In this episode of In the Shadows of the Holy Land, we begin by widening the frame with Fr Shiran Fonseka, a Redemptorist priest from Sri Lanka now based in Melbourne. Shiran reflects on three decades of civil war, how neighbours learned to see one another as enemies, and how the Church worked to rebuild trust through preaching justice, defending human dignity, and simply staying with communities while everything around them fell apart. His story, including his congregation’s response to the recent floods in Sri Lanka , reminds us that war and reconciliation are human stories, not tribal ones.

From there, we turn to our main conversation with Sami El-Yousef, CEO of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and a lifelong Christian resident of the Old City. Sami outlines the fragile yet deeply rooted Christian presence in Palestine and Gaza, the network of schools, parishes, and institutions that often step in where the state cannot, and how the Church navigates its mission under both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. He speaks candidly about the scale of destruction in Gaza and the West Bank, the loss of hope, international silence, and the Church’s courage to name injustice without becoming a political pawn.

Together, these two conversations invite us to recognise patterns that repeat across continents: division, dehumanisation, courageous leadership, and the slow, patient work of rebuilding trust. What does it mean for the Church to stand with people in the midst of war , and what might genuine solidarity look like from places like Australia?

Tune in and find out.

In this episode, we talk with Hana Bendcowsky, Program Director at the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations at the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue. For more than two decades, Hanna has worked at the heart of Jewish–Christian relations , creating programs that bring communities together across painful histories, unequal realities, and deeply felt fears.

Growing up as part of the majority in Israel shaped how she sees responsibility, empathy, and the moral weight of dialogue. In this conversation, she reflects on what happens when people carry trauma, faith, and identity into the same room, and why genuine encounter matters even, and especially, during times of war.

Hanna speaks candidly about the challenges of teaching religious literacy in a place where religion is often weaponised, and the quiet courage required to stay in conversation when everything around you pulls towards division.

This episode offers a grounded, human look at what interfaith dialogue can be when the stakes are unbearably high.

Watch the full video at www.commonhome.tv

Visit the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue to learn more about their work for peace in a time of war.

This premiere of In the Shadow of the Holy Land lays the foundation for the series; a commitment to good-faith conversation grounded in the equal dignity of every life.

Our guest is Br Peter Bray FSC, former Vice-Chancellor of Bethlehem University. He traces the modern history of the conflict, explains the differences between the West Bank and Gaza, and shows how occupation is lived through movement, checkpoints, and economic control. We also hear directly from Bethlehem University students about crossing the wall each day and why being listened to matters. Peter reflects on his goal to make education “an oasis of peace” and on the discipline of nonviolence. He shares how a solidarity Camino shaped his hope, and why telling the truth need not humiliate or hate.

Subscribe on YouTube or your favourite podcast app to catch next week’s episode with Hanna Bendcowsky of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish–Christian Relations.

It’s been a while since you’ve heard from us, and when you hear what we have been up to you’ll understand why we needed the time to get things right

We’re excited to share our new four-part mini-series, in Questions for the Modern World In the Shadow of the Holy Land: Identity and War. In this mini series we speak with:

• Brother Peter Bray, a New Zealander who spent years leading Bethlehem University
• Hanna Bendcowsky, an Israeli peace educator working in Christian-Jewish dialogue;
• Sami El-Yousef, a Palestinian Christian and CEO for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem;
• Fr David Neuhaus, an Israeli Jesuit born into a Jewish family in South Africa who has devoted his life to understanding between faiths.

If you’d like to watch the full version, it’s available now on our website and socials.

Thanks for listening. We look forward to sharing this journey with you.

The word “witch” might sound like something from the past, buried in history books or brought up on Halloween. But for thousands of women around the world today, being called a witch can mean violence, exile, or even death.

In this episode, we speak with Sister Lorena Jenal, a Swiss-born Franciscan who has spent over 40 years in Papua New Guinea. She walks alongside women who’ve been accused of sorcery, offering not only rescue, but healing, dignity, and hope. Sister Lorena’s story is not one of charity from afar, but of deep solidarity, standing with those whose lives are in danger and creating spaces for healing when the unthinkable happens. We hope you enjoy SHOW NOTES: Donate to Catholic Mission at: https://www.missio-hilft.de/informieren/wofuer-wir-uns-einsetzen/menschenrechte/internationaler-tag-gegen-hexenwahn/ Atlantic Break (Music) https://linktr.ee/Atlantic.Break Redemptorist Youth Congress highlights: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087243649746

In this episode, we explore one of the most surprising and inspiring intersections of faith and economics. Our guest is Mr. Haryanto Solichin — a devout Catholic and the Commissioner of Menara Syariah, a landmark Islamic finance project rising on the reclaimed shores of PIK 2, Jakarta.

At the heart of Indonesia’s boldest Islamic financial development is a vision that transcends religious boundaries. Mr. Solichin believes that Syariah economics isn’t just for Muslims — it’s an ethical model for all: inclusive, transparent, equality-oriented, and purpose-driven.

How does a Catholic become a leading voice in Islamic finance? What shared values unite these traditions? And what can we learn from his interfaith approach to leadership?

Join us as we unpack the ethical principles of Syariah finance — and meet the Catholic helping make them a global reality.

Welcome to Questions for the Modern World, a podcast by Common Home TV where faith meets the challenges—and possibilities—of our time.

In this episode, we’re joined by Bishop Shane Mackinlay, Bishop of Sandhurst and a key figure in the global Synod on Synodality. As the Church enters a new chapter following the death of Pope Francis, now is the moment to reflect on the vision he leaves behind—a Church that listens, journeys together, and engages with the world rather than retreating from it.

We talk with Bishop Mackinlay about the deep need to reconnect faith with modern culture, how synodality offers an antidote to apathy, and the questions being raised around women’s ordination.

This is an honest and hopeful conversation that points to a Church not of the past, but of possibility.

As Ukraine continues its fight for survival, the world watches with shifting allegiances and wavering commitments. In this episode of Questions from the Modern World, we sit down with Father Kolisnyk, a Ukrainian Redemptorist priest, to discuss what a just peace truly means for Ukraine and how faith sustains people in the face of war.

🔹 How has the war changed Ukraine’s spiritual landscape? 🔹 What lessons from history shape Ukraine’s approach to diplomacy? 🔹 How does political fatigue in the West impact Ukraine’s struggle? 🔹 What role do global Catholic communities play in standing in solidarity?

Father Ihor speaks candidly about the cost of justice, the weight of global inaction, and why, for many Ukrainians, this is not just a political fight—it is a fight for survival. He challenges Western leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, on their rhetoric and highlights the deep historical wounds that make negotiations with Russia fraught with danger.

💬 “The Russians came, as they have before, to cancel our culture, our language—even our faith.”

This is a conversation about faith, resilience, and the global responsibility to stand for truth.

📺 Watch the full interview on Common Home TV 🎧 Available now as a podcast – subscribe and listen on your favourite platform!