Catechiwi – The Council of Nicaea
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Two months ago, it was a discussion on the evangelical counsels: Poverty, chastity and obedience. This month, we’re talking about ecumenical councils, and specifically the Council of Nicaea in the fourth century. This was the Council that gave us the Creed we recite on Sundays. In this episode, Fr Merv Duffy, SM, is back to discuss that council and the legacy it left.
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Catechiwi – Ascension and Pentecost
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We often think of Christmas and Easter as the two great feasts of the Church’s year — and they are. But Ascension and Pentecost, the two dates at the end of the season of Easter, are also incredibly important dates in the Catholic calendar. Catechiwi favourite Fr Merv Duffy, SM, returns to the expert’s chair to discuss Christ’s Ascension into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit in this month’s episode of Catechiwi.
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Catechiwi: Poverty, Chastity and Obedience
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They’re the evangelical counsels — better known today as the religious vows. For centuries, religious priests, brothers and sisters have been adhering to the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. But, as Fr Bernie Thomas, OFM, explains, those principles provide a blueprint for living for all people. Gavin Abraham talks to Fr Bernie about how living the counsels has changed over the centuries, but in many ways stayed the same.
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Living Lent Well
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Catechiwi’s resident expert Fr Merv Duffy speaks about Lent, the season of preparation for the pinnacle of the Church’s year: Easter. Fr Merv talks to Gavin Abraham about the origins of Lent, the three Christian actions we are called to focus on during Lent and speaks about the significance of the number “40” in Christian and Jewish history.
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The Ultimate Form of Prayer
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After hearing from Fr Merv Duffy last month — last year even — on the various forms of prayer, this month’s episode of Catechiwi looks at the Holy Mass, generally considered to be the ultimate form of prayer. When was the first Mass? What are the various parts of the Mass? How does the Mass prepare us for the world? Fr Merv is back to answer those questions and others.
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Catechiwi: Teach Me How to Pray
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It’s something we should be doing every day, multiple times each day. No, not brushing your teeth (though that’s good too). In the December episode of Catechiwi, we speak to Fr Merv Duffy, SM, on prayer. Fr Merv, a Catechiwi favourite, talks about different reasons to pray, different ways to pray and gives some valuable advice on prayer in general.
[Apologies for the late posting — Gavin. Mea maxima culpa.]
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Catechiwi – with a Vatican official
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When Christ walked the earth, it was his wish that the Church should be “one”. However, over the past 2000 years, the Church has had major splits and minor splits, leading to countless Christian churches around the world. Since the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has been trying to restore unity with other Christians. In this month’s episode of Catechiwi, Gavin Abraham interviews Msgr Juan Usma Gomez, a native of Colombia and now an official with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Msgr Usma Gomez talks about the successes of the ecumenical movement, looks at the “state of play” at the moment and touches on the recent Vatican announcement on welcoming Anglicans into the Church.
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Catechiwi — with Bishop Patrick Dunn
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Catechiwi welcomes a very special guest for our October programme with Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland making his first “appearance” on the show. Gavin Abraham speaks to Bishop Dunn about evangelisation. It’s been around since Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, but it’s still the major mission of the Church. How can Catholics help evangelise in the 21st century? What is the “new evangelisation” Pope John Paul II talked about? Listen for answers to those questions and many more.
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Catechiwi — The Theology of Suffering
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In this latest episode of Catechiwi, Gavin Abraham interviews Dutch priest Fr Roderick Vonhogen — currently visiting Australia and New Zealand — on another fundamental question of the Faith. Fr Roderick answers the question “Why did Jesus have to suffer?”
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Catechiwi – The Saints Come Marching In
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Catechiwi returns for another show examining the basic tenets of the Catholic Faith. In this month’s episode, Fr Peter Fitzsimons explains the Church’s understanding of and teaching about saints. Who can become a saint? What does that process involve? How can you live more like a saint? Is using saints to pray actually idolatry? Those questions and more are answered in this programme.
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