Radio Maria England

“…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) During Advent how are we to respond to God’s divine condescension, His supreme act of love and humility, His drawing near to us - He who dwells in light unapproachable? One way may be through bringing words of our own into being, musing on how we can (and cannot!) speak of this wonderful mystery, the Incarnation. Sarah de Nordwall, in the fifth Bardcast, asks us to do just that! Also in this episode we are reminded of the vocation of a bard - to speak truth without fear - and just how important that is when lives are at stake if we do not. And, as usual we hear an example of a listener who has responded to last week’s prompt, sending in a verse for us to enjoy. Don’t miss this episode, and have a blessed Advent. He is coming indeed. THE BARDCAST airs live and can be listened to on www.RadioMariaEngland.uk or digital radio in London, Bristol, South Birmingham and Cambridge at 3:15pm after the Divine Mercy Chaplet on Sundays and during your lunch hour at 1:30pm on Tuesdays. Each week Sarah de Nordwall reflects on poems that have been sent in, shares a poem of her own, leaves us with a theme and a writing prompt and sends us off to write something ourselves.  If you enjoyed this programme, please consider making a once off or monthly donation to Radio Maria England by visiting www.RadioMariaEngland.uk or calling 0300 302 1251 during office hours. It is only through the ongoing support of our listeners that we continue to be a Christian voice by your side.

Is activism the new religion? What about sin? Fr Toby on how much reality the contemporary world can bear.

Play: A LEGENDARY ENCOUNTER Writer: JEREMY ROWEI was received into the Catholic Church 1977. I am married, with two sons who live in America. I have been an actor, a lecturer in English and Drama and a librarian. I am now co-founding a professional venture for writing and disseminating new Christian/Catholic literature and drama.Email address: collaborative.direct@btinternet.com Readers:Simon BrandonSimon Brandon trained at East 15.  He has appeared in numerous stage productions including: ‘29 Internet Dates’ (Maiden Productions at The White Bear Theatre and OSO), ‘A Boy Called Porro’ (Tricolore Theatre Company at The Pleasance Theatre), and ‘Mayflower’ (Historia Theatre Company at The Hen & Chickens Theatre). Simon has also appeared in a number of short films and features.  Kenneth MichaelsKenneth Michaels is an actor and director and has worked in theatre, radio, television and film and has taught in several drama schools.As an actor he has toured extensively in the UK and Europe in works from Shakespeare to pantomime, Pinter to Agatha Christie. Kenneth works as a specialist ESOL teacher, working with refugees supporting their English learning. He is also the Secretary of the Catholic Association of Performing Arts (CaAPA). Nadia OstacchiniNadia was born in London of Italian parentage, trained as an actor and is the Artistic Director of Tricolore Theatre Company whose first dual-language English/Italian storybook based on Jesus’s parables was published this year.  She has enjoyed organising the Advent Adventures for Radio Maria & would like to give a big shout out to the parishioners of The Sacred Heart of Jesus church and St Peters Italian Church for tuning in as they promised to! Website: www.tricolore.org.uk

Play: THE OLIVE GROVE Writer: VIV LAKEConvent educated, then Pitman’s College, worked as Secretary, had a career break raising her family. She returned to work in NHS for 10 years, then for a charity, producing their quarterly magazine. She joined an actors and writers group in 2006, began writing short plays, graduating to longer pieces and full-length plays. Readers:Simon BrandonSimon Brandon trained at East 15.  He has appeared in numerous stage productions including: ‘29 Internet Dates’ (Maiden Productions at The White Bear Theatre and OSO), ‘A Boy Called Porro’ (Tricolore Theatre Company at The Pleasance Theatre), and ‘Mayflower’ (Historia Theatre Company at The Hen & Chickens Theatre). Simon has also appeared in a number of short films and features.  Kenneth MichaelsKenneth Michaels is an actor and director and has worked in theatre, radio, television and film and has taught in several drama schools.As an actor he has toured extensively in the UK and Europe in works from Shakespeare to pantomime, Pinter to Agatha Christie. Kenneth works as a specialist ESOL teacher, working with refugees supporting their English learning. He is also the Secretary of the Catholic Association of Performing Arts (CaAPA). Nadia OstacchiniNadia was born in London of Italian parentage, trained as an actor and is the Artistic Director of Tricolore Theatre Company whose first dual-language English/Italian storybook based on Jesus’s parables was published this year.  She has enjoyed organising the Advent Adventures for Radio Maria & would like to give a big shout out to the parishioners of The Sacred Heart of Jesus church and St Peters Italian Church for tuning in as they promised to! Website: www.tricolore.org.uk

Edward Hadas continues looking at what it means for a society to embrace contraception, not only as a practice but also as a way of thinking: a truly fascinating series, not to be missed. CREDO is a programme that nourishes listeners in their Catholic faith. It airs live on Radio Maria every weekday at 4pm and is rebroadcast at 4am the following morning. If you enjoyed this programme, please consider making a once off or monthly donation to Radio Maria England by visiting www.RadioMariaEngland.uk or calling 0300 302 1251 during office hours. It is only through the ongoing support of our listeners that we continue to be a Christian voice by your side.

In this episode, Ciro Candia invites us to explore how rest, relaxation, and shared moments shape our family's self-image and unique identity. ProParent is a programme that promotes confident parenting, written and presented by Ciro Candia, founder of ProParent Hubs. If you enjoyed this programme, please consider making a once off or monthly donation to Radio Maria England by visiting www.RadioMariaEngland.uk or calling 0300 302 1251 during office hours. It is only through the ongoing support of our listeners that we continue to be a Christian voice by your side.

What interesting question in this week's episode, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception! Can I pray private devotions before they are approved by the Vatican? How do I help my Protestant friends see Catholic truths about Mary in Scriptures like the woman Revelation 12? And will we have our memories from earth in heaven, and if so will the bad ones cause us distress? Hear Fr Toby, Sr Carino and Tim answer these and more. QUESTIONS OF FAITH is a programme in which listeners call in and ask our guests a theological, biblical or pastoral question - anything related to the faith, in other words. We usually have a priest, religious brother or sister or lay evangelist on and the programme airs live on Fridays at 11:15am.  If you enjoyed this programme, please consider making a once off or monthly donation to Radio Maria England by visiting www.RadioMariaEngland.uk or calling 0300 302 1251 during office hours. It is only through the ongoing support of our listeners that we continue to be a Christian voice by your side.

Fr Toby on Mary's Immaculate Conception and her loving suffering for us.

A shorter episode than usual, due to a number of programming changes for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, but no shortage of good music to play. Here are some of the songs featured: 1. Tota Pulchra Es Maria (Corsican Motet) 2. MacMillan: Tota pulchra es from the album MacMillan: Tenebrae Responsories & Other Choral Works 3. Missa cum jubilo - Kyrie sung by Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis 4. Dawn by Fr Tansi from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal 5. Introit: Populus Sion sung by Schola Gregoriana Benedetto XVI & Don Nicola Bellinazo 6. Drop down, ye heavens, from above by Judith Weir from the album the Mystery of Christmas by Ora Singers The tapestry of Mary which Nick and Tim spoke about can be seen here: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151e9e19ddb1270167ec812/3c40106a-b47c-44d5-a348-b70e2294cd79/Dijon+Terribilis+postcard.jpg?format=1500w

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