Soul Food Priest

Fr. Ben receives a lot of questions regarding spreading the ashes of a loved one. Why doesn't the Catholic Church allow that? Fr. Ben, Khira and Silvia discuss this topic, and Silvia attempts to explain a type of Mexican bread that is a way of remembering one's mortality. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube at Soul Food Priest!

The majority of the Church consists of laity. Who are they? The average Catholics in the pews. Those who are married or single and are not a consecrated religious.  Vatican II called for leadership in the laity. What does that mean for the average Catholic? Take a listen as Fr. Ben explains what the role of the laity is. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Typically, near the Solemnity of the Ascension, Fr. Ben gets asked multiple questions about Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. He decided to do a homily to explain what all three are and how the individual person decides what they want. Listen to better understand. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben serves up a small teaching on the four aspects of cooking and how it relates to one's daily life. Listen to learn the four to heighten your meals as well as your life.  Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben addresses the one of the most radical teachings of Jesus that only His followers are required to follow: Love thy enemies. Why MUST we do that? It's also so countercultural; however, Fr. Ben addresses why this teaching is vital to follow and what it can unlock in one's life. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

The top question Fr. Ben is receiving right now is: What do you think about the new pope? Everyone wants to know, so Fr. Ben shares some of his initial thoughts on the new Pope, Leo XIV. Along with this, one of the top qualities we hear about Pope Leo is the ability to listen, so Father, Silvia and Khira discuss the art of listening in the first part of this episode.  Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben reflects major lessons from three of the Pope Leos: Pope St. Leo the Great, Pope Leo XIII, & Pope Leo XIV. What is the main common thread in all three? Take a listen to find out! Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!

All should take a listen to this homily to have a greater appreciation for moms and overall parenting. There is some great insight on how to take care of the moms in your life, and, moms, how to take care of yourselves. Moms, thank you for all you do!! Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Many people have asked Fr. Ben for his assessment of Pope Francis' pontificate. Last week Fr. Ben focused on the positives; this week he focuses on some of the criticisms.  Please join us in prayer as a new pope will soon be elected.  Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!  

Fr. Ben shares the beautiful wisdom of the importance of humility and how that affect one's day to day life in numerous ways. Want to learn the way of peace? Take a listen. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. 

Many people have asked Fr. Ben for his assessment of Pope Francis' pontificate. In this episode, he focuses on the good that Pope Francis brought to the Church. Take a listen to as we take the time in gratitude for our late Pope and begin to pray for the new one to be elected.  This is a two part series. Part II will be released next Thursday.   Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!  

Fr. Ben explains the role of the pope and what takes place in the conclave. He gives reasons, both rooted in Scripture and Tradition, as to why the Catholic Church does what She does regarding this sacred process and office. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!

Fr. Ben creates three amazing dishes for Silvia and Khira that they've either never tried or there's a surprise twist. With this idea of surprises that one can find in food, the topic of God allowing surprises to happen to us becomes a topic of discussion. Listen as we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to surprises in life. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben reminds us that Easter is a time of hope and renewal. The only question is: Will you allow it to be that for your life? This homily message helps us know what that means and how we can better live as a people of hope. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!

Fr. Ben gives a brief homily about Holy Week. Take a listen...it's only two minutes.  Please know if our prayers for you as we approach Easter. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Lent is a time for self-reflection and purification. Fr. Ben reflects in this homily on the importance of reflecting on our stubborn ways and growing in humility. Take a listen to this difficult yet helpful homily. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben, Silvia and Khira continue their conversation with author and journalist George Weigel.   Mr. Weigel is most well-known for his two-part biography on St. John Paul II. While working on this biography, he developed a close friendship with the great saint. April 2, 2025 marked the 20th anniversary of St. John Paul II's death, so we wanted to discuss with Mr. Weigel what St. John Paul II meant to him, the Church, and the rest of the world. We hope you enjoy our conversation.   To learn more about George Weigel and his writings, visit his website at www.georgeweigel.com.   Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!

Fr. Ben, Silvia and Khira had the incredible honor of sitting with author and journalist George Weigel. Mr. Weigel is most well-known for his two-part biography on St. John Paul II. While working on this biography, he developed a close friendship with the great saint. April 2, 2025 marked the 20th anniversary of St. John Paul II's death, so we wanted to discuss with Mr. Weigel what St. John Paul II meant to him, the Church, and the rest of the world. We hope you enjoy our conversation.   To learn more about George Weigel and his writings, visit his website at www.georgeweigel.com.   Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!

Fr. Ben had extra cherries in his kitchen, so we whipped several batches of clafoutis. Don't know what that is? Watch and you'll find out! What makes some parishes thrive and others remain stale? Fr. Ben researches this question online by seeing what people post and what surveys say. He reveals his findings and discusses them with Khira and Silvia. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions or follow us on YouTube!

Fr. Ben discusses the art of listening in this homily and the value of it. Being able to communicate is extremely important, but people often overlook the importance of listening. Spend some time listening to what the Lord may be teaching you. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben preaches on what it means to be made in God's image and likeness. The deep beauty of who you are is incredible and God marvels at you. Do you know this? Take a listen and know your own identity this Lent. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!

Fr. Ben serves up a small plate of couscous and tells you of various ways you can use it. He also relates it to the spiritual life. How is that possible?? Take a listen. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben talks about the courage to walk upstream in our culture, especially when it comes to truth. It takes a lote of courage to be Catholic, but there are so many who have witnessed it throughout history. Take a listen to hopefully be built up in your faith. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben and Khira get the privilege of sitting with Sr. Mary Lawrence again to discuss God's infinite love for each person. The joy in her face as she describes the love of God is beautiful and contagious. Our prayer is that you are able to live in that love, so watch and hear how you can. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can visit Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on Facebook at Soul Food Priest and on any podcast platform!

Soul Food Prest wants to brag on our very own Silvia Vega. She covered the song "Run to the Father" by Matt Maher at St. Michael's1st Sunday of Lent Mass. It was recorded live through our livestream. Fr. Ben gave a brief statement about the Diocesan Capital Campaign, so we wanted to share this video with you in lieu of a homily. May you have a blessed Lent running to the Father. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow Silvia at Silvia Vega Music on Facebook or Instagram.

Fr. Ben serves up sourdough in this episode. He talks about what makes it have the tang. This process of creating a sourdough starter can easily be related to how our hearts can become sour over time. Take a listen! Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, and it is on that day that Christians are really reminded of their mortality. Fr. Ben talks on the difficult topic of death as a way to prepare for this coming Lent. How can we prepare for death? Why should we reflect on our mortality? These questions, and others, are addressed in this homily. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!

Fr. Ben just completed a week of creating over 650 king cakes as a fundraiser for his parish. He shares it with you this week as well as the origins of the “King Cake”.  As he was preparing all those king cakes, news of the Pope's failing health was reported. Many people then started asking the questions of “What happens if the Pope dies?”. This is the topic Fr. Ben, Silvia, and Khira discuss. Please join us in prayer as we pray for the healing of Pope Francis. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com or at Soul Food Priest Facebook page to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on YouTube!

Fr. Ben discusses the key points that those who are young can and should learn from those who are older. Life will be more beautiful when one adopts this wisdom in life. Take a listen to what they are. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? You can submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast through Facebook or you could email us at soulfoodpriestmemphis@gmail.com. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben and Khira sit with Sister Mary Lawrence, O.P. to discuss religious life. Many people often ask questions about the life of a sister or nun but rarely get to hear from one. In this episode you have the privilege of listening to our dear friend explain the life of a sister. Sr. Mary Lawrence is a Dominican sister from the St. Cecelia Congregation in Nashville and is the principal of a school in Memphis. She'll discuss more of what all this means and what their particular charism is as a community. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can visit Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on Facebook at Soul Food Priest and on any podcast platform!

Fr. Ben discusses what he thinks are the top 5 reasons we should be proud to be Catholics. These are his opinions, but he also gives great evidence to back them up. Take a listen and you'll learn a lot.   Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben serves up a small lesson on patina. He teaches what it is physically and how it can apply to one's spiritual life. Take a listen and learn. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

There have been many anti-Catholic sentiments over the course of the Church's entire existence. Where does it come from? Is there truth to any of them? What can Catholics do to dispel any confusion that exists around Catholicism? Fr. Ben tackles all these questions in this one episode! Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

How do you grow in virtue? This is the main question Fr. Ben poses to his parishioners and to you today. Knowing what virtue is and knowing how to grow in it makes us a people of moral character. Take a listen to this homily filled with great wisdom and examples of virtuous people. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can visit Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on Facebook at Soul Food Priest and on YouTube!

Fr. Ben serves up a small bit of knowledge on Chef Tom Colicchio, the judge and head producer of the show Top Chef. Colicchio remembers the moment words had a massive impact on him, and so Fr. Ben elaborates on this reality of our words.  Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Sometimes it's easy to tell the truth, at other times it's something we don't want to do. Listen to what Fr. Ben has to say about that in this homily and how small lies can make a big impact.  Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben welcomes the New Year by inviting Khira and Silvia to the parish rectory. Kicking off Season 2 of Soul Food Priest with a very requested topic, "End of Life Care". Many do not want to talk about it and maybe leave it until it's inevitable. Fr. Ben gives us great advice on how to navigate this in a peaceful and loving way.

Fr. Ben counsels many married couples on a regular basis. He shares some of his advice to the congregation that he often times shares with those couples. This homily provides some helpful tips for families and how to keep everyone well-grounded and humble.  Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can visit Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on Facebook at Soul Food Priest and on YouTube!

What would you say the most important days are in a person's life? Fr. Ben discusses this on Christmas. It's great to take stock of where we are in our faith at this time and discern what might be holding us back. Take a listen and be encouraged to take the right steps this season leading into the new year.  Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can visit Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on Facebook at Soul Food Priest and on YouTube!

Fr. Ben explains in this homily the difference between confidence and ego. One can be rooted in humility. Take a listen so as to examine oneself if humility or the ego is at work in life.  Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Taking things slower in food preparation can enhance the dish one is preparing. The same could be said about one's spiritual life. Take a listen as Fr. Ben briefly explains how. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben explains the history of his parish in Memphis, TN and what it means to be parish. It's very interesting to rethink what "parish" means and reflect on what it means in your life. Research the history of your own parish and the importance of faith to those who laid the original stones.  Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can visit Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on Facebook at Soul Food Priest and on YouTube!  

The holidays are coming and that often mean baking sweet cookies, but also dealing with bitterness and struggle. This can be difficult when Christmas peace is all we want. So how do we maintain peace in our hearts and homes? How do we maintain that peace when we know some stressful events may occur? Fr. Ben, Silvia, and Khira provide great tips based on years of trial and error. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube. Thanks for listening!  

Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical year, so look at it as your new year in the spiritual life. Fr. Ben gives three tips in becoming a better person that you can start to put in practice during the holiday season.  St. Michaels has also partnered with the Hallow app. We cannot encourage you enough to join their prayer challenges and better develop your prayer habits in this new year as well. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!  

Did you know the Vatican has a cookbook that was written by a Swiss Guard? Listen as Fr. Ben gives his opinion on this cookbook as well as talk about the importance of protection. He also covers the moral guidelines of protection according to the Church. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben provides great tips before the holidays about making wise choices. This can make or break some relationships, and his hope is for you to maintain healthy relationships. Take a listen to also hear a poem he created back in grade school about this very topic. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Constructing gingerbread houses can be stressful and sometimes never work the way we imagined, especially with kids involved. Fr. Ben has constructed some amazing gingerbread houses for his parishes that have weighed over 200 pounds. Khira on the other hand has not attempted to construct one with her family. Building a vibrant parish life can be stressful and tricky as well. Many people have many opinions and can be quite negative. How do we deal with negative people in the Church? How do we charitably deal with strong opinions coming from frequent churchgoers? Take a listen to receive great advice. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube. Thanks for listening!

Some people aren't too sure what some of the differences are between Catholicism & other world religions and why those differences exist. Most know less about what there is in common between them. It's important to know and Fr. Ben explains why. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can visit Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on Facebook at Soul Food Priest and on YouTube!

Fr. Ben serves up a small lesson on who César Ritz was, what his expectations were, and what parishes can learn from him. Take a listen to learn what it means to make a parish "ritzy". Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! Follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Listening doesn't require much work; however, it can often times be the most difficult thing to do. It is especially difficult to listen to the people you're surrounded by every day because they might repeat what they say. In this homily, Fr. Ben discusses how this is an act of love. Curious about that? Take a listen. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!

Fr. Ben and Khira sit down with a special guest, Gwen Coffey. She's the Director of Social Ministries for St. Michael's parish and her deep love is to serve persons with special needs. In this episode, she talks about the ministries that have been developed for persons with special needs and the importance of ministering to them and their families. This is such a beautiful episode filled with great information for all. Thank you for listening. We'd love to hear from you! You can visit Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. You can also follow us on Facebook at Soul Food Priest and on YouTube!