The government has announced that legislation to enact so-called “safe access” or “buffer” zones outside abortion facilities in England and Wales will come into force on October 31.This legislation, contained in section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, criminalises a...
Latest News from around the Diocese and beyond
Help Pact build bridges of hope for prisoners and their families
Prisoners’ Sunday falls this year on October 13. With the support of liaison bishop for prisons Bishop Richard Moth, Pact invites parishes across England and Wales to bring people in prison, and their children and families, before the Lord in prayer. Pact is the...
Children asked to pray the Rosary for peace
A Catholic charity is hoping to exceed last year’s milestone of more than a million children joining a campaign to pray the Rosary for peace in the world’s conflict zones. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is holding its “One Million Children Praying the Rosary”...
Bishops call for Catholics to help abolish two-child benefit cap
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has renewed its call for the government to scrap the two-child benefit cap on Universal Credit payments and is asking Catholics to contact their MPs to make their feelings known. The policy is currently under...
Retreat looks to develop gift of prophecy
A free retreat is taking place to explore how we can ask the Holy Spirit to stir up in us the gift of prophecy, for the encouragement and comforting of God’s people.The meeting is hosted by ADoRE, one of the longest-running charismatic days of renewal in the...
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Rome: Jubilee Year 2025
Bishop Terry invites the people of the diocese to join him in Rome from October 6 to 11 2025.This special pilgrimage will be one of the major events marking our celebration of the Jubilee year.The tradition of jubilee and pilgrimage traces its origins to the medieval...
Bishop pays tribute to Father Dan
Father Dan O’Neill, a much-loved priest who served parishes throughout the diocese for more than half a century, has passed away at the age of 81 after a recent illness.Father Dan was born on January 29 1943 in Ayle, Cappawhite, County Tipperary, Ireland. He attended...
Joy replaces nerves as Father Steven is ordained
At noon on the Feast of St Henry (July 13), I was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Terry at St Mary’s Cathedral.It was such a joyful occasion for me. I was greatly moved to see all the people who had made the journey to be there – family and friends and...
Pope: Poor suffering most from effects of natural disasters
Pope Francis’s prayer intention for September is for the cry of the Earth, which “has a fever and is sick, just like anyone who’s sick”. As part of the Season of Creation – that annual time during which the Church reflects on the care of our common home – it is a...









