​Pope Francis has sent a message to Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues at the Bishops’ Conference, praising Day for Life for encouraging “a deeper understanding of the precious gift of life”.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, conveyed the message to Bishop Sherrington, assuring him of the Holy Father’s “closeness in prayer”.
Full messageHis Holiness Pope Francis sends warms greetings of good wishes to the participants in the 2024 Day for Life to be celebrated in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland on 16 June, and he expresses gratitude for those bearing witness to the sanctity of human life in all its stages.
His Holiness prays that through their reflection on the theme “The Lord is my shepherd – compassion and hope at the end of life”, this public testimony will encourage a deeper understanding of the precious gift of life and a greater desire to protect the most vulnerable from a culture that would pressure them into ‘assisted suicide’, which is falsely presented as a form of compassion.
It is likewise his hope that those nearing the end of their earthly journey will recognise the immense value of their lives, experience the comforting presence of Jesus and their loved ones, receive dignified care and trust deeply in God’s promise of eternal life. To all taking part, especially the young, the Holy Father sends the assurance of his closeness in prayer, and he cordially sends his blessing as a pledge of joy, strength and peace in Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State, Holy See

As we say goodbye to CEO Andy Quinn and wish him all the best in his retirement, we welcome new CEO Joanne Watters who will start her new role on 1st June 2024.  Joanne has been working for Father Hudson’s Care for the last 9 years as Head of Community Projects, working with partners to develop new and existing projects including Tabor Living which accommodates individuals experiencing homelessness, Brushstrokes Community Project supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, and others, including Young at Heart in north Staffordshire, Sophia House, Fatima House, and the refugee community sponsorship initiative.
 
Joanne has a passion for supporting individuals and families who are marginalised and in need, in 2023 she led, together with Fr Michael White, the successful capital fundraising appeal which enabled the charity to double its homelessness provision working based at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Birmingham.
 
Joanne commented ‘I am proud as a Catholic to be the first female CEO for such an important and longstanding charity. I am committed to continuing the mission of our founder Fr George Vincent Hudson, working in partnership with the archdiocese, parishes, schools, and supporters.’
 
We are pleased to have a new CEO with a background in frontline and management roles in both local and national charities. ​

​Gospel values inform how we look at the world as Christians. These values can also offer a different way of looking at politics, a way that puts the common good before self-interest.
Throughout this election season we will be seeking answers which will help the poor, the marginalised, and the vulnerable. We seek a society in which all families can flourish and where we care for our common home, where we offer a welcoming hand to strangers in need, where we look out for those struggling to get on. Families are the heart of our communities and society.
We seek, therefore, political leaders who can reflect and share these values. But this is not just about leaders, it is about us. We are not merely the passive recipients of politics but active citizens. An election is the best time for us as Christians to speak out, to get involved, and to lead. We hope that these resources will help in that endeavour.
General Election 2024 - Catholic Bishops' Conference (cbcew.org.uk)
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​I wonder who taught you to make the sign of the cross. Have you taught others to make that powerful sign? Anyone who has been involved in schools will know the importance of mirroring so that children learn to make the sign the right way round.
 
The lesson goes deeper than bodily co-ordination. Tracing on our bodies the reality of the cross and the promise of resurrection we learn how God touches our humanity; that we are personally embedded in God’s eternal love, which we are called to incarnate.
 
The cross is visible in more places than we realise. Nearly every village has a cross at its heart with a memorial dedicated to the war fallen. Athletes and footballers often make the sign of the cross as they begin games, and the poet priest John Donne noticed how we make the shape of the cross every time we stretch our arms when swimming.
 
Emperor Constantine witnessed a cross in the sky with the words: “in this sign, conquer”. While we might remove the cross from the theatre of war, we see the sign of the cross in the name of the Trinity as a triumph that says ‘I hope’ and ‘I believe’. It’s an Amen writ large and whatever battles we face, let us rest in the knowledge of Christ’s victory over sin and death. 
 
Fr Ryan Service, Assistant Priest at Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield

A new document on disarmament and the ethical use of weapons has been released by the International Affairs department of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
Called to be Peacemakers is a document that presents a Catholic approach to arms control and disarmament.
The document argues that if Catholics are to take up Christ’s call to stand as peacemakers in our troubled world, an integral part of this mission involves working to limit the proliferation of weapons and to advance the cause of global disarmament.
“There’s an urgent need for us, as Christians, to advocate for an end to violence and war in our world today,” said Bishop Nicholas Hudson, newly-elected Chair of the International Affairs department. “More than 140,000 people are killed each year due to armed conflict, not to mention the wider impacts of war, such as restricted access to clean water, food, healthcare and basic services.
“Called to be Peacemakers presents the arguments for disarmament – in terms of both conventional and nuclear weaponry – through a Catholic lens informed by Catholic social teaching.
“Vast sums of public money are spent on weaponry. One can legitimately argue that these funds could be better used to alleviate hardship and promote the common good of humanity.
“This is a challenging time for the global community and we are called to promote peace and unity among nations – both seeking an end to war and at the same time addressing some of the greatest humanitarian challenges of our time such as the impact of climate change. No country acting on its own can solve these problems.”
Called to be Peacemakers stresses that every human life lost to violence and conflict is a tragedy for our universal family. It examines three main areas:
The Church’s call for nuclear disarmament
We have a particular responsibility to respond to Pope Francis’ call to counter the logic of fear with the ethic of responsibility, to foster a climate of trust and dialogue.
The Church’s call for General and Complete Disarmament
This does not mean the removal of literally all weaponry and defence capabilities. Rather, it is about eliminating weapons of mass destruction, regulating conventional arms, lowering military spending, and strengthening mechanisms for peace.
The Church’s call to put emerging technology at the service of humanity
Until a binding treaty ensuring the human supervision of lethal autonomous weapons systems is negotiated, the Church supports enforcing a moratorium on the development and use of such weapons.
Each of these sections concludes with a series of action points.
Co-author Bishop William Kenney, a long-term opponent of nuclear weapons, said that courageous decisions should be taken on a global scale:
“I would echo Pope Francis’ call that now is the time to counter the logic of fear with the ethic of responsibility. Nations have a right to defend themselves, it is even in the Gospel, the man who keeps watch will stop the burglar coming. But that right should not be extended. Global cooperation is needed when it comes to meaningful disarmament, and we must foster a climate of trust and sincere dialogue.”
The department bishops are also concerned about fast-developing autonomous weaponry and the ethics around how they are used, particularly weapons programmed to identify and attack targets without the need for further human intervention.
Bishop Declan Lang, former chair of the International Affairs department, said:
“Globally we have been too slow to acknowledge the immorality of different forms of weaponry such as Chemical or Blinding Laser Weapons. We must learn from this and work towards a global moratorium on the development and use of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). We cannot abdicate our moral responsibilities.”
DownloadYou can download a PDF of Called to be Peacemakers here:
Called to be PeacemakersDownload
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Called to be Peacemakers - document on arms control and disarmament released - Catholic Bishops' Conference (cbcew.org.uk)

​Seeds of Hope May 19-26 2024
This Laudato Si’ Week and Pentecost, let us gather in community to contemplate and nurture seeds of hope for our “suffering planet” (LD 2). Laudate Deum is a reminder about the urgency of the Laudato Si’ message and the need for both personal and cultural transformation amidst our ecological and climate crises.
This year’s Laudato Si’ Week theme is inspired by the symbol for Season of Creation 2024, “firstfruits.” Let us be seeds of hope in our lives and our world, rooted in faith and love.
Home 2024 - Laudato Si Week

On Saturday 10 May, hundreds of pilgrims from across the Archdiocese of Birmingham once again made pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk.
The pilgrims gathered for a peaceful Mass, celebrated by Canon Paul McNally in the Chapel of Reconciliation, before walking and praying the rosary in silent procession through the countryside to the ruins of the Abbey where the original shrine stood. 
Homily:
"What is it that has brought so many of us to travel today so many miles to this shrine in an obscure valley in the Norfolk countryside with its vast skies?
"It is true that for hundreds of years in the Middle Ages, the shrine of Walsingham was one of the great places of pilgrimage, famous throughout Europe.  But after the destruction of the Priory, the probable burning of the original statue and the ban on pilgrimages, Walsingham settled back into being an agricultural backwater with an almost forgotten, distant memory of having a very special and unique past.
"But at the heart of that past, and our reason for being here today was and is that faith-filled, courageous, prayerful Virgin of Nazareth, Mary, the Mother of the Lord, venerated in this place under the title and image of ‘Our Lady of Walsingham.’ As English Catholics this image is woven into the fabric of our nation’s story and is a symbol of its rich, yet often forgotten Catholic heritage.

​"It is Mary who has drawn us here, not only to remind us of who we were but more importantly who we are and who we are called to be.  At the heart of Mary’s life is her relationship with God, her openness to Him, her complete trust in Him, her willingness to follow His will in her life.  This was only possible because Mary was a woman of prayer and contemplation.
"Her life of prayer is clearly revealed in the Gospel story that we have just heard, the Wedding Feast at Cana.  Here, as in fact in all of Mary’s life, all that she is and was, points not to herself but to her Son. True Marian devotion always brings us to Christ.  That is why the fanatical iconoclasts who in the 16th Century destroyed images of Mary got it so wrong, because in destroying her they also destroyed her Son.
"But let us return to that wedding in Cana.  A joyful occasion that was about to change as the wine flow begins to run out. Embarrassment and discomfort are in the air.  Mary, sensitive to the needs of others comes forward, she knows how this will affect the young couple and their families, with quiet confidence she approaches her son, Jesus. 
"Mary does not tell Jesus what to do, she does not offer her own solution, she simply says, “They have no wine.” This is a beautiful model for prayer. When we come before God, telling Him about our concerns, our joys, and our sorrows, we should do so with humility and with the realization that our solutions may make things worse. We simply need to have trust in God’s wisdom and love.
"Mary’s next words, are so profound and so important, they are in fact the last words that Mary utters in the whole of the Scriptures, “Do whatever he tells you.” Mary is showing us the importance of obedience and faith in God.  Even though Jesus’ response at first seems dismissive, Mary trusts that He will act in the best way and at the best time.  At the heart of prayer, continuous faith in God is essential, especially in the most difficult and trying of circumstances. We may not always understand how and when God will act but we must trust in Him, that He will do so at His own time and in His own way. 
"In the end Jesus performs His first miracle and transforms water into the finest wine, going far beyond what was expected.  God is abundantly generous. Our prayers may be simple, but His response can and so often is extraordinary.

"Mary, as the model of prayer, teaches us to be attentive to the needs of others.  That we bring their needs and our own to God in prayer, with trust and without demanding how things will be resolved.  Finally, Mary shows that we must have faith that God will answer in His own perfect way and time.

"So today let us draw inspiration from Mary as Our Lady of Walsingham.  Let her be the model for our lives in prayer.  Like the pilgrims from all ages who have come to this shrine, let us ensure that we have time in our lives for quiet reflection and heartfelt conversations with God.  And when at times doubt or fear cloud our minds, let us turn to Our Lady of Walsingham, our intercessor.  Entrust our petitions to her care, and know that through her intercession, they will reach the loving embrace of her Son.
"May the centuries of prayer that have made this place holy, inspire us to deepen our relationship with God.  May Our Lady of Walsingham pray for us, for our Archdiocese, for our nation, and for all who in our world are searching for that solace and that peace that only God’s presence can bring."

At this time in history, which risks becoming rich in technology and poor in humanity, our reflections must begin with the human heart.
 
These words are drawn from Pope Francis’ annual message for World Communications Day – which is this Sunday, 12 May.
 
In this year’s message, he encourages us not to see everything that Artificial Intelligence offers as doom and gloom, but that with discernment, and making good choices about how we use technology, we can influence its use to good effect. Pope Francis continues:
 
Only by adopting a spiritual way of viewing reality, only by recovering a wisdom of the heart, can we confront and interpret the newness of our time and rediscover the path to a fully human communication. In the Bible, the heart is seen as the place of freedom and decision-making. It symbolises integrity and unity, but it also engages our emotions, desires, dreams; it is, above all, the inward place of our encounter with God. Wisdom of the heart, then, is the virtue that enables us to integrate the whole and its parts, our decisions and their consequences, our nobility and our vulnerability, our past and our future, our individuality and our membership within a larger community.
 
This year’s message echoes some of the assertions in the recent Vatican Document Infinite Dignity which spoke of the social dangers of the everyday use of communications:
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The more that opportunities for making connections grow in this realm, the more people find themselves isolated and impoverished in interpersonal relationships: Digital communication wants to bring everything out into the open; people’s lives are combed over, laid bare and bandied about, often anonymously. Respect for others disintegrates, and even as we dismiss, ignore, or keep others distant, we can shamelessly peer into every detail of their lives. Such tendencies represent a dark side of digital progress.
 
On this coming Sunday, World Communications Day, we pray for the Church’s positive contribution to proclaiming the Good News and making the Church’s voice heard in what is sometimes referred to as the Public Square. We pray for the Communications Department nationally (www.cbcew.org.uk) and for the work of Communications in our own Archdiocese. And we can all remember that when we speak about the Church’s voice in the Public Square, we are all members of the Church, and you will meet many more people in various settings in the coming week that no priest or deacon will. Your voice in speaking the truth is important too!
 
Mgr Timothy Menezes, Dean of St Chad's Cathedral

​A new study into how the abuse crisis has impacted the whole Catholic community in England and Wales was launched today, Tuesday 30 April 2024, at St Chad’s Cathedral. The Cross of the Moment report, led by Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies is now available here.
Pat Jones, Lead Author of the report, said: “We’re very glad to be marking the publication of the report in Birmingham, in collaboration with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. 
“The diocese and its leaders have led the way in listening to survivors and welcoming initiatives to recognise their experience. We present the report in solidarity with the continuing work here.”
Bishop David Evans, who celebrated the Mass said: “We are pleased to be part of the launch of this important study today. The report looks thoroughly at the impact of abuse on Victim-Survivors and the communities in which abuse happens. 
“It is important to see how culture can affect a truly compassionate response to those who have suffered. This is a valuable resource, which we will share with our parishes and communities, that we might better work together to break silence and respond with compassion.”
For more information on safeguarding work in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, please visit our safeguarding page.