Diocese of Shrewsbury

17/06/2026

𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗼'𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 - 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀

With the FIFA World Cup well underway this month, Pope Leo XIV has dedicated his June prayer intention to the power of sport — praying that "sport may always be a school of fraternity, not of empty rivalry, a space of encounter, not exclusion, a path of peace, not violence."

His full intention: "Let us pray that sport may be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth."

Billions will watch. Billions will cheer. Behind every kit, every flag, every face in the crowd — a soul made in the image of God.

As the Holy Father reminds us: "in life, as in the game, no one is saved alone. We need others to grow, to learn respect, to overcome our limits, and to celebrate together the victories we achieve."

A record 48 national teams compete across 104 matches — 48 nations. One humanity. One Lord.

• 🙏 Pray with Pope Leo XIV this June.
• 👉 Join the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network at clicktopray.org

16/06/2026

Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, has expressed his deep disappointment that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will return to parliament in Autumn

Read more here:

Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, has expressed his deep disappointment that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will return to parliament in Autumnn

16/06/2026

🔥❤️ Two Hearts. One Path to Love.

Mary's Immaculate Heart leads us to the Sacred Heart of Jesus — just as her whole life was entirely oriented toward Him. Through her "yes" to God's plan, she became the vessel through which the Sacred Heart of her Son would enter our world.

Marian devotion is not an end in itself — the love of her heart is meant as a model for the way we should love God. In all of Mariology, she leads us closer to God, rather than becoming an alternative object of devotion.

Scripture and Tradition both show that Mary's heart is united to Jesus' heart. She shared in His joys, sorrows, and mission to save the world. Her heart always leads us closer to Him.
She doesn't point to herself. She points to her Son — always.

🌹 Go to her. She will take you straight to Him.
"Do whatever He tells you." — John 2:5

15/06/2026

𝟮,𝟮𝟵𝟵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 - 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! 💒

Last Saturday’s Annual Marriage Mass brought together couples from across the Diocese — from those celebrating their first wedding anniversary to 13 couples marking 60 years of marriage, one celebrating 65 years, and two celebrating an incredible 70 years together.

In his opening remarks, Bishop Mark noted that together, the couples present represented an extraordinary 𝟮,𝟮𝟵𝟵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 — a powerful witness that Marriage is a gift from God.

🔗 Read Bishop Mark’s full homily here: https://bit.ly/BishopMarkMarriageHomily2026

📷 Simon Caldwell / Diocese of Shrewsbury

15/06/2026

Celebrating Love at the Annual Marriage Mass 💒

Last Saturday, couples from across the Diocese gathered in Dt Columba’s, Chester, for our Annual Marriage Mass as we celebrated those newly married and those marking significant wedding anniversaries.

In his homily, Bishop Mark reminded couples — and all of us across the Diocese — that Marriage is a gift from God, a vocation of love, faithfulness and grace lived out each day.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate these special milestones and witness to the joy of Christian marriage.

📸 Watch this space for photos and Bishop Mark’s full homily coming soon.

14/06/2026

Well deserved celebrations!

This is what the Church is all about, living out the Gospel in a tangible way 🌍🌲🌱🍃🌏

14/06/2026

📖 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 | 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟵:𝟯𝟲–𝟭𝟬:𝟴

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘥𝘴, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘥." — 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘸 9:36

Look around. The world is full of people who are lost, exhausted, and searching for something they cannot name. Jesus sees them. He sees us. And His response is not pity that stands at a distance — it is a love that acts.

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus' heart was moved with pity — and immediately He turned to His disciples: "The harvest is abundant but the labourers are few."

He doesn't just weep over the lostness of the world. He sends people into it.

This Sunday, we are reminded that the Church exists precisely for the harassed and the dejected — the lonely, the grieving, the forgotten. And we are called not merely to observe their suffering, but to go to them. Jesus responds to the needs of the crowds with deep compassion, and He calls His disciples and gives them authority to heal and proclaim the kingdom.

That call echoes across every generation. It echoes today — here in Shrewsbury.

Is there someone in your life who is wandering like a sheep without a shepherd? Could you be the one the Lord sends to them this week?

🙏 Mass times at your local parish: www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org

13/06/2026

Come to the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 💙🕊️

“My Jesus, fill my heart with so much love that one day it will break just to be with You. My Jesus, you know I have placed you as a seal on my heart. Remain there always.” — Saint Bernadette Soubirous

There are moments in life when we are invited to step away from the noise and draw closer to the heart of Christ.

Join us on the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage — a journey of prayer, friendship, hope, and encounter. Like St Bernadette, come with an open heart and allow Lourdes to become a place of renewal, peace, and deeper trust in God’s love.

🔗 www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/lourdes

13/06/2026

💙 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 💙

Following yesterday’s celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, today the Church honours the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The hearts of Jesus and Mary are united in love, compassion and obedience to God’s will. As we reflect on Mary’s Immaculate Heart, we are invited to imitate her faith, humility and trust in the Lord.

Mary treasured God’s word in her heart and remained faithful to her Son through every joy and sorrow. Today, let us entrust our families, our parishes and our Diocese to her loving care.

𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺

Immaculate Heart of Mary,
full of love for God and for all His children,
guide us closer to your Son, Jesus.
Help us to listen to God’s word,
trust in His promises,
and live each day with faith and hope.
Amen.

Our Lady, pray for us.

12/06/2026

❤ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 ❤

Today the Church celebrates the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a powerful reminder of Christ’s infinite love, mercy and compassion for every person.

The Heart of Jesus burns with love for humanity, inviting us to trust in Him, draw close to Him in prayer, and share His love with others through our words and actions.

Let us entrust ourselves, our families, our parishes and our Diocese to the Sacred Heart today.

𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, source of all love, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, full of compassion, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, our hope and salvation, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, make our hearts like yours. Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place our trust in You.