Songs in the Wilderness

A series hosted by Di Redmond, of talk with and music chosen by the week’s guest.

2022 Autumn Series

The series will be  broadcast from 28 September 2022 on Wednesdays at 11:15 (live) and 23:15, and Fridays at 20:30.

2022 Summer Series

The series will be  broadcast from 18 July 2022 to 2 September 2022 on Mondays at 22:00, Wednesdays at 00:30 and Fridays at 20:30; then on Fridays 9, 16 and 23 September at 20:30.

2022 Spring Series

The series was broadcast from 25 March 2022  to 13 May 2022 on Fridays at 20:30 (except on the Friday after the first Thursday of the month).

2021/2022 Series

The series was broadcast from 15 September 2021 on Wednesdays live at 11:00 and repeated on Thursdays at 21:00, Fridays at 02:00 and Saturdays at 20:00.

2020/2021 Series

3 – 8 October	1: Father Sam Randall, Priest Director of Radio Maria England
9 – 15 October	2: Harry Ngatchu, Coordinator of Radio Maria England
16 – 22 October	3: Silvia Pizza, volunteer with Radio Maria England
23 – 29 October	4: Joe Caprani, Director of 5 Alive at the Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Cambridge
30 October – 5 November	5: Margaret-Mary McFadyen, presenter for Radio Maria England and a member of the Spirituality Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
6 – 12 November	6: Chris Burton, presenter for the weekend edition of English Catholic News on Radio Maria England.  Chris was a medical photographer for Addenbrookes, presenter of What's On on the BBC and is a current lover of jazz.  He shared with us a wide range of songs ranging from Dion and the Belmontes to German Opera.
13 – 19 November	7: Genevieve Wedgebury, presenter and producer of Radio Maria England's Women Together programme.
20 – 26 November	8: John Pontifex, Head of Press and Information For ACN (Aid to the Church in Need UK).  Through November, he has been sharing eye-witness encounters with Christians suffering for their faith in Iraq and Syria, where the ultimatum is so often ‘convert or die.’ In previous interviews, Pontifex emphasized: “This is the raw reality that we’ve witnessed. It challenges us to keep the flame of faith alive here and throughout the world. We’re doing this by developing projects to help Christians withstand persecution and by building a chain of solidarity throughout the world.”  (https://acnuk.org/ #RedWednesday) One of the songs he requested ‘Call My Name’ had been dedicated to Shahbaz Bhatti; we were unable to play the  version which includes Shahbaz himself speaking because of licensing restrictions but it can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABOIQfhyh1g.
27 November – 3 December	9: Selwyn D Image who in 1989 he successfully introduced the French Emmaus Movement (a Social Enterprise for the homeless) into the UK., where there are now 29 residential communities offering home, hope and meaningful work to some 900 formerly homeless men and women. In 2008 he was awarded the CBE; in 2013, the Albert Medal of the RSA and in 2016 the Legion of Honour for his work in tackling homelessness through social enterprise. From 2000 to 2010 he served as a JP on the Cambridge Bench.
4 – 10 December	10: Jeannette Milbourne, CAFOD parish Representative, Saint Laurence’s, Cambridge.  She shared her adventure in Krakov with a CAFOD demonstration and how she has become more involved in CAFOD since then.
11 – 17 December	11: Hugh Duncan, a British/Irish Catholic, who grew up in London, obtained a degree in astronomy and became a physics teacher for four decades. He has a French wife and four children, living in the South of France, a lifelong love of maths and music and a passion for both Mary Magdalene and the Shroud of Turin. A desire to do something useful led him to write an album of songs about Mary Magdalene, record and sell them to raise money for Les Maisons Bethléem. This organization was created by Bishop Dominique Rey in 2004 in Toulon to help single mothers in difficulty. They are given a safe environment from domestic abuse, along with financial and emotional support. Rick Preston played the instruments and recorded the album, while Penny Mac McMorris did the vocals and their arrangements. This album is part of a wider project ‘Mercy Music’ where music will be sold to raise funds for charitable causes. The Web site is under construction with the hope of going live in spring 2021. In the meantime, the song ‘Talking To Mary’ can be found at:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp0E5gscQIA . There is also a blog post about this episode.
18 – 24 December	12: Father John Lavers, Director of Chaplaincy at Stella Maris (formerly the Apostleship of the Sea).
25 – 31 December	13: Special Programme: Songs from Father at Christmas with Father Sam Randall, Priest Director of Radio Maria England.
1 – 7 January	14: Joe Caprani, Director of 5 Alive at the Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Cambridge (rebroadcast of Episode 4).
8 – 12 January	15: Margaret-Mary McFadyen, presenter for Radio Maria England and a member of the Spirituality Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (rebroadcast of Episode 5).
13 – 19 January	16: Genevieve Wedgebury, presenter and producer of Radio Maria England's Women Together programme (rebroadcast of Episode 7).
20 – 26 January	17: Eddie Zengeni, the newest addition to the Radio Maria England team and presenter for the LIVE afternoon Prayer Hour at 3 pm every weekday.
27 January – 2 February	18: Sister Gemma Simmonds, co- host with Fr Sam Randall of Questions of Faith, and a sister of the Congregation of Jesus. An honorary fellow of Durham University and past president of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain, she has studied at the universities of Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro and Cambridge, where she undertook a doctorate in theology.
3 – 9 February	19: Ciaran Losasso, the Diocese of East Anglia's Ignite Youth Team Leader. (For more information see the blog post at https://radiomariaengland.uk/songs-in-the-wilderness-guest-ciaran-losasso/.)
10 – 16 February	20: Monsignor Tony Rogers, parish priest of Aldeburgh. (For more information see the blog post at https://radiomariaengland.uk/songs-in-the-wilderness-guest-msgr-tony-rogers/.)
17 – 23 February	21: Mel Ward
24 February – 2 March	22: Father Stefan Park, Prior of the Augustinian community at Clare Priory in Suffolk.
3 – 9 March	23: Father Dominic White, a member of the Dominican Priory of St Michael (Blackfriars), Cambridge. (For more information see the blog post at https://radiomariaengland.uk/songs-in-the-wilderness-guest-fr-dominic-white/.)
10 – 16 March	24: Canon Stuart Holt, a hospital chaplain, author and musician. (For more information see the blog post at https://radiomariaengland.uk/songs-in-the-wilderness-revd-canon-stuart-holt/.)
17 – 23 March	25: Sandy Hobson, a presenter of Radio Maria England's Women Together programme. (For more information see the blog post at https://radiomariaengland.uk/songs-in-the-wilderness-guest-sandy-hobson/.)
24 – 30 March	26: Father Sam Randall and Di Redmond talk about pieces of music for Holy Week and Easter that have made an impression on their lives.
31 March – 6 April	27: Monsignor Tony Rogers, parish priest of Aldeburgh. (For more information see the blog post at https://radiomariaengland.uk/songs-in-the-wilderness-guest-msgr-tony-rogers/.) (Rebroadcast of Episode 20.)
7 – 13 April	28: Jonathan Duffy
14 – 20 April	29: Hugh Duncan, a British/Irish Catholic, who grew up in London, obtained a degree in astronomy and became a physics teacher for four decades. He has a French wife and four children, living in the South of France, a lifelong love of maths and music and a passion for both Mary Magdalene and the Shroud of Turin. A desire to do something useful led him to write an album of songs about Mary Magdalene, record and sell them to raise money for Les Maisons Bethléem. This organization was created by Bishop Dominique Rey in 2004 in Toulon to help single mothers in difficulty. They are given a safe environment from domestic abuse, along with financial and emotional support. Rick Preston played the instruments and recorded the album, while Penny Mac McMorris did the vocals and their arrangements. This album is part of a wider project ‘Mercy Music’ where music will be sold to raise funds for charitable causes. The Web site is under construction with the hope of going live in spring 2021. In the meantime, the song ‘Talking To Mary’ can be found at:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp0E5gscQIA . (Rebroadcast of Episode 11.)
21 – 27 April	30: Selwyn D Image who in 1989 he successfully introduced the French Emmaus Movement (a Social Enterprise for the homeless) into the UK., where there are now 29 residential communities offering home, hope and meaningful work to some 900 formerly homeless men and women.  In 2008 he was awarded the CBE; in 2013, the Albert Medal of the RSA and in 2016 the Legion of Honour for his work in tackling homelessness through social enterprise.   From 2000 to 2010 he served as a JP on the Cambridge Bench. (Rebroadcast of Episode 9.)
28 – 4 May	31: Jeannette Milbourne, CAFOD parish Representative, Saint Laurence’s, Cambridge.  She shared her adventure in Krakov with a CAFOD demonstration and how she has become more involved in CAFOD since then. (Rebroadcast of Episode 10.)
5 – 11 May	32: Father Dominic White, a member of the Dominican Priory of St Michael (Blackfriars), Cambridge. (For more information see the blog post at https://radiomariaengland.uk/songs-in-the-wilderness-guest-fr-dominic-white/.) (Rebroadcast of Episode 23.)
12 – 18 May	33: Father John Lavers, Director of Chaplaincy at Stella Maris (formerly the Apostleship of the Sea). (Rebroadcast of Episode 12.)
19 – 25 May	34: John Pontifex, Head of Press and Information For ACN (Aid to the Church in Need UK).  Through November, he has been sharing eye-witness encounters with Christians suffering for their faith in Iraq and Syria, where the ultimatum is so often ‘convert or die.’ In previous interviews, Pontifex emphasized: “This is the raw reality that we’ve witnessed. It challenges us to keep the flame of faith alive here and throughout the world. We’re doing this by developing projects to help Christians withstand persecution and by building a chain of solidarity throughout the world.”  (https://acnuk.org/ #RedWednesday) One of the songs he requested ‘Call My Name’ had been dedicated to Shahbaz Bhatti; we were unable to play the  version which includes Shahbaz himself speaking because of licensing restrictions but it can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABOIQfhyh1g. (Rebroadcast of Episode 8.)
26 May – 1 June	35: Bernhard Mitterrutzner (Editorial Chief of the World Family of Radio Maria).
2 – 8 June	36: Jonathan Duffy (Rebroadcast of Episode 28.)
9 – 15 June	37: Robert Tickle (For more information see the blog post at https://radiomariaengland.uk/songs-in-the-wilderness-guest-robert-tickle/.)
16 – 22 June	38: Marian Care, Volunteer for RME, a presenter of Saints of the Day.
23 – 29 June	39: Father Sam Randall, Priest Director of Radio Maria England talks about his faith journey. (Rebroadcast of Episode 1.)
30 June – 6 July	40: Ken Wheatcroft from Our Lady of the Assumption and the English Martyrs, Cambridge
7 – 13 July	41: Sam Baker from Catholic Man UK
15 – 18 September	42: Celebrating 30 years of Emmaus Selwyn D Image who in 1989 he successfully introduced the French Emmaus Movement (a Social Enterprise for the homeless) into the UK., where there are now 29 residential communities offering home, hope and meaningful work to some 900 formerly homeless men and women. In 2008 he was awarded the CBE; in 2013, the Albert Medal of the RSA and in 2016 the Legion of Honour for his work in tackling homelessness through social enterprise. From 2000 to 2010 he served as a JP on the Cambridge Bench. (Rebroadcast of Episode 9.)
22 – 25 September	43: Helena Judd interviews Phil Rynhart about his life and Christian journey. Phil is a songwriter, bassist, guitarist and producer who has worked with some of the world’s great and famous. A born-again Christian, Phil loves to compose songs of worship. The Kingdom Choir (who sang at Harry & Megan's wedding) have performed Phil’s Lord’s Prayer as the opening tour song at the Albert Hall in London and the Hollywood Bowl in the USA.
29 September – 2 October	44: Rebroadcast
6 – 9 October	45: Hamish MacQueen, Ignite Youth Leader for the Catholic Diocese of East Anglia, shares the music that kept him close to Jesus during his times of discernment and adventures through family life, work life and his vocation.

 See also the blog post about this programme.

Radio Maria England is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Registered Charity Number 1183783. www.radiomariaengland.uk