All Kinds of Catholic

Send us a text Episode 60: Speaking from Wales, Joan describes with unflinching honesty how she is learning to understand God as friend and Father. Through prayer and daily journalling, she explains how her relationship with God is deepening and her life is changing. Joan has encouraging words for listeners, 'You are what He's interested in and that's all that matters.'   A new...

Send us a text Episode 59: Helen reflects on being a lay Catholic woman in ministry, engaged in practical activities like accompaniment, and ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. There are rich, hard-won insights here. Helen describes embracing new opportunities because 'This sounds important even though I haven't really got time,' and sitting with uncertainty, 'I don't know...

Send us a text Episode 58  Jude talks about journeys, from Nigeria to the UK, from Paris to Lourdes to Rome, and his 'very beautiful' ongoing faith journey. He shares how setbacks have been transformed by trying to understand what God is saying to him. 'And now I  focus on living simply,' he says. Find out more National Justice and Peace Network Conference Nuclear Morality Flow...

Send us a text Episode 57: Olimpia's story begins in Romania in the Communist era. A setback in life has taught her to trust God more deeply - and she welcomes 'the peace and joy we feel when we pray.' The title of this episode is a quote from Venerable Mary Potter. Olimpia explains how this woman's resilient service inspires her faith today.  Find out more Mary Potter Heritage...

Send us a text Episode 56: An episode for the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Fr Giacomo shares how he responded at last to the Lord calling him to religious life and how he is now living his faith as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart. 'Our motto is to bring the love of the heart of God into the world, or to be on earth, the heart of God.'   Find out more Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Visio...

Send us a text Episode 55: Antonia speaks frankly about her faith being 'forged in a fire'  - as she came to terms with abuse scandals in the church and elsewhere. Convinced that, 'You don't have to choose between the practice of your faith and your care for people who've suffered abuse,' Antonia shares her understanding of restorative justice in this context and invi...

Send us a text Episode 54: Serving as a hospital chaplain is a path Christina 'didn't expect to be on.' In this conversation, she describes the blessings and challenges of walking alongside people at difficult times in their lives. 'It's a ministry of presence,' she says. Find out more Turvey Abbey image of the Risen Lord Student Cross A new episode, a different conve...

Send us a text Episode 53: Speaking from his home in Canada, Francisco shares how daily Eucharistic Adoration helped him to find his faith as an adult, 'It was a wonderful feeling.' And it is his faith, he says, which 'helps me to hang in there when everything seems lost.' Find out more Article in The Guardian Online Divine Mercy Chaplet at St John Paul II Shrine Radio Maria En...

Send us a text Episode 52: Maria describes her Korean Catholic heritage and how in Korea, perhaps unlike Britain, the Church is seen as progressive. Finding ways to 'stay connected with the church' while living as a queer Catholic, she says, 'has brought me close to the Catholic faith... and closer to God.' Find out more The Catholic Church in Korea, a podcast episode  Webinar:...

Send us a text Episode 51: Martin shares how he became first an Anglican, then later a Catholic, drawn by Ignatian practices of 'deeper, imaginative prayer.' He speaks thoughtfully of his lived experience as a gay Christian who has managed, through God's grace, to overcome hurt and resentment, and to 'keep my mind and my heart open.' Find out more St Beuno's Jesuit Sp...

Send us a text Episode 50: For Thomas, 'Our faith isn't a dusty old thing. It's a living faith which has been passed down from generation to generation.' His grandmother helped to shape the way he puts his faith into action, working in the criminal justice system where 'we have something really important to bring as Catholics and as Christians.'  A new episode, a diff...

Send us a text Episode 49: Paul describes how and why, as an adult, he rediscovered and fell in love with his Ukrainian Greek Catholic heritage and the Byzantine (an Eastern) rite. He draws on St Paul to sum up 'the Christian faith and the Christian ethos' and especially to explain how the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church continues to flourish despite historical poverty and persecution.  ...

Send us a text Bonus Episode: Previous guests from four continents share their appreciation for the legacy of Pope Francis in their own lives - and their hopes for the new pope. Lots of focus on the work of the Holy Spirit and a call for Catholic people to pray. Find out more Pray for one of the Cardinals A new episode, a different conversation, every Wednesday! Email me: theresa@KindsofCatholic.c...

Send us a text Episode 48: Felicity shares movingly how and why she worked for decades in a job she found very stressful while also feeling it was a vocation and 'God's work'. She speaks about the death of her husband and the friends and practices that are helping her to find a way through a series of bereavements. Felicity recommends being Christ-like in the way we walk alongside e...

Send us a text Episode 47: Naoise shares how he understands trying to live virtuously in a broken world - personally and professionally. He describes his belief that by our lives, we Catholics can 'have a transformative and transfigurative effect on the world around us.'   Find out more Henri Nouwen's book The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales Pact Prison Advi...

Send us a text Episode 46: In this special Holy Week episode, Jim, a scientist and a theologian, shares how he makes sense of the strong emotions of Holy Week. 'I don't see any contradiction between my science and my faith or my vocation and my faith...One has driven the other.' Since childhood, he explains, the practices of Holy Week help him to, 'live, with Christ, what was h...

Send us a text Episode 45: Deacon Paul explains his unusual work at Harvington Hall, offering prayer and pilgrimage alongside showcasing Catholic Tudor history for tourists.  After taking 15 years to discern the Lord's call, he shares how he understands his role as a deacon. 'God put me there to be the conduit for his love in that moment. My job is not to mess it up.' Find out more...

Send us a text Episode 44: Pauline shares the people and activities that have inspired her and given her joy and friendship on her faith journey so far. Three pieces of scripture are especially precious  - and following her own prayerful reflection, she explains how she is approaching Lent in this Jubilee Year.  Find out more The Briars Catholic Youth Centre A new episode, a different conversation...

Send us a text Episode 43: Speaking from America, Judy shares honestly how she has moved from saying the rosary in childhood, through working for social justice and peace, to finding regular Mass attendance 'really hard' because of the marginalisation of women in the church. She describes living in the midst of brutal US political upheaval, as 'horrifying' yet she still finds h...

Send us a text Episode 42: Jack shares how he was first 'grabbed by youth work' as a young adult. Rather than any liturgical-style-tribalism, he explains that it is our identity as children of God that inspires him and is something he brings to youth ministry today in the Diocese of Lancaster - via the Caribbean. Find out more Castlerigg Manor Lancaster Youth Service A new episode, a dif...

Send us a text Episode 41: Brid and Lorna (a mother and daughter) share their experiences of Catholic People's Weeks and the community they find there. They explain how taking seriously Jesus' words, 'I was in prison and you visited me,' has led them to witness, and be humbled by, the humanity of people on death row in America - and in Lorna's case, to work for change. Fin...

Send us a text Episode 40: Deacon Mark shares how he first connected with his faith as a young adult, seeking truth and core values to live by. On being invited to consider becoming a deacon, he worried that his autism diagnosis would be a 'deal-breaker' but has found purpose in advocating for Catholic people who have disabilities.  Find out more at Deacon Mark's blog Contact Deacon...

Send us a text Episode 39: Eoin shares his experience of cycling from Canterbury to Rome following the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. Inspired by saints, by the welcome and kindness of others, he explains how he continues to be sustained by what happened - even while still processing it all. Find out more Hearts in Search of God : Diocesan pilgrim routes in England & Wales National Jubilee P...

Send us a text Episode 38: Maggie's faith has both motivated and shaped her deep concern for others and for the world. She speaks with gratitude of people she names as amazing role models. She also shares honestly her experiences of 'messy, not linear' bereavement.  Find out more CAFOD Candlelight Funds Young Christian Workers A new episode, a different conversation, every Wednesday...

Send us a text Episode 37: Greg shares how his childhood love for Jesus has grown, 'gradually, slowly,' into a mission to share the Gospel with children and young people. He explains his journey from 'my heart was almost beating out of my chest' to being able to communicate his love for Jesus with confidence.  Find out more: Mark 10 Mission Good Shepherd Catechesis A new episod...