Fr William “Willie” Doyle SJ (1873-1917) was an Irish Jesuit priest and military chaplain whose extraordinary courage, profound Catholic faith and selfless devotion to his soldiers made him one of the most remarkable figures of the First World War. Born in Dalkey, Co. Dublin, he volunteered to serve with the British Army on the Western Front with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, where he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire, against advice, to deliver the Sacraments, rescue the

The Catholic Military Association returned to Carfin Grotto this September for our annual pilgrimage, and this year felt like a genuine step forward for the Association. The story of the CMA began in Lent 2017 with two officer cadets at Sandhurst who recognised the need for a stronger Catholic community within the Armed Forces and decided to build something lasting. From those modest beginnings, the Association has grown to around 500 members across the Army, Royal Navy, RAF

By Fr David Smith This article is reproduced from the Army PRCC Newsletter, with gratitude. "Saturday 27th June saw a happy and blessed celebration of two of Our Lady’s lovely feasts: of Perpetual Succour and of Victories. To mark her arrival on the first instalment of her UK tour, the Catholic Military Association’s Ukrainian Icon of Our Lady of Victories was enthroned in the Garrison Church of St. Wilfrid, York during a Solem Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop Paul Mason.

On the 19th of July, St Joan of Arc’s Catholic Garrison Church was privileged to welcome the relics of St. Gerard Majella as part of the celebrations which mark the 300th anniversary of his birth. Naturally it fell to the CMA to organise a guard of honour for the relics, a task which was dutifully met by members within Catterick Garrison. Our members come from varied backgrounds, ranging from a Phase 2 recruit to soldiers with multiple operational accolades. It was a unique m

By Jack Morgan The CMA Catholic Tour of London was conducted on Sat 4 Jul 26. offering an opportunity for engagement and fellowship in central London. A mixture of service perssonnel, MoD civil servants, and a member of the USAF attended the tour. Additionally, two members of the Catholic Police Guild (CPG) also attended the event. The tour commenced with a visit to Westminster Abbey, followed by a visit to the London Oratory for mass and confession. Lunch was then had at a r

The Apostolat Militaire International 2026 Annual Conference, at which the CMA represented the UK, has released the following press statement: "The AMI held its 61st Annual Conference and General Assembly in Zreče, Slovenia. Hosted by the Slovenian Armed Forces and its Military Chaplaincy, it brought together 42 representatives from 15 countries throughout the world. Delegates included Catholic military personnel, along with representatives from the Association of Christian M

It was an absolute privilege to sponsor WeBelieve, an extraordinary Catholic festival which brought together thousands of Catholics from across the UK in the name of the True, the Good and the Beautiful. The sheer numbers of Priests, religious, families and faithful Catholics of all varieties was incredible. We saw old friends and made many new ones. Over 100 people signed up to be prayer supporters and pray for five CMA Members by name. Many more now know about our work, pra

The title of Our Lady of Grace is an ancient one. In its essence, it goes back to the Angel Gabriel’s greeting ‘Hail, full of grace’ at the Annunciation. The first recording of it in a shrine that is known to us today was in Ipswich in 1152, with similarly named shrines becoming popular in the late Middle Ages all over Northern Europe. There were at least three in England: at Ipswich, St Paul’s Cathedral in London, and in Cambridge. All three thrived up until the very eve of

There is something enchanting about walking the paths that thousands of pilgrims have walked before you, over hundreds of years. The countless prayers uttered feel like they have soaked into the landscape, enriching it and somehow setting it apart. Praying is easier in Walsingham, and so is listening to God. The history of Walsingham is strong. In 1538 the Reformation compelled it to be handed over to the King's Commission, and the original statue of Our Lady of Walsingham is

The Mad Glory of Walking to Chartres Reflections on the 2025 Pilgrimage by Jack Morgan There is something splendidly ludicrous about trudging seventy miles in the summer heat, half-starved, wheezing through hayfever, and sleeping on a bit of tarp in a muddy field - all for the sake of a woman who lived two thousand years ago and whom the world insists is no longer relevant. That, of course, is why it makes perfect sense. Each year, thousands of Catholics from across the g

Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank / Charles Guthrie / 'Gold Stick' / Field Marshal Guthrie, with whatever title, the man has been a hidden part of the CMA from the very beginning. On the evening of his funeral I am at last explaining it all in writing. When I first met Lord Guthrie, I was a scrawny, sleep-deprived Trooper of the Life Guards, turning out a horse for him in the early hours at Hyde Park Barracks. I really had no idea who he was. Just another very senior officer in ne

It was an enormous honour for the CMA to be able to represent His Majesty’s Armed Forces at the 60 th General Assembly & Conference of the Apostolat Militaire International. The Conference was held in Manila, Philippines, and the theme was “Strengthening Christian Values through Biblical Leadership, building bridges, ethical dilemma of AI and Modern Technology”. The CMA advocated for its members by: Speaking up for the need for better provision of Catholic Chaplains for se

By LCpl Arpan Bista On Saturday, 13th September, I had the great privilege, together with my wife, CMA chair Capt Osborn and Capt Fisher, to attend a mass at Westminster Cathedral. Gurkha LCpl Arpan Bista giving a short presentation at the reception following the Celebration Mass. A mass was offered in celebration of the life and witness of an extra ordinary person, the servant of God- John Randal Bradburne. And, to mark the 30 th anniversary of the John Bradburne Memorial S

It was an immense privilege to witness the blessing of our Icon of Our Lady of Victories yesterday. Created using centuries-old...

As plants carefully tended from seed finally burst into full abundance, it's worth taking a moment to think about gardening. Not everyone...

In the repetition of those ancient prayers, amidst the silent communion of fellow fighting aged males in best dress, the walls I’d built...

Fr Goerge Bowen ALLELUIA For all of Lent, the word Alleluia is never uttered. But now in Easter, with the Lord risen, it seems that we...

By a Member of the CMA "Lent is a powerful time of year, but in a busy house surrounded by children and with a hundred things to do I...

By Marine Ian Macey For a long time, I felt a quiet tug in my heart—something drawing me closer to faith, to tradition, and to something...

It was an honour to sponsor the Word on Fire Conference.