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Be inspired, informed and uplifted!

Premier Heart to Heart is a monthly media-rich e-send with interviews and news from the Catholic community. This contains audio interviews and articles from Premier news and views from across the Christian Catholic community. Why not join us? Be informed, inspired and encouraged with the best Christian stories from the Premier platforms.

CURRENT FEATURES

The Pope's Astronomer

Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J. is the lead astronomer for Pope Francis. Listen to this interview in which he gives Premier's Justin Brierley an insight to life in the Vatican, what his work actually entails, faith and science, and his own personal story. Author of The Heavens Proclaim, he shares with us how he even has an asteroid named after him!

Brother Guy

SVP – Celebrating the bicentenary

Long-time volunteers Sr Maria Parcher, spiritual advisor to the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) and Adrian Abel National President of the SVP in England and Wales, speak to Dave Rose about one of the largest voluntary organisations in the world.

We hear about a million hours of volunteering in one year, work inspired by St Vincent de Paul’s spirituality and Blessed Frédéric Ozanam’s example which translate into a much needed outreach with the poor, lonely, needy and marginalised.

Listen now to hear about amazing people and acts of kindness.

SVP bicentenary

Pope Francis: The Future of the Catholic Church

Join Victoria Laurence and a panel of guests as they discuss Pope Francis being a conservative, the challenges he faces, how he can make the Catholic Church credible, and his humble character.

On the panel are: Rev Peter Ould - anglican priest, broadcaster and blogger, Peter Williams - writer and speaker for Catholic Voices, Frances Murphy  - editor of Thinking Faith.org, online journal of the British Jesuits and James Parker who worked for the Catholic Bishops alongside the 2012 Games, as a layman in the Vatican, and in the Cardinal's office at Westminster.

Pope Francis

Jimmy - A Legacy of Peace

You may remember hearing the shocking story on the news, five years ago this May. It was a day after Jimmy Mizen's 16th birthday, when he was fatally wounded in an unprovoked attack in a London bakery. The event was tragic but his parent's response was ultimately triumphant. Barry and Margaret Mizen, although devastated, reacted peacefully and forgave their son's killer. 

In the past 5 years they haven't stopped responding to this tragedy with peace. They've since set up The Jimmy Mizen Foundation to help make young people feel safer.

Prisoners, Families, Communities: A Fresh Start Together

Every year, churches up and down the country mark Prisoners' Sunday - a day for you to think about, pray for and act for all those affected by imprisonment. This year, Prisoners' Sunday 18th November was marked here at Premier Christian Radio with a short documentary about the work Pact is doing through the Basic Caring Communities resettlement scheme (“BaCC”). Premier visited Brixton Prison, where the BaCC scheme operates. 

To find out more about the Basic Caring Communities scheme, please go to www.prisonadvice.org.uk or to discuss, contact Maggie Rich on 020 7735 9535.

Prison Sunday documentary

Maggie Rich on Prison Sunday

Alpha in a Catholic context

Alpha first ran in a Catholic context after Cardinal Basil Hume invited Alpha pioneers Nicky Gumbel and Sandy Millar to a lead an Alpha conference in 1996 at Westminster Cathedral. Alpha has since been rolled out globally in the Catholic Church, and now runs in thousands of Catholic parishes in 70 countries around the world. Listen to Michael Roche, Relationship Manager at Alpha Catholic UK, talk about Alpha’s on-going appeal to UK Catholic parishes.

Michael Roche

Saving slave children in India

Iris India is a charity that does amazingly inspiring work to bless the people within their reach by proclaiming and demonstrating the love of God. This might be in simple ways but they also work in a very active and practical way. They are reaching children in India who have been exploited and enslaved, or in some cases, simply forgotten and left behind by society. Listen to this moving and inspiring account of how one lady has been called to live out her faith.

Iris India

NEWS

Catholic nurses win right to refuse abortion on appeal

Two Roman Catholic midwives have won an appeal which gives them the right to refuse to deal with abortion cases. Mary Doogan and Concepta Wood initially lost a case against NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

They had claimed their human rights were being violated because they were forced to supervise staff taking part in abortions.

Listen to the Premier News Report here.

CSAN comments on the benefits cuts

CSAN (Caritas Social Action Network), the social action arm of the Catholic Church in England and Wales spoke to Premier News Editor Victoria Laurence about how they estimate that 200,000 children will be pushed further into poverty by a cap on benefits beginning to be rolled out. Liam Allmark from CSAN comments on how it hasn't been properly thought out. Listen here to find out more.

FORTHCOMING PROGRAMMES

Year of Faith

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI announced that the Catholic Church will celebrate a Year of Faith from 11 October 2012 - 24 November 2013. Our thanks to RC Diocese of Westminster for providing recordings of the Diocese of Westminster Faith Matters Lecture series summer 2013 which will be broadcast on Premier Christian Radio on:  

Sundays - 19 May, 26 May, 2 June & 9 June at 7pm

Listen here online or via DAB Digital Radio, Freeview 725 or in London on MW 1305, 1332 and 1413.
To listen to past series and other programmes to mark the Year of Faith please visit the page. 

The Wisdom of Fr Groeschel - Franciscan friar & author // Sundays // 9pm

Catholic Commentary by Fr James Cassidy // Weekly // Online

Father James Cassidy is Ecumenical Officer for the Catholic Diocese of Northampton. Listen below to his weekly roundup of key stories in the Catholic press.

PAST FEATURES

Kairos Forum: Cristina Gangemi 

Cristina Gangemi spoke with Maria about how churches can make their services accessible to - and inclusive of - those with disabilities. How can Church be for everyone - regardless of physical or intellectual abilities? Cristina has just completed extensive research into how to best serve those with intellectual disabilities so as to enable faith communities to be places where all belong. Listen below to find out more.

LISTEN

Everybody Belongs - Cristina Gangemi

READ

Radio transcript published courtesy of the Kairos Forum. 

For further information on Kairos Forum please email Cristina.

Kairos Forum: Professor John Swinton

Professor John Swinton co-founder of the Kairos Forum speaks to John Pantry about caring for and including those in our community who have learning disabilities.

Keynote speakers for The Word of the Lord conference

Renowned speakers, including Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP and Fr Henry Wansbrough O.S.B., share about the foundation and inspiration that Scripture provides for our beliefs, identity and practice. The series takes place at Ushaw College, Durham from 24-26 April 2013. Click here to find out more.

Fr Timothy Radcliffe talked to Premier about his faith, the importance of scripture, and The Word of the Lord conference.

Timothy Radcliffe

Fr Henry Wansbrough O.S.B. talked about his life as a monk and  being taught football by Cardinal Hume.

Henry Wansbrough

Christian sculptor: Christ Rests in Peace

Nic Fiddian-Green is one of the UK's most innovative and exciting sculptors who is becoming well known particularly for his beguiling monumental horses' heads, displayed in public places. 'Christ Rests in Peace', an 8ft head in lead commissioned by the Bishop of Southwark Cathedral, was installed on the high altar in the Cathedral for Lent.

Christ Rests In Peace

Theatre on the R!SE

R!SE Theatre is a dynamic community-interest company creating original drama across the UK. From inspiring performances to innovative workshops, they constantly aim to deliver fresh, creative, forward-thinking theatre and are passionate about inspiring people of all ages and abilities. Here actor John Bosco recounts how R!SE is bringing the good news to people around the UK.

Rise

Britain's Got Faith

Fr Dermott Donnelly speaks about family, faith and youth ministry in the North East. He shares an insight into his faith journey, his priestly vocation and his work at the Youth Village in the Derwent Valley. Thanks to the support of his famous brother, Dec (of 'Ant and Dec' fame), Fr Dermott and others are positively impacting the lives of the youth in the North East, many of whom are searching for faith and meaning in their lives. Listen now to hear more about his inspiring work and the forthcoming CYMFED conference at The Sage, Gateshead.

Fr Donnelly

Top Tips for Online Safety

Find out how you can protect your young ones online by reading our Top Ten Tips for internet safety.

PAST FEATURES

For more historical items please visit our Year of Faith page.

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