2026 POST-CONFERENCE STATEMENT

Under the chairmanship of Val Ward, the Annual General Meeting of the National Council for Lay

Associations (NCLA) took place on 7–8 February 2026 at the Oblate Retreat Centre, Wistaston

Hall. The meeting brought together representatives of Catholic lay associations working across

England and Wales, with episcopal accompaniment provided by Bishop John Arnold, Episcopal

Vicar to the NCLA, and was supported by John Smartt (NCLA Treasurer and Secretary to the

European Lay Forum), Bertie Grogan KSG (NCLA Secretary), and Frank Stanley

(Communications Officer). The AGM was also joined by Canon William Agley, Secretary

General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

The AGM provided a forum for prayer, dialogue, shared reflection, and reporting on the mission,

challenges, and opportunities facing Catholic lay organisations in the current social, political, and

ecclesial context. Delegates highlighted the breadth of lay witness across parish, diocesan, national,

and international settings, and identified common concerns rooted in Catholic Social Teaching.

DELEGATES PRESENT

Bishop John Arnold – NCLA Episcopal Vicar

Canon William Agley – Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Eileen Priest – Union of Catholic Mothers

Gill Whitney – Christian Life Community

Anthony Baker – Newman Association

Wlodek Mier-Jedrzejowicz – Polish Institute of Catholic Action in Great Britain

Dr Steve Brennan – Catholic Medical Association

Gerry Willams – Catholic Men Society

Kevin Dillon – CAFOD

Alexander Fisher – Catholic Military Association

Anne Peacey – National Justice and Peace Network

Richard Mitchell – Knights of St Columba

Prof. John Lydon – Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools & Colleges

Dr Caroline Healy – Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools & Colleges

Kate Nightingale— St Vincent de Paul Society