‘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.
1st February 2021
Bishop William Kenney is one of the longest-serving bishop delegates of the Holy Land Co-ordination – an annual pilgrimage of Bishops to the lands of Christ.
As such, he’s able to give us a brief history lesson at the start of our ‘Catholic News’ podcast and points out that he’s only missed one year in the past 17 – including the turbulent years of the Second Palestinian Intifada.
Bishop Kenney talks about the people of the region, the prospect of peace and the role the Catholic Church plays in supporting the wider community in the Holy Land – not just the Christians.
The mission of the Church has always been to help people in need – not just the Christian community:
“The point you take here is ‘need’ – not whether you’re Muslim, Christian, a non-believer. The same is true of our schooling. Our schools in the Holy Land are open to many other children – mainly Muslim children but there’d be no problem with Jewish children coming as well within the area of Israel.
“Always, as we do in this country, we offer schooling first of all to Catholics but then the places are open to others – it’s not discriminatory. The Catholic church has always invited everybody to come.
“I always used to say, when I was leading Caritas in Europe, in the instructions we had, it said we were to help people in need. And then there was a very important full stop. There was no other qualification other than ‘need’ when it comes to helping people. That’s still the case. The Church is still carrying that mission out – and I’m proud of it.”
29th January 2021
Having taken part in this year’s virtual ‘Holy Land Co-ordination’ pilgrimage, Bishop William Nolan, the Catholic Bishop of Galloway in Scotland, reflects that he is “sad but hopeful” after five days of remote meetings.
A regular on the annual pilgrimage of Bishops to the Holy Land, a group that represents the Church in standing with the Christian community of the lands of Christ, Bishop Nolan laments the social problems and lack of justice facing the people of the region – aggravated this year by the Covid pandemic.
But he is inspired by the Christians of the Holy Land and feels they provide, in their witness, much that is needed for peace. They are good people who are just trying to live as best they can without resentment or bitterness.
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.
