‘Catholic News’ is a podcast carrying interviews with a diverse range of people – lay people, religious and clergy – involved on the front line of the Catholic Church’s work in England and Wales.
29th January 2021
This excellent reflection from Bishop Nicholas Hudson, looking back on this year’s Holy Land Co-ordination, gives his thoughts on the virtual pilgrimage of bishops from around the world to the lands of Christ.
The Holy Land Co-ordination is an annual pilgrimage to support the Christians and people of the region but this year was a remote gathering due to travel restrictions needed to combat the spread of Covid-19.
Bishop Hudson is an auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Westminster and was representing England and Wales as well as COMECE – the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU.
25th January 2021
Archbishop Patrick Kelly, retired Archbishop of Liverpool and former Chair of the Holy Land Co-ordination, is our guest for this ‘Catholic News’ podcast.
He joins us to talk about his many pilgrimages to the lands of Christ and his ‘hope’ for peace in the Holy Land – something that, he believes, demands resurrection not resuscitation.
Archbishop Patrick took part in a virtual 2021 Holy Land Co-ordination from 16-21 January – COVID restrictions rightly preventing the group from travelling.
The Holy Land Co-ordination is a prayerful annual pilgrimage of bishops from around the world to the region to stand in solidarity with the two peoples of three religions – particularly the Christians, the ‘Living Stones’.
Things are currently bleak. Pilgrims would normally inject some much-needed cash into the local economies of towns in the West Bank but there are no visitors walking the streets, praying at the key sites and buying goods. There’s also a question mark surrounding the COVID vaccination and Palestinians having the required access to get inoculated.
Archbishop Patrick is not optimistic, but he is hope-filled. He says the challenge is hold a “dream beyond possibilities”.
Listen to our podcast for more.
22nd January 2021
On today’s ‘Catholic News’ podcast we’re joined by the long-term chair of what’s called the Holy Land Co-ordination – a prayerful annual pilgrimage of bishops from around the world to the land of Christ’s life and ministry.
Bishop Declan Lang, Catholic Bishop of Clifton, like his fellow delegates, had to engage in this year’s pilgrimage remotely due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The bishops met from 16 – 21 January online.
They heard time and again, particularly when discussing the current realities in Gaza, how Church-run organisations like hospitals, schools and charities, are punching well above their weight serving the wider community beyond the church walls. In Gaza, for example, the Catholic organisation Caritas facilitates 61% of all healthcare home visits in this Palestinian territory of 2m people. There are only 1,077 Christians in that number – of which 132 are Latin Catholics.
“It’s the model of the church as servant, as a servant to people in need,” syas Bishop Declan. “This love of neighbour is a very practical form of Christianity. Perhaps that’s what we need in the Church in Western Europe – to become a ‘servant church’ – a church that is there to serve the wider community and its needs.”
Bishop Declan Lang also talks about the prospect of peace in the region and where, despite the bleak outlook, we can find hope for the future.
16th December 2020
It’s winter and Christmas season is almost upon us. But the anticipation of the Coming of Christ – not to mention the festive cheer – is set, this year, to a backdrop of COVID-19 with many of us separated and isolated.
So it’ll be a different Christmas in households across England and Wales but let’s not forget it’s always a hard time of year for those without the warmth and shelter of a home.
The St Vincent de Paul Society – the SVP as it’s known – has addressed some of these acute needs by producing 11,500 life-saving packs of useful items for the homeless.
Vinnie Packs, as they’re called, provide cold weather essentials for people sleeping rough on our streets.
The packs are distributed by the charity’s volunteers but some of our Catholic schools have joined in to do their bit to help the homeless.
One such school is St Paul’s Catholic Primary and Nursery School in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.
6th November 2020
This ‘Catholic News’ podcast on food poverty was recorded just before the second national lockdown in England to tackle the spread of COVID-19.
Food poverty is a real issue just now – especially as many have lost their jobs, the economy is stretched and job security is a major cause of anxiety. An increasing number of people rely on food banks to feed their families.
Catholic charities, parishes and volunteers have a big role to play. They also work closely with other organisations whose mission it is to feed the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.
In this podcast we look at two North London food banks that are making a real difference to their local communities.
16th April 2020
Catholic Social Teaching is often described as the ‘jewel in the crown’ for Catholics. At this time when communities are coming together to act in solidarity to battle the spread of COVID-19, Catholic Social Teaching is more relevant than ever.
Churches are closed, friends are separated, the elderly and vulnerable are self-isolating – some away from their families – and the rest of us are on lockdown to protect the herculean efforts of the NHS as the virus reaches its peak in the UK.
Professor Jim McManus is Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire and has been helping guide the Catholic Church’s response to COVID-19.
He talks to us about the vital guiding principles of solidarity, subsidiarity and upholding the common good to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
“We often neglect what’s called ‘horizontal subsidiarity’ – the skills of good citizenship. The skills we learn of participating, of helping one another out, of good behaviour, of pro-social behaviour. This is the time when these networks of skills and goodwill are most needed.
“The ‘soft skills’ we need as a society are the things we need to practice. So ‘horizontal subsidiarity’ absolutely comes in. It is derived, theologically, from a duty we owe one another in justice – as fellow creatures – and we should follow that.”
21st March 2020
Our latest podcast again features Professor Jim McManus who’s Hertfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health and a key contributor to the Catholic Church’s Healthcare Reference Group.
Now, sadly, we’ve had to suspend public acts of worship, Jim gives us an update and offers some dos and don’ts when it comes to self-isolation and social distancing.
We talk about how we can all stay safe and how when we protect ourselves, we protect others – particularly the most vulnerable and those who are not in a position to work from home.
14th March 2020
There’s an understandable level of anxiety generated whenever anyone talks about Coronavirus and the global impact of COVID-19. But what is always needed is clear information and a sensible approach to containing, delaying and coping with the virus.
Professor Jim McManus joins us today to discuss COVID-19 and how we can all do our bit to combat the spread and keep ourselves safe – especially the most vulnerable members of our society.
Jim is the Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire and Vice President of Directors of Public Health. He is also a key contributor to the Bishops’ Conference Healthcare Reference Group for the Catholic Church and worked on our guidelines for Catholics.
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’.
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.
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.
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.
