News briefings: Britain and Ireland

The National Gallery will hold the first major exhibition in the UK to explore Mary Magdalene through modern and historical art. Mary Magdalene: Woman and Myth will run from February 2027 until January 2028 and include ’The Magdalen’ (above) from the workshop of the master of 1518.

The exhibition will visit the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield and Auckland Palace, Bishop Auckland. Dr Siobhán Jolley Curator, exhibition curator and a lecturer in Christian Studies at the University of Manchester said: “By exploring the relationship between the woman and the myth, the exhibition invites visitors to consider what happens when a life becomes a legend”. 

Fr Stephen Wang will be installed as the Sixth Bishop of Arundel and Brighton Diocese at noon on Monday 19 October in a Mass livestreamed from Arundel Cathedral.

Simon Caldwell, Master of the Catholic writers’ guild, The Keys referred to the “fearless” character of the late MP and novelist Ann Widdecombe at a Mass for the repose of her soul in The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street. The president of the Keys, Cardinal Nichols said in a message to guild members: “Fear, or timidity, is often the enemy of freedom. But in her, freedom won over fear every time”. Widdecombe, a former Master of the Keys was murdered on 9 July. She told Nichols she had no fear of death, explaining: “I know that my Redeemer liveth”. Widdecombe’s funeral is to be held in Buckfast Abbey, Devon.

Two youth ambassadors from a Catholic prison charity attended the Children of Prisoners’ Europe (COPE) Conference in Milan. Shem and Toby from PACT (the Prison Advice and Care Trust) facilitated discussions on finding ways to improve how the media portrays families affected by imprisonment. They said: “Representatives from different countries seemed genuinely shocked by what the media can share about addresses and families of convicted people – it made us realise just how behind the UK really is on this. Our media’s prevailing culture surrounding imprisonment is not at all conducive to positive change and often appears to be focused on inciting anger, and therefore inflicting pain.”

An 11-year-old schoolgirl from Sunderland has won the first Catholic Young Artist Award. Lexie (above) a pupil from St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School drew a tree of forgiveness. The judge Margaret Mizen MBE said she had chosen the drawing not only owing to “the amazing artwork” but also because of the words accompanying the sketch: “Healing begins when the heart forgives.’” There were more than 500 entries for the award sponsored by the Catholic Union Charitable Trust.

Margaret Mizen, who said she was ‘incredibly honoured‘ to judge the competition, founded the Mizen Foundation with her husband Barry following the loss of their son, Jimmy, who was killed in a bakery in 2008.

Their school visits involve sharing their story of forgiveness after they forgave Jimmy’s killer, Jake Farhi. Mizen said: “It’s what I speak about in schools all the time, so the young artist (Lexie) captured everything in a beautiful picture and words that touched my heart.

“Selecting a winner was no easy task. Maybe I will get to visit St Cuthbert’s one day.”

The Catholic Young Artist Award, sponsored by the Catholic Union Charitable Trust, was launched this year, with primary school aged children being asked to produce artwork on the theme of forgiveness. The Catholic Union said it was ‘delighted’ to receive over 500 entries.

After receiving the award, which included a cash prize, Lexie said: “I was really shocked that I won the competition, but really happy. I felt strongly about the message, as you need to mean it when you forgive someone and if it doesn’t come from the heart then it isn’t forgiveness.”

St Cuthbert’s Headteacher Jane Ward said she was ‘proud’ of Lexie’s victory, adding: “Her winning entry absolutely embodies who she is and how she lives her life and we are so privileged that she is a member of our school family.”

The three runners up came from St Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, Carshalton, English Martyrs Catholic Voluntary School, Nottingham, and St Elphege’s RC Infant and Junior School, Wallington. Baroness Hollins, President of the Catholic Union, praised all who took part, saying: “The future looks bright when children can express such a difficult concept as forgiveness through art.”

The Bishop of Plymouth, Nicholas Hudson and diocesan members of Caritas met King Charles III and Queen Camilla last month on their visit to Blandford Forum, Dorset. The King said the idea of integral ecology – described by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ – fitted into his Harmony Philosophy. This argues that understanding our relationship with nature can help create a more sustainable future. 

More than 50 Catholic organisations including CAFOD, Caritas Social Action Network and the Laudato Si’ Movement, have signed a letter urging Andy Burnham not to approve the Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea. “As Catholics, we know that the Church’s social teaching reminds us that care for creation cannot be separated from care for our neighbours,” wrote signatories.  

A Catholic from Aylsham in Norfolk, is fundraising  £9,000 to buy and service a truck to bring medical and humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine. Jonathan Ellis is part of a team of drivers and co-drivers which has helped raise over £2.1 million for Convoy4Ukraine, which buys and delivers vehicles, medical and other aid to ‘trusted partners in Ukraine.’ It is next due to travel to Lviv in October 2026.

Benedictine nuns at Minster Abbey in Kent are offering a single Catholic women aged 18-35 a “taster” of monastic life from 7-9 August. To register for the retreat, please email Sister Walburga minstervocations@gmail.com.

An Irish woman in her 50s is recovering in hospital after she was stabbed while saying the rosary in Holy Cross Church, Tramore, Co Waterford last week. About 50 people were in the church for 10am Mass when the stabbing occurred, said the parish priest, Fr Richard O’Halloran. A 36-year-old local man was arrested.

The think-tank Theos has conducted research on Gen Z and Anglican faith. “Understanding Young Adult Journeys to Faith in the Church of England” contains interviews with 30 young adults aged 18 to 30 who began attending Anglican churches for the first time within five years of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

“Grandparents have a unique wisdom and a vocation to pass on the faith,” the leader of the Irish Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin said on Sunday at the annual Catholic Grandparents’ Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine. 

The Bishop of Shrewsbury, Mark Davies has ordained Fr Gerard Connett and Fr Kevin Hogan, a widowed father of three daughters, to the priesthood in two separate ceremonies last month in Shrewsbury Cathedral.  

The funeral of Fr Jonathan Bielawski, co-founder of the Genesis Mission, an evangelisation programme, will take place at Plymouth Cathedral on Thursday 27 August. A former Episcopal Vicar for Evangelisation and Catechesis, Fr Bielawski died of cancer on 22 July, aged 65.

Bishop of Salford John Arnold published a letter to help guide Catholics voting in mayoral elections for Greater Manchester on 30 July. “As you prepare to vote, you may wish to reflect prayerfully on questions such as ‘Which candidates demonstrate integrity, wisdom and a genuine commitment to public service?’”

Pilgrims prayed in thanksgiving while climbing Croagh Patrick in County Mayo on Reek Sunday (26 July) after their Gaelic Athletic Association team (GAA) won the All-Ireland Senior Football title. Mayo’s victory over Kerry at Croke Park was their first win in seventy-five years. GAA president Jarlath Burns credited their success to Our Lady of Knock while presenting the trophy. Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam said road safety, the theme of the 2026 pilgrimage was a “pro-life” issue and a Christian obligation.

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