This week, I was invited to attend an anniversary mass for one of our network members, Cardinal Hume Centre. Throughout 2026, they have been celebrating 40 years of the centre since its inception in the 1980s, after Sister Eileen O’Mahoney spotted increasing numbers of young people experiencing homelessness in Westminster. In 1986, Sister Eileen, Sister Maria Parcher and their team moved into an empty convent with the support of Cardinal Basil Hume and the religious orders across the diocese. They have established themselves as a core part of local services for the past four decades in the fight against homelessness.
The mass was held in the beautiful Westminster Cathedral, where the Sisters had first noticed young people sleeping on the cathedral steps. The borough has the joint highest rates of poverty in London – in the city which has the highest poverty rate in the country – as a hub for extreme wealth but also extreme poverty. Even as I walked to and from the event, the signs of this were clear to see from those sleeping on the streets that night, making the grandeur of the Cathedral seem very distant from the realities on the ground.
His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols conducted the service, who had personally worked with Cardinal Hume and served the Centre as a patron during his tenure as Archbishop of Westminster. The homily reflected on the message in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-12a) and reminded us of the call to generosity and service to others and to Christ.
After the service, a reception was held in the Cathedral Hall to celebrate further the work of the Centre, including a speech from CEO George O’Neill. Repeating the refrain ‘do you want to end homelessness?’ to the audience (who of course responded ‘Yes!’), O’Neill shared stories of the impact of the Centre on people’s lives, from refugees to young adults and children, providing advice, practical and emotional support, and a place to call home. He alluded to the Prime Minister’s recent commitments to end homelessness as an opportunity for engagement, encouraging everyone to get involved in supporting this necessary project. One way you can show support is by donating to the Centre’s 500 Futures campaign, launched this October to fundraise £1.2 million to support 500 more children, young people and families.
Every person is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-7) and this message stood out, at the core of the Centre’s ethos and in its celebrations. Although recognising how much more work there is to do to truly end homelessness, and how much insecurity and instability there continues to be in housing, this anniversary event was filled with hope and determination. The lived experiences of those impacted by the Centre remind us of the value of making a difference in the pursuit of social justice. As one client shared in the service booklet – “I no longer feel anxious or frightened about being able to afford the necessities for my young child and for myself. I leave the house feeling confident, strong, and happy. I’m back to feeling good about my life and my son’s future.”
This article was written by Erica, CSAN’s Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Maternity Cover)
