Catholic News

World Communications Day falls this year on Sunday, 1 June. The theme centres around the need to communicate responsibly to foster a culture of hope and peace. For this Catholic News podcast, we speak to our Media Bishop, the Rt Revd John Arnold, to discuss the final Communications Day message of Pope Francis's pontificate and […]

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops’ Conference, gave a Sunday morning homily in the chapel of the Venerable English College in Rome, in which he spoke at length about the intense focus on prayer in the Sistine chapel that prevailed in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV as Bishop […]

Three days after the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Vincent Nichols speaks to us from Rome about his personal feelings and experiences ahead of the papal funeral. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts or Amazon/Audible.

Bishop William Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine, joins us for this Catholic News podcast. The Bishop was in the UK at the invitation of two charities helping Christians under intense pressure – Aid to the Church in Need and Friends of the Holy Land. During his visit, he met with Bishop Nicholas Hudson, […]

The National Director of the Pope’s charity for world mission in England and Wales, Father Anthony Chantry, joins us for this Catholic News podcast to bring us up to date on the work of Missio. After a recent visit to Cambodia, Fr Chantry spoke about the many challenges the Catholic Church faces in the country. […]

For this Catholic News podcast, Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues here at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, explains our objection to the proposed legislation passing through parliament seeking to legalise assisted suicide. Ahead of the Bill’s Third Reading and vote, likely to take place in late April or early […]

A special Catholic News podcast in which we speak to the charismatic Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Robert Rigby. When you picture a Lord Mayor you probably conjure up images of mayoral chains and hats, meeting important people, being the ‘first citizen’ of a city with all the trappings that accompany such an […]

Understanding the shock, pain, and anxiety that comes after a terminal diagnosis is often best articulated through first-person stories. Today we’re speaking to Matt Parkes about how he cared for his dad, Jeff, at the end of his life. Jeff became aware something was seriously wrong health-wise in 2011. Something had changed. Something felt different. […]

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, took some time out of his very busy schedule to be guest of honour in a joint Catholic News / Middle East Analysis podcast just before the First Sunday of Advent. You can listen to the full podcast here. This excerpt from the full episode offers […]

We have a special guest for this Catholic News podcast episode – Sister Helen Alford OP, the President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. Sister Alford, a religious sister of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena, was born in London and graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in manufacturing engineering, […]

Our studio guest for this special 30-minute Catholic News podcast is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. Born in northern Italy, the Patriarch, a Franciscan, has spend 35 years of his ministry in the Holy Land. In this time he has seen many episodes of war and tension. The current cycle […]

For this Catholic News podcast, we take on a difficult subject – one that needs a carefully considered pastoral approach to those in acute need. Our topic today is domestic abuse and we’re speaking to Nikki Dhillon Keane from Safe in Faith, an organisation that fosters safe support for survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based […]

Canon Christopher Thomas, General Secretary here at the Bishops’ Conference secretariat, gives us an update on the new lectionary that will be used for the first time in parishes across England and Wales on the First Sunday of Advent. Speaking on our monthly At the Foot of the Cross podcast, Canon Thomas tells us that […]

On this Catholic News podcast, you can listen to the President of the Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, talking about why it’s so important to inform ourselves about assisted suicide and take action to oppose attempts to legalise it. In a pastoral letter to the priests and people of his diocese, the Cardinal refers to […]

If you've been a regular at Mass over these summer months you will have listened to the guidance of the prophets in our readings. Whether you've heard God's wisdom and warnings through Jeremiah, Isaiah, Amos, Micah or Hosea, it's that time of year when we are given the revelatory word that brings about change in the hearts of some or consolation in the hearts of others. But, as our General Secretary Canon Chris Thomas tells us, prophets are often misunderstood. “Lots of people think that prophets are there to predict the future when really that's not fully their role,” he tells us on our At the Foot of the Cross podcast. "Prophets, as we understand them, are people who are endowed with a supernatural gift of wisdom to be claimed in the hearts of the people. They challenge current day practices and make known to the people the consequences of not changing their ways.” Canon Thomas uses three vocational stories about prophets and their preaching, focusing on Amos, Isaiah and Jeremiah. As we go through the Summer, we'll hear the prophets time and time again. Listening to their words can, at times, be quite difficult, but Canon Thomas offers some advice. “If you keep in the back of your mind that prophets are given a specific word by God to preach to the people so that they will return to being faithful to the covenant and adapt their way of living,” he says. “They can then, as the Prophet Micah says, act justly, love mercifully or tenderly, and more humbly with God. This then leads them to the fullness of life.” Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Ahead of the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly, Bishop David Evans has spoken about the need for us to value the elderly and recognise the important contribution grandparents make to society. On this 'Catholic News' podcast we discuss how we can use this day, on Sunday 28 July, as one of thanksgiving and prayer for grandparents and the elderly. "We might have a rather rosy idea of family life or of the life of older people," says Bishop Evans, our Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life. "In fact, they have their difficulties and their burdens. We are able to recognise these, and to think about the social implications of their isolation. It's important we pray for them and recognise that they too are included in God's love for all." Bishop Evans affirms young people in their care for the elderly - particularly grandparents: "One thing that strikes me is the love which grandchildren have for their grandparents. We're not asking anything exceptional, for them to take care of their grandparents. Many are doing this already, which is a wonderful thing. But it might just be an opportunity just to do something a bit extra for them on this day, to keep them in our prayers, to think perhaps a bit beyond family members, not just our grandparents, but the older people who might live next door." He adds a further suggestion for social outreach: "It may be that one or two people are able, with the proper precautions, to visit older people who live nearby or who live in care homes - paying a little visit to make their day a bit better." Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Ahead of Sea Sunday, the day we come together to pray for seafarers and fishers to thank them for the vital role they play in all of our lives, we spoke to Deacon Nick O'Neill, the Senior Area Port Chaplain for the South of England and Wales for Catholic charity Stella Maris. In this Catholic News podcast, Deacon Nick discusses the joys and challenges of his job supporting seafarers with host Fionn Shiner. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Hospices - places you go to die, right? Horizontal in a bed for the last months of your life? Decades ago, perhaps, but the modern hospice offers a wide variety of services - all designed to provide high quality, compassionate care for the dying person. In fact, around 50% of people that use the facilities and treatments go home at the end of the day. It's time to challenge the stereotypes, bust the myths and go behind the scenes to find out just how hospices work and how they are the jewel in the crown when it comes to end of life care.   Produced in partnership with the Centre for the Art of Dying Well, this special podcast sends us to a truly remarkable place - St Joseph's Hospice in Hackney, East London. Most people want their death – or that of a loved one or friend – to be comfortable and reconciled. A dignified death. At St Joseph's Hospice the dying person always comes first so why not listen to find out more? Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

For this special Catholic News podcast, we take a look back on Bishop Declan Lang's twenty-three years as Bishop of Clifton. Let me set the scene for you… It was the evening before his successor's episcopal ordination, and we were fortunate to side-step all the intense planning and preparation for the day to come, in order to sit down in the garden of the retiring Bishop of Clifton as the Spring sun gave out its last. Metaphorically, the sun was setting too on Bishop Declan's years of ministry as the ninth Bishop of Clifton – it was just a matter of hours before his handover to the incoming Bishop Bosco MacDonald. So, for this podcast, it seemed apposite to take a stroll with Bishop Declan to look back over almost a quarter of a century shepherding the diocese. In this 'Catholic News' podcast we discuss: His upbringing on the Isle of Wight The call to the priesthood Being both a seminarian and a university student A meeting with the Apostolic Nuncio - Pope John Paul II's representative in the UK A pastoral plan from bottom to top for Clifton What it's like being a bishop How the episcopal ministry comes full circle Young people - the Church for today and tomorrow National and international work The challenge of living with Parkinson's Poignantly, when discussing his health challenges, he said: "It has strengthened my trust in God - that God knows what He's doing. I'm not saying that God sent me Parkinson's, but I am saying that you can live through Parkinson's. "The Christian message is about life. It's about death, but it's about life coming from death. We are people of hope, and we can find God. We might think Parkinson's is totally destroying lives, but actually God can be found in illness, sickness and vulnerability, and it has made me more vulnerable in some ways." Listen to our full podcast interview with Bishop Declan Lang - his last as Bishop of Clifton. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Father Gabriel Romanelli is the parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City. He had to watch from a distance as the horrors of the 7 October Hamas attack unfolded, before Israel's bombardment of the Strip led to the humanitarian crisis and suffering we now see in this torn land. Father Romanelli spent a week in the UK, in London and Glasgow, from 22 - 27 April, meeting with Christian leaders and politicians to highlight the plight of the near 500 people still sheltering in the compound of the Holy Family Church. For this Catholic News podcast, we again partner up with Middle East Analysis - a podcast strand that emanated from the Bishops' Conference 15 years ago and features our former Middle East North Africa (MENA) consultant Dr Harry Hagopian. Dr Hagopian, an International lawyer and analyst who has long worked for peace between Israel and Palestine, joins Fr Romanelli in conversation for this special podcast. We discuss the current plight of the parish community in the north of Gaza, the lack of food, water and medicine, the Pope's daily phone calls and pastoral concern for the people, the need for a lasting peace, what Catholics in England and Wales can do, the light of faith in the darkness, and much more. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

This Catholic News podcast looks at AI and Pope Francis' message for World Communications Day. Bishop John Arnold, Lead Bishop for Communications here at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, talks about how the technology can make information accessible and support the common good but we should make sure that it is carefully regulated. "Let's use machines to assist us in what we're doing to make our world a better place, to enhance the way we live. But let's not allow machines in any way to think for us or to make decisions which are not appropriate." Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

We keep our firm focus on the Holy Land and whilst we continue to weep as we look on at the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the suffering of all civilians caught up in this conflict, we're joined by Fr Fadi Diab to discuss the lived realities of the Palestinian people in the West Bank as well as in the decimated strip. Fr Diab is from Ramallah and is the rector of St Andrew's Episcopal Church and also minister at St Peter's Church in Bir Zeit. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Bishop Declan Lang, Chair of our International Affairs department, recently joined former Middle East North Africa advisor to the Bishops' Conference, Dr Harry Hagopian, on a special podcast to discuss the tragic events playing out in the Holy Land as the conflict continues to rage in Gaza. Five long, painful months after the Hamas terror attack of 7 October and the subsequent bombing and ground offensive that has reduced Gaza to rubble and led to several thousand deaths and a humanitarian disaster of the most tragic proportions, this 'Middle East Analysis' special asks the question: Is there a road map to peace in the Holy Land or are we eternally to walk the path of violence, revenge and hatred? Dr Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer, commentator, and MENA region analyst, joins his old friend Bishop Declan for a 30-minute podcast that we have, with permission, uploaded to our 'Catholic News' channel. They look for any signs of light in the darkness, and mourn decades of failure when it comes to securing a lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

The focus of this Catholic News podcast is the Year of Jubilee in 2025, and the preparation year proceeding it that we're currently living - the Year of Prayer. Pope Francis wants the Church to be prepared for the Jubilee Year with a particular focus on prayer, and what better prayer to use than the 'Our Father' that Jesus taught us. During Lent, we are offering a five-week course designed to help us deepen our understanding of the Lord's Prayer called We Dare To Say. Father Jan Nowotnik, Director of Mission for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales talks to us about how important a prayer the Lord's Prayer is to us as Christians: "There is a line in the Our Father that is a prayer of petition, 'Give us this day our daily bread'. When I pray that line, I'm saying, 'Give me today, Lord, just what I need - just for this day'. In the midst of some of the trials and tribulations of life, but also the joys, it's about realising that I put my hope in the Lord who gives me everything that I need - the Lord whose kingdom is in heaven. "'Give us this day our daily bread'. Why? So that we can joyfully trust and hope in Him, but also so that we can forgive each other, so that we can put right some of those wrongs. Which takes us back to the major theme of a Jubilee year taken from the book of Leviticus - allowing the land to grow fallow, allowing that time of tranquilly and peace, so that we can rid each other of the debts that often occur when we don't forgive each other, when we're not kind and supportive to each other. To do that, you have to hope in the promises of the Lord - 'Give us this day our daily bread'." Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Deliver Us From Evil is a new booklet, published by the Catholic Truth Society (CTS), offering Catholics a useful set of prayers and supplications, humble requests for the Lord's help, that can be used in times of fear, distress or temptation. The prayers are drawn from Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition and are intended for individual use to protect us from the forces of evil. In this Catholic News podcast, Father Robert Taylerson, a member of our Spirituality Committee and Spiritual Director at Oscott College, joins Liturgy Office Director Martin Foster for a conversation about the booklet and how it can be used by Catholics. Buy the booklet Deliver Us From Evil costs £9.95 and can be purchased from the CTS website. It's a handy pocket-sized guide to help us in the struggle against the powers of darkness. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

As the Church enters the season of Advent, on the first Sunday, 3 December, we also celebrate the International Day of Disabled Persons. It's an occasion that reminds us, should we need reminding, that the Church needs to be a place of belonging for people with disabilities. For this Catholic News podcast we're joined by Cristina Gangemi from the Kairos Forum, her friend Sean, a man who has never let disability get between his love of God and desire to serve the Church, and also Tracy, a lady who helps Sean and kindly assists at those times when Sean's words are hard to understand during this podcast. Please do use the transcript too in order to follow the conversation more closely. We discuss: The International Day of Disabled Persons and why it's important, valuability not vulnerability, the four Ps to help us value people with disabilities, and finish with a good focus for prayer this Advent. Transcript Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Bishop Peter Brignall, the Bishop of Wrexham, has warmly welcomed the news that the Shrine of St Winefride in Holywell, north Wales, has been elevated to the status of a National Shrine for England and Wales. The shrine, on Bishop Peter's patch, has an unbroken 1,400-year tradition of pilgrimage and is part of the national heritage of Wales. The Bishops, at their Autumn 2023 Plenary meeting, approved its elevation giving it national status, and the move will likely bring more people to this remarkable place of pilgrimage, prayer, consolation, and hope. "Everyone is more than welcome, whether they are of faith or not, to come and discover a bit of our country's tradition and heritage, and that they come with open hearts to that commitment to God that they may not have within their own lives, but are able to recognise in the lives of others and be prepared to be touched by that." Listen to our podcast to learn more about the story of St Winefride and this remarkable shrine in north Wales. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Canon Christopher Thomas, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales speaks about the Bishops' Autumn Plenary meeting held at Hinsley Hall in Leeds from 13-16 November 2023. He talks, in particular, about the resolutions from the meeting and is joined by Father Jan Nowotnik to discuss the longer resolution on the Synod that looks at "Steps Towards Renewal". On this podcast we address: Environmental concerns, the elevation of the Shrine of St Winefride, Holywell to the status of National Shrine for England and Wales. We also talk about the National Eucharistic Congress that will be held at Oscott College in September 2024, and the conflict in Gaza. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Dominican friar Fr Samuel Burke OP is a chaplain in the Royal Navy currently serving on HMS Duncan in the Mediterranean. He gave a poignant reflection on remembrance and honouring our war dead on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day. It was broadcast on 11 November, Armistice Day, known as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth. "If, during the two minutes of silence, the enormous shadow of grief and the haunting prospect of future loss can't provoke each of us to rededicate ourselves to peace then, frankly, nothing will. "Whatever else you choose to think about during the still moments later today and tomorrow, be sure to make good that solemn promise that we renew each year. We will remember them. They were not so different to us. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

November is a very important month in the Catholic calendar. It's the month when we pause on many occasions to remember our friends and loved ones who have died - the Holy Souls. We also remember those killed in the world's conflicts, especially on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. For this podcast, produced in partnership with the Centre for the Art of Dying Well, we head over to South Kensington in central London to speak to Father George Bowen, a priest of the Congregation of the Oratory of St Philip Neri. The community has a most beautiful church. Built between 1880 and 1884, the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - the London Oratory - is sometimes incorrectly called the 'Brompton Oratory' and is the second-largest Catholic church in London, with a nave exceeding in width that of St Paul's Cathedral. The architectural style and the atmosphere of the church were deliberately Italianate, in order to bring St Philip's romanità to nineteenth century London. So why are we here? Well, partly for the person and partly for this stunning place of worship. Fr George Bowen has vast experience as a hospital chaplain and has accompanied many people on their way to the Lord - Catholics and non-Catholics. As a priest and Oratorian, his stock-and-trade extends beyond what happens in the here and now - beyond this world to the eternal kingdom. "St Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, talks about our experience in life as if we're living in a tent," says Fr George. "We're living in a temporary place and we need to fold up that tent because there's going to be a house built for us in heaven. And in a way, when we walk into a church like this, what it reminds us of is the house which is prepared for us in the next world. It's meant to do that, really. It's meant to put this world into a different perspective." This podcast is a walk-and-talk tour of the London Oratory's memorials, statues, confessionals, altars, beautiful works of art, and prayerful side chapels - all gateways to a life beyond this world. Prayerful places where we can focus our minds on the Holy Souls and pray for those who have gone before us. Images Although we do our best to paint word pictures in your minds, we have an album of images on Flickr that accompany this podcast. Click here to look through the photos as you listen. The Centre for the Art of Dying Well The Centre for the Art of Dying Well is based at St Mary's University. It's founding aim is to rethink the art of accompaniment at the end of life. It focuses on public engagement, policy, and research on the subjects of death, dying and bereavement. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Director of Policy and Research here at the Bishops' Conference, Philip Booth, joins us to talk about our latest cost-of-living statement. Philip is an economist who is also Professor of Finance, Public Policy and Ethics at St Mary's University, Twickenham, as well the university's Director of Catholic Mission. The Bishops' Conference statement, released by the Department for Social Justice ahead of the Government's Autumn Statement, recognises that the cost-of-living crisis is multi-faceted and requires actions at a range of levels, including Government, civil society and the Church. It makes a number of specific requests of the Government including the call that the taxation system should treat justly those with family and other caring responsibilities. Other requests relate to the provision and cost of housing, welfare benefits, the removal of the two-child cap on universal credit payments, and the transition to greener energy. You can read the full statement here. Philip also discusses the preferential option for the poor that lies at the heart of Catholic life, what our network of Catholic charities are doing to alleviate poverty, the role of our parishes and schools, and how we can all we can all play a part - no matter our personal circumstances. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Father Anthony Chantry joins us for this Catholic News podcast to discuss World Mission Sunday. Celebrated on the penultimate Sunday of October, it's a chance to support missionaries and the churches, hospitals and schools where they do the Lord's work, in countries where the Church is new, young or poor. Fr Chantry is the National Director of Missio, the Pope's official charity for world mission. On Sunday, 22 October, we join together in prayer to give thanks to God for missionaries everywhere who are spreading hope and the Good News of Jesus Christ. Fr Chantry tell us what mission is, but also what it isn't: "Mission is not about imposing, forcing or coercing. It's about listening, being present with people, accompanying them and acting on what comes from that - the wonderful wisdom from these encounters. Jesus did exactly the same. We're just following the master. He will show us the way." Listen to Fr Chantry speak about World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis' theme for this year's celebration, Missio's focus on the story of Sister Mary in Africa's biggest slum - Kibera in Kenya, and more. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Phil McCarthy is the man behind Pilgrim Ways - a digital resource that provides walking routes to key pilgrimage sites in each of our dioceses. An author, and former CEO of the Caritas Social Action Network, he has created a 'pilgrim way' for each diocese - from the cathedral of that diocese to one or more of its shrines. "These are routes are not just for Catholics to deepen their faith," says Phil. "They're for everyone to experience pilgrimage within a Catholic setting." The Pilgrim Ways website offers a number of resources to assist in preparing for a walking pilgrimage. It has an interactive map, provides GPX files for the routes that can be downloaded to mobile phones, and there are 'Pilgrim Passports' that you can get stamped along the way, not to mention certificates at the end to show that you've completed the walk. Interestingly, the title for the project is Hearts in Search of God, and is inspired by a quotation from Pope Francis where he reminds us that in every pilgrim beats a heart in search of God - whether old or young, sick or in good health, or just a casual tourist. Website Visit pilgrimways.org.uk to access the routes and resources. Our interview with Phil McCarthy was first broadcast in our Summer 2023 'At the Foot of the Cross' podcast. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

In this Catholic News podcast, we're joined by Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki, Bishop of Marsabit, and Isacko Jirma, Director of Caritas Marsabit. Marsabit is a semi-arid location 500km north of the capital of Kenya, Nairobi. The local Catholic diocese spans almost 80,000 square kilometres without a single river passing through. The Horn and East Africa has suffered its worst drought in 40 years. In Marsabit, where 80% of people rely on livestock for their income, their animals have died and their crops have failed. Bishop Paul and Isacko discuss the pastoral challenges and the social action projects needed to help more than 300,000 people escape food insecurity. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Rachel's Vineyard is a healing ministry for those who are suffering from the trauma of abortion, or have been closely connected to someone who is - whether they're siblings, grandparents, aunts, cousins. Rachel's Vineyard recognises that abortion impacts the wider family and community. The organisation also supports those that have worked in the abortion industry and struggle with the part they have played in abortion decisions. Rachel Mckenzie is the director of the Birmingham-based charity and spoke to us back in June 2022 about the ministry and the growing numbers of people seeking help. I tell them firstly that they're not alone and that they are already loved, and they can get forgiveness, they haven't committed the unforgivable sin and they just need a place where they can work through that pain and be supported along the way. Rachel Mckenzie, Rachel's Vineyard Post abortion trauma is central to the theme of Day for Life 2023. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Recently, Archbishop Bernard Longley was a keynote speaker at a unique interfaith event that examined how followers of the world's major religions viewed eternity, and how a knowledge of eternity can help us to make the most of the life that we have now. Organised by The Centre for the Art of Dying Well and the Institute for Theology and Liberal Arts at St Mary's University, the Archbishop of Birmingham gave the Christian perspective, explaining that "the starting point for understanding eternity is in our relationship with the person of Jesus Christ - God's eternal son. "We believe through his life, his death and the resurrection - his rising form the dead that grace by grace, God has shared with humanity the fruits of eternal life." In the Catholic tradition, at the moment of death, the Archbishop said that: "prayers are offered which not only bring comfort and consolation to the departing soul, but also give reassurances of life - that life which is to come at the end of this earthly life." The five other main speakers alongside Archbishop Longley were: Rabbi Yossi Jacobs, The Chief Minister of the Birmingham Hebrew Congregation, Singers Hill Synagogue; Simon Romer, Teacher of Buddhism; Anjana Shelat, Midland region coordinator of Hindu Mandir Network UK, Trustee at Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple; Dr. Gopinder Sagoo, from the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewa Jatha community in Birmingham, and Mohammad Asad MBE, lead Imam at Birmingham Central Mosque. Podcast This Catholic News podcast carries an interview with Archbishop Longley recorded a few days before the event. Use the embeded player at the top of this page to listen or use the subscribe links below. It was part of the bi-monthly 'Art of Dying Well' podcast. Listen here. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

To mark the 57th World Communications Day, this Catholic News podcast looks at Pope Francis' message for the day and the challenges of emerging technologies with Bishop John Arnold. Bishop Arnold is the Lead Bishop for Communications for the Bishops' Conference. As well as discussing the theme for World Communications Day, Speaking with the heart. ‘The truth in love', we also discuss the need to embrace emerging technologies with an ethical mind, to ensure human beings don't suffer on the path to ‘progress'. World Communications Day is celebrated in the parishes of England and Wales on Sunday, 21 May 2023. Read more here. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Sunday 14 May, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, marks the International Day of Prayer for Eastern Christians. It's an opportunity to come together to pray for peace in the world – especially in the Middle East. But with so many noble causes competing for our attention, why is it important for us to pray for the Christians of the East with whom we share an indelible link? And how can we find out more about these Christian communities and the challenges they face? That's the subject of this Catholic News podcast. We're joined by Dr Harry Hagopian, an International Lawyer with experience in conflict resolution and a consultant on the Middle East North Africa region. Importantly, Harry is an Armenian Christian and was a former Assistant General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches. "When we pray for the Christians of the East, what we should say is, 'May thy will be done' and 'thy will' is also the will of the Christians there. They are a self-sustaining community. They have their own problems, they have their own challenges, but they also know their solutions better than we do sitting in the West watching EastEnders or Coronation Street advising them what they should or shouldn't do. That is not being in solidarity. That is religious colonialism. "What we need to say is, 'I'm with you. We share one common thing, which is Jesus Christ, and therefore I pray so that you have the will, the power and the strength to continue your witness and do what you do, which is continue your life as we do here, but in different circumstances.'" Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Speaking to us shortly after Sunday Mass the day after the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla, Cardinal Vincent Nichols looks back on a day of celebration that showcased plenty of elements familiar to Catholics. Six Catholic prelates attended the historic coronation, including the Cardinal Secretary of State and the Apostolic Nuncio representing the Holy See, and Cardinal Nichols himself who conferred a blessing on King Charles. The Cardinal prayed that God may pour upon the King "the riches of his grace, keep you in his holy fear, prepare you for a happy eternity, and receive you at the last into immortal glory." On this 'Catholic News' podcast, Cardinal Nichols reflects on a remarkable and historic occasion, talking about his role, the Catholic elements of the service, not least the Coronation Choir singing William Byrd's 'Gloria in Excelsis Deo' from the Mass for Four Voices, and why we should pray for the King. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Bishop Tom Neylon, Lead Bishop for Asia for the Bishops' Conference, has recently returned from a week-long trip to Pakistan from 9-16 March. He visited a number of projects funded by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need and met with the faithful, priests and bishops in the major cities of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad. The Catholic faithful experience various challenges in Pakistan but the practice rate is extraordinary - over 70% attend Mass. On this Catholic News podcast, we interview Bishop Neylon about his experiences and encounters. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

Archbishop John Wilson tells us of his 'shock' when he learned Pope Francis had been admitted to hospital with viral bronchitis. Thankfully, the Pope is on the mend and is scheduled to be discharged from Gemelli hospital on Saturday morning. In this short Catholic News interview, the Archbishop of Southwark reflects on two memorable encounters with Pope Francis and tells us why it's important we keep praying for the Holy Father. Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify.

On today's Catholic News podcast, Archbishop John Wilson joins us to talk about the launch of CARITAS Southwark - a new diocesan Caritas social action charity to help those in need across the south east. Archbishop Wilson is keen to work collaboratively: "This is not about a takeover. This is about creating a network whereby there can be a real celebration of good practise, and where new initiatives, especially in parishes and schools, can find support and direction from existing organisations and charities within the church, so that our diocese, within which there is enormous social need, can really start to put the practical gospel of love, of neighbour into practise in a new way. "Starting small. We're sowing little seeds, but from little seeds come mighty oaks. And mighty oaks give shelter, especially to those who suffer and are in pain and in need. We come with faith and we come with a real desire to sow seeds today that will bear fruit in our practical love of those in need." Subscribe You can subscribe to our Catholic News podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Amazon/Audible or Spotify. Transcript This is Archbishop John Wilson, the Archbishop of Southwark, and I'm very pleased to share news today of the launch of our Caritas Southwark network, which is a new thing for us in the Archdiocese. Today, thanks be to God, following a long process of consultation with people in our parishes and our schools, we've been able to formally launch Caritas Southwark as an agency of the diocese to put the Gospel into practise - to make the Gospel flesh. To reach out to the weakest and the poorest and those in need in our communities and ask the question, what can we do? How can we serve? How can we be the loving presence of Christ, that sees with the heart of Christ and the eyes of Christ, with the compassion of Christ, and meets the needs of people - whether it's to do with food poverty or issues around refugees, whether it's things to do with care of the elderly, we've got projects that we want to explore that look at how we help our young people, especially those who might be tempted, into areas that involve knife crime. We're very, very keen to work collaboratively and in partnership and also to explore new ways of how we might work together. We've got very good relationships with Pact, for example, that works with prisoners in supporting the link between prisoners and their families. We've got good links with the Manna Society (a day centre for homeless people near London Bridge), which is based here in the diocese and which the diocese already supports. So this is not about a takeover. This is about creating a network whereby there can be a real celebration of good practise, and where new initiatives, especially in parishes and schools, can find support and direction from existing organisations and charities within the church, so that our diocese, within which there is enormous social need, can really start to put the practical gospel of love, of neighbour into practise in a new way. Starting small. We're sowing little seeds, but from little seeds come mighty oaks. And mighty oaks give shelter, especially to those who suffer and are in pain and in need. We come with faith and we come with a real desire to sow seeds today that will bear fruit in our practical love of those in need. Great social need In terms of the challenges to our Caritas project, they're two-fold. One is to actually get enough people to be inspired - to be involved. That's why we need volunteers from our parishes and from our schools working collaboratively with other partner organisations. But we need people to be fired up with a love for Christ that wants to put their faith into action, into practise. We need people to realise the skills that they have and the talents that they have, and to hear their baptismal call. Because this is not to be a clericalist thing. This really needs the baptised in our diocese, the lay people, the lay faithful of our diocese, to really hear the call of the Lord Jesus, to put their faith into action in a most beautiful way. One of the challenges is that we need to be able to raise up a desire within people to put faith into practise. A second challenge is to begin to discern the areas where need is to be met. So in our diocese, which is a big diocese across all of South London and Kent and the Medway unitary authority as well, there is great social need. There is poverty in parts of South London, there is homelessness. There are all kinds of ways in which people are isolated, they feel lonely, they find it difficult to access services, many of them are struggling. There are one-parent families, there are people living with real material needs who can't provide enough electricity and heating for their house, who can't clothe their children. So there's a level at which we can really build relationships on a small scale, one by one, to reach out to people who are in practical need. Refugees Compare that, for example, with parts of Kent. Dover is in our diocese. A few months ago, I visited the lifeboat station at the Port of Dover and heard of the incredible work that they have been doing to rescue people who have taken an incredible decision to try and escape persecution, hardship, war in many cases, and cross the Channel. This has been a source of great controversy. There are great political issues at stake here, which to me, really don't face the crucial issue, which is we have people before us who are in desperate need. And if we lose sight of the desperate need of the people, we lose sight of our conscience as a country. So it was incredible to hear the testimonies of those who work on the lifeboats in Dover. They simply said, "Our mission has always been and will always be to save people in danger at sea. We don't ask who they are or where they're from." I was really, really impressed by that. And they faced a lot of criticism, the lifeboat association, the RNLI, for this work, and to my mind, they are doing incredible work, as are the churches and different community organisations that work to welcome and support refugees in that part of the world. So, for me, it's really, really important that when we think about the needs of the other, that other has a face and that other has a name and that other has a family, that other could be me one day, it could be you one day. And if we lose sight of that, we may as well just give up and stop living. Because if we lose sight of our common humanity, what is the point of being alive? It's absolutely essential that we recognise that we are our brother and sister's keeper. At the heart of any issue is a person. And if we lose sight of the person, then we begin to work in a way that is inhuman and that is intolerable. We must always, at the heart, see the person and value and love the person. The challenges across our diocese are varied. What we want to begin to do is to discern how we move forward locally, using the talents in our schools and our parishes to provide for our community beyond our churches, beyond those who worship. This is not just to be something that is at the service of ourselves. We want to be present in our communities with the love of Christ. However those needs manifest themselves and whatever people come with those needs, we want to be able to say, we will do our best to help. Our local parishes work in partnership with local refugee groups. And that's very, very important. I think this needs a collaborative approach. It needs people to stand together and it needs people to speak together. And I think the key response is always to cut through politics. Politics matter, of course they do, but politics have to be at the service of the human person and the dignity of the human person. Politics that isn't at the service of the dignity of the human person is inauthentic. Of course, there are other considerations in all of this. I appreciate that. I'm not naïve. But when a person is in need, the presenting requirement is that we reach out to them. That, to me, is the fundamental truth of the Gospel. That when a person is in need, my response as a Christian, my response as a human being, is to reach out in love and in support. And there will be issues around all of that which will need resolution. They need humane resolution, not simply isolating people or cutting them off or rejecting them or transporting them elsewhere. That doesn't help anybody. Global solutions need countries to speak to each other and they need partnership and they need a compassion that puts into practise real solutions, not simply knee-jerk reactions that seemingly solve a problem at the expense of the dignity of human life. That, to me, is just preposterous. Team effort The invitation for people to collaborate with us is very, very open. If you're listening to this message and you think, "Well, look, I'd like to do something for people in need," please get in touch with your local parish, please get in touch with our Caritas office. If you have a skill that you want to share, whether you are a person of faith or not, if you have a big heart and you want to put love into practise, then we'd be delighted to work with you. This is about us together in our communities for the common good, pooling our resources, pooling our talent, sharing what we have, giving of what we have so that others who don't have can receive more - simple as that. For me, there's a very basic philosophy at work here, which is sometimes we can do something which is never going to be everything but it's more than nothing. Nothing is not the answer. Something is the answer - even if it's not everything. So we have to have vision and we have to be able to look beyond the impossible to find the possible.