March 3, 2021
Homily by Archbishop Bernard Longley: Be joyful in hope, persevere in hardship, keep praying regularly. Our celebration of the Feast of St Chad takes on a special character this year since our annual celebration of our patron-saint is subject to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions which are still in place. It…March 1, 2021
A letter from the Patron, Sr Margaret WalshMarch 1, 2021
Living Laudato Si’:Your Parish and Your PlanetZoom Retreats in 202112th-16th March & 16th-19th April(led from Boarbank Hall, Cumbria) WHY? Faith is the place to start.WHAT? Understanding is the place to start.HOW? Sharing experience is the place to start.WHEN? Now is the place to start.WHERE? Your parish is the place to…
Ash Wednesday First Sunday of LentFebruary 15, 2021
The Trustees of the Archdiocese of Birmingham are pleased to announce that Eric Kirwan has been appointed as the Archdiocese’s next Chief Operating Officer (COO). Eric is currently the Chair of Directors at Holy Family Catholic Multi-Academy Company (MAC) in Warwickshire. Prior to taking up this role he was a…February 9, 2021
Homily by Archbishop Bernard LongleyFebruary 9, 2021
Homily by Archbishop Bernard LongleyFebruary 9, 2021
News from Catholic Voices Catholic Voices was involved in a very successful survey and report during the first lockdown in May-July 2020.Over 2,500 Catholics in England and Wales and Scotland were surveyed, which has given us important insights into how people responded to the arrival of the pandemic.As we move…February 4, 2021
Archbishop Bernard Longley writes: 'Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 'I am writing to you at this very difficult time following the conviction and recent sentencing of Joseph Quigley at Warwick Crown Court. 'On Friday 29th January he was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years in prison. 'The crimes for which has…February 3, 2021
With the arrival of February and the approach of Ash Wednesday and Lent, Pope Francis has once again asked us to pray with him about a matter of grave concern in our contemporary world. Anxious about the pandemic, and rightly concerned about just sharing of the new life-saving vaccines with…January 30, 2021
News from Sustrans, the national transport charity We are providing information for Birmingham City Council with regard to air pollution in the city. We are currently working with communities across Birmingham to raise awareness of air pollution and its health risks. We have produced a survey for faith groups across Birmingham…January 30, 2021
The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer is a national landmark opening in 2022 near Birmingham. They are working on a significant social media campaign from the end of January. The Answered Prayer Challenge is a campaign which hopes to flood social media with good news stories between January 25th and…January 29, 2021
An announcement from Archbishop Bernard Longley: "It is with great sadness that I am writing to let you know that Canon Giles Goward, the Rector of St Mary’s College Oscott, died peacefully yesterday afternoon (Thurs) in the Seminary after a brief illness."Please pray now for the happy repose of his…January 29, 2021
News from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales On the day government figures recorded 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said: “A day of great sadness all over the land. So many people, families, communities, remembering those who have died in these terrible…January 22, 2021
For a number of years the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have been considering the publication of a new edition of the Lectionary to replace that originally published in the year 1969 (second edition 1981). After consultation with a number of English-speaking Conferences of Bishops, the Bishops of England…January 19, 2021
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity18th to 25th January 2021 #pray24brum is going ahead this Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd January. It will, of necessity, be entirely online, on the Birmingham Churches Together Facebook Page and Twitter Feed We are delighted that so many groups have signed up to lead us in a time of…December 30, 2020
To read click here: HomilyDecember 30, 2020
To read click here: Pastoral Letter
Click here to see the GalleryDecember 12, 2020
Please take the time to read this beautiful document Patris Corde available to you from the Vatican's website. http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html The Pope closes the document with this request and prayer: We need only ask Saint Joseph for the grace of graces: our conversion. Let us now make our prayer to him:…December 5, 2020
Message from the Archbishop My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I write to you with deep regret and a sense of shame. Sadly, I need to inform you that following a criminal trial a priest of our Archdiocese, Fr. Joseph Quigley, has been found guilty of serious offences against…
December 1, 2020
Don't forget to read your Diocesan Magazine: https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/diocesan-magazine
November 28, 2020
The Second Sunday of Advent each year is the day on which the Archdiocese of Birmingham seeks your particular support for those parishes of the Archdiocese which are comparatively poor in terms of income. We know that this is a difficult time for many and we appreciate all the help…
November 22, 2020
Message from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham Homily by Archbishop Bernard Longley Photo: Archbishop Bernard Longley with Cathedral clergy Mgr Timothy Menezes and Fr Tomas Zuna Texts in full: Message from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham: Your GraceMonsignor Timothy I am honoured to be invited to contribute to the annual…November 21, 2020
Homily by Archbishop Bernard Longley He is God…of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive. We gather today for a special moment of prayer on the third weekend of the current lockdown in England. We are especially conscious of the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic…November 10, 2020
News from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales Tuesday 10 November 2020 The Catholic Church in England and Wales welcomes the Report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse relating to the institutional response of the Church in its duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse…November 9, 2020
This year's Remembrance Sunday commemorations were very different for all.On Sunday 8 November a Sung Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Chad's Cathedral featuring the cathedral choir.The Mass was offered by Archbishop Bernard Longley for all those who have died in conflict.We Will Remember Them Photo Gallery by Andrew De…November 9, 2020
Homily of Bishop Stephen Wright: The Month of November is traditionally a time when our thoughts and prayers turn to those who have died. It is also a time when we reflect on our own mortality too. Our liturgical year is coming to an end. After this weekend, there…
November 3, 2020
Sunday 1 November 2020 was a very special day for St Chad's Choir Chairman Philip Cotterill. It marked 50 years since he first sang in the choir at St Chad's Cathedral.To mark this special occasion Philip was presented with the diocesan award, Ubi Caritas, by Bishop David Evans at the…November 3, 2020
REQUIEM MASS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE PAST YEAR ST CHAD’S CATHEDRAL: 2 NOVEMBER 2020 Homily by Archbishop Bernard Longley: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Every year during November the Church encourages us to gather together so…November 1, 2020
Homily of Archbishop Bernard Longley: Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God. Dear friends, we are celebrating the ordination of Dominic Kerr, Dirk Hermans and John Garvey in highly unusual circumstances and having to observe the current restrictions on gathering together for the health and wellbeing of one…October 29, 2020
All are invited to join a virtual Diocesan Mass on All Souls Day to acknowledge and remember those who have died this year. Archbishop Bernard Longley will celebrate the Mass at 7pm on Monday 2 November, live streamed from St Chad’s Cathedral. November is the month of the Holy Souls…October 28, 2020
This year’s Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage will be celebrated virtually from St Chad’s Cathedral on Sunday (1 Nov).Although the celebration cannot accommodate large numbers due to the pandemic, dozens of couples from across the Archdiocese will be joining online.The 12noon Mass will be celebrated for all married couples - especially…October 26, 2020
This year’s long-awaited ordination of three new permanent deacons in the Diocesan family will take place on Sunday 1 November. All are welcome to join the ceremony virtually as it will be live streamed from St Chad’s Cathedral at 3pm. We are blessed to welcome John Garvey, Dirk Hermans and…October 22, 2020
News from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference: £3m grant funding for repairs to outstanding Catholic churches and cathedrals announced Following the award of a grant of £3m from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, the Patrimony Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference is delighted to announce that funding has been offered to…October 9, 2020
Homily of Archbishop Bernard Longley: We have received the Spirit that comes from God, to teach us to understand the gifts that he has given us. Today’s celebration is truly notable on several counts. It is a moment of exceptional joy for the life of our Archdiocese to receive from…October 9, 2020
Homily of Archbishop Bishop Bernard Longley: No one takes this honour on himself but each one is called by God. Dear friends, we are celebrating the ordination of Sean and Benedict in highly unusual circumstances and having to observe the current restrictions on gathering together for the health and wellbeing…
October 6, 2020
This special, extra large, issue is now available to buy. Please contact the Editor, Anne Symonds on 0121 249 1487 or annets103@hotmail.co.uk. The cost is £5 plus £2 p&p The magazine contains many interesting articles, including an opening article by Archbishop Bernard Longley and others by Cathedral Dean, Mgr Timothy…September 19, 2020
Archbishop Bernard's homily: In the extraordinary circumstances of this year the joy that we feel today at the Ordination of two priests to serve the people of the Archdiocese is heightened. When we are surrounded by so much uncertainty and concern because of the coronavirus pandemic we are given a…
September 7, 2020
A joint statement by the Right Rev David Urquhart, the Anglican Bishop of Birmingham, and the Most Rev Bernard Longley, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, following the incident in the city centre. ‘Our thoughts and the thoughts and prayers of many people are with those who have died or…September 7, 2020
Four new priests are due to be ordained by Archbishop Bernard Longley at St Chad’s Cathedral this September, with two new bishops ordained the following month. Seminarians Alex Taylor, Clive Dytor, Benedict Skipper and Sean Gough (pictured l-r) were ordained as transitional deacons last year as they completed their final…September 7, 2020
Eight members of the Kenelm Youth Trust Mission Team have recently been commended for their efforts by a national charity for their work in promoting the common good in our local community. Rebecca Palsar (19), Lucas Weaver (19), Beth Mitchell (20), Jair Jesus de Paulo Jr (23), Felicity Hawley (19),…July 8, 2020
Have you a flair for writing? Passionate about the written word?Then the Basilican magazine needs you!The official magazine of St Chad’s Cathedral, published twice a year, is packed full of interesting articles and has readers from as far afield as the USA and New Zealand!The editorial team is currently on…July 6, 2020
In celebration of Birmingham’s two cathedrals reopening to the public Ecumenical Prayers were held this morning (Monday).Archbishop Bernard Longley, head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, and The Right Reverend Bishop David Urquhart, The Bishop of Birmingham, prayed together in St Chad’s Cathedral then walked to Birmingham Cathedral (St Philips)…June 30, 2020
Catholic Voices is collaborating with researchers as part of a major survey assessing responses to the Covid-19 crisis among Catholics in the UK. This survey, which will form part of a wider survey of UK Christian responses to the present crisis, is intended to capture Catholic experience and help us understand…June 25, 2020
Metropolitan Archbishops' Message
June 23, 2020
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales said: I welcome the statement by the Prime Minister earlier today, that places of worship are now able to resume collective acts of worship from 4 July. This is welcome news for members of all religions in England.…June 19, 2020
Messages from the National Mass, St Chad's Cathedral, Thursday 18th June, 7pm: MessagesJune 19, 2020
Do this and life is yours. On many occasions in recent weeks I have thought – and other people have said to me – we shall never forget 2020. We are not quite halfway through the year, yet we know that this is true. It is a year like no…June 18, 2020
TRUST SECRETARY (PART-TIME VOLUNTARY ROLE) The Archdiocese of Birmingham is seeking to appoint a Trust Secretary for the Birmingham Diocesan Trust, the Registered Charity (234216) through which the Catholic Church operates in the Archdiocese. Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, as Trust Secretary you would liaise with the Trust…