Archbishop O’Toole has celebrated the proclamation of the new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, saying the Catholic community need to have the faith that the Centurion shows Jesus in the Gospel.
On 1 December at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St David, Archbishop O’Toole received the Papal Bull appointing him as Archbishop of the new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia.
On Tuesday 26 November, Bishop Bosco MacDonald, Bishop of Clifton, was Installed as a Prebend of Wells Cathedral during a Service of Choral Evensong, sung by the Vicars Choral of Wells Cathedral Choir. Members of the Chapter installed Bishop MacDonald as a Prebendary along with two others: Colin Kerr, Chair of the Cathedral Finance Committee and Bishop Roshan Lal, Bishop of the Apostolic Pastoral Congress.
It is with much sadness that we learned of the death of Bishop John Hine, a retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Southwark. Bishop Hine died on Saturday, 16 November in Abbotsleigh Care Home, Staplehurst, where he had been resident for a few months.
Archbishop Wilson of Southwark asked the faithful to “remember his sister Anne in your prayers, as well as all those who mourn him. Let us give thanks for Bishop John’s ministry and commend him to the mercy of our loving God.”
The chaplain for Filipinos in London has offered prayers, hope and encouragement for the crew of the Galaxy Leader who remain in captivity one year after their vessel was hijacked by Houthi forces on 19 November 2023.
Fr Francisco Cruz CM prayed for the safe return and speedy release of the crew at a special Mass and Vigil organised by global maritime charity Stella Maris to mark the one year anniversary of the crew’s capture.
“We trust in God to bring those who are in captivity home, to be united with their families,” he said in his homily at the Church of St Anselm and St Cecilia in Holborn, London on 19 November.
Victims of Valencia’s recent floods were remembered at a requiem mass held at St James’s, Spanish Place Church, with embassy officials and the Spanish community leading the tributes.
The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Robert Rigby, represented the people of Westminster at the well-known venue. Also present was the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía and His Excellency José Pascual Marco, Spanish Ambassador to the UK.
On Monday, 2 December, the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) confirmed the appointment of its new Independent Chair of the Board, Mr Mike Cunningham.
He will oversee the agency’s work to uphold the highest safeguarding standards in the Catholic Church through the process of audits and independent regulation.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, welcomed the appointment.
Only a few days remain until the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, marking the beginning of the Holy Year 2025.
The Jubilee offers a special moment for plenary indulgence, conversion, and grace to rekindle hope in the daily journey of life and the proclamation of the Gospel.
Our studio guest for this special 30-minute Catholic News podcast is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
This episode is a collaboration with Middle East Analysis – a podcast strand that emanated from the Bishops’ Conference 15 years ago and features our former Middle East North Africa (MENA) consultant Dr Harry Hagopian. Harry, an Armenian who once served as an Assistant General Secretary for the Middle East Council of Churches, grew up in Jerusalem and his family has traditionally had close ties with the Patriarchate. He fondly reflects on how his father, a doctor, used to treat former Patriarchs at his GP surgery.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM has met with MPs, peers, civil servants and representatives of charities working in the Holy Land at a special parliamentary reception at the Palace of Westminster.
Organised by the Bishops’ Conference, the reception took place on Thursday 28 November, and was co-hosted by Mary Glindon MP, who is a member of both Labour Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East, and Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh, the longest-serving MP in the House of Commons.
The meeting was well attended by ecumenical and interfaith representatives – from the Church of England and Orthodox churches, to Jewish and Muslim guests.
In the presence of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop John Wilson KC*HS, Archbishop of Southwark and the Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in England and Wales, has expressed his solidarity with the Church and people of the Holy Land.
Preaching at an Investiture Mass for the local Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in St George’s Cathedral, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa asserted that the future of the Holy Land will not be decided by the big political and socio-economic powers, but by the meek – the little ones we read about in the Gospel.
His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, preached this homily in Westminster Cathedral at a Solemn Mass for the First Sunday of Advent.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, presided at the Mass – the Patriarch’s last engagement of his four-day visit to London.
Archbishop John Wilson issued a statement, following the vote on Assisted Dying in the House of Commons, warning of the “seismic and concerning shift” in how we care for the vulnerable.
After MPs voted to support the progress of a Bill which will enact assisted suicide for the first time in the UK, Archbishop John Wilson said this “represents a seismic and concerning shift in our nation’s approach to caring for the most vulnerable among us”.
On the day that the House of Commons debates the proposed bill on assisted suicide, Bishop Peter Collins has spoken live on BBC Radio Norfolk outlining his opposition to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
“The Passing of this bill is deeply disappointing and indicates a worrying trend of how we look out for the most vulnerable in our country, especially those with disabilities, the sick and the elderly. I hope that with further reflection our society will recognise this is not the way to go,” said Archbishop Mark O’Toole in light of the passing of the Assisted Suicide Bill on Friday, 29 November.
Bishop Patrick McKinney comments following the passing of the Second Reading of the Assisted Suicide Bill: “Given the gravity of this Bill, I hope and pray that there will be further opportunity during its passage for deep and critical reflection on the part of all of our society, rather than this highly controversial proposal continuing to be rushed through.”
Fr Jonathan Stewart, a priest of Plymouth Diocese, offers this prayer for the Terminally Ill.
Sunday 01 December - Tuesday 24 December
Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning 'arrival' or 'coming'. It's the season before Christmas we use to prepare ourselves to celebrate the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love.
Second Sunday of Advent, Sunday 08 December
The Second Sunday of Advent calls us to make straight the paths for the Lord in our own hearts and in the world around us.
Peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the fullness of God’s presence. The readings this week call us to make straight the paths for the Lord in our own hearts and in the world around us. Baruch envisages God’s people being led home in joy and peace, and John the Baptist invites us to clear the obstacles that prevent us from fully welcoming Christ into our lives and into our hearts.
The season of Advent is observed in the four weeks leading up to Christmas day. It is a time of anticipation, preparation, and deepening faith. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming at Christmas, Advent invites us to look forward to His eventual return.
Each Sunday of Advent centres on a theme: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
This resource, produced by Elliot Vanstone and Fleur Dorrell from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, is structured around the Sunday themes that are aligned with the Scripture readings of the liturgical calendar.
Each reflection includes Scripture references, a reflection, suggested prayers and action steps to enrich the Advent season.
Columban Missionaries in Britain have launched their 2024-25 Schools Media Competition, which has the title: ‘Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope’.
Encouraging creativity and faith engagement with issues in the world today, this year’s competition welcomes both written and image entries until 7 February 2025, with winners being announced on 10 March 2025. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entrants and the first prize is an impressive £300.
This section contains two parish booklets designed as resources for use during the Year of Jubilee 2025.
In this section, you will find filmed resources, such as talks and addresses, that provide more information and insight into how the new lectionary will become part of our life and faith.
A new edition of the Lectionary, the book which contains the readings which are proclaimed at Mass, will come into use in England and Wales on the First Sunday of Advent 2024.
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