centenary year, a special Mass was celebrated in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, on Tuesday, 5 October. For this podcast, we caught up with Martin Foley, Chief Executive Officer of Stella Maris, and Anne McLaren, R...