News From the Archdiocese of Birmingham

Reflection

What happened to the disciples could not be treated with Gaviscon: their hearts burned within them as the risen Lord talked about himself through the scriptures. Tradition teaches us that the reading, proclamation and study of the scriptures are primary ways in which we meet God.

When we read the Scriptures, we meet and converse with the living God.

This is beautifully communicated in this week’s Gospel where the Lord Jesus talks directly into the lives of his followers: “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?”

As God, he knows the answer. As the risen man, he desires that they share with him what is on their hearts and minds for themselves. The Lord’s friendships, then, were not just a convenient way of fulfilling his saving mission while on earth but also a continual sharing of his divine life.

So, too, in our day, the Lord calls us to himself, continually inviting us into relationship with him through the lexicon of our experience. The risen Lord meets us on our Emmaus, or Birmingham, or Banbury, or Kenilworth.

When he asks us, “what we are talking about”, he’s asking of our hopes and dreams, worries and anxieties and his concern is genuine, without ‘interest’ or opportunity. In this way, the word of the Lord is always alive and active because it is the Lord’s word and it’s his meeting with us.

Fr Ryan Service, St Francis, Kenilworth

Professor Judith Champ RIP

Professor Judith Champ, Dame of the Order of St Sylvester, former lecturer at St Mary's College, Oscott and renowned champion and academic of Catholic History, died peacefully in the early hours of Easter Sunday morning.

Judith was also a friend, colleague, and mentor to so many, through her work in research and in the formation of men for the Catholic priesthood.

Funeral details

The Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham on Wednesday 6 May at 11.00am. Cardinal Vincent Nichols will preside.

Following the burial at Oscott Cemetery, refreshments will be served in St Mary's College, Oscott.

For seating and catering purposes, all those attending the Requiem Mass and refreshments are asked to RSVP

Maggie Duggan RIP

Maggie Duggan, Deputy Director for Catholic Education died on Tuesday 31st March following a long illness. She was surrounded by the love of her family.

Maggie served the Diocesan Education Service with extraordinary commitment for nearly 22 years, including seven years as Deputy Director.

Maggie’s contribution to Catholic education has been profound. She touched countless lives and helped shape the prayerful, mission-focused life of our schools in ways that will endure long into the future.

Funeral details

Monday 27 April, 12 noon at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Bridgnorth, WV16 4ER.

A reception will be held afterwards in the parish hall, followed by a private cremation service.

Sacred Heart Novena Masses at Maryvale House, Sacred Heart Chapel

You are warmly invited to attend in person and experience the wonder of the Sacred Heart Novena Masses and the surroundings of the Sacred heart Chapel and Shrine, Maryvale House, Kingstanding, Birmingham.

The Novena starts from Thursday 4 June to Friday 12 June. All Masses start at 7pm.

Annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Evesham

Invitation from the Catholic Women's League (CWL), Birmingham Branch.

An Annual Mass to celebrate the first Marian Shrine in England will take place on Tuesday 5 May at 2.30pm at St Mary and St Egwin, Evesham. There is an optional shared Afternoon Tea in the hall afterwards.

All are welcome.

Floral sustainability in places of worship

Saturday 18 April 11am-1pm, St John Paul II Centre, Bicester.

Calling all parish flower groups, committees and those who care about green practices.

Join us to explore how we can make floral decorations in worship spaces more sustainable and eco-friendly.

Discover easy tips and creative ideas to keep your floral arrangements beautiful while caring for the planet.

Please register your interest to attend.

Celebrating 100 Years of Olton Friary

You are warmly invited to join Olton Friary Parish in the centenary celebrations of the laying of the foundation stone.

Tuesday 21 April, 6:30pm: Thankisgiving Mass concelebrated with Capuchin Franciscans, Jubilee songs and readings from 6.15pm. Evening buffet after Mass.

Sunday 26 April, 9am: Celebration Mass with Archbishop Longley. Tea and cakes after Mass.

11am: Celebration Mass with Archbishop Longley and local dignitaries. Tea and cakes after Mass and tours of the Church and Friary available.

6pm: Celebration Mass with Rev Canon Jonathan Veasey.

RSVPs are required.

Organ Recital at St Mary's College, Oscott

Invitation from St Mary's College, Oscott.

Sunday 3 May, 3pm to 4.30pm.

Join us as we welcome Cathy Lamb to the college chapel.

Cathy is Director of MusicShare and Head of Performance Music Lichfield Cathedral School.

She has previously held Organ Scholarships at Salisbury Cathedral and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge plus posts at Wells Cathedral and Christchurch Priory.

CAFOD Legacy Event, Oscott College

Thursday 14 May at St Mary’s College, Oscott, Birmingham 11am to 3pm.

An invitation from CAFOD.

One third of CAFOD's international development work is made possible through gifts in Wills and we are celebrating this work in a series of legacy events around England and Wales.

Join us on the Feast of Ascension at St Mary's College Oscott. We will celebrate Holy Mass, spend time with the seminarians and take a tour of the college.

Come and hear about how CAFOD and Oscott are working together to support the life and mission of the Church, made possible through the generosity of gifts in Wills.

Holy Hour for the Dignity of Life

In the Easter season, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales will hold a Holy Hour on Sunday 19 April at 4.30pm (UK time).

This is an opportunity for the Catholics of our two nations to unite and pray for the promotion of a culture of life. We encourage parishes throughout England and Wales to hold Holy Hours around that time.

Newman, Theology and the Imagination: A Theological Conference

Friday 1 - Saturday 2 May

A Theology Symposium in honour of St John Henry Newman's elevation to Doctor of the Church held at St Mary's College, Oscott, Birmingham.

Please note that the event begins on Friday 1 May at 7pm with a free public lecture. You can attend this without any obligation to attend the Symposium, which begins on Saturday morning at 9.15am.

Diocesan Mass for Marriage - please register your attendance

The annual Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage will be held on Saturday 2 May at St Chad's Cathedral, the Diocesan Mother Church.

Registration for the event is now open with a deadline of Sunday 19 April.

If you are celebrating a significant wedding anniversary in 2026, engaged to be married this year or would simply like to give thanks to God for your marriage, and ask for His ongoing blessings, please join us.

Is Your Son Being Called to the Priesthood?

Following a successful day last year, the Vocations Office is hosting a Young Discerners Group meeting on Saturday 9 May.

This is for young men in school years 9-13 who feel they might be being called to the priesthood and is an opportunity to meet together at our diocesan seminary, St Mary's College, Oscott.

Participants have the chance to find out more about the priesthood and seminary life, spend time in prayer, meet seminarians and explore how to discern.

Their parents are also invited to attend as part of a parallel programme, where they can have a tour of Oscott and meet with a priest's parents, who can answer their questions.

This is a free event but booking is essential.

Diocesan Day Pilgrimage to Walsingham

Fr Philip Griffin, Pilgrimage Organiser, has written to parishes across the Archdiocese inviting them to take part in this year's day pilgrimage to Walsingham, Norfolk.

Pilgrims are invited to travel to 'England's Nazareth' on Saturday 9 May, with Mass celebrated by Canon Jonathan Veasey, Vicar General of the Archdiocese.

"Pilgrimage is an important aspect of Catholic life, and I'm sure the day pilgrimage will be a joyful and spiritually rewarding experience for everyone," said Fr Philip.

If parish groups are planning to attend please inform Fr Philip by the end of April.

Jobs and Volunteering

Opportunities with the Archdiocese and other organisations

Paid positions

Father Hudson's Caritas provides social care throughout the Archdiocese.

Roles currently available:

Relief Support Worker

Foster Carers

St Joseph's Residential Care Home, Relief Care Assistants

Voluntary Positions

Lead Trustee for Safeguarding and Lead Trustee for Property

The Trustees are seeking to appoint skilled and committed Catholic volunteers with relevant professional experience.

Several other opportunities are also advertised on our website including:

Join KYT's Mission Team

An opportunity for 18 - 25 years olds at the Kenelm Youth Trust.

Train and Volunteer as a Relationship Counsellor with Marriage Care.

Become a Faith Rep with Mary's Meals.

Parish Appealers are needed by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Volunteer at Tabor Living, Birmingham.

ADoRE spiritual mini-retreat

Saturday 25 April, 10am - 1pm, online or in-person.

Surrender to Love

The Holy Spirit transforms us by helping us surrender to God’s love. Mini retreat morning including Mass, adoration, praise, prayer for the gifts of the Holy Spirit and inspiring talk from speaker Geoff Poulter, trainer in prophecy, healing and discipleship.

You're welcome to attend in person if possible at St Joseph’s, Christchurch, Dorset.

ADoRE (Alton Day of Renewal) is a monthly meeting of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

International Parish Renewal Conference with Divine Renovation

Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 May at St Elizabeth’s, Richmond-upon-Thames, London.

Invitation open to priests, deacons and lay leaders to reflect on the renewal of parish life, with a particular focus on evangelisation, discipleship, and the engagement of young people and young adults.

Invitation from Beginning Experience

Widowed, Separated and Divorced Weekend - Friday 8 to Sunday 10 May at Worth Abbey, West Sussex.

Beginning Experience is a peer ministry to the widowed, separated and divorced led by trained volunteers.

Their work is carried out at special weekend gatherings, which encourage participants to deal with the natural process of grief and loneliness.

For further details of the weekend please contact Mary on 07730 884315 or email: BeginningExperience.soe@gmail.com

Online gathering: Invitation from Church Action on Poverty

Is your church working to address rural poverty? Would you like to connect with others addressing similar issues around the UK?

If so, you can sign up for "Connecting and strengthening rural voices on poverty", an online roundtable event organised by Church Action on Poverty (Christian social justice charity), The Diocese of Truro and Churches Together in Cumbria.

The event is on Thursday 21 May from 10.30am to 12noon.

Forming Catholic Student Leaders

Two summer courses exploring faith, ethics and leadership for sixth form students, offered by the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst.

Join us for six days in the beautiful Ribble Valley to explore themes linked to The Common Good (Year 12, 10-15 August) and to The Human Ecology (Year 13, 5-10 July).

Meet new friends, discuss and share with peers, tutors and academics, learn new skills, develop your relationship with Christ, build your character.

Deadline: Thursday 30 April.

In need of Marriage Support?

From relationships that are 'just in a rut' - needing some refreshment, or more serious issues - if you are open to trying again, Retrouvaille could be the solution.

We have helped thousands of couples get their relationship back on track as they rediscovered hope and trust in the marriage.

Retrouvaille is a marriage ministry, run by Catholics, to support marriages in trouble. We run two programmes a year, catering to about 75 couples who need help to find hope and healing in their relationship.

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