Day for Life is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.
15 June 2025
The Church teaches that life is to be nurtured from conception to natural death. In England and Wales, Day for Life is celebrated on the third Sunday of June each year. This year it falls on 15 June.
The theme is Hope does not Disappoint: Finding meaning in Suffering. It is inspired by Romans 5:5-6. St Paul invites us to see that Christian hope is not just naïve optimism but, rather, an unshakeable trust in the power and presence of God who is with us always. This hope can endure the darkness of human suffering and even see beyond it.
Suffering touches every person at some point in their lives. It is often associated with illness, grief, and loss. It is not only caused by physical pain but includes emotional suffering as well as ‘soul pain’, such as depression and despair. Christians are not immune to this mystery and we often struggle to know how best to respond to it, and where we can find hope.
Day for Life is marked on the same day by the three Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
In this booklet, you'll find the message from the Bishops of England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, along with prayers for Day for Life.
All information on how to apply for a grant from the Day for Life Fund can be found here.
Pope Leo XIV has sent a special message to Catholics and people of goodwill celebrating Day for Life on Sunday, 15 June, to assure them of his spiritual closeness at this time.
Archbishop John Sherrington explains how Christ accompanies us in our suffering and how this can give it a redemptive quality.
The Day for Life 2025 message, shared by the three Bishops' Conferences of England and Wales, Ireland and Scotland offers a reflection on this year's theme.
Prayers that can be used on or around Day for Life, celebrated in parishes throughout England and Wales on Sunday, 15 June 2025.
We are encouraging people to pray this novena starting on 23 May so that it finishes on 31 May, on the Feast of the Visitation
Day for Life 2024 focused on care at the end of life and the need to build a culture of care. The theme was ‘The Lord is my shepherd - Compassion and Hope at the end of life’.
The theme in 2023 was ‘Listen to Her’ and focused on post-abortion trauma and the impact of abortion primarily on women, but also men and others.
'Day for Life' is the day in our calendar set aside to celebrate life from conception to natural death. In 2022 the focus was on caring for and valuing the elderly.
