National Study 2026 3rd and 4th February - Oblate Retreat Centre Wistaston

Our National Study Day at the Oblate Retreat Centre in Wistaston in February was titled Blesseds and Venerables - Saints in Waiting

The process for Canonisation of Saints has changed over time and we have recently witnessed the canonisation of the first Millennial Saint - Carlo Acutis. There are many Servants of God, Blesseds and Venerables waiting for their cause to proceed and our Study Days brought some of those names to our attention, allowing us to participate in their cause and maybe one day witnessing their Beatification and Canonisation. We learned about holy men and women from our dioceses and from around the world, who need us to promote their cause on their path to sainthood and our aim is that by getting to know about them we can adopt them in prayer in our dioceses and foundations.

Several of the participants were inspired to do further reading and research about candidates in their own dioceses.

The Retreat Centre grounds are full of spaces for quiet contemplative prayer and we had Mass in the chapel on the last day. There was a lovely camaraderie with all the members attending from many dioceses and we shared lots of laughs too.

I wish to send many thanks to all the participants for your support and encouragement on my first study day and for the lovely feedback.

I look forward to visiting the dioceses who have invited me to their meetings, and hearing about their local candidates. This year we have invited feedback from foundations and dioceses to choose the topic for the next study day from the list of suggestions given to the study officers at the study day. These should be submitted to me by the time of the National Council in May so that a decision can be made then. My email is ucmstudy@gmail.com

Louise George       National Study Officer