Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales

About

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is the permanent assembly of Catholic Bishops and Personal Ordinaries in the two member countries. The membership of the Conference comprises the Archbishops, Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops of the 22 Dioceses within England and Wales, the Bishop of the Forces (Military Ordinariate), the Apostolic Eparch of the Ukrainian Church in Great Britain, the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, and the Apostolic Prefect of the Falkland Islands.

Structure

President

Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster

Vice-President

Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark

General Secretary

Christopher Thomas, Diocese of Nottingham

Membership

Diocesan, auxiliary and emeritus (retired) bishops of England and Wales

Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London

Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham

Departments

The conference is divided into departments each dealing with specific topic matters. There are seven departments, these being:

Catholic Communications Network

Catholic Education and Formation

Christian Life and Worship

Christian Responsibility and Citizenship

Dialogue and Unity

Evangelisation and Catecehis

International Affairs

Each department consists of bishops and staff, and is chaired by one bishop. Other bishops contribute as episcopal staff, and there are a few other members serving as staff. Each department is further subdivided into committees; a separate member of the episcopal staff of that department oversees the reports and work of their committee.

Other agencies

Other agencies of the Bishops' Conference include:

CAFOD, the international development and humanitarian agency

CSAN, the domestic social action agency - "CSAN (Caritas Social Action Network) is the social action arm of the Catholic Church in England and Wales"

Catholic Education Service