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National Safeguarding Agency Visit Northampton
The Catholic safeguarding standards agency visited our diocese on Tuesday 17th January to lead our clergy in some training following an invitation from our diocesan safeguarding team. The CSSA was created following the publication of the Elliot report. They exist as a regulatory function for Catholic diocese across England and Wales. The Elliot report was commissioned in October 2019, by the...
“None of us can be saved alone”
This Sunday, the second Sunday of ordinary time, is national peace Sunday across our Church, following the international day of peace. The theme of this years peace Sunday is “No one can be saved alone. Combatting Covid-19 together, embarking together on paths of peace.” Pope Francis expressed more on this theme in his full message for the day. Vice president of the Catholic Bishops Conference...
Our Lady of Guadalupe Visits Schools
On Monday, 5th December Mrs Joan Kedward and Fr Wayne Coughlin (both Guardians of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Bedford) visited St Thomas More Catholic School, Brickhill to rededicate the school’s Marian Home Shine. The assembly began with a lovely introduction from the school’s Lay Chaplain, Mrs Helen Burgess and beautiful Advent prayers led by two students. Joan then spoke movingly about how Jesus...
Pastoral Letter For Advent
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Today’s Gospel speaks to us of things which lie in the future. And yet we are aware of them now. Here and now we experience a foretaste of these events. We were busy about our affairs when a world-wide pandemic came along which affected all our lives. The apostle Paul tells us today, being a follower of Christ means we ‘must wake up now’. We must recognise...
New Provider For Safe Spaces
The Church of England, The Church in Wales and The Catholic Church in England and Wales are pleased to announce ongoing support for victims and survivors of church-related abuse, through their Safe Spaces project, with newly appointed, independent provider First Light. Safe Spaces is a free national support service which offers a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has been...
Seafarers At Christmas
“When we go on board a ship with Christmas gifts, it makes such a difference to seafarers. Last year, one seafarer said to me, ‘Thank you for not forgetting us,’” says Peter Barrigan, Stella Maris regional port chaplain to Tees, Hartlepool and Seaham. As Christmas approaches, many of us will be with our loved ones at this special time for families. Most seafarers will not. At best they may be in...
Mass For Deceased Clergy
Bishop David celebrated Mass with the Cathedral Chapter on Tuesday lunchtime in our Cathedral to remember and pray for the souls of deceased members of the clergy especially those who had died in the previous twelve months: Frs Patrick Bailey, Bernard Hughes, Edmund Worthy, Brian Leatherland, Ken Payne and Tony McDermott. The last two whose funeral Masses will take place later this month. “Who...
Our Missionary Diocese
Bishop David spoke at the recent Mission Conference. Here is the full text of his talk. We are called to be a missionary diocese. And so I want to share some thoughts about how I see things developing. And let me say, I do see things moving in the right direction. So within that context, let’s begin with a few challenging ideas which are holding us back. There are many around our diocese who...
“Do Something Different!”
The second annual Mission Conference took place in Beaconsfield on Saturday 12th November. The conference led by Mission Northampton was called ‘Inspire: Making Missionary Disciples’. Mission Northampton, led by the director, Dr Maria Heath, have just completed a two week mission in Houghton Regis where they gave out breakfast to commuters, went door to door on new estates and invited people...
Re:New Houghton Regis
"This last two weeks has been amazing!" Fr Simon Penhalagan, parish priest of St Martin De Porres in Luton exclaimed as the outreach fortnight came to an end. Assisted by the vast experience of Sion Community in evangelisation, 20 members of the Luton and Dunstable Catholic community have been sharing the love of God in very tangible ways: on doorsteps in one to one conversations; by giving away...
IICSA Final Report Published
Statement from the Catholic Council for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse on the Final Report of the Inquiry Today, the Panel of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published its final report after seven years of work. The Catholic Council welcomes this report, thanks the Inquiry for its work and will carefully study its contents and recommendations. In the work of...
Farewell Saint Bernadette
Our diocese said Bon Voyage to the relics of Saint Bernadette on Thursday morning following a farewell Mass at 7.00am celebrated by Bishop David Oakley. The relics will now be making their way to Norwich Cathedral in the diocese of East Anglia. The relics had been at our Cathedral since Monday and had received over 2000 visitors alongside several thousand virtual visitors through the live...
Cathedral Welcomes Relics of Saint Bernadette
The relics of Saint Bernadette arrived at the Catholic Cathedral of St Thomas and Our Lady Immaculate on Monday afternoon for a three day visit. Many people are expected to come and pray beside the relics. The Cathedral chapter met Bernadette at the steps of the Cathedral before processing in as Fr Andrew Coy sang a litany of Bernadette. Bishop David welcomes the relics saying “My dear sisters...
Celebrating Catholic Schools
Our diocesan Catholic schools gathered for the annual celebration Mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Dunstable. Following a covid restricted smaller gathering in 2021, our Catholic schools were once more represented by hundreds of students, staff, governors and trust directors. Bishop David celebrated the Mass with Fr Tony Brennan parish priest of St Mary’s and the newly appointed parish...
Prisoners’ Sunday A Fresh Start
Pact, the national Catholic prisons charity, is very busy in the Northampton diocese where we work in six of the prisons as well as in the community. A local member of Pact staff reported this week that she had supported a dad in prison to engage with his children’s social worker. ‘This meant he was able to attend a family visit and see his children for the first time in just over a year. This...
Inspire!
Mission Northampton have announced the second Mission Conference to be held in Beaconsfield on Saturday 12 November 2022. 'Inspire - Making Missionary Disciples Together', will run from 11am to 4pm. Maria, Alex and Fr Simon will be joined by Bishop David as he shares his vision for mission in the Diocese, helping to reflect on where we are and where we are going. Allegra Mutanda, who is the...
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