The Episcopal Podcast

With Co-host Silvana Scarfe Special Guest, Dr Dawn Eden Goldstein.  Dawn holds a doctorate in sacred theology and is an award-winning author with titles such as Sunday Will Never Be The Same, The Thrill of the Chaste, and My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds With The Help of the Saints. Dawn was born and raised Jewish. In 2000, she was baptized in a Protestant community and in 2006 she was received into full communion with the Catholic Church.

In Episode 16, Bishop Richard speaks with Fr. Don Richardson, Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. They discuss Church Architecture and Fr Don's new book, Beauty and Light with Faith. Fr Don Richardson has been Dean of St Mary's Cathedral since 2016, but his association with the cathedral goes back further. He regards St Mary's as his spiritual home, a sanctuary where people are given a glimpse of the divine even in the midst of life's worldly cares.  As a young working man Fr Richardson worshipped regularly at St Mary's. He became an acolyte there, and in 1985 he worked full-time as the sacristan. It was then that he began to make notes on the cathedral's stained glass windows. A trip to see the great cathedrals of Britain, and his seminary studies from 1986, helped enrich his appreciation for St Mary's. For several years each January, during the seminary summer breaks, he returned to the cathedral to conduct daily guided tours.  Ordained a priest in St Mary's in 1992, Fr Richardson went on to serve successively in the Sydney parishes of Mount Pritchard and Menai. Then, appointed Assistant Priest at the cathedral by Cardinal Clancy in 1997, he remained there until the end of 2003. Fr Richardson subsequently took up the pastoral care of the parish of Dulwich Hill until, in 2009, Cardinal Pell asked him to do postgraduate studies at the Liturgical Institute at Mundelein, near Chicago, in the United States. This study further deepened his appreciation of how the cathedral's stained glass windows can draw people towards God.  Fr Richardson returned to Sydney in 2010 to serve as Parish Priest of Woollahra and as Director of the Archdiocesan Liturgy Office, and he remained at Woollahra until his appointment back to the cathedral as Administrator and Dean by Archbishop Fisher in 2016. He thinks he has the best job in the whole Australian Church.

In Episode 15 Bishop Richard Umbers is joined by Dean of St Pauls College Sydney, Dr Antone Martinho-Truswell and Dr Michael Elias from the CSIRO, to discuss the relationship between the theory of evolution and the Catholic faith. Dr Antone Martinho-Truswell is Dean of St Pauls College Sydney and Research Associate of the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford, hiscontinuing research is focused primarily on learning and cognition in birds, primarily using mallard ducklings as a model. Dr Michael Elias has a PhD in Systematic Entomology and Phylogenetic, and currently works for the Australian National Insect Collection at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). 

One of the youngest priests to be Ordained in the Archdiocese of Sydney, Fr Jonathan Vala joins Bishop Richard Umbers to discuss his discernment process and seminary formation.

Welcome to the Episcopal Podcast, the show where we apply the life of the mind and the adventures of contemporary culture and bring it to our experience in Christian living. Our Guest today is Dr Michael Dauphinais who is Professor and Chair of Theology at Ave Maria University, Florida, where he previously served as Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Michael is co-author of a newly released book titled The Wisdom of the Word: Biblical Answers to Ten Pressing Questions about Catholicism published by the Word on Fire Institute.

In this episode, Bishop Umbers, Silvana Scarfe and Matt Tan discuss the Four Last Things in an episode on "Eschatology". https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1968676.Eschatology (Eschatology), Joseph Ratzinger

Bishop Umbers and Silvana Scarfe chat with guest, Thomas Wilson, the Director of Music for St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. In this episode, Thomas speaks about the importance of Sacred Music and it's place in the Liturgy, what the day-to-day life of a Director of Music for the Mother Church in Australia looks like, and some tips for those not familiar with sacred music. Thomas's suggested composers to check-out: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Thomas Tallis William Byrd Listen to Thomas' podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/staved-off/id1324416175 (Staved Off). For more information on St Mary's Cathedral Choir, including hearing recordings, https://cathedralchoir.sydney/ (click here). To view online livestreams of Holy Mass and other Liturgical celebrations from St Mary's Cathedral, check out their https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZxfrykD8iSWExFBdM7fpRg (YouTube page here).

In this episode, Bishop Umbers and Silvana Scarfe speak with Professor Tracey Rowland about her forthcoming book titled Beyond Kant and Nietzsche: the Munich Defence of Christian Humanism (2021). Each of the key figures covered in Prof Rowland's book is someone who was influential in Munich in the years between the end of the First World War and the end of the Second World War, and impacted a young Josef Ratzinger (Benedict XVI). In this episode of the podcast, we look at the life and writings of Servant of God, Romano Guardini.

In this episode, Bishop Richard and Silvana Scarfe speak with Dr Paul Morrissey, President of Campion College Australia, about the ins and outs of the liberal arts, the benefits of studying a liberal education and what Campion College offers, as Australia's first Liberal Arts college. To find out more about Campion College, click on this link: https://www.campion.edu.au/ (https://www.campion.edu.au/)

In this episode, Bishop Umbers and Silvana Scarfe are joined by Anna Krohn to discuss the life, writings and philosophy of Dietrich von Hildebrand (1889-1977). To find out more about research, conferences, reading groups,  discussion and on-line news in the promotion of the thought and life of Dietrich von Hildebrand - the Hildebrand Project - based at Franciscan University Steubenville is a great one-stop spot: http://www.hildebrandproject.org/ (http://www.hildebrandproject.org/)

In this episode Bishop Umbers chats with Richard Sharpe and Jeremy McLellan about all things humour, wit, and stand-up comedy in light of the phenomenology of the human person. Richard Sharpe is a Latin Tutor at the Lyceum Institute. An American and cradle Catholic, his undergraduate and graduate studies in philosophy brought him to a study of the phenomenology of the human person, especially the nature of humour and its role in our lives. He's also had an on and off addiction to performing at open mic comedy nights. Jeremy McLellan is an American stand-up comedian and Catholic convert. He was recently awarded a Teaching Fellowship at Word on Fire Ministries and was named a “New Face of Comedy” at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Before the pandemic Jeremy completed sold-out tours in the US, Canada, UK, and Pakistan.

In this episode, Bishop Umbers and Silvana Scarfe chat with Michael Harazin, who is about to commence post-graduate studies in Assyriology and Archaeology, about the cultures which shaped the Ancient Near East and Mesopotamia.

Bishop Umbers and Silvana Scarfe dive into the world of architecture with Kamila Soh - a postgraduate student and tutor of architectural history and theory at UNSW.

In this episode, Bishop Umbers and Silvana Scarfe chat with Bishop Daniel Flores, Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, about St Thomas Aquinas's Commentaries on Sacred Scripture.

In this week's episode, Bishop Umbers, Silvana Scarfe and Tom Gourlay dive into the world of Christopher Dawson, a twentieth-century British scholar. Resources: http://www.christopherdawson.org.uk/works/religion-culture/progress-and-religion/ (Progress & Religion: An Historical Inquiry) by Christopher Dawson http://dawsonsociety.com.au/ (The Dawson Society) https://macrinamagazine.com/ (Macrina Magazine)

In this episode, Bishop Umbers and Matt Tan discuss the works and thought of Canadian philosopher, Charles Taylor, with our guest, the Bishop of Wagga Wagga, Bishop Mark Edwards OMI. Resources: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187.Charles_Taylor (Charles Taylor)

In this episode, Bishop Umbers and Silvana Scarfe discuss post-modernism with Natasha Marsh, lecturer and tutor. What is post-modernism and what are its defining features? What can we learn from post-modernism as Catholics? Resources: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/lyotard/ (Jean Francois Lyotard) A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens

In our final episode for the season, Bishop Richard and Matthew discuss Buddhism with Ben Moretti, a data scientist who has been involved in Buddhism for 30 years and was President of the Buddhist Society of SA.   Who was the Buddha? What do some of the Buddhist catchphrases actually mean? Are there things that Catholics and Buddhists can learn from one another?

In this episode, Bishop Richard and Matthew Tan interview Fr https://twitter.com/FrHarrison?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Harrison Ayre), half of the famous http://www.clericallyspeaking.com/ (Clerically Speaking) podcast, to discuss the thought of Joseph Ratzinger or Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. We find out the influence of Augustine, the importance of bureaucracy and the centrality of the heart. Resources Harrison Ayre & Michael Heinlen's new book on the pandemic, https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Christ-Crisis-Pandemic-Teach-ebook/dp/B08LZVV6D1 (Finding Christ in the Crisis: What the Pandemic can Teach Us).

In this episode, Matthew Tan and Silvana Scarfe put Bishop Richard's reputation as the "memeing bishop" under the spotlight. Together, they try to undertake an exegesis on his memeing, what some of his memes mean, what evangelical freight do they carry, and whether this is a good use of episcopal time. Resources Bishop Richard's https://www.instagram.com/bishopumbers/?hl=en (Instagram) Bishop Richard's https://twitter.com/BishopUmbers?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Twitter) The scholarship behind Matt's sassy questions (https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/188698/DigitalEcclesiology2020.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y (p. 58) onwards) The https://ascensionpress.com/products/the-great-adventure-catholic-bible?fbclid=IwAR0q01PAJs_inXOen8kPxZBNuDndd-Q_gRyKEY9Wa17yn-4H5-3QW0AtdRU (Great Adventure Catholic Bible) by Ascension Press

In this episode, Bishop Richard and Matthew Tan interview Dr. David Wilmington of https://petraacademy.com/ (Petra Academy) on the life and thought of St. Bonaventure, the Franciscan classmate of the Dominican Thomas Aquinas. We look at some similarities to Thomas, as well as important differences. We also look at how knowing Bonaventure can make a difference to Christian living, whether you are Catholic or not. Resources Dr Wilmington's Profile on http://independent.academia.edu/DavidWilmington/CurriculumVitae (Academia) Overview of Bonaventure's https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/bonaventure/#LifeWork (life and works)

In this episode, Bishop Richard, Silvana and Matthew discuss personalism and why Catholics should care. What is the Christian account of the human person, and where can some of the philosophies of the human person lead us in the spiritual life? We also discuss why having belly buttons matters... Resources https://www.movement.org.uk/blog/putting-doubt-faith-introduction-christian-existentialism (Christian Existentialism) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=8105 (John Paul II & Phenomenology) John Paul II: http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_04031979_redemptor-hominis.html (Redemptor Hominis) Benedict XVI: http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html (Deus Caritas Est)

In this episode, Bishop Richard & Silvana speak to https://twitter.com/angela_schumann?lang=en (Angela Schumann), teacher and doctoral student in literature at Monash University, on the work of William Shakespeare. What separates Shakespeare from other writers in the English language? What does the work of William Shakespeare have to do with the life of faith? What can Catholics learn about themselves through a growing familiarity with the life and works of the Bard? Resources Angela Schumann - https://vimeo.com/433337318 (Confessing Shakespeare) Diego Valezquez - https://images.app.goo.gl/ibvNLZy8RRZxunDz7 (Las Meninas) Grahame Greene - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_and_the_Glory (The Power and the Glory)

In this episode, Bishop Richard and Nic Zumaran speak with Rev Dr Andrew James on moral reasoning and focus in particular on casuistry. What is casuistry, and what impact does it have on the spiritual life and theological study? What other forms of moral reasoning are there? Resources John Paul II - "http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor.html (Veritatis Splendor)" Servais Pinckaers - "https://books.google.com.au/books/about/The_Sources_of_Christian_Ethics.html?id=jL1D-an9w5UC&redir_esc=y (Sources of Christian Ethics)" Alasdair MacIntyre - "https://iep.utm.edu/mac-over/#SH4a (After Virtue)" Peter Knauer - "https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1126&context=nd_naturallaw_forum (The Hermeneutic Function of the Principle of Double Effect)"

In this episode, Bishop Richard, Silvana and Matt discuss doing church online in light of the publication of Matt's essay "Communion in the Digital Body of Christ" in https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/187891 (The Distanced Church: Reflections on Doing Church Online) (2020). Does the internet do anything to our conceptions of what it means to be the Church? Does this time of coronavirus an important moment of reflection of how our worship and formation take place? Does sacramentality make any difference to the way we approach the digital continent as a Church? Resources https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/187891 (The Distanced Church: Reflections on Doing Church Online) (2020). https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/188698 (Digital Ecclesiology: A Global Conversation) (2020)

Is beauty in the eye of the beholder, or does it take us to something beyond taste? Special guest: Jill Alexy, founder of Martyrian Journeys, and is usually based in Rome but is now speaking to us from North Carolina. Resources: See the Sacred - seethesacred.com See the Sacred Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS75FvGGXOW5WoUliZr7TZA (Click Here) Plotinus on Beauty - https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plotinus/#Beau (Click Here) Suffering & Beauty - "https://catholicexchange.com/suffering-and-beauty (Click Here)"

What is the discipline of Literature, and how can a Cathlic benefit from an immersion in it? Special Guest: Dr Stephen McInerney, deputy CEO and academic director at the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation. Resources: Website: https://www.ramsaycentre.org/ (Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation.)

Who is Rene Girard and what does his mimetic theory have to say about our faith? Special Guest: Dr Joel Hodge Resources: http://www.imitatio.org/ (Imitatio) Rene Girard - Deceit Desire & the Novel (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1965) Rene Girard - Violence & the Sacred (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1972) Rene Girard - Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1978) Rene Girard - I See Satan Fall Like Lightning (NY: Orbis, 2001) Joel Hodge - Violence in the Name of God (NY: Bloomsbury, 2020) Joel Hodge - Resisting Violence and Victimisation (Farnham: Ashgate, 2012)

Is Ethics simply about rules of what to do or not do? In this episode, Bishop Richard and Silvana interview Nic Zumaran of Notre Dame's Institute of Ethics and Society. Resources: Alisdair Macintyre, A Short History of Ethics Aristotle - Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle - Ethics Podcast - https://soundcloud.com/notredame-1/sets/virtues-for-the-times (Ethics for Our Times) Find: Nic Zumaran on Twitter: @niczumaran Institute for Ethics and Society - https://www.facebook.com/unda.ies (facebook page)

In this episode, Bishop Richard and Matthew interview Daniel Hill on the importance of history and historical knowledge. We explore the idea of the "utility of history" and the need for historical consciousness for living the Christian faith. Resources: Podcast - Mike Duncan's https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-history-of-rome/id261654474 (The History of Rome) Podcast - Dan Carlin's https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dan-carlins-hardcore-history/id173001861 (Hardcore History) Series

Is theology just faith and apologetics or is it much more? Join Bishop Richard, Matt and Silvana as we explore why Christians need the discipline of theology. Resources: Hans Urs Van Balthasar - https://www.ignatius.com/Love-Alone-Is-Credible-P1537.aspx (Love Alone is Credible) (San Francisco: Ignatius, 2004) Benedict XVI - http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html (Deus Caritas Est) (2005) William Cavanaugh - https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Torture+and+Eucharist%3A+Theology%2C+Politics%2C+and+the+Body+of+Christ-p-9780631211990 (Torture & Eucharist) (London: Blackwell, 1998) William Cavanaugh - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/theopolitical-imagination-9780567088772/ (Theopolitical Imagination) (Edinburgh, T&T Clark, 2003) Gisela H Kreglinger - https://www.giselakreglinger.com/home (The Spirituality of Wine) (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016) John Paul II - http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html (Fides et Ratio) (1998) Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger - https://www.ignatius.com/Introduction-to-Christianity-2nd-Edition-P1277.aspx (Introduction to Christianity) (2nd Edition; San Francisco: Ignatius, 2010) Chanon Ross - https://wipfandstock.com/gifts-glittering-and-poisoned.html (Gifts Glittering and Poisoned) (Eugene: Cascade Press 2015) Vivino App - https://www.vivino.com/app (Vivino App) Graham Ward - https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780203190432 (Cities of God) (NY: Routledge, 2000)

Summary In this episode, we start with some of the foundational disciplines that would look at the discipline of philosophy. We look at the reasons why it is important for Christians to have some knowledge of philosophy and what difference it makes to their faith. We also look at some branches of philosophy and a few names that one could look into. Some Philosophers Mentioned Plato, The Republic Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics Karol Woltyla, The Acting Person Michel Foucault, The Birth of a Clinic Max Scheler Edmund Husserl Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology Some Resources https://plato.stanford.edu/index.html (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) Find Us Bishop Richard: On Twitter https://twitter.com/BishopUmbers (@BishopUmbers) Silvana Scarfe: On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/being_silvana/ (@being_silvana) Matthew Tan: On Twitter https://twitter.com/asiantheologian (@asiantheologian) & His blog https://awkwardasiantheologian.com (Awkward Asian Theologian)

Pilot - June 10th, 2020