News Archive

As President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, I offer my congratulations to Liz Truss on her election as leader of the Conservative Party and her consequent appointment as Prime Minister. I wish to assure the Prime...Read more

I was warmly welcomed by Inayat and Anisa. Inayat, a young man and student at Newman Catholic College, whose name means 'bounty, kindness, favour', enthusiastically introduced me to other groups of young people at the Syrian Summer Camp. Anisa,...Read more

Following the High Court decision on 5 'I assure the parents and family of Archie Battersbee, as well as all those caring for him and all concerned for his good, of my prayers at this painful time. 'As his life support is now being withdrawn,...Read more

Caritas Bakhita House is 'victim-centred, not time-centred', Karen Anstiss tells Peter Stanford in The Telegraph Magazine. Opened in 2015, Bakhita House, the refuge in the Diocese of Westminster for victims of modern slavery, has given...Read more

The penultimate day of the pilgrimage has arrived! After the previous night of singing and dancing in the Eliseo, when we were led in a profound, affecting and hilarious performance of 'Rise and Shine, and give God the Glory, Glory' by Fr Chris...Read more

The Lourdes Pilgrimage is entering its closing stages, and so today's Mass at Côté Carmel was offered as a Requiem Mass for those pilgrims and priests who had died, especially since 2019. The musicians offered their talents to make it a special...Read more

It was an early start this morning, with pilgrims from Westminster and Brentwood Dioceses coming together for Mass in the Grotto. Cardinal Vincent celebrated, with Bishop Alan Williams preaching. It was a cold and wet morning, with umbrellas and...Read more

After a day of searing heat, it was a pleasant change for the weather in Lourdes to turn somewhat, with a cooler and drizzly day. But the pilgrims did not allow it it dampen their spirits as proved when all gathered for a group photo in the...Read more

The second Day of the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage started with the International Mass, which was led by Cardinal Vincent. For those who haven't been to an International Mass in Lourdes, it takes place in the Basilica of St Pius X, which is an...Read more

The first full day of the Diocesan Pilgrimage has been one of an awareness of the centrality of prayer to Lourdes. Our Pilgrims started with the Stations of the Cross, some taking the high route through the hills and others the one on the plains...Read more

After an early start, the Diocese of Westminster has arrived at Lourdes, with pilgrims traveling by plane, train and automobile, to respond to Our Lady's call. Although we may be fewer in number, in his opening message to pilgrims, Fr Denis Touw,...Read more

Bt Reverend Roger Carr-Jones, Marriage & Family Life CoOrdinator for the Diocese of Westminster Many years ago, there was a television series, based on the book by Thomas Pakenham titled 'Meetings with Remarkable Trees'. It was an astonishing...Read more

Bishop Nicholas Hudson, a long-term bishop delegate of the Holy Land Coordination, has been named the new chair of the group. The Holy Land Coordination, made up of bishops from across Europe, North America and South Africa, was set up at the end...Read more

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Santa Marta Group and Chancellor of St Mary's University, thanked Sir Mo Farah for coming forward with his story of being trafficked into the UK as a young child and held in domestic servitude. 'I...Read more