Big Pub Night explores faith and hope in a broken world

By Heather Excell

In a world often marked by suffering and uncertainty, faith offers a reason for hope.

This was the recurring theme at the recent Big Pub Night held at the Crescent Hotel on 4 June, where a panel of professionals reflected on how their Catholic faith has shaped the way they navigate challenges in both their personal and professional lives.

Those present heard from speakers whose expertise spanned across medicine, criminology, and athletics. While their experiences varied significantly, each speaker described their faith as a source of perspective and hope when confronted with human weakness, disappointment and suffering.

For local GP, Dr Rachel Bradley, medicine has provided a unique window into both the struggles and inherent dignity of the human person.

“People tell you things that they never tell anybody else,” she said. “You get paid for showing practical love for people and making a big difference in people’s lives.”

Throughout her career, Rachel said she has witnessed the pressures and moral complexities facing modern society as the culture of death has become increasingly prevalent. She described the challenges of remaining faithful to her convictions while working in medicine.

Yet despite these difficulties, she said faith has enabled her to see her work as part of a larger mission of healing.

“I feel like Jesus’ whole mission was really about healing,” she said. “Ultimately, the restoration of the glory of the human being, but also that physical and mental healing along the way. I get to be a little bit of a part of that as well.”

Rachel said that over time she has learned to rely less on her own strength and more on God’s guidance.

“I’ve got more used to allowing Him to help me, trusting Him with things, and not having to figure everything out myself,” she said.

The evening’s other speakers echoed similar themes through their own professions.

Drawing on experiences working with crime and justice, one panellist reflected on the importance of believing in the possibility of redemption. Rather than seeing people solely through the lens of their failures, faith offered a deeper confidence in the goodness that remains within every person.

Another panellist described the highs and lows of elite sport, including the publicity surrounding success and disappointment. Through both triumph and setback, faith provided a reminder that personal worth is not determined by achievement, recognition or results.

Together, the speakers presented a vision of faith that does not ignore suffering or brokenness but instead confronts it with hope. Each suggested that while the modern world can often appear broken and uncertain, faith provides a foundation that enables people to serve others with hope and purpose.