Station XV: Episode 107 — Making Assumptions on our 9th birthday
It’s the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady — so that means it’s our birthday. The 15th Station celebrates nine years of podcasting with a show that opens with the shocking story of an elderly French priest’s murder at the hands of cowardly terrorists. As hard as it is to proceed from such horror, the Holy Father’s comments at World Youth Day and some forthright words from a seminary formation director help to refocus on the positivity of the Catholic faith. To show the joy of that faith, the Church needs great witnesses. And Pope Francis wants parish secretaries to be part of that number. Enjoy our birthday show!
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Station XV: Episode 100 — Royalty, Recognition, Reprimands and Reminiscing
Eight-and-a-half years after it all began, the little podcast that could reached its 100th episode this month, and it was a full studio and a full show to mark the occasion. The Queen sends congratulations to people who turn 100; she didn’t send a message, but she does feature on this episode thanks to her Christmas message. Two other acclaimed women — the Virgin Mary and Mother Teresa — are also discussed, as well as a lesser-known, but very important, woman, as Sr Margaret Lancaster is recognised for her work in the area of palliative care. Join Shannon, Helen, James, Don, Gabriel and Gavin, as well as a few celebrity voices, on our 100th episode. And there’s not a hoverboard in sight.
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Station XV: Episode 97 — On Synod, Scripture and Sacking
The second episode of the Synod on the Family — and comments from Pope Francis and a New Zealand lay woman — set the stage for this month’s episode of The 15th Station. Francis’s trip to the United States and the sacking of a gay Vatican priest who called for changes to Church teaching also feature on the show, along with a new take on Scripture through the lens of poverty and justice. Lucy, James, Don and Gavin also reflect on papal humour from a rabbi. Just another month on The 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 95 — Pope, Polls, Polar Priests and Pasta
Pope Francis’s summer has surely been soured (#sarcasm) by new polls in the United States that show his popularity is waning across the board — with conservatives and progressives alike not as enamoured with the Pontiff as they were a year ago. The poll comes a few weeks before his visit to the US. When it comes to Antarctica, though, there won’t be any more visits from Catholic priests, with money and a lack of demand seeing an end to New Zealand priests ministering on The Ice. In other news, the divorced and remarried debate continues and a Kiwi priest with a colourful past gets an important international gig. But it’s the papal declaration on the secret to happiness that has Lucy, Don, James and Gavin really excited. Enjoy the episode.
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Station XV: Episode 90 — Confrontation, assassination and reconciliation
Lucy, James and Gavin offer their musings on the big Catholic stories of the month, and in New Zealand, the biggest story was the New Zealand bishops quickly and publicly pledging their support for the Government’s decision to send military personnel to the Middle East to help train those who are fighting against Islamic State/IS/ISIS/ISIL. As the violence and barbaric acts escalates, the bishops said people “can no longer watch on from the sidelines”, and echoing comments from Pope Francis on the threat of Islamic State. The Pope makes two other appearances in the show, talking about the possibility he could be assassinated, and also for his decision to allow a homeless man to be buried inside the Vatican. Back in New Zealand, there are concerns about the sanctity of the confessional. All that and more in this month’s episode of The 15th Station.
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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.
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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.
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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….
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Station XV: Episode 73 — Interviews, intervention and interlocution
It was one of the most newsworthy moments of Pope Francis’s pontificate — the interview heard around the world. When the Holy Father sat down with fellow Jesuit priest Fr Antonio Spadaro, the two discussed a wide range of topics, and much of what was spoken about became water-cooler conversation around the world. James, Don and Gavin chat about that interview, Pope Francis’s intervention to save lives in Argentina a couple of decades ago and Pope Benedict’s decision to write a letter to a journalist who had questioned the former Pope’s efforts to combat abuse. Those stories and more in this month’s episode of The 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 49 — Pope goes home, St Steve Jobs?
In this month’s episode of The 15th Station, our transTasman panel talks about Pope Benedict’s recent trip to his homeland, the uncertainty over Christchurch’s Catholic cathedral and the hype surrounding the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. We also touch on two very different stories: A priest in Ireland returning to ministry after being falsely accused of rape and an Anglican church in Wellington portraying Jesus as an rugby-ball toting All Black. All in a month’s work.
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