Catholic women and the ways in which Catholicism has shaped their lives, is the focus of the third and final episode of the BBC4 series 'Catholics' to be shown on Thursday 8 March at 9pm.
Filmed at Westminster Cathedral Richard Alwyn meets the women staff, volunteers and congregation of the Cathedral. Set against the backdrop of the rhythm of Cathedral life, Richard Alwyn film explores what it is like to be a Catholic woman in Britain today.
Rose is second-in-charge of the Cathedral’s sacristy. She is responsible for the smooth running of the Cathedral’s worship and devotional life, preparing the altar for the six daily masses and making sure that the priests have all they need to administer to the faithful. A convert, for Rose, Catholicism has proved to be an anchor in her life, sheltering her in crisis and protecting her in need.
Elsewhere, Alwyn meets a retired doctor on the steps of the Cathedral for whom Catholicism poses challenges. The church’s teachings have led to her feeling alienated and unable to practise even though she may still occasionally attend. Yet despite these difficulties, she feels her Catholic identity remains strong, providing her with an important moral core that helps her with the chaos of life.
Catholics
Produced by documentary film maker Richard Alwyn, 'Catholics' goes behind the headlines to explore what it is like to be Catholic today. Each of the three films – one about men, one about women, one about children – is an intimate portrait of a different Catholic world, revealing Catholicism to be a rich and complex identity and observing how this identity shapes people’s lives.
The other two episodes, currently available on BBC iplayer, feature men training to become priests and children in Catholic schools.
Catholics is produced by Wingspan Production in association with Jerusalem Productions.
