Podcasts about archdiocese

Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (23rd November 2025) by Fr Mike Delaney, Parish Priest of the Kingston Channel Catholic Parish in the Archdiocese of Hobart, Australia

TRADCAST EXPRESS - Episode 218 Topics covered: Leo XIV on how the Resurrection of Christ relates to integral ecology. Correction of an error in previous TRADCAST EXPRESS episode. Rev. James Martin, S.J., says he is 'fascinated' by blasphemous heresy that St. Joseph was Christ's biological father. Archdiocese of Hamburg, Germany, issues perverted sex education guidelines for its schools. Mexican Novus Ordo bishops claim Cristero martyrs died for 'conscience'. Links: Leo XIV, General Audience catechesis (Nov. 19, 2025) TRADCAST EXPRESS 217 (Nov. 6, 2025) Rev. James Martin, S.J., "Review: What was Jesus' childhood like?", America (Sep. 11, 2025) Jeromiah Taylor, "Hamburg Archdiocese Issues Educational Guidelines Respecting Sexuality and Gender Diversity", New Ways Ministry (Sep. 4, 2025) David Ramos, "'Christ is King, not the oppressive state': Mexico's bishops recall Cristero legacy", Catholic World Report (Nov. 15, 2025) Full Text of Mexican Novus Ordo Bishop's Message of Nov. 13, 2025 (Spanish) Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Quas Primas (Dec. 11, 1925) Sign up to be notified of new episode releases automatically at tradcast.org. Produced by NOVUSORDOWATCH.org Support us by making a tax-deductible contribution at NovusOrdoWatch.org/donate/

In this inspiring episode of Education Matters, hosts Sarah and Cesar sit down with Dr. Brian Disney, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Drawing on nearly 30 years in education, Dr. Disney reflects on his journey from classroom teacher to district leader, sharing powerful insights on teaching, faith, innovation, and community. Together, they explore how Catholic education is evolving—honoring tradition while preparing students for a rapidly changing world. Episode Highlights Dr. Disney's Path to EducationInspired by his father—a lifelong educator—Dr. Disney recalls how early experiences tutoring and coaching fueled his love of teaching and shaped his path toward school leadership. Lessons from the ClassroomReflecting on his years as a high school math teacher, Dr. Disney emphasizes the importance of building inclusive, caring classrooms where every student feels seen and supported. He shares how understanding life beyond academics is key to helping students thrive. Transformative Leadership at Mooresville High SchoolAs principal, Dr. Disney led initiatives that expanded college credit and career-readiness programs. Through a strong team effort, Mooresville High dramatically increased honors diplomas and eliminated the need for remedial classes at the local Ivy Tech campus—a remarkable achievement in student preparation and success. Faith and Innovation in Catholic EducationNow overseeing 69 schools, Dr. Disney explains how Catholic teachings on human dignity and community serve as the foundation for both moral and academic excellence. He discusses balancing faith-based formation with innovative approaches to meet students' diverse needs. Redefining SuccessFor Dr. Disney, true success means helping each student realize their full human potential—whether through college, career, or other meaningful paths—while embracing the unique gifts of every learner. Parents as PartnersEchoing the Catholic view of parents as primary educators, Dr. Disney shares strategies for fostering genuine family engagement—from cultural celebrations and community events to cultivating a welcoming school culture that reflects shared values. Looking AheadLooking toward 2035, Dr. Disney predicts that the most essential skills will include spiritual depth, ethical use of technology, and strong interpersonal relationships—underscoring the enduring need for authentic, faith-filled community in education. Did you find this episode informative? Help us out! Leave a review Share it with your friends Give us a 5 Star rating on your podcatcher of choiceFor more information about school choice and your school choice options, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

When you say “yes” to something you genuinely believed God was asking of you—a mission trip, graduate school, even becoming a FOCUS missionary—what do you do when later everything feels too heavy, too complicated, or simply not what you expected? In this episode, Jessica sits down with Fr. John Ezratty to explore the tension between commitment, freedom, and discernment through the lens of St. Ignatius of Loyola.Together they walk through real situations missionaries and students face: • What if I discerned something well, but now I feel overwhelmed and want to step back? • What if I didn't pray about a commitment beforehand—am I still bound to it? • Can difficult circumstances be a sign that God is redirecting me? • How do I know when perseverance is holy… and when letting go is faithful?Drawing from Ignatian wisdom, Fr. John offers practical steps, prayerful tools, and spiritual clarity for anyone wrestling with a “yes” that suddenly feels uncertain. Whether you're tempted to break a commitment or unsure what God is communicating through your current season, this conversation will help you discern with peace, freedom, and maturity.Fr. John Ignatius Ezratty is a priest with the Archdiocese of Denver. He is also a popular speaker at SEEK and a former FOCUS national chaplain.

Delivered by Stella Wijaya from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. 1 Maccabees 4: 36-37.52-59; Rs psalm: 1 Chronicles 29: 10.11abc.11d-12a.12bcd; Luke 19: 45-48.A WORTHYOFFERING TO GOD  The title forour meditation today is: A Worthy Offering to God. Today the whole Church commemorates the Presentation of the Blessed VirginMary to God. This event is not found in scriptures, but is part of the Church'ssacred tradition and history. The little Mary who was offered in the temple ofGod, was a continuation of her special gift, that is, she was conceived withoutsin because she had been chosen by God from the beginning of her life. The Church believes that from the beginning the wombof the pregnant mother who conceived  Mary was sacred. Born holy, Mary must had enteredthe womb of the communion of God's people which God has ordained from thebeginning in the eternal communion of the holy Trinity. Mary then lived a life inthe fullness of God's grace, until the moment she received the heavenly goodnews to make her the Mother of God, and took a very important role in the lifeof Jesus Christ.  God chose Mary is purely an act of his divineinitiative. In response to that initiative, Mary as a person and all those whotake part in her mission gratefully dedicate their whole lives to God. Thus theevent of Mary's presentation to God must be the primary model for all humanself-offering to God, and the sign of that offering is seen when a person is consecratedin the house of God through an official rite. There are somany means, rituals and places that are sanctified to help us purify ourselvesbefore God. One of them is holy worship which is celebrated to give offeringsof gratitude and praise to God. In the first reading it is said how JudasMaccabees with the Jews who were obedient to God consecrated the altar andjoyfully offered sacrifices to God. Jesus once came to the temple and cleansed itbecause it was used as a marketplace by the Pharisees and the Jews. The holytemple was defiled with shameful worldly activities.  This desecrated temple could no longer be themeans and rituals of sanctification in the moments when God and his peopleencountered. Sacred meansand instruments are not the purpose of our faith. They are very important and haveroles in helping us to achieve the goal, which is to meet God and live withHim. Our important task is to cleanse it from desecration, use it as we should,teach it to those who do not yet know, and when necessary, repair as it isbroken, and maintain it with responsibility. Letus pray. In the name of the Father ... O most holy Lord Jesus Christ, sanctifyus always every time we pray and prostrate in the presence of the heavenlyFather to receive all the blessings. Hail Mary, full of grace... In the name ofthe Father ...

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Bishop Frank Schuster from the Archdiocese of Seattle about the new status Pope Leo XIV recently gave to the Apostleship of the Sea. Other guests include Gary Zimak from Following the Truth, and Ken Craycraft, author of Citizens Yet Strangers. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** Prayer to St. Jude for the sick St. Jude, you witnessed the healing power of our Lord Jesus. You saw His compassion for the sick and dying. You yourself touched the sick, shared the sorrows of the mournful, and encouraged the despairing. You received this authority and healing power to work wonders, to cure the incurable, to make people whole. We ask you to intercede with our brother, Jesus, to send His saving grace to heal the sickness and suffering of all who are ill, to uplift their despondent spirits, and to instill hope in their hearts. Amen. ***** Cincinnati Right to Life is online at cincinnatirighttolife.org. Bishop Frank Schuster is Bishop Promoter of Stella Maris-Apostleship of the Sea. Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top headlines for Tuesday, November 18, 2025President Trump's new executive order targeting what he calls “woke policies” that harm Christians and families of faith. We also look at the Archdiocese of Denver's Supreme Court appeal over Colorado's universal preschool program, and Princeton scholar Robert P. George's surprising resignation from the Heritage Foundation after a controversy involving Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes. Plus, renowned apologist John Lennox offers a profound reflection on aging, spiritual resilience, and what it means to finish the race of life well.00:11 Trump seeks to protect faith-based foster care providers01:00 Christian preschools appeal to Supreme Court over pre-K program01:50 Heritage trustee resigns amid fallout to Carlson-Fuentes scandal02:41 Supreme Court won't hear Christian prayer ban case03:17 Bill protecting girls from forced marriage passes in Pakistan04:15 ‘In Your Dreams' turns fear into a teacher, echoes bible truths04:59 Theologian John Lennox reflects on aging and legacySubscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsTrump seeks to protect faith-based foster care providers | PoliticsChristian preschools appeal to Supreme Court over pre-K program | EducationHeritage trustee resigns amid fallout to Carlson-Fuentes scandal | PoliticsSupreme Court won't hear Christian prayer ban case | PoliticsBill protecting girls from forced marriage passes in Pakistan | World‘In Your Dreams' turns fear into a teacher, echoes bible truths | EntertainmentTheologian John Lennox reflects on aging and legacy | Church & Ministries

What do you do when silence feels safer than the truth? Rely on God to give you the grace and courage to do what your strength can't: turn difficult moments into opportunities for honesty, deeper trust, and real healing. In this episode of EquipCast, I sit down with Mari Pablo—a fearless, bilingual evangelist who isn't afraid to step into the topics most people avoid. Together, we talk about how to build trust, speak truth with compassion, and bridge cultural and generational divides in the Church. Mari shares practical strategies for navigating sensitive issues like mental health and sexuality without fear—and without losing sight of Christ. If you've ever hesitated to start a hard conversation or wondered how to lead with both honesty and hope, this episode will inspire you to lean on Jesus and embrace the mission He's given you. [00:58] Meet Mari Pablo: A Multicultural Evangelist [03:28] Journey of Faith and Ministry [06:17] The Call to Public Speaking [11:54] Addressing Difficult Topics with Teens [18:21] Building Trust and Authentic Connections [25:09] Challenges and Hopes for Today's Youth [28:58] The Importance of Being Present and Real [29:40] Influence of Parental Faith on Children [32:40] Personal Apostolate Experiences [35:17] Engaging with Hispanic Catholic Culture [43:37] Bridging Cultural Gaps in the Church [51:08] Invitation to Unity and Understanding [54:37] Final Words and Invitation to Retreat Check out In His Heart Ministries (https://www.inhisheart.com/) and Mari's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/maripablo25/?hl=en)! For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

November 18, 2025 ~ Dave LewAllen in for Paul W. House set to vote on full Epstein files release. Butch Hollowell head of Mary Sheffield's transition team joins Dave in studio. John U Bacon discusses his new book on the Edmund Fitzgerald. Paul Glantz on the big deal between Emagine and Kinepolis. Looking ahead to Thanksgiving weather. John Skelton being held on $60 million bond. Archdiocese announces 2 year restructuring initiative and the day's biggest headlines. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 18, 2025 ~ Father Mario Amore, Director of Parish Renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit discusses their parish restructuring plan. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Rev. Charles Becker, of the Archdiocese of Chicago was the celebrant and homilist on Sunday, November 16th, 2025,  the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time., The Gospel and his compelling homily is presented here. 

Nov. 17, 2025 ~ Archdiocese of Detroit is embarking on a sweeping two-year restructuring plan that could reshape Catholic life across Southeast Michigan. Archbishop Edmond Edward Weisenberger announced the initiative this weekend, citing sharp declines in mass attendance, sacraments, and the number of priests, for the reason why this had to happen. Marie Osborne gives the updates on All Talk. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Delivered by Jeril from the Parish of Saint Joseph in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. 1 Maccabees 1: 10-15.41-43.54-57.62-64; Rs psalm 119: 53.61.134.150.155.158; Luke 18: 35-43.MAYI SEE Ourmeditation today is entitled: May I See. There is a story in the Old Testament,about a number of Israelites choosing to submit to the decree of King AntiochusEpiphanes to worship the gods of the Gentiles. For that reason, they built agymnasium in Jerusalem and many temples in the midst of their very religioustraditions. Buttheir actions were opposed by other fellow Jews who remained firm in theirfaith in the God of their ancestors. These believers could see God veryclearly. While those who chose to worship idols had their eyes closed so theywere not able to see and worship the true God. This is the content of our firstreading taken from the First Book of Maccabees. Thissituation is also described in the Gospel of today. People who were worldly intheir attitude wanted to prevent the meeting of the blind man with Jesus sothat he would not receive healing and sight. Meanwhile, the blind man hadfaith. He saw and called on the Lord. Our lives are also divided between thosewith the eyes of faith that enable them to see clearly and the eyes of theworld that are blurred and even blind, making them unable to see the mystery ofGod's glory. Thosewho are consistent and faithful in their faith are considered to have visionsof faith that are clear, real, and bright. This vision indeed builds a person'strust. These eyes of faith shape the life of a believer, so that even thoughthey are in difficult moments, troubles, and persecutions, it is this faiththat helps them endure in life. When they see and experience disaster, murder,hunger, sickness, and neglect, they will respond with an attitude formed byfaith. However,perhaps many of us have difficulty in seeing with the eyes of faith. Perhaps wewho hear this meditation are not the same as those who worship idols, or whohave renounced faith, or who are hostile toward believers. But it can be truethat in the midst of difficulties or suffering, both spiritual and physical,there are people who are unable to face them with an attitude of faith. Perhapspeople immediately think negatively, or see things only in physical, outward,or material terms. Consequently, their souls become fragile and easily losehope. But if their souls are strong, their faith firm, and their vision offaith clear, they will still rely on God in all aspects of their lives. So, theprayer that we ought to say is: O Lord, may I see You. Let's pray. In thename of the Father… O Father of all wisdom, may we be able to see with the eyesof faith all realities of life, especially the difficulties and sufferings weexperience. Hail Mary, full of grace… In the name of the Father…

Send us a textJesus, and the crowd around him, are standing in front of the Temple, but they are not seeing the same thing. The crowd are marveling at the costly stones, while Jesus sees that not one stone will be left upon another stone.This weekend at all the Masses, Archbishop Weisenburger is announcing the start of a multi-year reorganization process in the Archdiocese of Detroit. I have Mass on Sunday, November 16 at St. Isidore @ 7:30 am. live stream link: https://stisidore.church/worship-online/I have Mass at St. Andrew @ 5:00 pm.frjoedailey@gmail.com

Delivered by Christine Gunawan from the Parish of Saint Joseph Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Pontianak and Yurika Gunawan from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Malachi 4: 19-20a; Rs psalm 98: 5-6.7-8.9a; 2 Thessalonians 3: 7-12; Luke 21: 5-19.THE CALLING TO ENDURE The title for ourmeditation today is: The Calling to Endure. There was a big fight going on in afamily. It started from a misunderstanding of husband and wife. Because eachdid not accept the other, one threatened the other to get out of the house. Thehusband prepared to get out of the house. But at the same time, the wife wasalso preparing to leave. All three children cried and tried their best to stoptheir parents' try to leave the house. They put all effort to prevent thisfrightening act they did not want to happen. The eldest son accompanied by histwo younger siblings stood at the door to prevent the father or mother fromleaving the house. Because of the strongefforts of the three children, the parents put off their desire to get out ofthe house. This happening in this family actually illustrates two importantthings that determine the fate of the family: escape from problems or endure toface and overcome them. The choice made indicates one's human quality and spiritualstrength. There are so manyproblems and difficulties we face in this life. Today's Gospel illustrates anumber of big, complicated and very frightening problems. These two choicesalways challenge us to choose which is the best. For the best option, JesusChrist commands us to choose to endure. He gives us a perfect example, namelyHimself who endured to the end of His life, during the moment on the cross asHe cried out before his last breath: "It's finished". The Lord Jesus indeedasks us to endure whatever the circumstances at any time. Our goal to endure isthat we may obtain salvation in the hands of God. There are several supporting elementsthat help us to endure. First is the promise of the coming of the Lord on theday according to God's will. If there is promise as the truth to hold on, thefact that the promise is made for us by the Lord himself as stated by the thebook of the Prophet Malachi, people certainly have reason to stay and toendure. Second, according to the responsorial psalms of today, the realizationof the promise is very important. Everyone is certain about his or her destiny,which is determined by the final judgment to decide on every human person'sworthiness  to enter the kingdom ofheaven. Third is the abilityto use the time during the periode of endurance. This ability refers to theattitudes a calmness, patience, and keep working to solve the problems we faceon earth. Maybe the problem is about many people around us who are jobless,insufficiency of people's basic needs and other real problems that humans faceat the present moment. In this period of endurance, we must be able to work forthe salvation of all souls that the Lord Jesus Christ has promised us and hasmandated us to do. To endure in emptiness is the same as foolishness. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O heavenly Father, may this Sunday celebration fill us with ability andenthusiasm to endure in this life. Glory to the Father and to the Son and tothe Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father...

Pope Leo XVI has elevated St Mary's Pro Cathedral to the status of a full Catholic Cathedral within the Archdiocese of Dublin. The move was approved by papal decree following a request by Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin, who joins Anton to discuss.

Homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (16th November 2025) by Fr Mike Delaney, Parish Priest of the Kingston Channel Catholic Parish in the Archdiocese of Hobart, Australia

Bill Scholl, Deacon at Archdiocese in KCK, On Immigration | 11-14-25See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Proclaim podcast, Eric Chow and Joseph San Jose discuss the mission of Proclaim, the importance of evangelization, and the role of music in ministry. They reflect on insights from the Upper Room Conference, emphasizing the need for parishes to be seen as missionary outposts. Joseph shares personal experiences of evangelization in everyday life, highlighting the long-term nature of building relationships. The conversation shifts to the significance of worship in preparing for mission, culminating in Joseph's experiences during the Youth Jubilee in Rome. They conclude with a discussion about the upcoming Activate Conference, aimed at inspiring lay leaders in their mission to proclaim Jesus. You can find out more about the CCO Activate Conference at https://activate26.cco.ca/ You can find music by Joseph San Jose here https://open.spotify.com/artist/0zz9TklXYs7DWeRzIcB7L6?si=VDZ0YUM6STWoGPmFDPf20w Takeaways: -Proclaim aims to awaken disciples to share Jesus. -Parishes can be seen as missionary outposts. -Evangelization is a long-term process of building relationships. -Music plays a vital role in worship and evangelization. -Worship can lead to powerful moments of mission. -Real-life examples of evangelization can happen in everyday settings. -The connection between worship and mission is essential. -Encountering Jesus in worship prepares us for mission. -The Activate Conference aims to inspire lay leaders in mission. -Deep worship leads to a readiness for evangelization. Proclaim is a movement of the Archdiocese of Vancouver inspiring disciples to proclaim Jesus in their homes and communities. The Proclaim podcast is a space where you listen to inspiring disciples talk all things around sharing Jesus with others, and learn how to step into your own missionary identity. To learn more about Proclaim, you can visit weareproclaim.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @weareproclaim

Mr. Kevin Smith shares how U.S. Military veterans, wounded or ill warriors, and their caretakers or companions can apply to go on the annual Warriors to Lourdes spiritual journey in May--all expenses paid, compliments of the Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

Delivered by Reinaldy from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Wisdom 13: 1-9; Rs psalm 19: 2-3.4-5; Luke 17: 26-37.THE END OF TIME CALLING Our meditation today isentitled: The End of Time Calling. A mother advised her two children who arestill in elementary school and who are lazy to pray, that they may regain theirexcitement to pray. They asked, "What's the point of praying always andnot become lazy to pray?" The mother said that now we might not have itsuse, but later at the end of time it will be very useful. The two children areagain eager to pray. The reason they always remember certainly there is the endof time, even though they do not understand anything about the end of time. The end of timeaccording to our faith is a reality that will happen later, when one departsfrom this world. We can not think and explain it only with reason, but mustalso with faith. The end of time assures that in this reality we willexperience the true God as He is, whom we always call his name while we stillin this world. For this reason, the book of Wisdom of today's first readingconfirms our encounter at the end of time with our God, the Creator and Rulerof all, who is the Lord of all beauty, power and goodness. The scripturesexplain the end of time calling through the teachings of Jesus Christ and thevision of the saints. These teachings and testimonies are manifested indifferent forms of explanation. It is our duty to understand them correctly inorder to believe correctly too. If we heed this call very well, we understandit all about and we believe in it while we still in this world, then our hopeto encounter the end of time is always something we expect without doubt. Today we are taughtthat the end of time contains two main things, namely the second coming ofJesus Christ and the life of the hereafter. The following are a number of signsof the end of time according to the scriptures: 1) it comes at an unexpectedtime, 2) when we go through our daily lives as usual, 3) a sudden coming, 4)after a cruel persecution of the Church, 5) after a terrible earthquake,plague, famine in various places and in the sky there are great signs ofnature, 6) after a mass apostasy, 7) after the power of the Antichrist isdestroyed, 8) when love for the oppressed and sufferings becomes cold, 9) whenthe gospel already preached to all corners of the world, 10) when all Israelsare saved, 11) when this Church becomes holy and without defects, withoutstains and scratches of any form. There have been manypredictions of the end of time to happen, but until this moment it has not yethappened. What for us certain is this: we will prepare ourselves, and if themoment our own death comes, it is the end of every one's time. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O good and loving Father, we pray that when Jesus Christ returns, may we befound ready and worhty to welcome Him. Hail Mary, full of grace ... In the nameof the Father ...

In the Father's Hands

We're joined by Johnny Hebert with a Gospel reflection. Sarah McDonald, Communications Director of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, gives us details on stories found in this week's Clarion Herald issue. Dr. Tom Neal, Chief of Evangelization and Mission Engagement of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee talks about the theology of reflecting on our death as Catholics.

* A middle schooler was arrested for making nude deepfakes of classmates * Brian Kelly is suing LSU over his big buyout * Could a Border Patrol task force be coming to New Orleans? * Will voters even care about the shutdown when the midterms finally happen? * What's cheaper: renting or buying? * How the Archdiocese is moving to resolve its long-running bankruptcy case

* The Archdiocese is putting over 150 parishes, charities, and other entities in bankruptcy. What does that actually mean? * A Lafourche middle schooler was arrested for allegedly creating nude deepfakes of his classmates

The Archdiocese is putting over 150 parishes, charities, and other entities in bankruptcy. What does that actually mean? We go over it with Stephanie Riegel, a business writer for the Times Picayune/NOLA.com

Delivered by Vanessa Anggono from Saint Mary's Catholic Church - Cadogan Street London, in the Archdiocese of Westminster, United Kingdom. Wisdom 7: 22 - 8: 1; Rs psalm 119: 89.90.130.135.175; Luke 17: 20-25.THE KINGDOM OF GOD ISIN YOUR MIDST Our meditation today isentitled: The Kingdom of God is in Your Midst. Jesus Christ said this to thePharisees. Although there are no more Pharisees today, the pharisaic spirit isalive. A mother always corrects her children in this manner: "Don't becomehypocritical like the Pharisees." A life that is not sincere and full oflies is a life of the pharisaic spirit. So, following the reminder of themother, the children always remember that the pharisaic attitude isactually  bad and sinfull. The Pharisees wereasking for a sign of the coming of the Kingdom of God. They wanted a kingdomcomplete with its location dan political system. They were looking for thepower of the world. But Jesus is against this way of thinking. Today we shouldsay that the pharisaic attitude can be seen in those who look for miracles.They actually do not know that even from waking up in the morning until themoment to go to sleep at night is already a significant miracle. Today many peopletend to use the hyperbole style, a way of exaggeration. The quantity of peopleor things can be exaggerated according to one's own interest. The quality ofsomeone or something can also be given exaggeration. For instance someone washeard teling his friend in this way "I can read all your thoughts andfeelings before you express them yourself." People of today prefer moneyto be the first standard to engage work, service and cooperation. If withoutmoney, people don't want to work,  to sacrifice,to serve, even to associate and  to pray.We can mention many more things like this. All of them have onecommon characteristic, namely blindness and deafess both physically andmentally about the presence of God in our midst and within us. The God who ispresent now and here, actually speaks from each one's conscience. The Lord'ssilent presence is a wisdom that affects a person's life from within. Thatpresence is primarily in the form of His powerful words, cannot be held andseen, but as the spirit that comforts, encourages and strengthens us. The Lord Jesusreplaces His own presence with the Holy Spirit who is wise and holy, easy tomove, clear, immaculate, bright, sharp and generous, as said in the book ofWisdom of the today's first reading. In other words, that presence is actuallythe power of our God manifested in commandments, inspiration, values, wisdom,morality and virtues. All is united in the making up of a truly spiritual unityof the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom governs all with the power of God. We are taught byJesus His own prayer for the coming of the kingdom. This kingdom is useful andmeaningful to us only when it takes control all our lives in the world, that wemay not be let to be driven away by all other powers of the world. With regardsto our future, the Kingdom of God is the representation of eternal life that isachieved by everyone of us after our death. There will be the resurrection forall the righteous. We need to celebrate the presence of this Kingdom every day. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord, make us always open to the presence and coming of Your kingdom, andwe are content to welcome Him. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to theHoly Spirit  ... In the name of theFather ...

We are delighted to welcome Sue Weishar, a lifelong immigrant advocate who lives in New Orleans, LA. She is the former director of Immigration and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and a former policy and research fellow with Jesuit Social Research Institute (JSRI) at Loyola University New Orleans. Currently, she is the chair of the social justice committee at her local parish, St. Anthony of Padua. Sue talks about the positive impact of immigrants in the city of New Orleans, especially in the recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. She shares stories of the way her parish and community have been impacted by increased immigrant enforcement, including the separation of families.Brian and Joe also share stories of families who are separated as a result of immigration policy. Joe shares the story of Amanda, a teenage girl at a shelter in Reynosa, who he connected with over a mutual interest in the writings of JRR Tolkien (although we will let you guess which one is the bigger fan!). Amanda was with her dad and siblings in Mexico, while her mom lives in Texas: a family separated, trying to decide how to reunite. Brian shares the story of Javier, who was picked up by ICE and deported after living two decades in the U.S., leaving behind his wife and kids. Brian was impressed to hear him look for the bright side of his difficult situation. Immigrant Workers' Critical Role in Rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina and Present Realities

What if the secret to transforming your parish isn't doing more—but praying more deeply and trusting God to lead? We've seen it happen. The Diocese of Green Bay started small, rooted everything in prayer, and asked the Holy Spirit to guide them. The results were beyond what they imagined: seminarians doubled, schools flourished, and parishes once half-empty now overflow. In this episode, I talk with Julianne Stanz—a nationally recognized leader in evangelization whose own encounter with God set her on this path—about the real ingredients for lasting renewal. Together, we explore how prayer, vision, relationships, and simple, steady steps can turn hope into a movement. It's not a program; it's a way of life that lets God bring new life to His Church. [01:04] Meet Julianne Stanz: From Ireland to Wisconsin [06:33] The Power of Pilgrimage [10:51] Hope and Renewal in Ministry [17:49] The Green Bay Transformation Story [26:01] The Role of Prayer in Discipleship [32:46] Reflecting on Parish Identity and Discipleship [39:27] Recognizing and Utilizing Gifts and Charisms [44:58] Inspiring Change and Overcoming Resistance [50:02] Embracing Poverty and Resourcefulness in Parishes [54:18] The Importance of Pastoral Planning [59:02] Witnessing the Church's Global Awakening [01:05:58] Final Thoughts and Blessings Check out Julianne's website (https://www.juliannestanz.com/) and download her infograph (https://equip.archomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Managing-Complex-Change-at-the-ParishPDF.pdf) of how to minister through complex change at a parish. For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

Living and Dying Well … GUEST Dr Charles Camosy … Prof at the Catholic University of America in the nation’s capitol … author of 7 books, incl “Beyond the Abortion Wars,” and “Resisting Throwaway Culture” … his most recent book is “Living and Dying Well: A Catholic Plan for Resisting Physician-Assisted Killing” … Charlie advises the Faith Outreach office of the Humane Society of the US & the pro-life commission of the Archdiocese of NY. Makers By Nature: Letters from a master painter on faith, hope, and art… GUEST Bruce Herman … painter, writer, and speaker … His art has been exhibited internationally and is in public and private collections worldwide … He taught studio art for nearly four decades at Gordon College, where he held the Lothlórien Distinguished Chair in Fine Arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauretta hosts the program today with her cohost Joyce Duriga. Lauretta thanks all the Prayer Warriors and adds additional requests for prayer to their list, encouraging everyone to keep on praying! Lauretta and Joyce focus today on physician assisted suicide laws, what it is, how it impacts a state and the culture.  They touch on alternatives for caring for the sick. They recognize that life is precious and that the end of life is also an important stage of life stressing that we are not to interfere with God's plan.  She encourages the listeners to call the Governor's office at 312-814-2121 and tell him to veto the Illinois Physician Assisted Suicide Bill. They close the show talking about what's reporting in the Chicago Catholic paper and what is going on around the Archdiocese and the Vatican. St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish

Lauretta hosts the program today with her cohost Joyce Duriga. Lauretta thanks all the Prayer Warriors and adds additional requests for prayer to their list, encouraging everyone to keep on praying! Lauretta and Joyce focus today on physician assisted suicide laws, what it is, how it impacts a state and the culture.  They touch on alternatives for caring for the sick. They recognize that life is precious and that the end of life is also an important stage of life stressing that we are not to interfere with God's plan.  She encourages the listeners to call the Governor's office at 312-814-2121 and tell him to veto the Illinois Physician Assisted Suicide Bill. They close the show talking about what's reporting in the Chicago Catholic paper and what is going on around the Archdiocese and the Vatican. St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish

Get everything you need for your traditional home blessing — including the St. Benedict Medal, Holy Water Bottle, and more — from our friends at Holy Heroes today! https://bit.ly/TheDeep_HolyHeroesHBIn this episode of The Deep, Erika breaks down the recent study from the Catholic Project that shows a consistent shift among younger priests towards more conservative and traditional views. What do the numbers actually show? And does this shift reveal a hopeful future for the church?Timestamps:0:00 - Intro: A major shift among young priests1:57 - Priest numbers decreased but something else changed too4:05 - Difference in political and theological views6:30 - Difference in pastoral priorities7:40 - Though a bit behind, the laity is also changing10:01 - Two real challenges for young priests13:44 - Conclusion: what does this mean for the rest of us?Subscribe to the LOOPcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theLOOPcastSources:Associated Press. “‘A Step Back in Time': America's Catholic Church Sees an Immense Shift Toward the Old Ways.” Associated Press, May 1, 2024. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/7638fa2013a593f8cb07483ffc8ed487.Catholic Project. NSCP Wave 2 Final Report. October 2025. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://catholicproject.catholic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NSCPWave2FINAL.pdf.Catholic Vote. McKenna Snow, “Looking at Pew Numbers: ‘Baby Boomer' Catholics Have More Liberal Views Than Millennials.” CatholicVote.org, April 19, 2024. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://catholicvote.org/baby-boomer-catholics-have-more-liberal-views-than-millennials/.Florida Atlantic University News Desk. Gisele Galoustian, “The ‘Taboo' of Retirement for Catholic Priests.” Florida Atlantic University News Desk, July 7, 2016. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/Catholic-Priests-Retirement.Georgetown University. Mary Gautier et al., “Average Priest Age Now Nearly 20 Years Older Than 1970.” Georgetown University News, June 1, 2012. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://www.georgetown.edu/news/average-priest-age-now-nearly-20-years-older-than-1970/#:~:text=Average%20Priest%20Age%20Now%20Nearly,studies%20about%20the%20Catholic%20Church.LifeSiteNews. “Archdiocese of New York Dismisses Increased Requests for Altar Rails, Claims No Need for Them.” LifeSiteNews, n.d. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archdiocese-of-new-york-dismisses-increased-requests-for-altar-rails-claims-no-need-for-them/.National Catholic Register. “The Return of Altar Rails.” National Catholic Register, n.d. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://www.ncregister.com/features/the-return-of-altar-rails.National Catholic Reporter. “While Out of Sync: Lay Catholics Conservative, Young Priests Are Future U.S. Church.” National Catholic Reporter, n.d. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/while-out-sync-lay-catholics-conservative-young-priests-are-future-us-church.The Catholic Herald. “Bishop Bans Use of Altar Rail at Charlotte Catholic High School.” The Catholic Herald, n.d. Accessed November 4, 2025. https://www.catholicherald.com/article/bishop-bans-use-of-altar-rail-at-charlotte-catholic-high-school.

Maria Morera Johnson and Inés Mersch talk about transitions and change in our lives. Inés Huber Mersch is a faithful Catholic wife, mother, and grandmother residing in Mobile, Alabama. Her strong attraction to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament led to her being invited to participate in the steering committee that brought Perpetual Adoration to the Archdiocese of Mobile and continues as one of the schedulers. She has also been a guest writer at Catholic Mom. Links in Show: Broken By Me by Inés Huber Mersch Read all articles by Maria Morera Johnson

*Why isn't “promoting vocations” enough to help young people discover God's call? * Because so many can't even hear Him right now. Their faith feels distant, the noise of the world is loud, and what they crave most isn't another program—it's a real encounter with Jesus and people who truly care. In this episode, I talk with Fr. Scott Schilmoeller, Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Omaha, about what it takes to awaken a generation to God's voice. We don't need to push vocations—we need to till the soil: to build trust, community, and spaces where faith can take root again. If your heart breaks for the young Church and you long to see them come alive in their calling, this episode is for you. [01:05] Father Scott Schilmoeller's Background and Personal Story [05:41] Discovering a Vocation: College Experiences and Spiritual Growth [08:42] The Role of Community and Family in Faith [14:55] Understanding Vocations: Lowercase and Uppercase V [18:28] Challenges in Vocational Discernment [21:46] Addressing the Vocations Crisis [23:33] Discerning Your Vocation [24:24] Community and Evangelization [25:15] Youth Groups and Initiatives [28:30] Engaging Young Kids [30:06] Middle School and High School Faith [32:10] Supporting Vocational Discernment [34:11] Practical Steps for Leaders [39:47] Encouraging Vocations [42:41] Final Thoughts and Resources Check out OmahaVocations.org (https://omahavocations.org/)! For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

Christina Bagaglio Slentz is Associate Director for Creation Care for the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Learn about how her diocese prioritizes climate action here.In this episode, we often refer to Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' and the ways that faith communities are living out its stated goals. We also discuss the theme “seeds of peace and hope,” the official theme for the 2025 ecumenical Season of Creation.Many thanks to Christina for sharing her wisdom in this conversation!Christina SlentzTRANSCRIPTChristina Slentz I think this really can help us understand the way that the cry of the Earth, these environmental climate extremes, or the variability that we're experiencing, leads to greater exposure—but how one community can face that exposure and adapt or bounce back fairly quickly and another may not really have that capacity.Debra Rienstra Welcome to the Refugia Podcast. I'm your host, Professor Debra Rienstra. Refugia are habitats in nature where life endures in times of crisis. We're exploring the concept of refugia as a metaphor, discovering how people of faith can become people of refugia: nurturing life-giving spaces in the earth, in our human cultural systems, and in our spiritual communities, even in this time of severe disturbance. This season, we're paying special attention to churches and Christian communities who have figured out how to address the climate crisis together as an essential aspect of their discipleship.Today, I'm talking with Dr. Christina Bagaglio Slentz, Associate Director for Creation Care at the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Christina has a background in sociology, with a PhD in international studies and global affairs. She's also a Navy veteran. Today, she serves a diocese of 97 parishes, helping to guide and empower people in their creation care work. The Diocese of San Diego is a microcosm of diverse biomes and diverse people, and it's a fascinating example of refugia, because as a diocese, they are doing all the things. Christina and I talk about Laudato si', solar energy, economics, eco spirituality, environmental justice advocacy, the centrality of the Eucharist, and the mutuality between caring for neighbor and caring for the Earth. Let's get to it.Debra Rienstra Christina, thank you so much for being with me today. I really appreciate talking to you.Christina Slentz Thank you, Debra, for having me. I'm really excited to be here.Debra Rienstra So I am eager to hear more about the Diocese of San Diego, because it seems that you have been very intentional and thoughtful and ambitious about your creation care agenda, and we're going to get into the details of that in just a minute, but I want to start with you. So tell us your hero origin story. How did you get into faith-based environmental work and into your current position?Christina Slentz Well, to be honest, I never saw it coming in many ways. I was working in the global affairs area, looking at sources of conflict and cooperation and how political economy intersects with those dynamics, and that was my academic area of focus. And at the same time, I've always been a catechist in the Catholic church since the 90s, and my church life was pretty comfortable, I would say, and active. But I didn't really see those two things coming together until Laudato si', the encyclical written by Pope Francis on the care of our common home, was released in 2015, and this really started to bring more overlap between these two areas in my life. And I would say, increasingly, then there was a lot of interplay between those focus areas for me. And eventually this position became available in the Diocese of San Diego, and a friend mentioned it to me, and I thought that is actually the perfect vocation for me. And I really feel like I understood it to be a vocation, not just a job.Debra Rienstra Yeah, I think I can relate to everything you just said. I think we came to this work from different areas of specialty, but yeah, like you, I feel like we've had these mid-career shifts where suddenly our area of specialty—in my case, literature and creative writing—has become energized by—in your case, Laudato si', in my case, other documents as well as Laudato si',—and we've sort of taken this fascinating and yeah, I would agree, vocational, turn. So let's talk a little bit more about Laudato si'. I imagine our listeners know at least a little bit about it. It's been so enormously influential. It's such an amazing landmark document. Could you talk a little bit about how you've seen Laudato si' diffuse through the Catholic Church, especially the American Catholic Church?Christina Slentz Yes, I think, to be honest, it has had a complicated journey with the Catholic community here in the United States. Very much like the issue of climate change in the global community, the United States has struggled with these dynamics—I think the way that they involve our economics and some of our very strong ideology about economic freedom and what that means to people. And so I think it's fair to say that while Laudato si' was very warmly received around the world, it has struggled in the United States as a whole, and that includes the American Catholic community. That said, there have been—like your description of refugia suggests——there have been these pockets, though, where I think that particular dynamics existed, and there was fertile ground for seeds to be planted. And the Diocese of San Diego is one of them. The Diocese of—the Archdiocese of Atlanta was another. There are a couple around the country, and I do think some footholds were created. In addition, one of the things that is particularly interesting about the encyclical Laudato si'—and an encyclical is just a document that a pope writes and then circulates, right, this is where the word encyclical comes from—circulates around until everyone's had a chance to read it. We can imagine in medieval times, you know, how this must have been a challenge. And I think that, you know, this challenge exists, but Father Emmett Farrell is the founder of this ministry in my diocese, and Father Emmett just celebrated his 60th anniversary of his ordination, and Father Emmett will say he has never seen an encyclical translate to action the way that Laudato si' has. And in particular, there is a Vatican online platform called the Laudato si' Action Platform, where Catholics—either parishes, schools, orders of sisters or religious—can get on this platform and learn about the dynamics that we face. They can see how our values are distilled into seven goals, and then they can reflect on their behavior, using this tool to sort of measure where they are, and then write a plan of action and upload it and share it with each other. And Father Emmett really celebrates how amazing it is that, you know, that we're going to lean into technology and use it for the good.Debra Rienstra Oh, awesome. There's so many things I want to follow up on in that answer. And I want to begin by just thanking you for being honest about pushback to Laudato si' in the US. And I want to go back to that in just a second, if it's okay. And then I want to thank you for the way you've thought about, you know, some of these dioceses like the mighty San Diego and the mighty Atlanta as sort of refugia spaces. And we'll come back to that again too, I really hope, and I want to hear some more details about your particular diocese. Why do you think there has been pushback in the American Catholic Church? You mentioned economic reasons, and you know, Pope Francis and Pope Leo now have both been very pointed in their critique of climate denial, of greed, of exploitation, injustice, war, economic systems that many Americans have sort of held as almost sacrosanct. So what are you noticing in Catholic conversations about that critique? Why are people resisting the critique and why are people saying, “No, that's right”—what are the motivations behind each of those responses?Christina Slentz So, you know, we could probably talk about this all day.Debra Rienstra Probably, yeah.Christina Slentz Because economic peace, I think, is really difficult to think about. You know, if we take the United Kingdom, for example, it's a country very much like the United States. So many of our you know, American culture and tradition and customs come out of that early launching that we experienced from, you know, Great Britain. And yet, as the topic of climate change came forward, Margaret Thatcher, who was, you know, a real compatriot of President Ronald Reagan at the time, she really took the scientific approach in thinking about climate change, and this set them on a path that's really different from the path that we experienced. And certainly, oil is a big factor in our economy. And I think it can be a real challenge for people to weigh the goods, you know, because we have to be honest, there are goods in both sides of these dynamics. When we understand the gravity, though, of climate change, if we're allowed to really get into those dynamics without the noise that has been kind of confronting that potential, then I think we can see that the good outweighs, you know, those alternative goods associated with continuing in the fossil fuel realm. But this is why we talk about a just transition, right? I think that many people who are hearing this noise, right, they don't understand that Pope Francis and others, you know, is really arguing for a just transition, and that would seek to care for the people that are going to be affected by whatever change in economic policy might make.Debra Rienstra Yeah, and more and more, those economic changes are actually positive in favor of transition in ways that they weren't even 5-10 years ago.Christina Slentz Yeah, I think it's amazing. We actually had some good momentum going until recently.Debra Rienstra Yeah, you know, I would love to get us all talking about a just and joyful transition, because it's more and more possible. And maybe we'll come back to that a little bit later too, when we talk about ecological spirituality. But let's go back to these places within the American Catholic Church, even, that are saying, “Oh yes, Laudato si', yes, let's go.” And San Diego diocese is one of those places. You had an action plan already in 2019. I think it's impressive that a diocese could get a plan together in four years. So good job. Knowing how long everything takes in church settings. So just give us a list of your accomplishments. What have you been up to since 2019? What are the kinds of things you've dipped your toes into?Christina Slentz Sure, and to be fair, I want to give some good credit to some others. You know, the Archdiocese of Atlanta had created their creation care action plan. This gave us some really good kind of framework to think about when we created ours. And there was a team that preceded me. They were all volunteers, very multidisciplinary in their backgrounds, everything from theologians to medical doctors who had worked with indigenous communities, you know, theologians, missionaries, energy engineers, and they really pulled this together early on. And this plan I now recognize as what climate action planners might refer to as an aspirational plan. It's all the things you could do in our area, and it serves as a really good resource for our parishes and schools as they think about what they might do in their Laudato si' action platform plans, and those are yearly plans that are really targeted on what we're going to do. So, you know, one of the things that they did early on was really push to solarize. And you know, we do have the great fortune of, one: climate here in San Diego, right? You know, we're sort of famous for that. And then you know, two: the other thing is that, you know, it was very normative to be shifting to solar, and continues to be an economic choice that is not really as politicized here as much as it might be elsewhere. And then the third thing was this is, you know, the magic number three is to have a bishop that is supportive. And so Cardinal McElroy—now Cardinal McElroy, then Bishop McElroy—really promoted this solarization. And at this point we have about 54% of our parishes solarized. And when I think now, you know, the Paris Climate Agreement says we want to have about half of our carbon emissions reduced by 2030 then you know, we're sitting at about half. Our building where I'm located is called our pastoral center. Some Catholic communities call it their chancery. And our solar array here provides over 80% of our electricity to the building. Our local utility is about half renewable energy, a little bit more. So with that in mind, you know, our electricity here to our building is a little over 90% coming from renewable energy, and this lets us have seven electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot so I can go to work and charge my car at the same time.Debra Rienstra Lovely.Christina Slentz So that was one big thing. I would say our other really big kind of landmark action that also was largely driven by Cardinal McElroy, was to divest of fossil fuels. And, you know, this is a real challenging thing to accomplish. We set a goal of no more than 5% of, you know, the earnings of both direct and indirect investment to be coming from fossil fuel. And after a year, we evaluated how we were doing, and we were actually hitting—not we, you know, the financial folks doing this—were hitting less than 3%. So, you know, we said, “Okay, I think we can say that this was successful, and we're still here.” So that was really exciting, and we didn't do it to be virtue signaling. Just, you know, for some of your listeners may not know, but the USCCB, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has a document that directs socially responsible investment for all areas. And so this is just one more area of socially responsible investment that the Diocese of San Diego has embraced.Debra Rienstra Yeah, yeah. So we've got money, we've got energy. How many parishes would you say are on board with this, doing yearly goals, selecting from the menu of fun ideas—what percentage of your parishes would you say are involved?Christina Slentz So I gotta, Debra, that's a little bit of a good question. I think, you know, we did just describe two very top-down approaches. And one of the things that our group, you know, when I came on board in 2022, we decided is, you know, we really wanted to push that grassroots. And so we see parishes demonstrating a range of behaviors, and I was initially surprised, but they actually behave a lot like countries around the world. And so, you know, you think, oh, that's going to be different. But, you know, you can also have three children, and they all behave differently, and you know, sometimes that's surprising as well, when they have the same parents. And so one of the things that I have really tried to do was offer more events that are here at the diocesan level. We have 97 parishes, and then we have—so sometimes we'll see individuals that are really on board, and they come from a parish where, at the parish level, not a lot is happening. Sometimes we have individuals that are participating, and they are doing a ton at their parish and succeeding. And then we have parishes where the pastor is leading the charge. And then on top of that, I would say there are parishes where they have solar and they have drought-resistant landscaping, and they have LEED silver certified buildings that, you know, are very environmentally friendly. And yet, you know, at the parishioner level, you know, not as much activity happening. So it is an array of activities. I would say probably half have had some kind of interaction with us, or have had parishioners or students participate in our programs. But you know, we reflect the American Catholic community, which reflects the broader American society as well. So there are places where we struggle, and then there are places where we see a lot of action and shining.Debra Rienstra Yeah, sure. And I really appreciate that. And I think listeners can relate to that range of involvement too. Maybe they are in any one of those categories or some other category themselves. And you know, as you say, it's the modeling of— even if it's a minority, it's the modeling and the enthusiasm and the even implicit sort of educating of others that can make this work spread too. So I want to list the seven goals of the Laudato si' action platform, because I think they're really, really great and helpful to people who are not in the Catholic Church, but in other aspects of the church, you might find these goals useful too. So here are the goals: response to the cry of the Earth, response to the cry of the poor, ecological economics, adoption of sustainable lifestyles, ecological education, ecological spirituality, community resilience and empowerment. So I want to start with the first three. We've talked a little bit about economics and how dicey that can be, but I wonder if you could describe how you see the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor as basically the same cry, as Pope Francis said in Laudato si'. How do you see that, especially in your region?Christina Slentz Yeah, so thank you. I think these two are kind of the crown jewels, right? And they sum up what we see happening very well. I think that the other goals are valuable because they sort of pull out the dynamics that we really understand as informing those two big—response to the cry of the Earth and cry of the poor. So as someone who was looking at this through the lens of being a social scientist, I found these two goals to really sum it up well, because it is not just the exposure to the environment that causes our concern for these dynamics. It's the exposure as well as the sensitivity of that population. And then this helps us understand also, maybe some vulnerability that that population might have. So for example, we had significant flooding about a year and a half ago in January, the month of January, and the same rain fell on a parish in the southern part of the Diocese, close to our Mexican border, in an area that is, you know, less wealthy, probably demonstrates some socio economic features that we would associate with marginalized communities. And then it also fell on a parish in Coronado, California. And some people might recognize the Hotel Del Coronado as an iconic location. It's a beautiful community. There's a lot of wealth. There's a lot of human capital as well. You know, very highly educated group, and so the buildings at two of two parishes in each of these locations were completely flooded. But, you know, the parish in Coronado was up on its feet within a week. And of course, they had repairs that had to be done, but they were able to get a hold of those folks, get them in, pay the bills, get it all done. And the parish on the south side had catastrophic flooding to its school, and the school was a total loss.Debra Rienstra Oh, wow.Christina Slentz So I think this really can help us understand the way that the cry of the Earth, these environmental climate extremes, or the variability that we're experiencing, leads to greater exposure, but how one community can face that exposure and adapt or bounce back fairly quickly, and another may not really have that capacity. And so you can't really pull them apart, because just measuring precipitation doesn't always give you the whole story.Debra Rienstra That's a very, very helpful answer to that. And I sometimes hear in religious circles, you know, “Well, we have to worry about other people, why should we worry about owls or whatever?” And the answer is: well, because what happens in nature affects people. So this is about loving your neighbor. Even if you're not convinced by the idea that we love the Earth for its own sake because it's beloved of God, we still have to love our neighbor. And this is a neighbor issue as well. So thank you. That was very helpful as an explanation.Christina Slentz One of my favorite kind of messages is, you know, having been a student of globalization, you know, I think that we live in a globalized world. You can't put that toothpaste back in the tube, right? Maybe there are some things we can do and that can be helpful, but the bottom line is, our actions have ripple effects, and so no matter what we do, we are going to have these impacts on people far beyond those we know and love on a day to day basis. And when we care for the Earth, we mitigate those effects on people all around the world, and so our caring for creation really is just love of neighbor at global scale.Debra Rienstra Ah, lovely. Yeah, so it works both ways. If you love neighbor, you love the Earth. If you love the Earth, you love your neighbor.Christina Slentz That's right.Debra RienstraHi, it's me, Debra. If you are enjoying this podcast episode, go ahead and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you have a minute, leave a review. Good reviews help more listeners discover this podcast. To keep up with all the Refugia news, I invite you to subscribe to the Refugia newsletter on Substack. This is my fortnightly newsletter for people of faith who care about the climate crisis and want to go deeper. Every two weeks, I feature climate news, deeper dives, refugia sightings and much more. Join our community at refugianewsletter.substack.com. For even more goodies, including transcripts and show notes for this podcast, check out my website at debrarienstra.com. D-E-B-R-A-R-I-E-N-S-T-R-A dot com. Thanks so much for listening. We're glad you're part of this community. And now back to the interview.Debra Rienstra Let's think about some of those more personal goals. I don't know, maybe they're not just personal, because everything is systemic too. But I want to talk about that sustainable lifestyle goal, adoption of sustainable lifestyle. So what does that mean, and how are people doing that in San Diego?Christina Slentz So I have a really amazing parish, St. Thomas More, and they have created a community garden that not only functions as a place for their parish to gather and work together, it also is open to the public, so it has an evangelical capacity as well. And they also collect recyclable cans and bottles and then take those to a facility where they can be paid for that recycling work, and then they take the money, and then they put it into this garden that allows them to gather and have a mission and have evangelical outreach. So I think of this as such a wonderful circular kind of example that is, you know, feeding them in many ways. You know, they have this sense of community. They have this sense of common, shared mission. They have a good relationship with the neighborhood around them, people that may be of different faiths or of no faith at all. And then they're also in good relationship with Mother Earth, and doing what they can to, you know, practice this sort of sustainability, or also a little bit like circular economics, I guess I would say as well. And I think one of the things that the Catholic Church is emphasizing is synodality, and our synodality really calls us to be community, to have a shared mission and really inviting participatory action. So in my building here, where we sort of have the headquarters, you know, we also have gone to compostables for all of our events, and we try to minimize any kind of single use plastics. But, you know, there's that dreaded moment at the end where everybody has to go to the three, you know, receptacles. Everyone panics, especially if I'm near them, and I feel terribly, you know, like, should I step away? Should I give them a moment to give them help? Is that overreach? And so, you know, but we all fumble through together, and that's where I've kind of said, like, “Look, it's not easy for me either. Like, God forbid I put the wrong thing in the wrong can, right?” So I think that there's this way where we all are coming together to sort of take on this work. And, you know, we're not going to be perfect, but, you know, I think that it does foster community when we take this on, and then also recognizing how, you know, now we are living with greater simplicity, and we are impacting the Earth, you know, to a lesser extent.Debra Rienstra Yeah, nothing bonds people like pulling weeds together, or standing over the recycle bins going, “Hmm.” It's okay. We don't have to indulge in recycling guilt, you know, just do your best. So I want to move on to ecological spirituality. I love that phrase. It's not one you hear everywhere. And I wanted to remind listeners that San Diego Diocese is the most biodiverse diocese in the US. Maybe we wouldn't have expected that, but you've kind of got everything there. So I want to talk about ecological spirituality in the context of that actual place. I love the sentiment you quoted from Laudato si' in an article you wrote recently. It was an idea from Pope Francis that in the beauties and wonders of the Earth, we experience God's friendship with us. And so I wanted to ask you how you're helping people in your parishes reconnect to the Earth where you are, and thus, and this is how you put it, “revive something of our true selves.”Christina Slentz Yeah, one of my favorite pieces in Laudato si': Pope Francis alludes to having a place in childhood where we felt a sense of awe and wonder. And I think that that awe and wonder allows us to get back to childhood in some ways, before there was a lot of noise before there was all the different distractions. And I think that that true self is also a little freer to connect to God. I think sometimes about little children and baby Jesus, you know, and that sort of immediate connection that's not really complicated, you know, it's just comfortable. Or feeling the love of God like being a child sitting on the lap of your mom or your dad. And so encouraging people, or providing opportunities for this return to that place of awe and wonder, I think is really important. I think that at the heart of our inability to care for creation is this estrangement from our Creator. So we won't care for something if we don't love it. And in this way, ecological spirituality may be step one in all of this, right? So I think we are really lucky, being here. As I mentioned, our climate is beautiful. It is a beautiful place. We have everything from the ocean to mountains to desert, and many people who live here do really connect with the geography and the beauty of where we are, and so inviting them to take a moment to just pause and think about those places. Think about their senses as they move through the memory of that space, I think is really important before we start any of the other conversations. And so I try to do that, and then we share about it. And I have yet to find somebody that says, “Oh, I just didn't have a place.” Everybody has a place. And many people will say, “I really struggled, because I love this place, and I love that place,” you know. And so it is really great to hear. And I think people really come out of an exercise like that with this new sense of common ground as well. And I think that is so important, right? Because if you ask people like, “Raise your hand, who hates trees?” No one's gonna do it, right? Don't even think anyone does. Or “Raise your hand if you like to litter.” No one's going to say, like, “Oh yeah, I really love throwing things out my window.” And so there is a lot more common ground. And I think that eco spirituality invites us to find out how much we have in common, and actually how much we all yearn for that place of connectedness.Debra Rienstra Oh, yeah. I've noticed, you know, people have so many different feelings that motivate what they might do in a faith and climate space, and there's anger, there's fear, a lot of anxiety. But the trick, I think, is to get to the center, which is love. And the quickest way to do that, maybe, is to find that early love, or a love that's developed over many, even generations, in a particular place, if you're lucky, and you're rooted in some way. I feel like we also, as people of faith, haven't made enough of a case that being closer to the creation is, in fact, a pathway to God. And I see that in a lot of the writings that you have too. It's a way of understanding God better. It's a way of allowing God to speak to us that we sometimes underestimate, I think. There's other ways, of course, but it's one that we tend to underestimate. It is a way to deeper spirituality. So getting people to be in touch with that, it sounds like you've you've worked on that a little bit.Christina Slentz We're very lucky. The Franciscan tradition is pretty rich and present here. The Franciscan School of Theology is located here at the University of San Diego.Debra Rienstra There we go.Christina Slentz I have several secular Franciscans on my team, and a few Franciscan friars. And you know, that's very much at the heart of St. Francis and St. Claire's tradition. St. Bonaventure, who is a Franciscan, actually calls nature, or the environment, the created world, like another book. It's another gospel that tells us something about God's plan.Debra Rienstra Yeah, yeah. So I wanted to quote from Pope Leo's message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which was September one. And I found his message so encouraging, and especially this particular paragraph, it's along the line of seeds here. He writes, “In Christ, we too are seeds, and indeed seeds of peace and hope. The prophet Isaiah tells us that the Spirit of God can make an arid and parched desert into a garden, a place of rest and serenity. In his words, a spirit from on high will be poured out on us, and the wilderness will become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the work of righteousness quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings and in quiet resting places.” So we have this beautiful vision and the sense of vocation of who we are and who our communities are as seeds of peace and hope. So it seems like you experience that in the San Diego Diocese. Are there some particular examples that have been really meaningful and important to you, where you see that “seeds of hope” metaphor being played out?Christina Slentz Yeah, I would point to two areas that I would offer up as good examples. One is a parish that is located in what's called Barrio Logan. It is an ecologically marginalized community. The highways literally forced the school to be moved when they put the highway in right down the middle of the community. And that's the I-5. So it runs all the way from Canada to Mexico. Big highway. In addition, the Coronado Bridge connects to the highway right there. The Navy base is there, and the Port of San Diego all intersects there. So their air quality is really degraded, and it's a socio-economically poor area. It is also a predominantly Hispanic community there. But the Jesuit pastor there, Father Scott Santa Rosa, is a very good community organizer. He led the parish when they were confronted by another warehouse that was going to be added at the port. And the proposal by the company violated the Port Authority's standards, but they were seeking a waiver, and Father Scott brought in the Environmental Health Coalition. He brought in a theologian from University of San Diego. He invited the youth to present on Laudato si' to the adults and really empowered the community, which is that seventh goal of Laudato si', it's very connected to environmental justice. And then they learned, they grew, they came to an understanding that this was not acceptable, and that they wanted to be a voice for their community. They—we traveled. I was very fortunate to kind of engage with them in this process.And we traveled to the Port Authority building the night before the Port Authority was going to make their decision on this, whether or not to grant this waiver. And we said a rosary, which consists of five sets of 10 Hail Marys, roughly. And between each set, somebody spoke and gave their witness. And one of the women stood up and said, “I never thought I would speak publicly in my whole life. I can't believe I'm here. I can't believe I'm speaking, but I found my voice because of this issue.” And I thought, even if we lose, that's such an amazing win that people felt connected to their environment. They understood that they have a voice. They understood their own dignity and the dignity of their community, and felt that it was worth standing up for. And the next day we went, there was demonstration and public witnessing and praying, and then they went in and spoke at the actual hearing. And the first thing that the chairman of the board said, in response to everyone's comments was, “Well, I'm a Catholic, and we have three priests that were here today.” And you know, how many times does a public official make a statement of faith? You know, I thought, “Okay, win number two!” And you know, I'll just go ahead and cut to the chase. And they turned down the company that wanted to put the warehouse in and said, “You know, we just don't think that you've convinced the local community that the benefits of this would be worth it.” And it was amazing.And so that place, they continue to also tend to the care of migrants. They have begun the work of accompanying migrants that are going for their court appointed hearings for their asylum process. And you know, those are not outcomes that are generally favorable, but they are just going and being present with them and, you know, we are on the border. We understand how some of these environmental impacts do entangle with human mobility. And so, you know, there's a lot that this community, that is really one of our poorest communities in San Diego, has brought to the wider San Diego Diocese as more parishes and local Catholics are now mimicking what they have done and joining in this mission, and so they've been an incredible source—this tiny little parish in a poor part of the Diocese with terrible environmental impacts, has actually been a place where things have blossomed and grown, and they actually do have an amazing garden as well.Debra Rienstra Wow, that's an incredible story, and exactly a story of empowerment and resilience, as you suggested, and a story of how low-resource people are not necessarily low-resource people. They have other kinds of resources that may not be visible to the outside, but that can be very powerful, and especially when one of those is faith. It was such a great example of people motivated not only by their, you know, sort of survival, but their faith to do this work. Yeah, wonderful.Christina Slentz I think they understand the impact, right? So if you can shut your windows and turn on your air conditioning, maybe you don't get it.Debra Rienstra Yeah, right. So what would you say are your biggest obstacles and your biggest joys in your work right now?Christina Slentz I think the biggest obstacle is coming up against Catholics and/or Christians, or really any person of faith. But I think this may be especially true to Catholics and Christians who think that our social actions have to be an “either/or” choice, and they resist a “yes/and” mentality, and so they put different issues in competition with each other, right? And, you know, sometimes they think about Cain and Abel, right? This sort of jealousy or comparison can be a real problem. Instead of saying, “Okay, maybe we don't fit in a neat box, but as Catholics, you know, we have to do all the things.” And that kind of privileging one issue or another issue makes us vulnerable to those who would seek division and competition. And I think that when we look at God, you know, God loves all of it, right? God is love, and so there isn't that discrimination in the example of our Creator, and I would, of course, we aren't perfect, you know, but we should aspire to that same kind of comprehensive love.Debra Rienstra Yeah, and we do it together. We don't all have to do every last one of the things. We do it together. What about joys? What are your greatest joys right now in your work?Christina Slentz I think that coming together is really a joy. When I first started this work, I felt like a unicorn. I could either be the only person of faith in an environmental group, or I could be the only environmentalist in a faith group. And so it just was a feeling of being awkward all the time. And I do think that just in the three years that I've been in this position, I am seeing momentum build. I think ecumenicalism is super helpful in this regard. And I think that increasingly people are finding each other, and they are starting to get a little bit of a wake up call. I think it is unfortunate that people in the United States have had to experience some significant catastrophes and human loss and impact before they start to awaken to the issue of climate change or environmental degradation. I think plastics are really a pretty significant issue as well, but I think that more and more, people seem to be coming around to it, and whenever we celebrate together, that gives me joy.Debra Rienstra Yeah, I agree. I'm seeing it happening too, and it keeps me going. It keeps me going to connect with people like you, and every door I open, there's more people of faith doing amazing work, and we are building that mycelial network. And it's pretty great. So what is your favorite gift of the Catholic Church, a gift of wisdom on creation care that you wish everyone would receive?Christina Slentz I am not sure I would say that this is my favorite. But maybe I think that it is very important, is that, you know, in the Catholic community, communion, Eucharist, is really, you know, the summit for Catholics, that each week, at a minimum, we are going to celebrate this liturgy. We break open the Word, and then we celebrate the Eucharist. And one of the things I, you know, find very compelling is the fact that Jesus celebrates at the Last Supper with bread and wine. Jesus didn't get grapes and, you know, a piece of meat, to celebrate that these were both chosen items that were not just created by God, but they involved, as we say, in our celebration, the work of human hands. And so this really represents this call to co-creation, I think. And if that is something that you know, is really at the heart of Catholicism, this, you know, summit of our faith to celebrate the Eucharist—in that, we are called to co-create. And so this tells us something about how we are meant to exist in relationship with the Creator. You know, God reveals God's self to us in the beauty of this creation or in the gift of the Eucharist, and then, in turn, we are called to respond to that love. Otherwise the revelation isn't complete, so our response is to care for creation or to receive the Eucharist, and then go and serve as God has called us to serve. So maybe, maybe this is something that we can offer up.Debra Rienstra So beautifully said, and the intimacy of eating, you know, taking the material, the fruit of the earth and the work of human hands, into ourselves, responding by the Spirit, that intimacy, that physicality, there's a reason that that is the central ritual.Christina Slentz And you know, if I could give you one last image connected to that—because then we become the tabernacle, right? And we think about Noah and the ark, right? And how, you know, creation is destroyed, but the ark holds this refugia right and until it's time for this moment of reconciliation and forgiveness and then renewed flourishing. And you may or may not have heard this story, but when the LA fires raged in Pacific Palisades in January of 2025 the fires swept across the parish and school called Corpus Christi Parish, and it is the home parish of brother James Lockman, one of my dear, dear volunteers. And there was a firefighter who went back to look at the ruins that evening, and he was Catholic, and he came across the tabernacle from the church, and it was the only thing that survived. And when they opened it up, it was pristine on the inside and undamaged. And that Sunday, they took it to St. Monica's Parish, which is one of the very animated creation care parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and they celebrated Mass there because Corpus Christi did not have a parish right to celebrate in that weekend. And I think about that tabernacle as being, you know—it's to reflect that Ark of the Covenant, right, Ark of Noah, the Ark of the Covenant. And then we have the tabernacle now, and that space of refuge that was preserved, you know. And then, of course, when we take the Eucharist into ourselves, we become that tabernacle. We're walking tabernacles, right? So we are also, then, places of refuge and where we know that God is with us and we can go and serve.Debra Rienstra Christina, it has been such a joy to talk to you. Thank you for your wisdom, for your inspiration, for the way that you deploy your expertise in such compassionate and far reaching ways. It's just been a pleasure. Thank you.Christina Slentz Oh, thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed talking today with you, Debra.Debra Rienstra Thanks for joining us. For show notes and full transcripts, please visit debrarienstra.com and click on the Refugia Podcast tab. This season of the Refugia Podcast is produced with generous funding from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Colin Hoogerwerf is our awesome audio producer. Thanks to Ron Rienstra for content consultation as well as technical and travel support. Till next time, be well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit refugianewsletter.substack.com

Eric and Emily reconvene the podcast after a break and share some life updates: for Eric, joining the Society of St. Joseph and beginning life as a seminarian; for Emily, campus ministry, liturgical music and teaching at Ohio Dominican University. They welcome Deacon Royce Winters of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (and personal friend of Father Rivers) to discuss some great news: the approval of a historical marker all about Father Rivers, to be installed at St. Joseph Parish in Cincinnati. Eric, Emily and Deacon Royce discuss the process for the marker (especially determining its text) and ultimately the enduring historical significance of their friend, His Grace, Fr. Clarence Rivers. Listeners are encouraged to donate to help offset the significant cost of the historical marker (see below). For Episode 41 Show Notes, click here.

Have you ever felt your ministry energy start to fade a few months into the season? That sense of slowing down, coasting, or even drifting can happen to the best of us — but it doesn't have to keep you stuck. In this episode, Eric shares some thought around why drift happens — the human, spiritual, and cultural forces that quietly pull us off course — and how we can return to the fire of mission. Show Notes / Key Points: Naming the Drift Feeling flat or coasting in ministry is normal. Drift happens when we stop intentionally moving toward mission. Key insight: to drift, we simply need to do… nothing. Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14 NRSV Why Drift Happens Human side: fatigue, busyness, and familiarity. Rest and relational honesty help restore energy. (Matthew 11:28-30) Spiritual side: losing connection to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Abiding in Him is the source of fruitfulness. (John 15:4-5, Romans 8:26) Cultural side: pressure for constant growth and visible success. Trust God's rhythms of pruning and seasons. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Returning to the Fire of Mission Return to relationship: spend time with Jesus, remember your identity as a beloved child of God. (1 John 4:19, Ephesians 2:10) Reconnect with the Holy Spirit: pray for guidance, boldness, and renewed vision. (Acts 1:8, Galatians 5:16) Remember your why and who: focus on the people God has placed in your life and ministry. (Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Peter 3:15) Reflect on your witness: love is the first way people encounter the Gospel. Re-engage in community: ministry flourishes in shared life, prayer, and encouragement. (Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11) Closing Encouragement The Spirit who called you is still with you. You can fan the flame of your God-given gift for mission. (2 Timothy 1:6-7) Proclaim Team Resources: In-person trainings, workshops, and leadership summits to help leaders refocus on mission. Examples: Accompaniment Masterclass, Rescue Project support, Alpha parish sessions. Proclaim is a movement of the Archdiocese of Vancouver inspiring disciples to proclaim Jesus in their homes and communities. The Proclaim podcast is a space where you listen to inspiring disciples talk all things around sharing Jesus with others, and learn how to step into your own missionary identity. To learn more about Proclaim, you can visit weareproclaim.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @weareproclaim

We're joined with Sarah McDonald, Communications Director of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, gives us a sneak peek of what readers will find in this week's Clarion Herald, the official Catholic newspaper in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Sr. Evangeline Ingwersen, Chant specialist and Dr. Jim Jordan, sheet music editor with Paraclete Press talks about Gregorian Chant. Dr. Tom Neal, Chief of Evangelization and Mission Engagement in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee with Catholic 101 segment talks about plenary indulgences.

Imagine standing among thousands of faithful Catholics, voices lifted in prayer and praise. In that moment, you can feel the Church fully alive—young, reverent, and on fire for mission. In this short bonus episode, I share a personal story from my family and three compelling reasons why SEEK might be exactly what your heart's been longing for. Whether you're craving hope, community, or a deeper sense of purpose, this isn't just a conference—it's a chance to be renewed. Give it a listen, and let the Spirit stir something new in you. [00:29] Why You Should Attend the Focus Seek Conference [01:17] Personal Family Insights [03:14] Reason 1: See the Church Alive [05:12] Reason 2: Be Equipped for Mission [06:18] Reason 3: Inspirational Speakers [06:48] Special Grants for Omaha Archdiocese Conference Grant Application (https://archdioceseofomaha.formstack.com/forms/conference_grant) for ArchOmaha parish groups of 3 or more. For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

When the mission feels massive, how do you take the first step? We all feel the pressure. With souls on the line, it feels like we need big plans, big programs, big results. But what if the most fruitful thing you could do today was simply to take one small step? In this episode, I share four strategies that have helped me and others start small, build momentum, and trust that God will grow what we begin. Whether you're leading a parish, a ministry, or just trying to follow Jesus more closely, I want to encourage you: don't wait for perfect. Start small. God delights in small beginnings, and He'll grow them into something beautiful. [01:42] Strategy 1: Shrink the First Step [02:46] Strategy 2: Do the Next Right Thing [04:42] Strategy 3: Settle for Incomplete and Imperfect [08:43] Strategy 4: Biblical Encouragement to Start Small [10:11] Closing Thoughts and Prayer For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

Fr. Patrick gave this talk at the Archdiocese of Indianapolis' Catholic Women's Conference. — Connect with us! Website: https://slakingthirsts.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytcnEsuKXBI-xN8mv9mkfw

Fr. Patrick gave this talk at the Archdiocese of Indianapolis' Catholic Women's Conference. The readings are from Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18, Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 & Luke 18:9-14. — Connect with us! Website: slakingthirsts.com/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCytcnEsuKXBI-xN8mv9mkfw

Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Jessica Mendoza. Alissa and Jessica discuss, "Partners in the Gospel," currently taking place in the Archdiocese of Seattle. The two talk about:Why Partners in the Gospel came about and the hope behind it.The power of being intentional and careful with important things.The power of listening and responding.Practicing not bringing "serial consumerism" into parish life.Working together as the Body.Allowing ourselves to grieve loss or change.Bringing a lion's share of fraternal care to the table.Jessica Mendoza was born and raised in the  Seattle area but counts her roots in Michoacán México. Her works as a pediatric and neonatal physical therapist, and  is also active in her parish, volunteering in high school youth ministry, parish leadership, and working alongside their companion parish in Guatemala.  She also helps chair her Archdiocesan Disability Inclusion Ministry, so that people of all abilities are able to participate fully in the life of the Church. In her spare time Jessica loves reading, hiking around the beautiful Pacific Northwest scenery, and playing the flute in a community Wind Symphony.  

Two weeks ago, Ralph discussed Bishop Robert Barron's reflections on Pope Francis' papacy and what his legacy means for the Church moving forward. This week, Ralph offers ways to approach living in such times of uncertainty and disunity. Ralph particularly notes the profound reflections on participating more deeply in Christ's passion, as found in Fr. Donald Haggerty's book, "The Hour of Testing: Spiritual Depth and Insight in a Time of Ecclesial Uncertainty." Fr. Haggerty is a parochial vicar of St. Patrick's Cathedral in the Archdiocese of New York and the author of several books.To sign up for Renewal Ministries free monthly monthly newsletter visit: https://www.RenewalMinistries.net/newsletter.

What does it really mean to love your neighbor—not just in theory, but in their mess? In this episode, I sit down with Austin Habash from Sent Evangelization, and we talk about what happens when we actually step out and meet people where they are. How knocking on doors leads to praying with strangers, and how helping with small needs opens the way for grace. Austin shares stories that are raw, beautiful, and deeply human. If you've ever felt the tug to do something more, to bring Jesus to your neighborhood in a real and personal way, this conversation will inspire you and give you a path forward. You don't have to be perfect—you just have to show up. [01:18] Meet Austin Habash: A Journey of Faith [02:51] The Call to Neighborhood Outreach [05:22] Challenges and Strategies in Evangelization [08:31] Real-Life Stories and Impact [11:51] The Role of Parishes in Evangelization [14:48] Training and Supporting Evangelists [26:03] Building a Community of Faith [28:49] Framework for Evangelization Teams [29:26] Roles within the Evangelization Team [30:38] Training and Preparation for Evangelists [32:46] Practical Steps for Launching Evangelization Efforts [45:17] Engaging with Non-Christians and the Unchurched [55:01] Final Thoughts and Encouragement Check out Sent Evangelization (https://www.sentevangelization.org/) or watch their training videos on Formed.org (https://formed.org/)! For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

Bill Newbrough, Donor Relations Officer for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, shows how you can support Catholic pastoral care for U.S. Military members through the Triennial National Collection.

Canon Benjamin Norman, ICKSP, was ordained in 2018. He currently serves at Most Holy Rosary Chapel (St. Vincent's School For Boys) in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.   In Today's Show: Can You Be Open to Demonic Attack Without Knowing It? Why is the church supposedly for income redistribution? Is there a way to confess sins we're not aware of? Why does God allow protestant ministers to perform exorcisms? Should people go to Bible studies about predicting the rapture? What does Satan being bound in the book of Revelation mean? YouTube Rapid Fire Questions Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Rejecting calls for mercy from opponents of the death penalty, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Monday that Lance Shockley's execution will be carried out as planned at 6 p.m. Tuesday. We sit down with Mary Fox, coordinator of the Death Penalty Abolition Program with the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and Heidi Moore of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, to react to Kehoe's announcement and to discuss the law that allowed a judge to singlehandedly sentence Shockley to death.

Mary Kate Zander of Illinois Right to Life Illinois Right to Life The post Pro-Abortion Illinois Senator Richard During Being Given A Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chicago Archdiocese – Mary Kate Zander, 9/30/25 (2732) first appeared on Issues, Etc..