Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
Bishop Marcus Stock, Bishop Leeds [Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough and Diocese of Hallam], reminds us that intentionally take our own life is a rejection of God’s loving gift of life to us. Bishop Stock makes this call ahead of the vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, 11 September.
The document “Caring for Our Common Home” calls for a “responsible and fraternal response to the Triune God”. The ecological question is a theological question: the way we care for Creation reveals and shapes our relationship with God. The deterioration of the environment is alarming and urgent action is needed to ensure the sustainability of the planet. Everything is connected: we must listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.
Tammy Sandhu presented her credentials to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to become the new British Ambassador to the Holy See. Ms Sandhu is the first woman from an ethnic minority background to hold the prestigious role. Over a third of British Heads of Mission overseas are women and 14% are people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Bishop Tom Neylon, lead bishop for Asia, has joined Pope Leo XIV in expressing his sorrow at the devastation and loss of life that is being caused by the floods in Nepal. The flash floods have been caused by the partial collapse of a glacier in the Himalayas on the Tibet-Nepal border.
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is 2:4) is the theme of Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the 2026 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, published in the Bulletin of the Holy See.
The Holy Father’s Message highlights the connection between armed conflict and environmental degradation. Such degradation constitutes both a serious violation of our duty to care for creation, as well as a long-term threat to the lives of hundreds of millions of people.
A Private Members’ Bill on assisted suicide – so-called assisted dying – has been reintroduced to the House of Commons. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will have its Second Reading and vote on Friday, 11 September 2026.
Our clear principled objection to this Bill remains and we renew our call for Catholics and people of goodwill to unite in prayer and compassionate action. Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Bishops’ Conference, explains our strong opposition to this legislation:
“The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which aims to legalise assisted suicide has returned to the House of Commons, and Members of Parliament will vote on its Second Reading on 11 September. This bill is wrong in principle. It is also deeply flawed and, if passed, could lead to vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives.
“The Bill has a serious lack of protection for health and social care staff and risks putting many wonderful hospices and care homes in the position of no longer being able to operate.
“I urge you to write to your Members of Parliament to petition them to vote against the Bill at Second Reading.”
BISHOPS’ MESSAGES
Archbishop Sherrington warns of “flawed and dangerous” assisted suicide Bill
'Assisted dying' is a threat to all vulnerable people
Care should be the primary function of our health service
Assisted Suicide legislation could initiate ‘paradigm shift’ in how we value and protect life
Proper care is the right alternative to killing by assisted suicide
Archbishop Longley urges strengthening of palliative care services
Be 'resolute' and 'tireless' in valuing every human life and opposing assisted suicide
Stop fundamentally flawed bill and focus on palliative care
Archbishop welcomes Prime Minister’s support
for palliative care
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Our Catholic News podcast looks at palliative care, social care and what needs to be ‘fixed’ – as Prime Minister Andy Burnham puts it. Dr Karen Groves MBE, a highly experienced palliative care consultant talks to us about what it takes to deliver gold standard end-of-life care, the existential challenges and what needs to be done to address them, the need for patient-specific integrated services across the care sector and in community settings, care as a ‘team effort’ alongside families, fundraising and legacies, and more. She also challenges the stereotype that the majority of people go to a hospice to die.
1 September - 4 October 2026
The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, celebrated on 1 September, is the official start of the Season of Creation, a time of sustained prayer and action which lasts a month and four days. During this season we are encouraged to pray and engage in community events in order to deepen our relationship with God, our neighbour and the earth we share, being ever more attentive to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.
13 September 2026
Education Sunday is marked this year on 13 September - just after the new academic year starts. The theme for 2026 is drawn from its Gospel reading of Matthew 18:21-35: I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
20 September 2026
Those with long memories will be familiar with Home Mission Sunday. It is the name given to the day we ask our parishes to pray for the work of evangelisation and to support this vital work through a second collection. A few years ago, this day was re-named Evangelii Gaudium Sunday after Pope Francis's Apostolic Exhortation ‘The Joy of the Gospel'. Now, in 2026, we revert to using the original name.
On Home Mission Sunday the bishops of England and Wales ask the faithful across our countries to look for ways in which we can all do our part in sharing the beauty and joy of knowing Jesus Christ. Resources, prayers and more can be found in our special section.
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.
1 October 2026
Laudato si’ calls for education to promote environmental citizenship; an education which is, by its very nature, a lifelong journey of formation. Pope Francis suggested that education is designed not merely to promote knowledge but also to “instil good habits”. In this sense, education is a way of shaping how we live in relationship with God, Creation and one another.
Held to celebrate the Season of Creation, this webinar will explore the theme chosen by the World Council of Churches, “Immersion in Living Water”, through the lens of education – not as something confined to schools or academia, but as a lifelong journey of formation, ecological conversion, and daily habits and actions.
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.
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.
Deadline: 15 September 2026
Christian Art are delighted to launch a national Catholic schools Art Competition in the lead-up to Adoremus this October, organised by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. A key feature of Adoremus will be the Blessed Sacrament prayerfully processed from Southwark Cathedral to Westminster Cathedral, so we invite young people to reflect creatively on themes such as the Blessed Sacrament, the presence of Jesus, and the beauty of our cathedrals.
Deadline: 21 September 2026
An ecumenical partnership between the Bishops’ Conference ‘God who Speaks’ project, St John’s Waterloo, and Art + Christianity, has made an open call for artists, graphic designers and illustrators from across the UK to design a cover for any of the 73 books of the Bible.
Titled Divine Designs: Between the Covers this art competition and exhibition celebrates creativity and innovation, and seeks to promote a greater visual awareness and understanding of the Bible today.
“From cover to cover, we are celebrating the Bible,” said Fleur Dorrell, Biblical Apostolate Manager for the Bishops’ Conference. “In 73 books – from Genesis to Revelation – the Bible is the greatest story ever told. Our passion is to bring each book alive through the medium of art in this unique competition and exhibition.”
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