Diocesan Administrator appointed for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton

The College of Consultors of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton have elected Canon Jonathan Martin as Diocesan Administrator to provide stability and continuity, and to serve and guide the faithful of the diocese until a new Bishop is appointed by Pope Leo XIV.

The move comes a day after the former Bishop of the diocese, the Most Reverend Richard Moth, was Installed the twelfth Archbishop of Westminster, leaving the See of Arundel and Brighton formally vacant.

Pope Leo XIV: Lent as a time of conversion

The Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has issued his message for Lent 2026 on the theme: “Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion”.

Archbishop Richard Moth Installed the Twelfth Archbishop of Westminster

The Most Reverend Richard Moth was today installed as the Twelfth Archbishop of Westminster during a Mass of Installation at Westminster Cathedral at 12 noon on Saturday, 14 February 2026.

The Mass of Installation followed a Service of Solemn Vespers held in the Cathedral on Friday evening, attended by clergy, religious, and representatives of schools, parishes and Catholic organisations from across the Diocese of Westminster. To the sound of a fanfare specially composed by Simon Johnson, Master of Music, Archbishop Moth entered the Cathedral through the Great West Door and was greeted by the Provost, Canon Shaun Lennard.

Images

High resolution images available from the installation of Archbishop Richard Moth as twelfth archbishop of Westminster and the Solemn vespers.

Statement of Faith Leaders in Wales regarding Assisted Suicide

Faith leaders in Wales have issued a statement expressing their opposition to the Government’s proposed assisted suicide legislation and urging the Senedd to withhold legislative consent to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

The proposed bill is scheduled to be debated, and ‘consent’ voted upon, in the Senedd on 24th February 2026.

Lead Bishop for the Holy Land helps bring down curtain on 17-year Middle East Analysis podcast series

It’s the end of the world as we know it. Wasn’t that what REM once sang? Ironically when the famous Seattle rock band committed those lyrics to popular music folklore, the world made more sense.

In this podcast, after 17 years and many laughs, smiles, tears (and the odd exasperated outburst), Dr Harry Hagopian brings the curtain down on a remarkable podcasting run with this, the final Middle East Analysis.

The epitaph reads: Here lies Middle East Analysis, 2009 to 2026, it lived hard, loved dearly and asks for your prayers as it returns to its maker. Something like that.

Oppose Assisted Suicide in Wales

Members of the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, will be asked to decide whether Wales should give its consent to Westminster’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — a law that would legalise assisted suicide. This would be a profound change for Wales and would mean that, for the first time, doctors could be asked to assist a patient in ending their life intentionally.

If enacted, this bill would put the most vulnerable in our society at risk of coercion. The conscientious objection clause for doctors is inadequate. Furthermore, parliament has explicitly rejected an amendment whereby care homes and hospices could opt out of facilitating assisted suicide on their premises and yet many care homes and hospices will want no involvement. Even with stricter rules, experience from other countries shows that once assisted suicide is introduced, the safeguards soon loosen and those who are elderly, disabled, or feel they are a burden begin to feel subtle pressure to choose death.

Contact a Peer to oppose Assisted Suicide

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has passed through the House of Commons and is now with the House of Lords. Our clear principled objection to the Bill remains. The House of Lords has a responsibility to scrutinise the Bill in depth and reject it if necessary.

Unlike MPs, Members of the House of Lords do not have constituents, meaning there is not a Peer whose job it is to represent you based on the area of the country in which you live. For this reason you should take some time to think about which Peer you will write to and why, such as whether you have a personal or professional connection with them, or you have professional expertise in medicine or healthcare.

Please visit this link for full guidance to help you write to a Peer.

We Dare to Ask

Lenten Resource

Our 2026 Lenten resource seeks to encourage an appreciation of what is given in Christian Baptism. God desires what is best for each of us while respecting our freedom to choose. To express our acceptance of the wonderful gift that God offers us, with open hearts and a willingness to change for the better, all we need to do is ask.

CSAN Lent Resources

Lent resource

CSAN's Lent 2026 page offers a curated collection of spiritual resources to support parishes, clergy, and lay leaders throughout the season. Here you will find homily notes for each Sunday of Lent, alongside recommended books and other reflective resources, all designed to help deepen prayer, encourage conversion, and accompany communities on their Lenten journey.

Come and study with the Maryvale Institute

Lent resource

CSAN's Lent 2026 page offers a curated collection of spiritual resources to support parishes, clergy, and lay leaders throughout the season. Here you will find homily notes for each Sunday of Lent, alongside recommended books and other reflective resources, all designed to help deepen prayer, encourage conversion, and accompany communities on their Lenten journey.