Catholic Kiwi Podcast

Canadian priest Fr Richard Smith was just shy of his 43rd birthday when Pope John Paul II appointed him the Bishop of Pembroke, Ontario. More than 20 years later, and with a stop in Edmonton, he is now the Archbishop of Vancouver. Archbishop Smith sat down with host James Bergin recently while in New Zealand for an international conference. In this episode, Archbishop Smith reflects on his vocatio...

As Carly Mulqueen's Christian faith was growing as a young woman, she was conditioned to wonder if Catholics were even part of the Christian family. As her husband began to explore Catholicism, Carly joined him on the journey, including through engagement with the director of the Catholic Enquiry Centre. Years later, Carly now finds herself as the CEC's director, helping people on their ow...

When he was a child, Andy Orosco had dreams of ordained ministry in the Church. His teacher, though, didn't think he was up to the task. The Holy Spirit had other ideas, though, and Andy now serves as a permanent deacon in California, with a particular focus on ministry to his fellow Native Americans. Deacon Andy joined the Catholic Kiwi Podcast while in New Zealand recently for an internation...

As technology seems to be advancing even faster, how can we seek to understand the place of artificial intelligence from a Catholic perspective? In this episode, technologist James Bergin trades the host’s chair for the guest’s chair, sharing his insights into what AI is, and what it is not. In conversation with Joanna Kearney, James explains that successive Popes have spoken about the intersectio...

For almost two centuries, religious women have been making a massive contribution to the life of the Catholic Church in New Zealand. In this episode, the leader of Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa — the Sisters of Mercy New Zealand — shares her own story of vocation, of Mercy founder Catherine McAuley and the religious order's historical and current ministries. Sr Denise also shares how the Sister...

As Season 2 of the Catholic Kiwi Podcast commences, we welcome the Diocese of Auckland's Vicar for Māori -- or, as he calls himself, the "Chief Cup of Tea Drinker" -- Manuel Beazley. Manuel, who also serves as chair of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference's advisory body, Te Rōpū Māori, speaks of his dual identity as a Māori and as a Catholic, and his experience of never s...

In this final episode of Season 1 of the Catholic Kiwi Podcast, we sit down with Canadian anti-euthanasia campaigner Amanda Achtman. In addition to her work fighting for the vulnerable and opposing the expansion of assisted dying in Canada, Amanda offers fascinating insights into how her Jewish heritage and Catholic faith have intertwined in her life. Amanda shares emotional stories from people sh...

If the Church is going to serve its people well, it is important to understand who those people are and where they are on their faith journey. That's the challenge and the invitation issued by Vicki Surrey from Holy Family Parish in Christchurch West. In this episode, Vicki explains how her parish has walked the path of research through two significant surveys in recent years and how those eff...

Growing up in Hastings, a young Paul Martin saw the example of Marist priests in his local parish and the local college. He saw the life of a priest, a teacher and a Marist living in community as a life of great value. Little did he know when making the choice to enter the Society of Mary how diverse his life and his ministry would be. In conversation with Joanna Kearney, Archbishop Paul talks us...

Sr Lauren of the Cross acknowledges that she might have been a "most unlikely" candidate to become a nun, but as she looks back on her life before entering the Carmelite Monastery in Christchurch, she sees it all as great preparation for her current life. In conversation with Joanna Kearney, Sr Lauren recounts adrift away from her practice of the faith, her years working at Christchurch...

Tim Wilson rose to prominence in New Zealanders' lounge rooms as TVNZ's US correspondent, living what he could only believe was his best life. Amidst the glitz and the glamour, though, Tim was struggling to find meaning. It was in New York City that his journey from Presbyterian preacher's son to atheism and agnosticism found him weeping in a Catholic church at the beauty of the Cathol...

When more than 500 people gathered in Palmerston North in early October for the Hope and Renewal Summit, many came to hear from Fr James Mallon, the founder of Divine Renovation Ministry. Divine Renovation co-hosted the event with the Diocese of Palmerston North that was focused on making vibrant, welcoming parishes. During the Summit, Fr James sat down with the Catholic Kiwi Podcast’s Joanna Kear...

Are faith and science compatible? Lots of people will tellyou they’re not, but one of the more public figures working at that intersection says he never saw the conflict. Nor did the sisters or the priests who taught him science through his formative years. Br Guy Consolmagno SJ recently made his fourth visit to New Zealand as his time as director of the Vatican Observatory was coming to an end. I...

Mary Goulding seemed to have the world at her feet. She had enjoyed a successful academic and sporting career at Fordham University in New York City, she had been chosen to represent New Zealand in women’s basketball and was gearing up for her next major athletic challenge. Then a car accident not only shattered her Olympic ambitions, but almost took her life. Prayers for her survival were offered...