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Jordan refugee camp, John Sentamu's pilgrimage, Sermon of the year competition

Trauma counselling for refugees in a Jordanian camp, the archbishop of York is walking round his entire diocese and the two finalists for the Sermon of the Year Competition.

Pope Francis has said that he is open to the possibility of ordaining women as deacons. Are the ranks of the Catholic Church's all-male clergy really going to open up to female members?

Next week, two ministers battle it out in the annual Sermon of the Year Competition. They talk to Edward Stourton about their ministry and go head to head in Sunday's very own battle of the sermons.

Hazel Southam reports from Jordan on a trauma healing programme that is being offered to tens of thousands of people who have fled the wars in Syria and Iraq.

On Thursday, Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan is giving a speech to the Saltire Society in Glasgow in which he will argue that 20th and 21st century composers have never given up their search for the sacred in an increasingly secular society. He explains to Edward his reasons for this belief.

Last February, Charles Maung Bo became Myanmar's first-ever cardinal. For many years he has spoken out against the persecution of religious minorities in his country and now that there is a new civilian government, he is carving out a role for himself as peacemaker between different ethnic groups and the Buddhist majority.

On the 1st May, the residents of the Canadian city of Fort McMurray became aware of a wildfire on the outskirts of their city. Two days later they had to evacuate. Rev Donalee Williams is the minister of Fort McMurray's First United Church she explains how she is supporting her dispersed congregation.

As the Archbishop of York's six month Pilgrimage across the Diocese of York is about to finish, Bob Walker caught up with John Sentamu to discover what he has learnt from his time on the road.

Producers: Helen Lee
David Cook
Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Available now

44 minutes

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Chapters

  • Female Deacons

    Pope Francis has said that he is open to the possibility of ordaining women as deacons

    Duration: 03:54

  • Sermon of the Year

    Two ministers battle it out in the annual Sermon of the Year Competition.

    Duration: 10:42

  • Jordan Refugee Camps

    A trauma healing programme is being offered to thousands of people who have fled war

    Duration: 06:42

  • Laurence Soper

    A former abbot of a Benedictine monastery who skipped bail has been arrested in Kosovo

    Duration: 03:15

  • Sentamu Pilgrimage

    The Archbishop of York's 6 month Pilgrimage across the Diocese of York is coming to an end

    Duration: 06:25

  • Sir James Macmillan

    Sir James Macmillan on composers who have never stopped searching for the sacred

    Duration: 04:59

  • Cardinal Bo

    Edward speaks to Charles Maung Bo, Myanmar's first-ever cardinal

    Duration: 05:53

Broadcast

  • Sun 15 May 2016 07:10

All the colours of the rainbow

All the colours of the rainbow

The Covid-19 rainbows painted by children today are part of a rich and ancient symbolism.

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