AUCKLAND A year after launching a news podcast, NZ Catholic is expanding The 15th Station to incorporate more programmes. Podcasting is usually described as recorded radio that can be downloaded free from the Internet. On August 15, 2007, a monthly news show was set up as a forum, under the networks name, for a group of Catholics to discuss the big stories from New Zealand and abroad over the past four weeks. A new episode has been made available on the 15th of each month since.
Beginning next month, two new shows will be launched one focused on family issues and the other on providing catechesis on important topics.
Familia is the name of the new show that will address matters relating to family life. The programme is being recorded and produced by Family Life International.
The other new show, which has been dubbed Catechiwi, will feature a one-on-one interview with an expert on a certain area of Catholic teaching. NZ Catholic managing editor Gavin Abraham will conduct the interviews, which he hopes will help inform, and form, listeners.
Many of the young New Zealanders who went to Sydney for World Youth Day got a taste of catechesis something some of them wouldnt have encountered before, he said.
For many, it will have created a hunger for more knowledge. The goal with Catechiwi is that it will help people on that journey. Using the podcast format helps us to try to meet some of these young people in their preferred medium.
The first episode of Familia will be available through The 15th Station from September 1, with subsequent episodes uploaded on the first of each month.
Catechiwi episodes will be available on the eighth day of each month, with the first show launched on September 8.
Mr Abraham said there will be further expansion of the podcast network in the coming months.
