Latest News

This page includes links to news items that you have sent in. It will be slightly different to the News and Events page and has replaced the monthly mini newsletter.  Please let us know what you think. 
Click on Images to go to the article that you are interested in.     YouTube https://bit.ly/BirminghamJP

Quakers call for immediate lifting of Palestine Action proscription after court ruling (added 14/02/2026)

Webinar: A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide (added 10/02/2026)

Ian Linden: Turning ploughshares into swords (added 04/02/2026)

India: A New Year Charter for Christians from fear to the promise of 2026 (added 31/01/2026)

Looking back at the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (added 31/01/2026)

Pope Leo: Technology must serve the human person, not replace it (added 26/01/2026)

Christian Aid: New report reveals cost of climate change in 2025 (added 26/01/2026)

Join us for our next meeting Our network meetings provide a forum space for the church to connect, learn about the exciting work we (The Ecological Conversion Group) are working on, share your own work with others, and discover what others are doing within the framework of integral ecology; helping our communities dream of and build a better future for all. Bring your ideas, challenges, and successes to the conversation! Last time, we discussed our new Jubilee Garden project, which you can read about in the link below. Our next meeting will welcome Chris Knowles from the School for Synodality, who will share his expertise on how the synodal model can help us better engage with integral ecology, and how synodal conversations enable us both to realise and strengthen the ways our community can support one another in the context of environmental and social justice. All are welcome! (added 26/01/2026)

Holy Land: Bishop Curry praises courage of beleaguered Christian community (added 21/01/2026)

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 (added 15/01/2026)

Greenland: Praying for peace in a tense situation (added 14/01/2026)

London: Home Office Vigils for Migrants and Refugees (added 14/01/2026)

Gaza: The genocide has not ended (added 09/01/2026)

Christian CND New Year Message (added 08/01/2026)

Venezuela: Bishops appeal for prayers, reject all violence (added 06/01/2026)

Peace Sunday Message from Pax Christi International (added 06/01/2026)

Peace Sunday: "War is over if you want it" Ellen Teague reflects on John Lennon’s Christmas anthem, Happy Xmas (War Is Over), urging us to confront war, embrace nonviolence, and join the Church’s call to be peacemakers today. (added 02/01/2026)

Israel bans 37 aid agencies from working in Gaza (added 01/01/2026)

Pope at Urbi et Orbi: Peace is a shared responsibility (added 31/12/2025) Prayers for peaceThe Pope prayed for “justice, peace, and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Syria,” and urged that the promise of peace rooted in righteousness be renewed. He appealed in a particular way for Ukraine, asking that “the clamor of weapons cease,” and that all those involved, with the support of the international community, find the courage to engage in “sincere, direct, and respectful dialogue.”Remembering conflicts that risk being forgotten, Pope Leo XIV expressed closeness to the victims of war and violence in Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as to all those who suffer as a result of injustice, political instability, religious persecution, and terrorism.The Pope also prayed for Haiti, calling for an end to violence and progress along the path of peace and reconciliation. He also invoked peace for Myanmar, asking that the country be guided towards reconciliation and hope, especially for its younger generations. Turning to Latin America, he encouraged those with political responsibilities to give space to dialogue for the common good, rather than to ideological and partisan divisions.The Pope also prayed for the restoration of the “ancient friendship” between Thailand and Cambodia, and entrusted to God the peoples of South Asia and Oceania, who have been severely affected by recent natural disasters, calling for renewed commitment to assisting those who suffer.

Peace Sunday - 18 January 2026 (added 19/12/2025)

Coventry: Minister for nature praises young ecologists (added 17/12/2025)

Vocation for Justice: Making Peace in the Season of Creation (added 12/09/2025)

Ten common statements you may hear about Asylum Seekers - and how to respond with facts (added 26/08/2025)

Bishop Hudson: 'We must not return to an unchecked arms race' (added 12/02/2026)

Jerusalem church leaders brief Diplomatic Corps on threats to Christian presence (added 07/02/2026)

Catholic priest: 'The war is far from over for 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza' (added 05/02/2026)

NJPN public webinar spotlights racism in England (added 31/01/2026)

Walk the Way of St Francis of Assisi in his anniversary year (added 31/01/2026)

Video: The Hidden Christian Faith of the Houses of Parliament (added 26/01/2026)

Pope Leo: Catholic Social Teaching shows path to peaceful coexistence (added 26/01/2026)

Ireland: Churches' environmental conference prompted by pollution of Lough Neagh (added 26/01/2026)

Vespers for Week of Christian Unity at Westminster Cathedral with Cardinal Vincent and Dr Rowan Williams (added 21/01/2026)

Pope Leo XIV declares Year of St Francis (added 15/01/2026)

SCIAF welcome Scottish government plan to increase overseas aid (added 14/01/2026)

Vocation for Justice: Speaking up for 40 Years (added 09/01/2026)

Poland: Pope Leo blesses Three Kings Parade (added 08/01/2026)

Syria: Church pleads for prayers as fresh fighting erupts in Aleppo (added 08/01/2026)

Dear Friend This is to wish you a happy New Year and a joyful Feast of the Epiphany tomorrow, when we remember the visit of the wise men or Magi to the infant Jesus. In his 2025 Christmas Message King Charles remarked on the significance of pilgrimage for our modern world, especially at Christmas: ‘The wise men made a pilgrimage from the east to worship at the cradle of Christ; and the shepherds journeyed from field to town in search of Jesus, the saviour of the world. In each case, they journeyed with others, and relied on the companionship and kindness of others. Through physical and mental challenge, they found an inner strength.’ The late Pope Francis wrote an address for his general audience of 19th February 2025 about the Epiphany, but was unable to deliver it due to illness. In the text Francis pointed out that the Magi represent us all: ‘The Magi thus become the first believers among the pagans, the image of the Church drawn together from every language and nation.’ The Pope concluded with this encouragement: 'Dear brothers and sisters, let us, too, follow in the footsteps of the Magi, these “pilgrims of hope” who, with great courage, turned their steps, hearts and goods towards the One who is the hope not only of Israel but of all peoples. Let us learn to adore God in His smallness, in His kingship that does not crush but rather sets us free and enables us to serve with dignity. And let us offer Him the most beautiful gifts, to express our faith and our love.’ On Tuesday 6th January 2026, the Feast of the Epiphany, Pope Leo XIV will close the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome marking the end of the 2025 Jubilee. Its theme ‘pilgrims of hope’ inspired the national Pilgrimage of Hope in England & Wales, which blessed our nations with the Sign of the Cross and the Gospels. 641 miles were walked, 12,257 feet climbed, over 45 days along 4 routes, by 20 perpetual pilgrims who walked the full distance and over 250 day pilgrims who walked for one or more days. I want to express my gratitude to all those who took part by walking, welcoming, providing food and accommodation, transporting rucksacks or praying. Thanks are especially due to the Sisters of the Holy Cross who supported the pilgrimage. We tried to embody their values of compassion, faith, prayer and community. The concluding meeting of pilgrims from all 4 ways at St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham was a joyful occasion. We were welcomed by Bishop Patrick McKinney, the Bishop of Nottingham, and were presented with a message and Apostolic Blessing from Pope Leo. I hope that 2026 will be a joyful year for you, and that together we will follow in the footsteps of the Magi as courageous pilgrims of hope. I will be in contact with more walking pilgrimage ideas and plans for 2026 soon. Buen Camino! Phil McCarthy, Hearts in Search of God project lead Hearts in Search of God: Pilgrim Ways for the Catholic Dioceses of England & Wales, C/O Everyday Christian Marketing, The Gate Business Centre, Keppoch Street, Roath,, Cardiff, UK CF24 3JW Unsubscribe Manage preferences (added 06/01/2026)

WCC calls EU to impose sanctions and arms embargo on Israel (added 03/01/2026)

Ian Linden - Gaza: The fate of the Palestinians and of humanitarianism (added 02/01/2026)

Next Training Day: Saturday 7th February 2026 Do you know someone who would be a good befriender? Our next training day for new befriending volunteers is on Saturday 7th February 2026. We are always looking for new volunteer befrienders to join our team! So far in 2025, we’ve started 42 new befriending relationships, with 8 others hopefully starting soon. With an annual target of 50 new befriending matches, we are eager to boost numbers. We currently have 122 ongoing befriending matches. The February training day will be a great opportunity to share together with those who are interested in hearing about Restore and the role of a befriender and learning about refugee issues. (added 31/12/2025)

Columbans launch 2026 Schools Competition (added 22/09/2025)