The Diocese of Paisley Podcast

In this episode Vanda Kettelhut meets Bishop John Keenan, Joe Kelly from Aid to the Church in Need, and pupils from Saint Andrew's and Saint Ninian’s in Paisley to learn more about the importance of Red Wednesday, and the persecution of Christians around the world.

You can find out more about Red Wednesday at: https://acnuk.org/redwednesday

Or you can follow ACN on Instagram and Facebook @ACNScotland.

On this solemnity of the Epiphany, we celebrate the arrival of the Magi to the Christ Child. As you watch this reflection, ask yourself, what star is God using to draw us closer to Him?

Our series concludes with Bishop John reflecting on Christmas.

Join Bishop John as he explores the Advent theme of love and what it means to love others with generosity and compassion.

Join Bishop John as he reflects on the Advent theme of joy, its importance on our journey toward Christmas, and how we can share that joy with others.

Bishop John continues our Advent reflections with a focus on the theme of peace and how it shapes our lives.

We are delighted to begin our Advent series of reflections from Bishop John, starting with the theme of hope.

Featuring Vanda Kettelhut - Diocese of Paisley Communications Commission; William Moore - ACN UK; Timothy Cho - North Korean defector.

Recorded at Aid to the Church in Need's public event at Saint Joseph's parish, Clarkston on Wednesday 10th September 2025.

Find out more about Aid to the Church in Need and their work at acnuk.org.

Today we commemorate All Souls, remembering our loved ones and entrusting them to God’s mercy.

Listen to this reflection and take a moment to pray with us.

View the video for this reflection on the Diocese of Paisley YouTube channel.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. This solemnity reminds us that we are all called to holiness.

Listen to this reflection to find out more.

View the video for this reflection on the Diocese of Paisley YouTube channel.

Featuring Vanda Kettelhut - Diocese of Paisley Communications Commission; William Moore - ACN UK; Timothy Cho - North Korean defector.

Recorded at Aid to the Church in Need's public event at Saint Joseph's parish, Clarkston on Wednesday 10th September 2025.

Find out more about Aid to the Church in Need and their work at acnuk.org.

As we reach the end of the month of the Rosary, we conclude this series with Bishop John by turning to the Glorious Mysteries. These Mysteries remind us that the Rosary is not only a prayer of meditation but also one of great hope. 

Today we pray the Glorious Mysteries. Together we rejoice in Christ’s victory over death, the promise of eternal life, and the hope He gives us through the intercession of His Mother, assumed into Heaven and crowned as Queen.

Featuring Vanda Kettelhut - Diocese of Paisley Communications Commission; Peter Diamond ACN Community Fundraiser for Scotland; Lorraine McMahon - ACN Head of Community Outreach in England, Scotland and Wales; William Moore - ACN UK; Timothy Cho - North Korean defector.

Recorded at Aid to the Church in Need's public event at Saint Joseph's parish, Clarkston on Wednesday 10th September 2025.

Find out more about Aid to the Church in Need and their work at acnuk.org.

On the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima, we continue our prayer with Bishop John in this series of the Rosary. Just as Our Lady led the children of Fatima to a deeper love of Christ, so too she leads us into the light of her Son through these Mysteries. 

Today we pray the Luminous Mysteries. We reflect on the light of Christ shining through His ministry and we give thanks for the gift of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith.

On this great feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, we continue our Rosary series with Bishop John. The Rosary has long been a powerful prayer of protection, peace, and grace for the Church, and today especially we are invited to entrust ourselves once more to Our Lady’s intercession. 
 
Today we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries. Together we unite our hearts with Jesus in His Passion and draw strength from His sacrifice of love, remembering that it is through the Cross that we are brought to new life.

We are delighted to share a new video and podcast series of the Rosary, prayed with Bishop John Keenan. Over the coming weeks, each set of Mysteries will be released, inviting us to enter more deeply into the life of Christ with Our Lady. Whether at home, in church, or on the move, these recordings are a simple way to join Bishop John in prayer and keep the Rosary at the heart of daily life. 

Today we pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Together we ask Our Lady to guide us into the joy of C...

Featuring Jim Brannigan - Diocese of Paisley Communications Commission; Jim McFadden SSVP Conference Treasurer and Inverclyde President; Anne-Louise Buchanan SSVP Conference member.

Find out more at about the work of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Scotland at ssvpscotland.com.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption, when Mary was taken to heaven, body and soul.

Listen to this short reflection to consider how Mary helps us draw closer to God.

View the video for this reflection on the Diocese of Paisley YouTube channel.

Father Ryan black leads us in a reflection on the Transfiguration, when our Lord Jesus is revealed in his divine glory to the Apostles. How can we carry that light into our daily lives?

View the video for this reflection on the Diocese of Paisley YouTube channel.

Featuring Yvonne O'Hara - Vice Chair Diocese of Paisley Communications Commission; Anthony Horan - Director Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office.

Featuring Jim Brannigan - Diocese of Paisley Communications Commission; Canon Sean Cunney.

Featuring Vanda Kettelhut - Diocese of Paisley Communications Commission; Helen McMunn - Chair Saint Joseph and Saint Patrick Pastoral Council; Gerry McCauley - Saint Joseph and Saint Patrick Pastoral Council; Christine Malcolmson - Joint Secretary Saint Joseph and Saint Patrick Pastoral Council.

Featuring Patrick O'Hara - Depute Chair, Diocese of Paisley Communications Commission; Geraldine Warner - parishioner Saint Thomas' parish Neilston; Ray Pirotti - parishioner Saint Mirin's parish Paisley; Paul and Josephine McGrotty - parishioners Saint Mirin's parish Paisley; Margret Docherty; Michael - parishioner Saint Mirin's parish Paisley; Aileen McCart - parishioner Saint Mary's parish Paisley; John Parker - parishioner Saint Charles' parish Paisley; Mary Sproule - parishioner Saint James' parish Renfrew.

Featuring Tony Waterston; Mark Booker - Schools Officer for SCIAF; Jenna Fulton - Community Education Officer for SCIAF; Ricky Ross - Musician and broadcaster.

Find out more about the work of SCIAF and make a donation at https://www.sciaf.org.uk/.

Featuring Vanda Kettelhut; William More - ACN Community Fundraiser for Scotland; Peter Diamond - ACN Community Fundraiser for Scotland.

The ACN Scottish Catholic Conference takes place Saturday 29th March 2025 from 9:30am to 4:30pm at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, followed by 5pm Mass at Saint Aloysius, Garnethill.

Book tickets at https://acnuk.org/event/scottish-catholic-conference/ or telephone +441698337470.

Find out more about ACN at https://acnuk.org/

Featuring Yvonne O’Hara; Rolando Streber of the Dicastery for Evangelisation. Full information on the diocese's pilgrimages to Rome and Assisi  in 2025 can be found on the diocesan website at: rcdop.org.uk/2025RomeAssisi.

Featuring Patrick O'Hara; Christopher McLaughlin - Tommy Burns Cause for Canonisation coordinating team. To contact the Tommy Burns Cause for Canonisation coordinating team please email: contact@tommyburns.org.

Featuring Yvonne O'Hara - Communications Commission; Vanda Kettelhut - Communications Commission; Father Jonathan Whitworth - parish priest; Ann Graham - parishioner; Hayley McIntyre - parishioner; Bishop John Keenan - Bishop of Paisley; Father Joe Burke - former parish priest; Jack McAlindon - parishioner; Canon Joseph Balmer - former parish priest; James Gemmell - parishioner.

Featuring Canon Jim Duggan - Vicar Episcopal for Evangelisation; Vanda Kettelhut - Communications Commission.

Featuring Tony Waterston; Kerry Miller - Youth Commission; Father Ryan Black - Vicar Episcopal for Youth.

Featuring John Mallon and Brian Timmons - cofounders of Sancta Familia Media; Christie Downie - Head Teacher of Saint Luke's High School, Barrhead; Karen Hunter - Deputy Head Teacher of Saint Luke's High School, Barrhead; Reverend Jim Gibson - Minister of Paisley Abbey; His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía - Papal Nuncio to Great Britain; The Right Reverend Bishop John Keenan - Bishop of Paisley.

Featuring Yvonne O'Hara, Father Mark Cassidy - rector of The Pontifical Scots College, Michael Ward - seminarian for the Diocese of Paisley.

Featuring Tony Waterston, John Deighan - Chief Executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, Father Ryan Black.

Tony interviews Norma Scott, SPRED director for the Diocese of Paisley.

Featuring Tony Waterston, Father Ryan Black, and Father Joe McGill.

The diocesan choir and conductor Michael Hepburn give an insight into the work of the choir and lead listeners in some sacred singing.

Yvonne O'Hara speaks to Sister Roseann Reddy of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life about the Diocese's "First Fridays for Life" Masses, as well as her order's pro-life work.

Alex McBrearty speaks to Father Joe Balmer, Parish Priest at Saint John’s Church, Barrhead as well as the organisers and children at the Catechism classes.

Yvonne O’Hara speaks to Bishop John Keenan.

Cormac O’Hara speaks to Father Eoin Patten, Parish Priest.

Yvonne O’Hara speaks to Father Jonathan Whitworth, Administrator. (Credit: organist Moira Seils.)

Catherine Deighan speaks to Stephen Jordan, Saint Luke’s High School, Barrhead.

Patrick O’Hara speaks to Father John Tormey, Parish Priest at Saint Aidan’s Church, Johnstone.