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| Opposing Assisted Suicide
We are calling on Catholics in England and Wales to unite in prayer and compassionate action to oppose assisted suicide.
In early September 2024, Our Lead Bishop for Life Issues, Bishop John Sherrington, called for Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action. That call is renewed now as on Wednesday, 16 October, the House of Commons will hear the first reading of a new bill on assisted suicide tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. This is another attempt to legalise assisted suicide and we need you to contact your MP to voice your opposition. |
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| Pope Francis calls for 7 October to be day of prayer and fasting for peace
Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer and fasting on 7 October, the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. “In this dramatic hour of our history,” the Pope said, “while the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to devastate entire peoples and nations,” the Christian community is reminded of its call to “put itself at the service of humanity”. |
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| Latin Patriarch calls for day of prayer, penance and fasting for the Holy Land on 7 October
Patriarch Pizzaballa has called for a day of prayer on 7 October. “We need to convert, to do penance, and to implore forgiveness,” he said. “Therefore, I invite you to a day of prayer, fasting and penance on October 7, a date that has become symbolic of the drama we are experiencing. The month of October is also the Marian month and on October 7 we celebrate the memory of Mary Queen of the Rosary.” |
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| Cardinal echoes Pope’s plea for fasting and prayer
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, has affirmed Pope Francis’ and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem’s call for a day of prayer for peace to be held on Monday, 7 October, in response to an escalation of the conflict in the Holy Land. |
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| Bishop McAleenan walks with migrants and refugees
On Sunday, 29 September, Catholics around the world celebrated the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR). This year’s theme, “God Walks with His People,” was chosen by Pope Francis to remind us that we are all migrants on this earth, journeying towards our “true homeland,” the Kingdom of Heaven.
To mark the occasion, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, in partnership with Caritas Social Action Network and the Jesuit Refugee Service, organised a meditative walk on the day. The walk commenced on Ratcliff beach in Limehouse, where Bishop Paul said a prayer and explained the theme to those in attendance. |
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| Pope Francis concludes Apostolic Journey to Belgium
On Sunday, 29 September, Pope Francis departed Belgium’s capital of Brussels aboard the papal plane bound for Rome.
The Holy Father’s Visit to the European nations of Belgium and Luxembourg, 26-29 September, was his second Apostolic Journey this month, after his 12-day Apostolic Journey at the start of September, to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore. |
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| Pope appeals for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, Gaza, Palestine, Israel
Speaking after Holy Mass in Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium at the conclusion of his apostolic visit to Belgium, Pope Francis appealed to all parties involved in the ongoing war in the Middle East “to cease fire immediately in Lebanon, in Gaza, in the rest of Palestine, and in Israel.” |
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| Take action on the two-child cap policy
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales continues to be seriously concerned about the implications of the current two-child policy on Universal Credit payments for vulnerable, larger families.
Introduced in 2017, the policy has been undermining the financial security of families with three or more children. Such families often have no choice but to make claims for Universal Credit as a result of common, but unpredictable, life events, such as job loss or the onset of disability. The majority of families affected by the two-child policy are working families.
Use our e-Action form to contact your MP to outline your opposition to the two-child policy on Universal Credit payments for vulnerable, larger families. |
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| Month of Our Lady of The Rosary
October 2024
October is a month dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. The Rosary is a pattern of prayer popular among Christians. At heart it is a series of meditations on some aspects, or mysteries, of the life of Jesus Christ and Mary, His mother. |
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| Webinar: War and the Wounded Earth: The Impact of Conflict on Creation
Friday, 18 October
In honour of the 2024 Season of Creation’s theme, “To Hope and Act with Creation”, this webinar will delve into the profound ecological consequences of armed conflict on our common home. The panel of experts will aim to examine how warfare and conflict directly contribute to environmental degradation, disrupt international cooperation for environmental protection, and shift societal priorities away from sustainable environmental practices. |
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| Art and the Afterlife
Monday 14 October
Throughout history, art and music have allowed cultures to explore the question of what happens after death. Join us for an evening discovering how art has enabled us to grapple with one of life’s most fundamental questions: what lies beyond. |
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| Webinar: Modern slavery on our doorstep
Tuesday 15 October
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, in partnership with St Mary’s University and Caritas Social Action Network, will be hosting a webinar on Modern Slavery. The seminar will discuss answers to the question: “what can we do to ensure freedom for all, right here where we live?” |
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| Tablet Lecture: Catholic Education in the 21st Century – Challenges and Opportunities
Wednesday 16 October
Join The Tablet for an insightful exploration of how Catholic education is evolving to meet the demands of the modern world featuring guest speaker Raymond Friel OBE, CEO of the Caritas Social Action Network. |
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| Black History Month
October 2024
Black History Month is an annual observance dedicated to recognising and celebrating the contributions, history, culture and achievements of people of African decent.
Here, we celebrate black saints – some already canonised, others on the path to sainthood as Venerable or Blessed. |
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| Lectionary
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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| Chair of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) has an opportunity for an outstanding leader to guide the CSSA forward through the next stage of development as the safeguarding regulator of the Catholic church in England and Wales. The successful candidate will demonstrate outstanding leadership of the Board to deliver effective governance and strategic direction to the Agency. This is a high-profile role which will ensure that the voice and experience of survivors is the learning that permeates every aspect of CSSA policy, practice and culture. |
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| Senior Fundraising Officer – Jesuit Refugee Service
JRS UK is seeking to recruit a full-time Senior Fundraising Officer, responsible for helping to increase and diversify income to fund their frontline services. This is a senior role, reporting to the Head of Communications, Fundraising and Advocacy. It will involve contributing to JRS’s long-term fundraising strategy and identifying new funding opportunities, as well as delivering a range of initiatives including sponsored events, appeals, and legacy campaigns. |
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