5th January 2020
We’re into the new year and it’s well worth remembering that Christmas doesn’t end on Boxing Day as everyone looks to move on rather too quickly.
Canon Christopher Thomas concludes our series of six Advent and Christmas reflections by looking at what is revealed to us at the great Feast of the Epiphany – namely God incarnate as Jesus Christ, dwelling among us.
Of course the magi – the wise men – come into focus but also the star that leads the way: “In its shining – the star calls to all people ‘Here is your king – the child to save you from your sins’.”
Let’s celebrate that “He is God with us, He is the light of the world” and bear in mind that the Christmas season continues for a full 40 days – right up to the ‘Presentation of Jesus at the Temple’.
Canon Christopher Thomas concludes our series of six Advent and Christmas reflections by looking at what is revealed to us at the great Feast of the Epiphany.
24th December 2019
As Advent – the great season of anticipation and preparation – draws to a close we arrive at the crib to celebrate Christ among us – the Word made flesh. Canon Christopher Thomas offers us a thought-provoking Christmas reflection.
Silence lies at the heart of the ultimate Christmas gift, yet to speak of silence means to destroy it – to take away the peace.
Canon Christopher Thomas offers us a thought-provoking Christmas reflection.
20th December 2019
Domestic abuse is the difficult subject we’re tackling in this month’s ‘Social Justice Matters’ podcast. One in four women and about one in six men suffer from domestic abuse in their lifetime. Two women are killed every week in England by a partner or ex-partner.
Back in June 2019, we held a panel discussion looking at what we can do to positively change the culture on domestic abuse in families, at work, and in our churches. Listen to the full discussion.
Domestic abuse is the difficult subject we’re tackling in this month’s ‘Social Justice Matters’ podcast. One in four women and about one in six men suffer from domestic abuse in their lifetime. Two women are killed every week in England by a partner or ex-partner. Back in June 2019, we held a panel discussion looking […]
20th December 2019
More and more people are struggling to cope with their mental health. We face rising rates of depression, anxiety and self-harm – especially in young people.
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have a Mental Health Project that aims to increase spiritual and pastoral support in our communities for those with mental health challenges, their families and carers.
For today’s ‘Social Justice Matters’ podcast we caught up with Dr Simon Hewitt from the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science at the University of Leeds.
Simon has an academic interest in psychiatry but, on a personal level, was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder six years ago. Also, as is quite common with the condition, he has lived with depression. It’s a condition that can be completely disabling if untreated. Simon talks candidly to us about Bipolar disorder and we cover a lot of ground including support groups, labels and language, dos and don’ts when you’re accompanying a friend with a mental health condition and much more.
More and more people are struggling to cope with their mental health. We face rising rates of depression, anxiety and self-harm – especially in young people. The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have a Mental Health Project that aims to increase spiritual and pastoral support in our communities for those with mental health challenges, […]
19th December 2019
What’s the Catholic Church’s position on blood and organ donation? A law change will come into force in England in 2020 whereby the system will change to ‘opt out’ or ‘deemed consent’.
This means that every patient who dies is considered a potential organ donor if they are eligible.
In this first ever ‘Social Justice Matters’ podcast, we discuss the law change, what we’d encourage you to do and speak to the remarkable Mary Adeturinmo who has sickle cell anaemia and needs blood transfusions on a regular basis to cope with episodes of extreme pain and to ease the symptoms of the condition.
What’s the Catholic Church’s position on blood and organ donation? A law change will come into force in England in 2020 whereby the system will change to ‘opt out’ or ‘deemed consent’. This means that every patient who dies is considered a potential organ donor if they are eligible. In this first ever ‘Social Justice […]
19th December 2019
Trust is in relatively short supply these days. As we arrive at the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we look at the extraordinary bonds of trust we see in the Nativity story. Joseph trusted Mary, Mary trusted God – both turned away from the judgements of society.
Trust is in relatively short supply these days. As we arrive at the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we look at the extraordinary bonds of trust we see in the Nativity story. Joseph trusted Mary, Mary trusted God – both turned away from the judgements of society.
19th December 2019
For the Third Sunday of Advent Peter and John The Baptist come into focus for Canon Christopher Thomas in his Advent reflection. Peter’s confidence and John’s doubts stem from the extent to which they ‘know’ Jesus.
Jesus is the one we come to worship – week in, week out. We have great tools for this – the generations of Catholics who have gone before us, the lives of the saints, our history as the Catholics of England. Above all we have the Holy Scriptures and prayer.
For the Third Sunday of Advent Peter and John The Baptist come into focus for Canon Christopher Thomas in his Advent reflection. Peter’s confidence and John’s doubts stem from the extent to which they ‘know’ Jesus. Jesus is the one we come to worship – week in, week out. We have great tools for this […]
17th December 2019
Here’s the second in our series of six seasonal reflections for Advent and Christmas. For the Second Sunday of Advent, Canon Christopher Thomas points out that, as Christians, we are all exiles – alienated from our true home in God’s heavenly kingdom.
Here’s the second in our series of six seasonal reflections for Advent and Christmas. For the Second Sunday of Advent, Canon Christopher Thomas points out that, as Christians, we are all exiles – alienated from our true home in God’s heavenly kingdom.
17th December 2019
For Advent 2019, as the Church enters a new year, we’re bringing you four seasonal reflections from Canon Christopher Thomas, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
Today, for the First Sunday of Advent, we climb a mountain to seek God in our own high places.
For Advent 2019, as the Church enters a new year, we’re bringing you four seasonal reflections from Canon Christopher Thomas, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. Today, for the First Sunday of Advent, we climb a mountain to seek God in our own high places.
