Station XV: Episode 89 — Kids, botox and 20-minute homilies
It’s hard to believe it’s almost Lent, but Lucy, Don, James and Gavin have got their penance in early with the latest jam-packed episode of The 15th Station. Pope Francis weeks-long unpacking of families in today’s world features prominently, with his comments that couples who choose not to have children are selfish and his green light for fathers to smack their kids causing a double stir. A Vatican document that suggested elective cosmetic surgery was a “burqa of the flesh” also raised eyebrows. Back in New Zealand, there are fears Mass in Maori — the language of indigenous New Zealanders — may die out, and there’s also anger at the inclusion of an offensive t-shirt in a museum exhibition. Can a 20-minute homily fix it? Find out in this month’s show.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Station XV: Episode 87 — ‘Tis the season…
Advent is a busy season for the Church, and that includes the Station 15 panel. Working through this month’s full slate of topics are James, Lucy, Don, Gavin and — returning after many years — Gabriel. Pope Francis is the central figure in the episode, led by his first episcopal appointment in New Zealand, but followed closely by his comments on Islamic terrorism and his advice to theologians: “Listen to the people.” The panel also discusses parish amalgamations in New Zealand, following an international trend, and the vexed question “Would you baptise an alien?” Happy Christmas from the Station 15 crew.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Station XV: Episode 85 — Synod, Saints and Sunday Surprises
The Synod on the Family — and the various reports coming out of Rome — dominate the first half of this month’s episode, with New Zealanders’ views on family life, Archbishop John Dew’s opinion and the thoughts of an Australian couple making headlines. In other news, Don, James and Gavin discuss the effect of migration on the Church in New Zealand, efforts to advance the cause of the woman who could become New Zealand’s first saint and an initiative in the United States to inject life into parishes with dwindling numbers.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Station XV: Episode 84 — Matrimony, Electioneering and Technology
The Pope conducting a mass wedding ceremony is usually grounds enough for big news, but when some of the couples are announced to have been cohabiting and having had children before tying the knot, it creates even more headlines. Lucy, James and Gavin are on the case, wrestling with the tricky issue, as well as looking at Archbishop John Dew’s reflection on the state of New Zealand politics, a willingness for more NZ victims of clerical sex abuse to come forward and Pope Francis’s latest first — an international Google Hangout with a group of young people. The show concludes with an uplifting story of grace under difficult circumstances. Enjoy the show.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Station XV: Episode 82 — Victims, Venerable, Villains and Victors
In the July 2014 episode of The 15th Station, Lucy, James and Gavin venture from the sad to the joyous, the sacramental to the sporting, the saintly to the shady. Pope Francis’s meeting with sex abuse victims, the promotion of Baptism for students in Catholic schools and the Pope’s excommunication of the mafia are all covered in this show. The panel also covers the papal World Cup Final — between Benedict’s Germany and Francis’s Argentina — and discusses the efforts that may lead to New Zealand’s first saint. Learn more about the film How Far is Heaven by clicking here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Station XV: Episode 80 — Saints, popes, bishops, sisters and podcasters
What podcast in the past three weeks would be complete without discussion of “Four Popes Sunday” — the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II by Pope Francis, with Pope Benedict on hand? Not this one, so Helen, James and Gavin lead with that momentous story, and continue the show with discussion of a bishops’ gathering in New Zealand, a meeting between the Vatican and some American religious sisters and an historic meeting of a New Zealand leader and Pope Francis. We also talk about drug trafficking. A typically diverse and entertaining show, we think you’ll find.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Station XV: Episode 79 — Schools, saying sorry and standing strong
It’s Holy Week, and there are stories to challenge and inspire people in this month’s episode, as Lucy, James and Gavin talk about the challenge of providing a solid Catholic education, as well as the courage and witness of Pope Francis and martyred Dutch priest Fr Frans van der Lugt. The panel also discusses the new class of first-year seminarians in New Zealand, reflecting the increasing diversity of the Church here, and the singing religious sister who stunned judges on Italy’s version of The Voice with her remarkable talent. The Station 15 teams wishes everyone a happy and holy Easter. Until next month….
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Station XV: Episode 78 — Alarms, anniversaries and alcohol
It’s March 15 — so we’re in the week marking the anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. The interview the Holy Father conducted recently is a topic for discussion, along with the latest statistics on Catholics in New Zealand — nominal and practising — and the promotion of Cardinal George Pell to head the Vatican’s new economic secretariat. James, Helen and Gavin also talk about a small New Zealand town fighting the departure of a group of religious sisters, as well as the drinking habits of those who live at the Vatican. Thanks for listening; tell your friends.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Station XV: Episode 77 — Il Papa was on Rolling Stone
Pope Francis continues to be a media darling, with Rolling Stone magazine the latest publication to run a glowing piece on the Pontiff as he approaches the one-year anniversary of his election. But, as this article from The Week explains, there were quite a few errors and exaggerations in the article. Pope Francis has also been in the news with his appointment of his first group of new cardinals, and he’s also talked of the Internet — our medium of communicating with the world — is a “gift from God”. We find it hard to disagree with him. James, Shannon, Don and Gavin also talk about the death of a New Zealand bishop and a survey of Catholics in Germany and Switzerland. Enjoy the show.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Station XV: Episode 74 — The Pope, the Cardinals and Lesus Christ
Is the Church about to become a democracy? And a democracy that has women cardinals, no less? Your answers to those questions will depend on which news sources you’ve been reading over the past few weeks. Pope Francis is surveying dioceses and parishes to get some insight into family life in preparation for next year’s synod on the topic, and there’s been conjecture he’ll appoint women cardinals at his first consistory in February. What we do know is that a Latin American cardinal thinks New Zealand should have a louder voice in Rome, a $20,000 bathtub isn’t a great idea and someone forgot to proofread some new Vatican coins. Join James, Don and Gavin for this month’s show.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS