Christmas on the streets of London

London’s diocese of Westminster is expecting packed parish churches over the Christmas season with crowds of locals, visitors and tourists joining regular congregations to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. A press release from the diocese says alongside the Midnight Mass and up to seven separate Masses on Christmas Day in some parish churches, there will be many special services for children, Mass for prisoners in three local detention centres and pastoral services for seafarers and crews who are unable to come home for Christmas.
But the festive season can also be especially challenging for those who have no home to go to – the homeless, the runaways and those who live a shadowy existence far from the bright city lights and colourful Christmas celebrations. As Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster told us, the diocese will continue to provide support and care for those most in need throughout this difficult time of year…..

Listen to to Philippa Hitchen's interview with Archbishop Nichols: