Wave of Hope

5 December

This Wave of Hope reflection for Advent comes from Bishop John Arnold, our Lead Bishop for the Environment and Bishop of Salford.

Despite the disappointment of COP30 and the lack of agreement on the phasing out of fossil fuels, Bishop Arnold actually takes heart from the number of individuals and groups in the UK keen to combat climate change:

“This year, what gave me the most hope was the growing interest, learning, and actions among so many groups of people concerning the reality of climate change and its increasing impact in our worl...

4 December

This Wave of Hope reflection for Advent comes from Nikki Dhillon Keane, a therapist, trainer, author, activist and founder of Safe in Faith, a project of Caritas Westminster working to support survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and exploitation in ways that understand how their faith impacts their experiences.

Nikki reflects on the hope she finds in accompanying people on their personal journeys:

“The thing that gives me hope more than anything is the privilege of being able to accompany people on that journey from danger to safety, that journey of trauma reco...

3 December

This Wave of Hope reflection for Advent comes from Bishop Richard Moth, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton and Lead Bishop for Prisons for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. Bishop Moth shares how he found hope through his encounters with the men and women he met during the various prison visits he made this year:

“I made a number of visits to prisons during the year and have been delighted to baptise and confirm men and women who are encountering the gospel and the life of the Church and recognising that their journe...

2 December

Our third Wave of Hope reflection for Advent comes from Dr Christine Allen, Director of CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and the official aid agency for the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Dr Allen finds hope at home and abroad despite the war, violence, conflict, famine, and destruction that we’ve seen this year.

“I’ve seen signs of hope in South Sudan, where our partner, Caritas Malakal, day in and day out, offers life-saving food to those displaced across the border from the war in Sudan. People who have abs...

1 December

Our second Wave of Hope reflection for Advent comes from Canon Chris Vipers, Director of the Agency for Evangelisation for the Diocese of Westminster. Canon Vipers finds his hope in young people and how they will shape the Church for future generations:

“I found great hope in the events we’ve had for our catechists – those who form our young people for the Sacraments… I’ve been so encouraged by the warmth and the love that our catechists bring. It gives me such hope for the future – our young people are so blessed to have them.”

30 November – First Sunday of Advent

Our first Wave of Hope reflection for Advent comes from Fr Issa Thaljieh, a Greek Orthodox priest from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. How appropriate that we start our series of reflections here – the place of our Lord and Saviour’s birth.

Fr Thaljieh explains that it has been a very hard year in Bethlehem, the city where hope Himself was born – a year marked by pain, uncertainty, and questions. Yet, in the midst of this, God continues to plant small seeds of hope.

“One moment this year th...