The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Spirituality Consultation Day “Living the Charism Today for Lay Spirituality”

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales is hosting a Spirituality Consultation Day titled “Living the Charism Today for Lay Spirituality” on Thursday, 19 June 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., at the Redemptorist Monastery in Clapham, London.

This special day of reflection and dialogue will explore the rich spiritual wisdom of the Benedictine, Carmelite, Dominican, and Jesuit traditions. Through a series of engaging talks, attendees will be invited to reflect on how these charisms can inspire and support lay people in their spiritual lives today.

The event is free of charge, with donations gratefully received. Tea and coffee will be available throughout the day, and participants are encouraged to bring a packed lunch.

Venue: Redemptorist Monastery, 8 Clapham Park Road, Clapham, London, SW4 7AP (Nearest tube station: Clapham Common)

Booking: Places can be reserved via Eventbrite

This consultation day offers a unique opportunity to deepen one’s understanding of lay spirituality through the lens of time-honoured Catholic traditions.

Boarbank Hall Programme of Residential Events

The Sisters at Boarbank Hall are offering a full programme of residential events for the first time since the pandemic. Several of these may be of particular interest to Religious Brothers and Sisters.

The programme includes opportunities to rejoice in the beauty of God’s creation. Two Wings and Some Prayers: A Birdwatching Retreat (12th–17th May) introduces birdsong for beginners, led by Sr Margaret Atkins and Dr Margaret Phillips. Celebrating Creation: The Joy of Limits (27th–31st May or 4th–10th October) is guided by Sr Margaret Atkins and John Paul de Quay of the Ecological Conversion Group. Both retreats include trips out, walks, talks, and practical engagement with the natural world.

For those interested in learning Latin through prayers and Scripture, Our Lady in Latin (18th–20th/21st July) and Magnificat! (24th–26th/27th October) offer an engaging and enjoyable way to study and sing Latin using familiar texts. These sessions are taught by Alison Samuels, a highly experienced Latin teacher.

A deep dive into St Augustine’s Confessions (18th–22nd August) provides an opportunity to explore this classic text in greater detail, with Sr Margaret Atkins offering guidance throughout. This may be of particular interest to communities with Augustinian roots.

All courses take place in the comfortable Guest House at Boarbank Hall, set in extensive grounds overlooking Morecambe Bay. Participants are welcome to join the Community for Mass and the sung Daily Office.

For more information, see https://boarbankhall.org.uk/whats-on/ or email Sr Margaret Atkins on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk

The Heart of Health: Putting the Heart Back into Healthcare

A group of Catholics involved in healthcare policy and practice, local politics, and theology has begun a project entitled ‘The Heart of Health: Putting the Heart Back into Healthcare.’

The project aims to use the Church’s practical and theoretical resources to shift both the debate and shared practices around healthcare. Specifically, it seeks to help people care for their physical, emotional, and spiritual health and resilience by fostering, extending, and linking existing church, healthcare, and other local communities. This effort is focused on building networks for personal mutual support, with an emphasis on the inclusion of those living in material and social poverty.

The project is inspired by various existing examples and is illuminated by the Church’s rich understanding of human beings as spiritual persons in community, endowed with dignity, freedom, and agency. It is grounded in the belief that people are made for mutual loving relationships and lives of purpose and hope.

The political benefits of this project and approach are seen in the following ways:

1. Nearly all the ways of staying healthy and happy are cheap or free, yet health services are in constant financial need.

2. People need support to follow these healthy ways of living.

3. Building supportive local communities can unite people across political divides, avoiding polarization by honouring the left’s concern for solidarity and care for those in need, and the right’s concern for freedom, creativity, and independence.

4. This is a positive and inspiring vision that can help address not only the healthcare crisis but also the ecological, financial, and social crises facing society. It offers a ready-made philosophy and language rooted in the Christian tradition, yet accessible to people of all faiths and none.

For more information, individuals are invited to join the following webinar: The Heart of Good Health: Supporting the Whole Person in Local Communities, hosted by the Las Casas Institute, Blackfriars, Oxford, on Thursday, April 3rd, from 18:30–19:45.

For more details, visit https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/event/the-heart-of-healthcare/.

To register, please email lascasas@bfriars.ox.ac.uk

As the personal, social, and economic costs of current healthcare approaches rise, causing distress to both patients and healthcare professionals, this webinar brings together experts and concerned individuals from the health service, the churches, and public life. It will explore what a Catholic vision of the human person in society offers as an alternative in terms of public policy and local initiatives.

Speakers include:

• Sr. Margaret Atkins CRSA, “The Heart of Health – A Vision for the Church and Society”

• Professor James McManus, Director of Public Health, Wales, “Theology Meets Health Policy: A Catholic Contribution to Health Policy Starts Theologically and Proceeds Practically”

• Thomas Horton, Head of Community Justice at His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service in Wales, “Theology in Action: Probation and Community”

Christians on Ageing AGM & Spring Conference

Accompanying age: what are the churches doing?

30 APRIL 2025, 10.30am-4pm

Join in person at Bar Convent, York

Free event (donation for refreshments)

As well as the necessary business of an AGM there will be focusing on one of CoA’s core objectives – celebrating the gifts and potential of later life – and helping churches and others to develop activities which contribute to facilitating older people’s spiritual growth.

The keynote speaker will be Revd Dr Chris Swift, recently appointed as Director of the Leeds Church Institute, and previously Director of Chaplaincy and Spirituality at Methodist Homes (MHA). After lunch, we will look at three examples of good practice in church activities that can ‘accompany ageing’.

ALL WELCOME!

CoA members, and anyone interested in later life and older people ministry, are invited to join.

To sign up for this event email: secretary@christiansonageing.org.uk

Visit www.christiansonageing.org.uk for further details and programme news.

Religious Formation Ministry Programme

Time for Transformation?

The Religious Formation Ministry Programme is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 year.

The RFM Programme brings together priests and religious from around the world for a nine-month journey of inner transformation. Participants come with a view to preparing themselves to take on roles of responsibility in formation or leadership at the end of the Programme. For further information visit the website or email rfmploretohouse@gmail.com

Closing Date for Applications: Friday 11th April 2025.

Note: Potential participants are strongly advised to apply early in order to have sufficient time to process the required Minister of Religion Visa.

To view a letter of invitation, please click HERE

Summer Language and Liturgy Courses

Summer Language and Liturgy Courses – July & August 2025

The Institutum Liturgicum and Benedictine Institute are offering a series of summer courses in Liturgy, Syriac, Biblical Hebrew, and Latin for July and August 2025. These courses provide a wonderful opportunity to deepen your knowledge in these areas.

In-person courses are available for Liturgy, Syriac, and Biblical Hebrew, while Latin is offered both online and in person.

Accommodation is available in their House for Guests and Monastery, with limited spaces.

For full details and to register, visit Liturgy Institute or Benedictine Institute.

Kairos Spirituality Centre

Experience peace and renewal at The Kairos Centre, a Catholic spirituality and conference centre in southwest London, provided by the Poor Servants of the Mother of God. Nestled in landscaped gardens overlooking historic Richmond Park, this urban oasis offers a serene space for prayer, reflection, and connection.

Explore their 2025 Retreat Programme, designed to uplift and transform, with options for day visits, overnight stays, spiritual direction, and personal quiet days.

For further details of the Retreat Programme, including prices, booking forms and details of other programmes and events, please visit their website.

Religious Orders Urge UK Banks to Halt Fossil Fuel Funding

UK Christian campaigners protest Barclays fossil fuel financing - credit Christian Climate Action.

Eight Catholic religious orders have joined a group of 70 Christian organisations in publishing a statement calling on the big five UK high-street banks to end their financing of new fossil fuels, which are fuelling dangerous levels of global heating.

Catholic religious orders signing the statement include the Religious of the Assumption (English Territory), the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, the Columbans in Britain, the Columban Sisters, the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux, the Congregation of Our Lady, Canonesses of St Augustine (UK) and the English Province of the Union of Presentation Sisters. Catholic charities also signed the statement, including SCIAF, the National Justice & Peace Network, and Justice and Peace Scotland.

In the largest action yet calling for change from UK high street banks on their fossil fuel financing, the religious orders, Churches and Christian organisations involved join the many charities, universities and medical institutions that have already taken action on this issue.

The statement was co-authored by a coalition of climate and Christian organisations, including Laudato Si’ Movement, JustMoney Movement, Make My Money Matter, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), Christian Climate Action (CCA) and Bank Better, with support from the World Council of Churches (WCC).

The statement raises concerns over the $556 billion that Barclays, HSBC, Santander, NatWest and Lloyds have provided to the fossil fuel industry since the Paris Climate Agreement. In 2023, the hottest year on record, the five banks collectively financed companies expanding fossil fuels with almost $25 billion.

Latest figures show that 2024 is likely to surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record, and the UN has previously called investment in the fossil fuel industry “moral and economic madness”. The expansion of oil and gas is incompatible with limiting global heating to 1.5°C, according to the UN, the International Energy Agency and thousands of leading climate scientists.

Sr Susan Francois CSJP, Assistant Congregation Leader of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, one of the signatories, said: “We believe that we have a fiduciary responsibility to earth and present and future generations. We signed this statement because we agree with Pope Francis that we must transform the economy from one that kills into an economy of life.”

Sr Jessica Gatty ra, JPIC Representative for the Religious of the Assumption, said: “The climate crisis is with us now; we all need to do what we can not only as individuals but as institutions too.”

There is a strong precedent of Christian organisations taking action on their banks’ fossil fuel financing. The move follows in the footsteps of Christian Aid, Sheffield Cathedral and Greenbelt Festival, all of whom announced plans to leave Barclays last year due to its fossil fuel financing.

The statement highlights that the climate crisis will not only affect future generations, but is already affecting the most vulnerable today, especially in the Global South. The signatories stress that this is an effort to align their financial choices with their own values. The signatories have said that until the banks halt their financing of new fossil fuels they will continue to speak out and consider alternative banking options wherever possible.

James Buchanan, Climate Finance Campaign Manager at Laudato SI' Movement, said: “This largest-ever call for action from Christian organisations to UK banks financing new fossil fuels demonstrates the significant concern of religious groups about the role of banks in fuelling the climate crisis. Given the leading role of faith institutions in divesting from fossil fuel companies, banks financing fossil fuel expansion can expect to lose a growing number of clients, as faith groups move their money to ethical banks.”

The statement remains open for UK-based Christian organisations wishing to sign. You can read the full statement and see a full list of signatories here.

For more information on how your religious order can divest from fossil fuel companies and switch to an ethical bank, see the resources on the Laudato Si’ Movement website and/or contact James Buchanan on james@laudatosimovement.org

Thresholds of Transformation

Thresholds of Transformation (TT) has been developed by, Monica Brown, (Australia)  Donna Fyffe (America) and Hilary Musgrave (Ireland), and was launched by Emmaus Productions in February 2023. It is an interactive on-line multi-disciplined transformative process that integrates our Christian Story and the story of the Universe with the call of Laudato Si and Laudato Deum to ecological conversion. TT has become a global transformative movement with thousands of women religious actively engaged in it.

Thresholds of Transformation (TT) is both a personal and communal invitation to stretch one’s mind, heart and behaviours in order to be a contributor and shaper of a new world order.  TT is not about changing Religious Life but from what we are hearing it is bringing about change in the inner life of communities.  TT is feeding a spiritual void, enabling/facilitating deeper and more meaningful conversations, impacting better relationships, reconnecting people to God and one another and fostering greater understanding and respect of our oneness with all creation.  In addition to this personal and communal spiritual enrichment, TT has a global concern for Earth and all creation; it’s about a new world order of integral ecology as prophetically articulated by Pope Francis in Laudato Si.

There is something for everyone in TT  – the thinkers, dreamers, poets, analysts, theologians, cosmic beings and dwellers of the heart.  Mary-Louise Petro RSM

You can find detailed information about TT on the website.

If you would like to discuss TT or set up a zoom meeting,  please contact the office at  admintt@emmausproductions.com

Guided Retreats at Buckfast Abbey in 2025

Church Musicians’ Retreat - 28/08/25 - 01/09/25  from £500

Led by Peter Stevens - Assistant Master of the Music at Westminster Cathedral and a Benedictine Oblate

I will sing praise to Thee in the sight of the angels” (Rule of St Benedict, Chapter 19) — a retreat for church musicians which includes sessions on Gregorian chant and its accompaniment, the use of the organ in the liturgy, and open rehearsals with the Abbey Choir. A unique opportunity to learn more about the role of music in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, in the tranquillity of a Benedictine monastery on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

Women Religious Retreat - 27/10/25 - 31/10/25 from £595

Led by: Dom Geoffrey Scott OSB

The role of women religious in the church has often been underestimated and undervalued. Abbot Geoffrey will gently guide us in the beautiful setting of Buckfast Abbey to reflect, reconsider and reorientate ourselves to better serve the church in the bright future that God promises. Do join us for these few days together inspired by the Benedictine monastic liturgy, the spectacular grounds at Buckfast and our shared experiences which will emerge through our conversations.

There is a choice of accommodation available at either the Northgate House Hotel or St Petroc’s Retreat House. Please click here to view the accommodation brochure.

To book and for more information visit www.buckfast.org.uk/retreats

CCS Boundary Breaking Research Project

The Centre for Catholic Studies' (CCS) Boundary Breaking research project explored the ecclesial and cultural implications of the child abuse crisis in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

The research took place from 2019-2023. 

The Cross of the Moment

The main research report based on the qualitative work was published in April 2024, titled The Cross of the Moment. A supplementary, quantitative report, Attitudes of Catholics in England and Wales towards Child Sex Abuse in the Catholic Church, was published in October 2024 to accompany the main report.

Find out more: https://www.durham.ac.uk/ccs-boundary-breaking

You can download the digital versions of the reports below. The main report can be downloaded either in the complete version or in separate chapters.

Alternatively, you can request printed copies of the reports by clicking here.

Self-Catering Cottage to Rent in Ilkley

Delightful Arts & Crafts-style cottage in a quiet area, close to all local amenities.

This detached cottage has a ground-floor double bedroom and bathroom, two single rooms on the first floor plus another bathroom, a comfortably furnished living room and fully equipped kitchen.

There is a small outside area to the front and a dedicated off-road parking space.

The cottage is in the grounds of a retreat house in a quiet neighbourhood, and is available for weekends, short breaks and weeks when not in use by retreat groups.

For more information, click here.

BOOKINGS: Please contact the administrators at The Briery, 38 Victoria Avenue, Ilkley LS29 9BW

Tel: 01943 607287

Email: admin@briery.org.uk

Advent Preached Retreat Weekend

Fr Chris Thomas will lead this weekend retreat at The Briery, Ilkley.

Friday 13th – Sunday 15th December. 

£215pp fully inclusive. 

For more information or to book, please contact the Administrators on 01943 607287 email admin@briery.org.uk website www.briery.org.uk

Becoming Apostolic - CCS Book Launch Series

Becoming Apostolic: Conversations with Older Roman Catholic Sisters

In her latest publication, Dr Catherine Sexton seeks to understand how sisters make meaning and sense of their apostolic vocation in old age, and how this contributes to the evolving theology and identity of apostolic religious life for women. She interviewed and drew on the lived experience and narratives of a group of ageing sisters from five congregations.

The voices and theologies of this group of women religious are at the heart of this book, as it explores how sisters make meaning of their new personal, and institutional contexts, through what appear to be new articulations of ‘being with and being for’ as the foundation of active ministry.

Sisters articulated three distinct and emerging forms of ministry, through which they contend with the loss of active ministry, moving away from a task-based identity, towards one of being apostolic. These are: an emerging understanding of presence as ministry; an acceptance of the validity and necessity of ministering to each other instead of those outside their congregations, and ministry to their carers.

At this celebratory launch event, Prof. Karen Kilby (CCS Director), Prof Clare Watkins (Durham and the University of Roehampton) and Sr Jo Robson (Carmelite Nuns) will be in conversation with Dr Catherine Sexton (CCS Honorary Fellow).

All are welcome! Please click here to receive Zoom details.

Property Sale

A religious house, located in Manchester, built in the 1960’s.  It includes a large octagonal chapel together with up to about 15 single bedrooms (depending on the use made) with shared facilities together with communal areas, kitchen and utility accommodation.  There is also a small walled garden.

For those interested, please contact communications@corew.org

National Religious Vocations Personnel Conference 2024

Message from Fr Joseph Raju Katthula CMF, Religious Life Promoter at the National Office for Vocation.

Greetings from the National Office for Vocation (NOV). I hope and pray that you are keeping well by the grace of God.

We are delighted to invite you to register for the National Religious Vocations Personnel (NRVP) 2024, which is to be held on 2nd November 2024, 9.30 am to 4pm. We are fortunate this year to have two guest speakers. Fr Nicholas Crowe OP the provincial superior of the Dominican order in UK and Beth Przybylska, the strategic project director at Catholic Youth Ministry Federation (CYMFed). Fr Nicholas is author of the famous book ‘Living our Vocation (Even If You Don’t Know What It Is Yet)’. Fr Nicholas will guide us through his reflections on how we are able to sow the seeds of vocation into the hearts of people, while Beth will talk to us about the culture of young people today. Mass will be part of the schedule on the day.

The conference will take place at Galleon Suite, ROYAL NATIONAL HOTEL, 38-51 Beford way, London – Euston, WC1H 0DG. It is just five minutes’ walk from Euston station.

Please feel free to circulate the information and extend this invitation to as many religious as possible. NRVP has always been the best place for the religious to connect and become more integrated in England and Wales.

We invite you to book your slot by filling in the form and follow the instructions to make a registration fee payment of £60. The deadline for returning your application is 10th October 2024. Please note to secure arrangements, cancellations received less than 30 days before the conference start date, will not be refunded, but a nomination for a replacement delegate will be accepted free of charge. This fee includes snacks, tea, coffees on arrival, a fully catered lunch plus more refreshments in the afternoon.

We are really looking forward to meeting you in person!  

Thanking you in anticipation.

Fr Joseph Raju Katthula CMF

Click here to see the full flyer.

New Secretary General of AMRI

Announcement: New Secretary General of AMRI

The Executive Council of AMRI announced the appointment of Gerard Gallagher as the new Secretary General of AMRI. Gerard has been a valued member of the AMRI staff, working in Communications and Membership Services, and recently served as Interim Secretary General.

Fr. Tim Lehane SVD, President of AMRI, welcomed the appointment, stating, “Gerard brings his pastoral experience and personal skills to this role in AMRI. Over the past year, we have worked closely together, and I am confident that our members will be fully supported by him as he continues to deliver on our strategic objectives as Religious and Missionaries in the life of the Church.”

Residential Events at Boarbank Hall

The Sisters at Boarbank Hall in Cumbria are pleased to announce a new programme of residential events at their Guest House. Some of these may be of special interest to Religious Sisters and Brothers, including Care for Creation (a mix of talks, reflection and activities: 5th-12th October), Our Lady in Latin (learning about the language and the music: 25th-27th October) and Hope in Health (for anyone involved in care or healthcare, to recharge the batteries: 8th-10th October).

For the full programme and more details, see: https://boarbankhall.org.uk/whats-on/.

For more information, please contact Sr Margaret on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk.

You might also enjoy finding out more about Boarbank from this podcast:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radio-maria-england/episodes/MORNINGS-WITH-RADIO-MARIA---Sr-Margaret-Atkins-Never-Bored-at-Boarbank-e2mu0oo

Weekend Retreat at Brownshill Monastery

To hope & act with Creation – learning from the animals

• Fri, Sep 27, 20244:00 PM Sun, Sep 29, 202412:00 PM

• Monastery of Our Lady and St. Bernard (map)

This year’s ecumenical Season of Creation takes the theme: To Hope and Act with Creation. How can we do this?

This weekend celebrating Creation, will reflect on the words of Job who invited us to “ask the animals” what they can teach us about our faith (Job 12:7-10). In His teaching, Jesus frequently drew on nature to illustrate the Christian way of life (e.g. Matthew 6: 26-30). Pope Francis too, reminds us that “each of the various creatures….. reflects in its own way a ray of God’s infinite wisdom” (Laudato si’ para.69] and urges us to remember that “the universe as a whole, in all its manifold relationships, shows forth the inexhaustible richness of God” [Laudato Deum: 63].

You are invited to join in contemplating the lessons we can learn from animals and to find hope and opportunities for action from the examples of small creatures (e.g. ants) that render significant change.

Click here for the weekend’s programme!

Suggested offering is £ 140 for the full residential weekend, which includes all meals from Friday supper to Sunday lunch. Non-residential options are also available. Please use the form to book your place or to request further information.

Catholic Missionary Union AGM

Annual Gathering

Incorporating the official AGM and appeal organisers meeting

10th September 2024

Oblate Centre, Wistaston Hall 89 Broughton Lane Crewe CW2 8JS

An away-day with lots of time for rebuilding friendships and relationships across the CMU.

Time for prayer and reflection.

A review of the parish appeal programme.

A review of sustainability and resources. A chance to plan for the year ahead.

Guest speaker to share some motivation and inspiration.

See the full flyer and find further information here.