Friday Night - Put it in Your Diary

5 September 2010

The award-winning TV producer who’s made the BBC’s documentary on Pope Benedict XVI will be speaking to us in Bath this Friday (10 September).  Mark Dowd comes to the West Country for a special event prior to the Pope’s arrival when he’s share his understanding of the Holy Father’s vision for our world.

Father Christopher Whitehead, the Clifton Diocese Director of Adult Education and Evangelisation, organised the event.  We join Father Christopher for today’s (5 September) podcast.  He’s on South Parade in Bath, just outside St John the Evangelist where Friday night’s event takes place.

As well Mark’s insights Father Christopher reminds about ‘The Image of the Pope’, our exhibition of stunning images of the Holy Father which debuts in Bath on Friday evening.

Mark and ‘The Image of a Pope’ will be with is on Friday 10 September from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm in St John’s Parish Hall, South Parade, Bath BA2 4AF.

There’s no need to book for this event - just come along on Friday evening .  St John’s is just a two minute walk from Bath Spa train station and is even closer to Bath’s new bus station so getting to this convivial occasion.  Parking is also available.

You can hear more from Mark Dowd on this morning’s ‘Sunday Starts’.  He spoke with popular presenter Trevor Fry on the BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Somerset programme.  You can listen again anytime this week on the BBC iPlayer.  Mark’s interview begins around and hour and half into the programme.  ‘Sunday Starts’ is also featuring Father Peter Cornwell's wonderful podcast series about Cardinal Newman.  It's on every Sunday from 6.00 am to 10.00 am - a place where you can hear plenty more about faith and community in our area.

In today's podacst Father Christopher also reveals more about our evening of prayers on Wednesday 15 September.  That occasion really begins the papal visit for people in the West of England and Wales.  It sees our Cathedral hosting the statue of Our Lady of the Taper on route to the Holy Father in London. 

We look forward to welcoming Pope Benedict who comes to help us, as a society, to see that faith in God is not so much a problem to be solved as a gift to be discovered afresh.

The papal visit begins for our diocese on the eve of the Holy Father’s historic visit to the United Kingdom.  A special evening of prayers will take place in the Cathedral led by Bishop Declan and Bishop Tom Burns of Menevia, we will join together and pray that the papal visit lights up the heart of our nation.  All are welcome to take part from 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm on Wednesday 15 September.  You can find out much more about this unique celebration by listening to our 'Taper Tales' podcast series preseneted by Father Jason Jones, the ector of the National Shrine of Wales.

As we prepare to welcome Pope Benedict XVI we invite you to an evening with the man who’s presenting the BBC’s portrait of the Holy Father.  Award-winning TV documentary maker Mark Dowd will share with us how he’s grown in his understanding of the Holy Father’s vision for our world.  All are welcome to this free event as we look forward to welcoming the Bishop of Rome.  It takes place in Bath on Friday 10 September at 7.00 pm.

The official website thepapalvisit.org.uk is the best place to find out the most up-to-date information in the build up to the special time in the life of the Church in our countries.  It will also provide full coverage during the visit - a great place for you to follow the visit virtually if you are unable to be at any of the large public papal events.

Other ways to follow the papal visit online and have your say include Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Our series of podcasts introducing us to Cardinal John Henry Newman ran througout August on cliftondiocese.com.  We heard from local Newman scholars who’ll give us an insight into life of the man Pope Benedict XVI will beatify here in England.  All the episodes are still online:
The Life of Newman
The Life of Newman - The Discussion
Newman’s Importance Today
Newman’s Importance Today - The Discussion
Newman and Education
Newman and Education - The Discussion
Newman and Laity
Newman and Laity - The Discussion

As August came to a close it was time for us to focus clearly on the forthcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI.  Our podcast series takes you to the places where Cardinal John Henry Newman lived, preached, and where he’ll beatified by the Holy Father.  All episodes of 'In the Footsteps of Newman' are still online:
Maryvale
Oscott College
Newman's room
The Oratory
Cofton Park

Another of our podcast series saw Clifton Diocese Papal Visit Coordinator Father Michael McAndrew visiting local people preparing for the papal visit.  All episodes of 'Father Michael Meets' are still online:
Father Richard McKay
The Connors family
Hugh Greenhalf
Bernice Pascal
Oisin Hawes

Bath priest Father Peter Cornwell presented a podcast series on Cardinal John Henry Newman for cliftondiocese.com.  Father Peter has a particular insight into Cardinal Newman as he’s a former Vicar of Newman’s old church in Oxford - the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.  All the podcasts are still online:
Getting to Know Newman
Newman the Pastor
Battered Newman
To Live is to Change - Newman the Thinker
Journey’s End

You can also make your donation towards the visit at the official website.  It's simple, secure and direct.

Sign-up to the e-alert packed with the latest news about the Holy Father’s historic visit.

Our striking posters, displayed in all our parishes and many other places, welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom are available to all.  You can download your copy in the multimedia panel on the right and put them up to welcome the Holy Father and his historic visit.  You can also download posters promoting the events in Bath and the Cathedral.