The Church describes the liturgy as “the outstanding means whereby the faithful may express in their lives, and manifest to others, the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, §2). What can sometimes appear as ritual is, in fact, the Church’s primary way of making visible the invisible reality of God’s presence among his people. In the liturgy, the visible and the invisible meet, just as in Christ, God and humanity are united in one person.
Because worship lies at the heart of the Church’s life, even the simplest actions take on deeper meaning. They become acts of revelation and communion, drawing people beyond social boundaries into a shared encounter with the mystery and beauty of God.
115,000
People attended Mass every Sunday
1000+
Estimated participants in the London Corpus Christi procession
Source & Summit
Through him the host of Angels adores your majesty and rejoices in your presence for ever. May our voices, we pray, join with theirs in one chorus of exultant praise, as we acclaim: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…
These few short lines from the liturgy express the fundamental aspiration of every Christian: to dwell in God’s presence and praise him in eternity. For this reason, the Eucharist—where Christ becomes physically present to us—is described as “the source and summit of Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, §11).
Saints like Carlo Acutis knew instinctively that our mission in this life is above all to adore God, and it was in his spirit that we celebrated this year’s Westminster Eucharistic Festival: a day of prayer and thanksgiving for the gift of the Blessed Sacrament.
The occasion drew thousands of worshippers to Westminster Cathedral, where an opening Mass was followed by a time of Adoration, the recitation of the Rosary, spiritual reflections, and a procession with the Blessed Sacrament. Part of a series of events celebrating the canonisation of St Carlo Acutis, the young saint was a particular source of inspiration for this year’s worshippers. Shortly before the festival, the Cathedral’s newly acquired relic of St Carlo was used to bless the console used for livestreaming Masses, while Cardinal Vincent Nichols and others preached movingly about the saint’s example of simple, sincere faith.
The Power of Place
The setting for our encounters with the Eucharist—our churches—are places of immense significance. “‘[M]y house shall be called a house of prayer,’” says Jesus during the cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:13); today, our own “houses of prayer” remain central to our faith and communities, as Fr Stephen Beale, parish priest of Sacred Heart Church in Teddington, can testify.
In 2022, the gale-force winds of Storm Eunice struck the church’s fragile roof, putting the building at serious risk of collapse and forcing immediate evacuation. For three years, the congregation worshipped undeterred in the cramped church hall, while the parish embarked on a fundraising campaign and many months of planning, logistics, and liaison with local authorities.
Thanks to the generosity of parishioners, successful grant applications and a diocesan loan, repair works finally began in November 2024. Parishioners were even invited to sponsor slates for the new roof—imported from Spain and guaranteed to last at least 100 years.
The grand reopening weekend was filled with joy and thanksgiving, the highlight being a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Welcoming attendees to the church, Fr Stephen reflected:
“I hope everyone can experience the presence of holiness within this church. It’s a place of prayer, of welcome and of spiritual refuge.“
While the parishioners of Teddington looked forward to the next hundred years, St Teresa’s Church in Borehamwood marked the centenary of its foundation in 1925. One of the first parishes to be dedicated to St Thérèse of Lisieux just weeks after her canonisation, the parish is a testament to the saint’s enduring conviction that prayer and mission are inseparable.
Featuring music and prayers from Filipino, Igbo, Polish, Portuguese and other traditions, the Centenary Mass reflected the rich diversity of Catholics who have found a spiritual home at St Teresa’s. The celebration also recognised the parish’s longstanding commitment to serving its wider community. Borehamwood Foodbank—founded by the late parish priest Fr Dominic McKenna and sustained by the generosity of parishioners—is now an independent charity supporting more than 7,000 people, a living sign of Christ’s love made visible through practical service.
Preaching at the Mass, Cardinal Vincent Nichols encouraged the congregation to continue following the example of their patron saint: “to do the small things well, to be missionaries here.”