In the first episode of 2012, the panel chats about Pope Benedict’s speech to bishops from New Zealand and the Pacific, his speech to the dozens of ambassadors to the Vatican and the surging Catholic candidate for the Republican presidential candidate. We also talk about the “head-hunting” of an Australian priest to be the new rector of the New Zealand diocesan seminary. For some additional reading, here’s a link to a piece on former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. And for some additional listening, here’s an ABC Radio interview with Msgr Peter Jeffrey.

In this month’s episode of The 15th Station, the two-man panel of James and Gavin connects from each side of the Tasman Sea to discuss some of the big stories of the past month. The New Zealand bishops are in Rome for their ad limina visit, there’s talk of a full diocesan seminary in Auckland and we reflect on what Catholic News Service has found to be the biggest stories of 2011. There’s also time to chat about a complicated situation in New South Wales about admission protocols for a Catholic school in New South Wales, but we finish with a story that even brought a smile to the Pope’s face. On behalf of the team that makes The 15th Station possible, we wish you all a Happy and Holy Christmas and best wishes for a great 2011 — with more Station 15 podcasts as your New Year’s Resolution.

In this, the 50th episode of The 15th Station, the panel discusses the upcoming New Zealand general election, including the views of the two main parties’ leaders on a contentious moral issue, as well as changes to the closeness of Catholics to Britain’s throne, a call for better homilies and plea from bishops in the US to parishioners that they don’t “pack heat” when they head to church. Never a dull moment on the 50th episode of New Zealand’s first Catholic podcast.

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.

In this week’s episode of The 15th Station, the panel spans the Tasman Sea — and so do the stories up for discussion. In Australia, a senator has used parliamentary privilege to name a priest accused of rape 50 years ago. In New Zealand, Rugby World Cup fever seems to have carried over into the Church. We also talk about eating with the Pope, and changing the way we record the date. All in our inaugural international episode.

Is it a place of fire and brimstone, or wailing and gnashing of teeth? Is it a place that is simply an absence of God? Whatever the reality, the Catholic Church continues to hold to the idea of a place called Hell. What is the Church’s understanding of Hell? Has it changed over the years? How does a loving God allow people to end up in Hell? Bishop Patrick talks with Gavin about those questions in the latest episode of 15 Minutes with the Bishop.

Over the next two days, the Catholic Church honours a couple of great figures in Christian history: St Augustine and his mother, St Monica. St Augustine is often seen as a bit of a prodigal son — someone who strayed but then returned to the Faith. As Bishop Patrick points out in this week’s episode of 15 Minutes with the Bishop, how far Augustine strayed might be at question, but his mark on the early Church is not in dispute. Neither is the faith of his mother, who prayed constantly for her son’s conversion back to the religion she tried to pass on to him.

Last week, Catholics in New Zealand celebrated the Feast of the Assumption, and last week’s episode of 15 Minutes with the Bishop was on that topic. This week, Bishop Patrick talks about holy days of obligation, of which the Assumption is one in New Zealand and in some other countries around the world. How has the number of holy days changed? Is Sunday a holy day of obligation? And what about the idea in the UK of re-instating holy days of obligation?

In our fourth birthday episode, we discuss the ongoing saga in Ireland as the Church there continues to battle through the sex abuse crisis and its fallout. Stinging criticism from the Irish Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Dublin’s response are on the agenda, as is the subsequent suggestion that priests should be forced to disclose confessions of those admitting to having abused children. On a happier note, we preview this week’s World Youth Day in Madrid and check out a new website causing a stir in Germany.

August 15 marks the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the Church’s great Marian feasts. It is a cause for great celebration throughout the Catholic world, but especially in New Zealand, where it is the patronal feast day. In this episode, Bishop Patrick talks with Gavin about the feast, the different understandings of the Assumption and some of the Catholic doctrines relating to Our Lady.

After talking about pilgrimages in general last week, Bishop Patrick talks this week about a specific pilgrimage: World Youth Day. Started by Pope John Paul II and considered one of the late pontiff’s great legacies, this year’s World Youth Day will be held in Madrid later this month. Bishop Patrick talks about the impact of World Youth Day, his own experiences and upcoming events to celebrate World Youth Day in his own Diocese of Auckland.

For centuries, Christians have visited holy sites in an attempt to grow closer to God and to people who lived close to God. From the Holy Land, where Jesus himself walked, talked, taught and performed miracles, to places like Lourdes where Our Lady appeared to a young girl, people have had their lives changed. In this week’s episode, Bishop Patrick talks with Gavin about some of the major pilgrimage sites around the world, and a few here in New Zealand. He also talks about the spiritual benefits of making a pilgrimage.

July 26 is the Feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, the couple traditionally understood to be the parents of the Virgin Mary. In this week’s episode of 15 Minutes of the Bishop, Bishop Patrick Dunn and Gavin start with a brief discussion on these two saints of the Church, but quickly move on to the Catholic understanding of the family, including the role of parents as providers and as educators for their children.

Last month, some parishes in Australia started to introduce the new English translation of the Mass. New Zealand was several months ahead, introducing the people’s parts of the new translation last November. Bishop Patrick Dunn talks about the implementation of the new translation, how it’s been received and when we should expect to hear some of the other parts of the translation. He also talks with Gavin about the decision to return to the use of the “old” Our Father for Masses in New Zealand.

A prominent New Zealand lawyer calls for a “Vatican II-type council”, Pope Benedict sends his first tweet and a perfumier in the United States launches “Benedictus” cologne to mark the 60th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s ordination to the priesthood. Those stories, plus a bishop’s quest for vocations and a government official sticking up for Christians in this month’s episode of The 15th Station.

Scripture or Tradition? Tradition or Scripture? In the Catholic Church, it’s a case of both/and. In 15 Minutes with the Bishop this week, Bishop Patrick Dunn and Gavin talk about how Sacred Scripture and the Tradition of the Church have guided her for 20 centuries.

In previous episodes of 15 Minutes with the Bishop, we;ve covered things happening out in the world. In this week’s show, we get a little more personal, as Gavin talks with Bishop Patrick Dunn about the latter’s priestly vocation. How did his family influence the man who would become Bishop of Auckland? Was there a moment when he knew he had to enter the seminary? Learn answers to those questions and many more in this episode.

On June 29, the Church commemorates the lives of two great pillars of Christianity: Sts Peter and Paul. Peter was, of course, the first Pope and in this week’s episode Bishop Patrick Dunn talks with Gavin about the origins of the papacy, the role of the pope and the concept of papal infallibility. New episodes of 15 Minutes with the Bishop are uploaded each Friday.

The post-Pentecost season — and even during Eastertide — seems to be the time for parishes to welcome bishops into their midst for Confirmation Masses. In this week’s episode, Bishop Patrick Dunn talks with Gavin about the sacrament of Confirmation. What does it signify? How do we decide the right age for Confirmation? Is there basis for Confirmation in Scripture? Those questions and more are answered in 15 Minutes with the Bishop.