Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has today, 10 October, appointed Bishop Timothy Menezes as the new Bishop of Brentwood.
Bishop Menezes, until now an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, succeeds Bishop Alan Williams, S.M., whose resignation has been accepted by the Holy Father having turned 75 years old on 15 March 2026.Bishop Menezes, said:
“It is a great privilege to be appointed by Pope Leo XIV as Bishop of the Diocese of Brentwood. I’m aware there will be much to learn, so I ask the Lay Faithful, the Clergy and the Religious of the diocese to pray for me, and with me, in our shared mission as Pilgrims of Hope in a world in need of hope."
Pope Leo XIV sends message to Bishops’ Conference President to mark ‘Adoremus 2026’
The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has sent a message to Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Bishops’ Conference, greeting the Bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful taking part in the Adoremus National Eucharistic Congress on Saturday, 10 October.
Pope Leo draws particular reference to the Eucharistic Procession that will see Christ take to London’s streets in the Blessed Sacrament traveling from Southwark’s Saint George’s Cathedral to Westminster’s Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood.
Ahead of Adoremus 2026, Cardinal Vincent Nichols has shared a reflection on what makes Adoration such a special practice for Catholics.
Adoremus is the National Eucharistic Congress which will take place on Saturday 10 October 2026.
“The word Adoremus means we adore, or maybe let us adore. That’s what Adoremus is about – adoration of the presence of Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God, in the Blessed Sacrament before us.”
Together in prayer and dialogue for peace
From 16-22 October, His Eminence Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue will undertake his first official visit to the UK to meet with representatives of Dharmic religions.
The visit has the theme Together in prayer and dialogue for peace, and will take place in London and Birmingham, with meetings and special events organised for representatives from different religions.
Ten years after the publication of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation on love in the family, Amoris laetitia, the time has come to share what has emerged from this document in the Church across the world so that the Church can renew her commitment to accompany families with the challenges and fragilities they face today, said Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, October 7.
Bishop Nicholas Hudson and Bishop James Curry have issued a joint statement on the third anniversary of the Hamas terror attack that killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage:
“7 October marks the third anniversary of Hamas’s brutal massacre of Israeli civilians during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.
“We remember and pray for those Israelis who were killed or taken hostage and for their families whose lives have been devastated by loss. We remember the Jewish people around the world who continue to carry deep wounds and trauma caused by the atrocities of that day."
Last month, on Sunday 27 September, Bishop Tom Neylon, auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, took part in a ‘Walk of Witness’ from Liverpool’s Catholic Cathedral to the city’s Anglican Cathedral at the opposite end of Hope Street.
Organised by the Just Peace Coalition, the Christian ecumenical group behind the ‘Time to Act’ campaign, the ‘Walk of Witness’ was attended by almost 200 people who were collectively raising their voices to advocate for a just peace for all those who call Holy Land their home.
The event began with Choral Evening Prayer at the Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King before participants walked together to Liverpool Cathedral.
Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues and Archbishop of Liverpool, and Bishop Bosco MacDonald, Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life and Bishop of Clifton, have issued a joint statement to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week.
“From Friday 9 October to Thursday 15 October, the UK will mark the 24th Baby Loss Awareness Week. We unite especially with parents, siblings, grandparents and other relatives grieving a baby who died in or outside the womb.
“Every day in the United Kingdom, over a dozen children die in the womb, during birth, or shortly afterwards. Each is a unique human being with a soul and God-given identity. For parents and relatives, this represents the loss of a loved one, whose life is infinitely valuable, and who leaves an unfillable void."
“Survivors do not experience safeguarding through policies alone. They experience it through people, communication, continuity, clarity…” (CSSA thematic inspection of survivor engagement, July 2026).
Are you a victim or survivor of abuse in a Catholic Church setting? If you have lived experience of abuse in this context, could you consider working alongside us to help improve safeguarding standards in the Catholic Church?
John Paul de Quay from the Ecological Conversion Group introduces the Jubilee Garden Project — a journey towards 2033 exploring how our gardens can become spaces for renewing faith, mission, belonging and community.
We are proud to provide high-quality professional photography to take our viewers on a journey to the transcendent - to Jesus Christ. Our Flickr photo galleries showcase the life and witness of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Total views of our photos have surpassed 100 million. These images are free to use for non-commercial purposes - the only request is that a simple credit is run: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.
10 October 2026
There are two main strands to the Adoremus National Eucharistic Congress in 2026.
In London, there will be a representative gathering of the Church with bishops, priests, and people. No less important is how Adoremus is marked in our parishes throughout England and Wales. Local Masses, processions of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Hours will unite these local events with the national gathering. Footage from the London event will be made available to enable remote participation.
11 October
Prisoners’ Sunday is the national day of prayer and action for prisoners and their dependents as marked by the Catholic Church and across the Christian denominations. It is a day to direct our thoughts and prayers to prisoners, their families and children. Prisoners’ Sunday is the time to reflect on how we as individuals, as a Church and as a community are serving those affected by imprisonment.
11 October - 17 October 2026
Prisons Week aims to encourage prayer and awareness of the needs of prisoners and their families, victims of offenders, prisons staff and all those who care.
18 October - 23 October 2026
The Jesuit Institute is offering this online week of guided prayer for those who have been affected by the scandal of Clergy Abuse in the church. Whether you have been affected directly or indirectly by this issue, this week will offer you safe space to prayerfully reflect on and explore your relationship with God as you are experiencing it in your life just now.
26 October 2026
Everyone is welcome to this conference, Hosted by St Mary's College Twickenham, on the rapid development of AI and the recent publication by Pope Leo XIV of the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.
22 November 2026
A day of faith, prayer, and renewal under Our Lady's mantle. Keynote speakers; Sr Angela De Fatima Coelho and Fr Lawrence Lew OP.
The Maryvale Institute offers a full range of programmes for every ability, from easy short courses to a five-year PhD programme. Want to deepen your faith? Thinking about getting more involved with your parish, Catholic organisation or Diocese? Would you like to teach in Catholic institutions? One of these courses may be for you.
Today, people seeking asylum in the UK are facing laws and policies that deny their dignity. Families are kept apart. People are forced into poverty and isolation. Many live in fear, unable to rebuild their lives even after being recognised as refugees.
As Christians, we cannot accept a system that treats people as problems to be managed rather than neighbours to be welcomed. Together, we can build a society that welcomes, protects, and stands alongside people seeking safety.
St George's Roman Catholic Church