Inside CatholicPhilly.com

La Voz de Dios en las Voces de Nuestros Pueblos es un ministerio radial en español, dinámico e interactivo, que promueve la fe católica a través del diálogo, música y oración.

International concert organist, recording artist and choral conductor Gail Archer has a heart for the music of Ukraine, a country she knows well through her many performances there. Ahead of her latest benefit concert for Ukraine, Gail spoke with Gina Christian of CatholicPhilly about contemporary Ukrainian music and the many "sonic flavors" the organ offers to performers and audiences alike. For details about Gail's Sept. 11 benefit concert for Ukraine, visit catholicphilly.com/2022/08/news/events/acclaimed-organist-performs-benefit-concert-for-ukraine/ To donate in advance of the concert, visit the Caritas campaign page at caritas.us/project/relief-for-ukraine-and-refugees-in-poland-1. To support humanitarian aid to Ukraine, visit the website of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia at https://ukrarcheparchy.us/ For more information about Gail and her music, visit her website at http://www.gailarcher.com/index.html

As a young man, Father Keith Chylinski never gave priesthood a second thought, focusing instead on a music ministry career. But that quiet call persisted, and after years of priestly ministry, faculty appointments and training in psychology, he is now rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA. Ahead of the coming academic year, Father Chylinski sat down with producer Gina Christian to talk about his journey, as well as the challenges faced by young men discerning a priestly vocation. (Music by Ikson/IksonMusic.com)

Monsignor Kieran Harrington, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com his reflections on visiting Ukraine, where he spent time at Bucha, one of several sites of mass civilian killings by Russian forces. The Pontifical Mission Societies, along with several other Catholic organizations, are bringing both material and spiritual aid to the people of Ukraine amid their immense suffering. (To learn more about the Pontifical Mission Societies and to donate, visit missio.org/helpukraine.)

Gun violence has surged throughout the U.S. in recent years, becoming the largest cause of death for the nation's children in 2020. L.A. and Omar, two youths served by Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, joined their care worker Gary Hill to speak in detail with Gina Christian of CatholicPhilly.com about the real causes of gun violence on the streets of Philadelphia.

Genocide expert Jeff Benvenuto of Gratz College shares with producer Gina Christian how Russian atrocities in Ukraine are genocidal -- and how the difficulties of prosecution, along with indifference from bystander nations, make genocide a universal risk.

Days after his ordination, Ukrainian Catholic priest Father Volodymyr Radko watched as Russia launched a full-scale invasion against his native Ukraine -- an assault that actually began with Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. For several weeks, Father Radko was unable to return to his Philadelphia assignment, and now that he has arrived in the U.S., he shares with CatholicPhilly's Matt Gambino and Gina Christian how the war has challenged and shaped his faith.

Holy Week presents a unique opportunity for Catholics and Christians to reexamine their ongoing relationship with the Jewish community. Professor Philip Cunningham and Professor Adam Gregerman of the Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia share with producer Gina Christian how the post-Vatican II dialogue between the two faiths offers reasons for hope, and opportunities for more work to be done.

Bernard Ekeagwu, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how we are faced each day with a single choice -- one between Jesus, the Son of God who came to save humankind, and Barabbas, the criminal whom Pontius Pilate released to appease the angry crowd calling for Christ's crucifixion. Our decision is revealed by how we live out our calling as Christians.

Philip Cheung, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how Christ's encounter with the adulterous woman reveals his mercy not only to her, but to all who struggle with both sin and self-righteousness.

Gregory Miller, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how the Gospel parable of the prodigal son reveals God's boundless love for us, no matter how far from him we have strayed.

Join CatholicPhilly.com editor Matt Gambino and producer Gina Christian in praying the official Vatican text for Pope Francis' March 25, 2022 consecration of Ukraine, Russia and the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (Music: "Out of Time" by Ukrainian composer Zakhar Valaha.)

Ukrainian history expert Nicholas Rudnytzky of Manor College shares with Gina Christian why Russian president Vladimir Putin's version of the past is not only discredited, but deadly -- not just for Ukraine as a nation, but for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and for freedom itself.

Kurt Kondrich shares how he and his daughter Chloe are advocating at national and global levels to end the "silent eugenics" against pre-born persons with Down syndrome -- because "abortion is the ultimate form of exclusion," and full inclusion first depends on having the right to life.

Jacob Sanz, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how the Gospel parable of the barren fig tree reminds us to embrace dying to ourselves, so that we can live in a new way

For Christians, the road to glory is always through suffering, as Jesus made clear on the cross -- but in the end, the glory is always going to be our hope. Max McGallagher, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how the Transfiguration of Christ reminds us to look beyond present sorrow and affliction, and see an eternity filled with joy.

Toma Bruzaite, a Catholic journalist based in Lithuania, shared with Gina Christian how that country is opening hearts and homes to refugees from Ukraine, now under invasion by Russia. With memories of Soviet-era repression still fresh in Lithuania's national memory, she also highlighted why Ukraine's fight matters not only for that nation, but for freedom itself.

With many teens and young adults feeling they're "trapped" in their own bodies, Mary Rice Hasson, co-founder of Person and Identity Project at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, unpacks the transgender phenomenon -- and how it looks through the prism of the Catholic understanding of personhood and human sexuality.

Do you think you're on your own when it comes to struggling with sin? Or do you have some hidden expectations of God that actually lead to resentment? Brendan Zehner, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how Christ actually understands our worst temptations, and our deepest selves.

John Mulderig of Catholic News Service shares his thoughts on movie releases for the summer of 2021, along with his take on how COVID has impacted the film industry -- and why popcorn is more than just a snack.

Everybody wants to be free, but what exactly is "freedom"? Is it getting to do whatever you want, when you want -- or does it involve something more? And how do your decisions impact the liberty of others? Oblate Father Thomas Dailey of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary shares with Matt Gambino and Gina Christian of CatholicPhilly.com what the Catholic faith -- and baseball great Yogi Berra -- teach about a word that describes one of the deepest longings of the human heart.

When you walk down the street, how do you view those you encounter -- as potential adversaries, or as fellow human beings made in the image and likeness of God? Much of today's toxic social discourse comes from starting off on the wrong foot in our interactions, and forgetting our shared dignity as divinely created souls. Oblate Father Thomas Dailey of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary shares with Matt Gambino and Gina Christian of CatholicPhilly.com how it's possible to love even your enemies, once you look to Christ and his example -- and that is indeed a reason to life up your heart.

Had enough of depressing headlines? It's time for some Good News with Oblate Father Thomas Dailey of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and Gina Christian of CatholicPhilly.com. In the first of a new podcast series that highlights hope, Father Dailey shares insights from his new book, "Behold This Heart: St. Francis De Sales and Devotion to the Sacred Heart" (Sophia Institute Press). Christ has poured out the riches of his love for each and every person, and that is indeed a reason to life up your heart.

Modern culture seeks to label people by "gender identity" and "sexual orientation." But human beings -- made in the image and likeness of God -- are far more dimensional and complex than their sexual inclinations. Father Philip Bochanski, executive director of Courage International, shares with producer Gina Christian how the God-given gift of sexuality enables us to realize "how we're made, and how we're called to love in imitation of Christ." Through the Courage apostolate, same-sex attracted persons can open themselves to God's grace, which empowers all the faithful to steward their sexuality through the virtue of chastity.

Each May, we celebrate Older Americans Month, a time to honor those who are farther ahead of us on life's journey. Seniors' wisdom, insight, and experience has become even more invaluable as the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Producer Gina Christian speaks with Carolyn Truxell, an older Philadelphian who survived a near-fatal bout with the deadly disease, and who emerged from its depths with greater faith -- and more ambitious plans for the future.

What makes life worth living, and death worth dying? Whom do we love more than ourselves, and why does it matter? Archbishop Charles Chaput sits down with CatholicPhilly.com editor Matt Gambino and producer Gina Christian to share insights from his new book, "Things Worth Dying For: Thoughts on a Life Worth Living." Tune in to find out why the church is and isn't a democracy, what cancel culture really says about our society, and what's on Archbishop Chaput's to-do list once COVID restrictions are eased.

As humans, we instinctively run from, not toward, suffering. But embracing the cross with Jesus enables us to accept our weaknesses, and to move beyond them into eternal life, as Randy Kraft -- a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania -- shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com.

Finding everlasting life by dying to self seems impossible in a culture that values comfort, ease, and personal satisfaction. But Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross to give us a freedom that sin and death can never take away, as John Okpara -- a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania -- shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com.

"Love" is a word that is used for everything from food to football to family and friends. But in God's language, it means far more than we can possibly imagine, as Shane Flanagan -- a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania -- shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com. When divine love is lifted up as Jesus was on the cross, everlasting life triumphs.

Anger has become a way of life for many in recent years, with frustrations and fears boiling over in troubled hearts. Ricardo Martinez, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how Jesus' cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem modeled a healthy anger designed to bring peace, holiness, and eternal life.

Until the mid-eighteenth century, persons with disabilities were rarely provided with any formal education. Today, special education is a well-developed field that is gradually focusing more on what students can, rather than can't, do. Dr. Danielle Heeney, the new director of special education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, shares with producer Gina Christian why her field is ultimately based on the essence of Christ's teachings, which stress "honoring, valuing and treating every life with dignity and respect.”

In a hectic world, our hearts can become deaf to the voices of God and others. Phong Le, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares how the Transfiguration of the Lord stuns us into a beautiful silence where Jesus whispers his love -- drawing us closer to him and to those around us.

After a year of pandemic, racial reckonings, and social unrest, many feel as if they've been in a desert of suffering with no water in sight. Anthony Albanese, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares how Jesus is with us through it all, and how the kingdom of God is both already here -- and still to come.

Did Advent 2020 pass you by? After a year of heartbreaks and challenges, you might be tempted to rush the Christmas holiday that's only days away. But the final moments of Advent still offer many opportunities to slow down and to prepare for the Lord's birth in our hearts. Faithful from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia share with producer Gina Christian some of their insights for making the most of the time at hand.

As Hunger Action Month concludes, producer Gina Christian shares the voices of those who have depended on (or worked at) the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's pantries and food distribution sites, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although September is a time to refocus on hunger, for too many, food insecurity is a year-round reality, and one we are all called to change.

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's new Arise podcast series, Father Richard Owens, O.F.M. Cap., Father Eric Banecker, and Gina Christian present the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Catholic faith to Catholics, fellow Christians, and all those who seek something more. Renowned Bible teacher, author and speaker Jeff Cavins shares with the Arise team why it's vital to create a "culture of Scripture" in order to face not only a pandemic and a time of social unrest, but life itself. (Music by Johnny Markin, taken from the "Instrumental Acoustic Hymns Project," owned by Essential Christian under the imprint Elevation, with an arrangement copyrighted by Music Services. For more information on the Arise Project, visit archphila.org/arise.)

Starting a new school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic requires detailed planning, a willingness to be flexible, and a determination to move students' education forward while keeping them safe. Producer Gina Christian speaks with I.H.M. Sister Maureen Lawrence McDermott, superintendent for secondary schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, to discuss how this academic year will look in the classrooms of the 17 archdiocesan high schools and four schools of special education.

"Back to school" has come to mean something quite different during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for elementary school children who generally benefit more from in-person rather than virtual learning. Producer Gina Christian speaks with Andrew McLaughlin, superintendent for elementary schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, to discuss how this academic year will take shape in the more than 100 archdiocesan elementary schools. (And here's a hint: uniforms will be required, whether you're at home or in the classroom.)

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's new Arise podcast series, Father Richard Owens, O.F.M. Cap., Father Eric Banecker, and Gina Christian present the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Catholic faith to Catholics, fellow Christians, and all those who seek something more. Father Liam Murphy, Father Stephen Thorne, and I.H.M. Sister Kathleen Schipani discuss the spiritual lessons they've learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a deeper awareness of what it means to be the church when you can't physically be in church. They also share their favorite saints, and what they've been watching on Netflix these days. (Music by Johnny Markin, taken from the "Instrumental Acoustic Hymns Project," owned by Essential Christian under the imprint Elevation, with an arrangement copyrighted by Music Services. For more information on the Arise Project, visit archphila.org/arise.)

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's new Arise podcast series, Father Richard Owens, O.F.M. Cap., Father Eric Banecker, and Gina Christian present the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Catholic faith to Catholics, fellow Christians, and all those who seek something more. Tucker Brown, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, shares how God called him from the medical field to the priesthood, and from healing bodies to healing souls destined for eternal life. (Music by Johnny Markin, taken from the "Instrumental Acoustic Hymns Project," owned by Essential Christian under the imprint Elevation, with an arrangement copyrighted by Music Services. For more information on the Arise Project, visit archphila.org/arise.)

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's new Arise podcast series, Father Richard Owens, O.F.M. Cap., Father Eric Banecker, and Gina Christian present the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Catholic faith to Catholics, fellow Christians, and all those who seek something more. In the second of a two-part interview, Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Pérez shares his thoughts on "setting a welcoming table" at church, "not staying too long inside yourself" and choosing hope over fear, both during a pandemic and always. (Music by Johnny Markin, taken from the "Instrumental Acoustic Hymns Project," owned by Essential Christian under the imprint Elevation, with an arrangement copyrighted by Music Services. For more information on the Arise Project, visit archphila.org/arise.)

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's new Arise podcast series, Father Richard Owens, O.F.M. Cap., Father Eric Banecker, and Gina Christian present the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Catholic faith to Catholics, fellow Christians, and all those who seek something more. The first episode features a two-part interview with Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Pérez, who shares his insights on faith amid the pandemic, his return to Philadelphia and his love of pizza and Star Trek. (Music by Johnny Markin, taken from the "Instrumental Acoustic Hymns Project," owned by Essential Christian under the imprint Elevation, with an arrangement copyrighted by Music Services. For more information on the Arise Project, visit archphila.org/arise.)

The coronavirus pandemic has moved Catholic Masses online, but should parishes try to set up last-minute livestreamed liturgies for Holy Week? Digital theologian Father Thomas Dailey and media consultant Dan Kearns share with Inside CatholicPhilly.com why Mass through a cell phone may not be the best option, and how parishes can develop a long-term approach to livestreaming.

In the tragedies and hardships of life, we often feel alone. Jesus knows this isolation well: despite his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he quickly found himself misunderstood, abandoned, and hated. Christopher Massaro, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania shares how Christ enters into our suffering and ultimately transforms it through His passion, death, and resurrection.

The coronavirus pandemic has become a global lesson in medical ethics, as health care professionals struggle to treat patients amid shortages of equipment and hospital beds. Bioethicist Steven Bozza of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how doctors can meet the challenges of the current crisis while upholding the sanctity of human life.

The coronavirus pandemic has led thousands of families to seek help from Catholic Social Services (CSS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Demand at some CSS food pantries is up by 100%, but donations are down due to grocery shortages and strict stay-at-home orders in the Philadelphia area. Sarah Hanley, president and CEO of the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how her team has created an emergency fund to enable CSS frontline workers to help those in critical need.

Even though he restored Lazarus to life, Jesus allowed himself to enter deeply into the sorrow of loss. Seminarian Andrew Auletta of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how it's all right to cry during the sad parts, even when you know the story has a happy ending.

Although we may have the gift of physical sight, we are all born blind -- blind to our pride, our sinfulness, and above all, to our true dignity as beloved children of God. Andrew Lane, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania shares how Christ's miraculous healing of a man born blind invites us to let ourselves be healed by God's love, that we in turn might help to heal others and the wounded world in which we live.

With social distancing and church closures, the coronavirus pandemic has forced the faithful to find new ways to keep holy the Lord's day. Oblate Father Thomas Dailey shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how livestreamed Masses and other digital devotions can sustain our relationship with God and with each other.

A woman with an empty jug and an even emptier life meets Jesus at the town well, and she finds herself completely transformed. Instead of judgment, she encounters mercy and true fulfillment. Ricardo Tobar, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, shares how Jesus awaits us at the point of our greatest need -- and once we have received his love, it will overflow into the lives of those around us.

Stories connect us to each other, and to the past, present and future. Father Thomas Dailey shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how the power of stories draws us closer to God, who reveals himself in the greatest story of all: the Word made flesh.