Bishop of Wrexham celebrates Shrine's elevation to National Status
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 meeti...
12m Nov 17, 2023
12m
General Secretary on Bishops' Plenary Resolutions
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". ...
18m Nov 17, 2023
18m
S1 Ep64: Remembrance: We all need to rededicate ourselves to peace
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 gri...
3m Nov 11, 2023
3m
S1 Ep63: Praying for the dead at the beautiful London Oratory Church
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 ...
33m Nov 10, 2023
33m
S1 Ep62: Alleviating the cost-of-living crisis
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 Justi...
14m Oct 30, 2023
14m
S1 Ep61: World Mission Sunday - Wisdom from encounter
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 ...
19m Oct 19, 2023
19m
S1 Ep60: Reclaiming the lost art of walking pilgrimage in England and Wales
Phil McCarthy is a man on a mission - to rebuild a culture of walking pilgrimage that has been somewhat lost in England and Wales. "England is quite unusual in that pilgrimage was actually banned by Act of Parliament in 1538 by Thomas Cromwell," says Phil. "So we lost the shrines, very often the cathedrals, and we lost the religious infrastructure along the way." That's where Pilgrim Ways co...
11m Aug 08, 2023
11m
S1 Ep1: Drought recovery in northern Kenya
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 y...
15m Jun 02, 2023
15m
S1 Ep57: Helping women recover and heal after an abortion
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...
8m May 25, 2023
8m
S1 Ep56: What is the Catholic understanding of 'eternity'?
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 o...
14m May 25, 2023
14m
S1 Ep55: Media bishop on the challenges of modern communications
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 ...
8m May 18, 2023
8m
S1 Ep54: Why it's important to pray for the Christians of the East
Sunday 21 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 ou...
10m May 12, 2023
10m
S1 Ep53: Cardinal gives a Catholic perspective on the Coronation of King Charles III
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 Ca...
8m May 08, 2023
8m
S1 Ep52: Bishop Tom Neylon on the vibrant Catholic Church in Pakistan
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 cha...
13m Apr 27, 2023
13m
S1 Ep51: Archbishop of Southwark on why we pray for the Pope
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 importan...
5m Mar 31, 2023
5m
S1 Ep50: New charity to address great social need in South London and Kent
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 ...
9m Mar 22, 2023
9m
S1 Ep49: Edith Stein
This audiobook, recorded and produced in collaboration with the Catholic Truth Society (CTS), sees us re-visit the 'Victims of the Nazis' series to shine a light on a truly remarkable woman - Edith Stein - who we know and venerate as Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Born on the Feast of St Wilfred, 12 October 1891, in the then German town of Breslau (now Wroclaw in Poland), Edith Stein w...
38m Jan 27, 2023
38m
S1 Ep48: Chair of the Holy Land Co-ordination speaks about the group's visit to Jordan
Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Chairing his first Holy Land Co-ordination, spoke to us on the eve of his return home from Amman, the capital of Jordan. He had just spent five days leading a pilgrimage of Bishops from 11 countries around the holy sites of Jordan, as well as visiting some of the Catholic parishes and projects active in the country. Jordan today hosts more displaced people than alm...
10m Jan 25, 2023
10m
47: Cardinal's reflection on Pope Emeritus Benedict's Funeral
"In one way it was a very straightforward celebration of a Funeral Mass as would take place at the death of any Catholic in any parish church. And yet in another way it was a uniquely historical event and an event of great emotional depth and stature. "I think we can say it's the first time [in over 200 years] that a pope has buried a pope who has just died and in that sense there was a uniq...
3m Jan 05, 2023
3m
S1 Ep46: Cardinal's "precious time" praying by Pope Benedict's mortal remains
Shortly after arriving in Rome the day before Benedict XVI's funeral, Cardinal Vincent Nichols spent some time in prayer and quiet contemplation before the body of the late Pope Emeritus Lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Benedict was visited by tens of thousands of pilgrims who paid their final respects and offered prayers for the repose of his soul. "Yesterday afternoon, I was ...
2m Jan 05, 2023
2m
45: Four Bishops discuss their autumn plenary meeting
Audio taken from a virtual press conference in which four Catholic bishops from England and Wales discussed their autumn plenary meeting. Bishop Paul Mason, who chaired the press conference, spoke about the Church's safeguarding work, Bishop John Arnold discussed four resolutions concerned with environmental matters, Bishop John Sherrington addressed the issue of buffer zones around abortion...
53m Nov 18, 2022
53m
44: Caritas Salford Director on the Cost of Living Crisis
Patrick O’Dowd, the director of Caritas Salford, spoke to us recently to give an overview of what the charity is doing to ease the burdens of struggling families in the north west of England. Patrick relayed some shocking statistics about the devastating effects of the crisis, with hundreds of thousands of children lacking the bare essentials, families plunged into precarious positions, and ...
15m Nov 01, 2022
15m
43: The Message of Saint Bernadette
Every year, millions of pilgrims from around the world visit the foothills of the French Pyrenees to walk in the footsteps of Saint Bernadette at Lourdes. It's one of the world's busiest Catholic pilgrimage sites with around five million pilgrims visiting each year. It's estimated that over 200 million people have visited the Marian shrine and sanctuary since 1860. Why do they come? It's a c...
1hr 10m Oct 19, 2022
1hr 10m
42: Little changes make a difference when caring for the environment, says Bishop
As the Social Justice department of the Bishops' Conference launches a new revised edition of the Bishops' teaching document on the environment The Call of Creation, Bishop John Arnold, our episcopal lead for environmental matters, has been speaking to us about the current ecological crisis, our responsibilities as Catholics and custodians of the created world, and his belief that we all need t...
13m Oct 04, 2022
13m
40: Welcome Centre Director: "Keep your hearts and doors open to Ukrainians"
The director of a new Ukrainian Welcome Centre in central London has urged Britons to keep their hearts and doors open to Ukrainians who are arriving in the UK fleeing the war in their homeland. Andriy Marchenko talks to us about the Centre, based at the cathedral of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family near Bond Street in central London It provides a single point of contact ...
7m Aug 09, 2022
7m
41: Ukrainian Welcome Centre is true community outreach, says Eparchial Bishop
The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family has opened a Welcome Centre in London in partnership with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain. Based at the Eparchy's cathedral near Bond Street in central London, the Centre provides a single point of contact for essential information for arrival, settling and long-term living in the UK. Bishop Kenneth Novakowski, the Ukrainian...
5m Aug 09, 2022
5m
39: Bishop Oakley on new document offering reflections on Amoris Laetitia
The Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life, Bishop David Oakley, has spoken to us about a new resource that offers reflections on the main themes of Amoris Laetitia - the 2016 Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation. 'The Joy of Love' looks at the themes of Joy, Love, Mercy, Realities and Discernment, and Mission encouraging prayer and reflection for individuals, couples and families. Downlo...
12m Jul 18, 2022
12m
38: Charles de Foucauld
In December 1916, deep in the Sahara, an unknown French hermit was shot through the head and dumped in a ditch. He was 58. An accomplished geographer, linguist and explorer, in youth he had been a disillusioned soldier and aristocratic playboy. Why at 30 did he abandon family, career, everything, to search for 'the last place', close to the poor and suffering? This audiobook describes ...
1hr 20m Jun 15, 2022
1hr 20m
37: Reflection on India's first lay Catholic Saint
Bishop Thomas Neylon, Lead Bishop for Asia for the Bishops' Conference, has recorded a short reflection on Blessed Lazarus, also called Devasahayam, an 18th-century Indian martyr. He was a married Hindu man who converted to Catholicism and suffered much persecution for his faith. A Catholic for only seven years, he was shot dead in the Aralvaimozhy forest on January 14, 1752. Image St...
2m May 13, 2022
2m
36: Psalm 121 Reflection
As an important part of our resources for the Day of Prayer for the Survivors of Abuse, we have produced an audio reflection on Psalm 121. We listen to an introduction before hearing a reading of the Psalm. Then a survivor offers her personal reflection on the psalm before we offer prayers for survivors of abuse, their families, friends and communities. Introduction Psalm 121, I lift up m...
8m May 12, 2022
8m
A Reflection on Charles de Foucauld
Bishop Paul Swarbrick, Bishop of Lancaster, introduces us to Charles de Foucauld, a former soldier and Trappist who will be canonised by Pope Francis on Sunday 15 May 2022. Photo © Jean-Louis Zimmermann (CC BY 2.0)
4m May 12, 2022
4m
34: Titus Brandsma
Titus Brandsma was a Carmelite friar who was killed in the Dachau concentration camp on 26 July 1942. The Nazi invasion of Holland took place on 10 May 1940. Their persecution of the Jews is well known. Titus defended the Jewish people - especially Jewish children who attended Catholic schools. He said: "the Church in carrying out her mission makes no distinction between sex, race or people....
58m May 11, 2022
58m
33: Cardinal looks back on the Bishops' visit to Wales
Cardinal Vincent Nichols spoke to journalists, remotely, about the Bishops' first plenary meeting in Wales for 18 years. The Cardinal, President of the Bishops' Conference, looked back on the five-day meeting and talked about their discussions. The meeting took place in Cardiff from 2 - 6 May 2022. Cardinal Nichols gave a briefing on the deliberations of the bishops, including Ukraine an...
13m May 10, 2022
13m
32: Archbishop: We must say no to war, we must say yes to peace and we must pray
The Most Reverend John Wilson spoke passionately to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community in the UK about the disastrous consequences that war has brought to Ukraine. The Archbishop of Southwark was invited to preach at the Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in central London on Sunday 27 February. He spoke to us afterwards: "The gospel today i...
5m Feb 27, 2022
5m
32: Archbishop: We must say no to war, we must say yes to peace and we must pray
The Most Reverend John Wilson spoke passionately to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community in the UK about the disastrous consequences that war has brought to Ukraine. The Archbishop of Southwark was invited to preach at the Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in central London on Sunday 27 February. He spoke to us afterwards: "The gospel today i...
5m Feb 27, 2022
5m
31: Use Lenten "Spiritual Weapons" for the People of Ukraine
In a pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful of his diocese, Plymouth, Bishop Mark O'Toole has urged the community to pick up the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent for the people of Ukraine. This follows Pope Francis’ call to observe Ash Wednesday, 2 March, as a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace. “We all feel somewhat impotent,” said the Chair of the Departm...
7m Feb 25, 2022
7m
31: Use Lenten "Spiritual Weapons" for the People of Ukraine
In a pastoral letter to the Catholic faithful of his diocese, Plymouth, Bishop Mark O'Toole has urged the community to pick up the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent for the people of Ukraine. This follows Pope Francis’ call to observe Ash Wednesday, 2 March, as a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace. “We all feel somewhat impotent,” said the Chair of the Departm...
7m Feb 25, 2022
7m
30: Archbishop: There is no place for racial injustice in the life of the Catholic Church
Speaking at a Mass in Brixton, South London, a week before Racial Justice Sunday, Archbishop John Wilson has talked about how important it is we use the occasion to affirm the dignity and place of every person in the life of the Church. Stating explicitly that there is no place in the Church for racism and racial injustice, the Archbishop of Southwark said: "One of the challenges for us i...
5m Feb 07, 2022
5m
30: Archbishop: There is no place for racial injustice in the life of the Catholic Church
Speaking at a Mass in Brixton, South London, a week before Racial Justice Sunday, Archbishop John Wilson has talked about how important it is we use the occasion to affirm the dignity and place of every person in the life of the Church. Stating explicitly that there is no place in the Church for racism and racial injustice, the Archbishop of Southwark said: "One of the challenges for us i...
5m Feb 07, 2022
5m
29: Ukrainian Eparch encourages UK Catholics to pray for peace in Ukraine
Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine as the threat of Russian troops invading the Eastern European country continues to rise. Catholics around the world will join in prayer on Wednesday, 26 January. The Right Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski is the Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. We spoke to Bishop Nowakowski about...
9m Jan 25, 2022
9m
29: Ukrainian Eparch encourages UK Catholics to pray for peace in Ukraine
Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine as the threat of Russian troops invading the Eastern European country continues to rise. Catholics around the world will join in prayer on Wednesday, 26 January. The Right Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski is the Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. We spoke to Bishop Nowakowski about...
9m Jan 25, 2022
9m
28: Christmas at a London Soup Kitchen
Providing a hot meal and friendly conversation is an act that sits well with those of a Franciscan persuasion. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are known for embedding themselves alongside the poor, the homeless and the destitute. Saint Fidelis Friary, in Canning Town, London, was established in 2000. As part of their work of ‘making all things new in Christ’, the friars provide materi...
7m Dec 22, 2021
7m
28: Christmas at a London Soup Kitchen
Providing a hot meal and friendly conversation is an act that sits well with those of a Franciscan persuasion. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are known for embedding themselves alongside the poor, the homeless and the destitute. Saint Fidelis Friary, in Canning Town, London, was established in 2000. As part of their work of ‘making all things new in Christ’, the friars provide materi...
7m Dec 22, 2021
7m
27: Pope Francis gives his COP26 Thought for the Day reflection
Pope Francis has given BBC Radio 4 his ‘Thought for the Day’ reflection focussing on the environment and climate change ahead of the COP26 UN climate summit. Used with kind permission of BBC Radio 4.
6m Oct 29, 2021
6m
27: Pope Francis gives his COP26 Thought for the Day reflection
Pope Francis has given BBC Radio 4 his ‘Thought for the Day’ reflection focussing on the environment and climate change ahead of the COP26 UN climate summit. Used with kind permission of BBC Radio 4.
6m Oct 29, 2021
6m
26: Keeping Christ at the heart of the post-pandemic Catholic Church
Bishop Robert Byrne has recently returned from the week-long International Eucharistic Congress that took place in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Established in 1881, these congresses take place every four years and celebrate the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Bishop Byrne’s diocese, Hexham and Newcastle, is about to embark on a ‘Year of the Eucharist’. It’s an opportunity, h...
13m Oct 11, 2021
13m
26: Keeping Christ at the heart of the post-pandemic Catholic Church
Bishop Robert Byrne has recently returned from the week-long International Eucharistic Congress that took place in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Established in 1881, these congresses take place every four years and celebrate the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Bishop Byrne’s diocese, Hexham and Newcastle, is about to embark on a ‘Year of the Eucharist’. It’s an opportunity, h...
13m Oct 11, 2021
13m
25: The changing face of Catholic outreach to Seafarers
Stella Maris, the Catholic charity that supports seafarers, fishers, and their families, has just completed a year-long celebration of its 100 years of service. To mark the end of the centenary year, a special Mass was celebrated in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, on Tuesday, 5 October. For this podcast, we caught up with Martin Foley, Chief Executive Officer of Stella Maris, and Anne ...
8m Oct 06, 2021
8m
25: The changing face of Catholic outreach to Seafarers
Stella Maris, the Catholic charity that supports seafarers, fishers, and their families, has just completed a year-long celebration of its 100 years of service. To mark the end of the centenary year, a special Mass was celebrated in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, on Tuesday, 5 October. For this podcast, we caught up with Martin Foley, Chief Executive Officer of Stella Maris, and Anne ...
8m Oct 06, 2021
8m
24: Faith gives hope to Cameroon’s suffering people
In recent weeks we’ve been raising awareness of a long-running Anglophone conflict in Cameroon that has seen almost a million people displaced. Tragically, many thousands have suffered brutal atrocities – perpetrated by both sides – and at least 3,500 people have been killed. As if this wasn’t enough, a million children have been unable to attend school for four years due to an enforced boycot...
14m Aug 12, 2021
14m