Healing the Sick - St James Priory Project

12 February 2008

St James Priory Project is tucked away in a tiny corner of Bristol city centre, just a few steps way from the bus station and busy shopping district of Broadmead. This amazing project works with some of the most vulnerable, challenging and alienated people - those struggling with the devastating illness of addiction.

So the day after celebrating the World Day of the Sick we start our four-part series looking at this local project which helps so many people recover.

Surprisingly, the project is based at the oldest building in the city, but the work done at the priory echoes that of the founding Benedictine monks way back in the twelfth century, namely the provision of care to sick, poor, suffering and vulnerable people. The monks provided the social services of their day as people come to the priory looking for help. And that's what's happening at St James today.

St James Priory Project is rooted in faith and rooted in our society, and our four-part podcast series on this unique place, reflects that. We speak with people going through treatment and recovery as well as those taking their first steps back into the wider community.

In our first episode, St James Priory Project Director, Sue Jotcham gives us an overview of the three elements that make up the project: Walsingham House, St James House, and Bristol's oldest building, St James Priory Church itself - a place where Mass is still celebrated every Sunday. The church is also open every weekday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

In this podcast Sue recounts her own staggering story of how she decided to leave her much-loved job as infant teacher in a local Catholic school and become involved in the live-saving project.

You can download and listen to our podcast in the multimedia panel on the right.

The next St James Priory Project podcast focuses on Walsingham House - a residential centre for addicts. Come to back to cliftondiocese.com tomorrow to listen to the next episode.

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