Podcasts about catholiclife

We are taking a break this week as Gomer's dad's funeral is taking place this week. Please keep the Gormley family in your prayers. In the meantime, please enjoy this episode from the backlog. It can be difficult to see the point of our suffering. Sometimes, it can be an even greater struggle to help someone else through their suffering. Mike and Dave are joined by Jeff Cavins to discuss evangelization, but especially, how to share a message of hope when it comes to suffering. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

What if the words spoken over Jesus at His baptism, "You are my beloved Son," are the very same words the Father is speaking over you today? Dr. Sri uncovers the Father's relentless love throughout salvation history and explains how Jesus reveals the heart of the eternal Father. Learn why your baptism changed everything—and how God continues to call you His beloved child. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

As we begin a new season on Catholic healthcare, Dave reflects on the passing of Gomer's father and the hope of the Resurrection. Drawing from his experience accompanying his late wife through serious illness, Dave explores why healthcare is more than medicine, it's a work of mercy. He discusses the Church's historic role in caring for the sick, the Catholic roots of hospitals, and previews upcoming conversations with Catholic doctors, nurses, chaplains, and healthcare professionals living out their faith through healing and compassionate care. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

What if your greatest failures could become the place where you encounter God's mercy most deeply? Dr. Sri's explores the Church's striking phrase "O happy fault" and explains how the fall of Adam and Eve unveils a powerful new dimension of the Father's merciful love. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!She was alone, spiraling, and ready to end her life. Then a single thought cut through everything: “What if the pain doesn't end here?” That question didn't just stop Nancy, it started a chain of events she still can't explain away: five days of praying the Rosary, an unmistakable push to go see a priest, and the terrifying walk into a Catholic church where she felt like she didn't belong.We talk with Nancy about the real backstory leading up to that moment: childhood trauma, secrecy, same-sex attraction, family upheaval, and years of addiction that moved from “normal” partying to isolation, overdoses, psychiatric holds, and repeated rehab cycles. She shares how the culture's identity scripts can feel like relief at first, whether it is coming out or experimenting with gender transition, and why that “freedom” often collapses into deeper confusion when the underlying wounds stay untouched.Then we dig into the bigger questions her story raises for anyone trying to live and speak the faith clearly today: What is identity, and is it built from desires or received from God? Why does language like “gay Catholic” create a conflict of frameworks? How do we tell the truth about confession and Communion without turning it into a pride project? Along the way we get practical about healing, shame, conscience, and why the sacraments are not a side detail but the center of recovery and conversion.If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find it.Support the showGet 10% off an amazing Black Monk Rosary by going to https://www.blackmonkrosaries.com/?ref=AVOIDINGBABYLON and using code AVOIDINGBABYLON at checkout!Check out our sponsor, Nic Nac, at www.nicnac.com and use code "AB25%" for 25% off of your first order!Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://avoiding-babylon-shop.fourthwall.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comFull Premium/Locals Shows on Audio Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1987412/subscribeRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rss

How can parishes better accompany people entering the Catholic Church? In this listener Q&A episode, Dave wraps up the OCIA series by answering questions about sponsors, mentorship, community, Natural Family Planning, and how to meet the diverse needs of those coming into the Church. Dave argues that one of the biggest missing pieces in many OCIA programs isn't more content, it's deeper relationships. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

Do you really believe in the Father's love for you?  The devil's main tactic is to sow doubt in our hearts about God the Father—causing us to question the Father's goodness, His love, and His care for us. Dr. Sri explains how  to grow in greater trust in our Heavenly Father and surrender our lives into His powerful hands. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Dave explores mystagogy, the often overlooked final stage of OCIA that begins after the Easter Vigil and calls new Catholics to go deeper into the mysteries they've just entered. Rather than being a finish line, he explains it as the start of lifelong formation. He also reflects on grief and how suffering can deepen belief in the resurrection, highlights the need for stronger parish community and post-Easter formation, and asks for prayers for Gomer's dad and family as his father's health declines. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

Many Catholics call God "Father," but few truly experience the depth of His fatherly love in their daily lives. Dr. Sri explores how Scripture—especially the opening chapters of Genesis—reveals the heart of our Heavenly Father: a Father who delights in us, provides for us, sees our deepest needs, protects us, blesses us, and invites us to share in His mission. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

The Easter Vigil is more than a beautiful liturgy, it's the culmination of salvation history and the climax of the catechumenate. Gomer and Dave unpack the rich symbolism of the Church's greatest liturgical celebration, from the new fire and Paschal Candle to baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. They explore why the Vigil is centered on those entering the Church, how the liturgy embodies the Gospel through signs and symbols, and why Christians should never underestimate the power of the Church's ancient traditions. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

What do children most deeply long for from their fathers? Dr. Sri kicks off a 3-part series on fatherhood by discussing the crisis of fatherhood in our culture and explaining what true fatherhood looks like. Today, drawing from Scripture, Dr. Sri reveals how God the Father provides the perfect model of authentic fatherhood. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Pope Leo's first encyclical tackles one of the biggest questions of our age: artificial intelligence. Gomer and Dave unpack the promises and dangers of AI, from truth, education, and social media to warfare, work, and human relationships. Are we building a tool that serves humanity, or a new Tower of Babel? Find out how Catholics should respond with wisdom, beauty, strong families, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

The homily is far more than a simple sermon or inspirational talk—it is a sacred moment in the liturgy where God desires to speak directly to our hearts. Dr. Sri explains how the homily prepares us for a deeper encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

As their parents grow older and suffering becomes more personal, Gomer and Dave reflect on the hidden ways God forms saints through weakness, loss, and love. Gomer shares the heartbreaking experience of moving his father into long-term care, while Dave opens up about walking through hospice and caring for his son, Max. In the midst of these deeply human moments, they explore what it truly means to accompany another person in the faith. From OCIA to Confirmation and everyday Christian life, they unpack the real role of a sponsor, not just as a title, but as a spiritual guide, mentor, and witness. Together, they challenge common misconceptions, explain what the Church actually teaches, and offer practical wisdom for choosing, and becoming, someone who helps lead others closer to Christ. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

What if the places in your life that feel stagnant, dry, or broken are exactly where the Holy Spirit wants to meet you? Jesus promised that rivers of living water would flow from the hearts of those who believe in Him — a promise fulfilled through the Holy Spirit. Dr. Sri explains how God's living water flows into our deepest wounds to bring healing and transformation. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

When Hollywood director Rian Johnson started making Wake Up Dead Man, the new Knives Out mystery (a movie you can watch on Netflix), he needed some help. His uncle and aunt in Denver connected him with their pastor in Denver, Father Scott Bailey, who became an advisor to the project. He talks about the process and the big questions of this movie with me. (And I admit: I hated the beginning and stopped watching a few minutes in. After reading about Fr Scott online and finding several Catholic sources who praised the movie, I gave it another look. I'm glad I did, because I think it's not only entertaining but also important … and beautiful.) Article in First Things by Father Scott about the movie and his role in it, “Wake Up Dead Man Captures the Beauty of Priestly Ministry,” January 5, 2026. Article in Denver Catholic about Fr Scott and the movie, “A Denver Priest, a Hollywood Director and a Bowl of Fettuccine: Father Scott Bailey Advises on Catholic Life for New ‘Knives Out' Film” by Jay Sorgi, November 22, 2025. Screenplay of Wake Up Dead Man by Rian Johnson, the director and writer, available on his website. Fr Scott Bailey at the Archdiocese of Denver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

When Hollywood director Rian Johnson started making Wake Up Dead Man, the new Knives Out mystery (a movie you can watch on Netflix), he needed some help. His uncle and aunt in Denver connected him with their pastor in Denver, Father Scott Bailey, who became an advisor to the project. He talks about the process and the big questions of this movie with me. (And I admit: I hated the beginning and stopped watching a few minutes in. After reading about Fr Scott online and finding several Catholic sources who praised the movie, I gave it another look. I'm glad I did, because I think it's not only entertaining but also important … and beautiful.) Article in First Things by Father Scott about the movie and his role in it, “Wake Up Dead Man Captures the Beauty of Priestly Ministry,” January 5, 2026. Article in Denver Catholic about Fr Scott and the movie, “A Denver Priest, a Hollywood Director and a Bowl of Fettuccine: Father Scott Bailey Advises on Catholic Life for New ‘Knives Out' Film” by Jay Sorgi, November 22, 2025. Screenplay of Wake Up Dead Man by Rian Johnson, the director and writer, available on his website. Fr Scott Bailey at the Archdiocese of Denver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/film

When Hollywood director Rian Johnson started making Wake Up Dead Man, the new Knives Out mystery (a movie you can watch on Netflix), he needed some help. His uncle and aunt in Denver connected him with their pastor in Denver, Father Scott Bailey, who became an advisor to the project. He talks about the process and the big questions of this movie with me. (And I admit: I hated the beginning and stopped watching a few minutes in. After reading about Fr Scott online and finding several Catholic sources who praised the movie, I gave it another look. I'm glad I did, because I think it's not only entertaining but also important … and beautiful.) Article in First Things by Father Scott about the movie and his role in it, “Wake Up Dead Man Captures the Beauty of Priestly Ministry,” January 5, 2026. Article in Denver Catholic about Fr Scott and the movie, “A Denver Priest, a Hollywood Director and a Bowl of Fettuccine: Father Scott Bailey Advises on Catholic Life for New ‘Knives Out' Film” by Jay Sorgi, November 22, 2025. Screenplay of Wake Up Dead Man by Rian Johnson, the director and writer, available on his website. Fr Scott Bailey at the Archdiocese of Denver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Hollywood director Rian Johnson started making Wake Up Dead Man, the new Knives Out mystery (a movie you can watch on Netflix), he needed some help. His uncle and aunt in Denver connected him with their pastor in Denver, Father Scott Bailey, who became an advisor to the project. He talks about the process and the big questions of this movie with me. (And I admit: I hated the beginning and stopped watching a few minutes in. After reading about Fr Scott online and finding several Catholic sources who praised the movie, I gave it another look. I'm glad I did, because I think it's not only entertaining but also important … and beautiful.) Article in First Things by Father Scott about the movie and his role in it, “Wake Up Dead Man Captures the Beauty of Priestly Ministry,” January 5, 2026. Article in Denver Catholic about Fr Scott and the movie, “A Denver Priest, a Hollywood Director and a Bowl of Fettuccine: Father Scott Bailey Advises on Catholic Life for New ‘Knives Out' Film” by Jay Sorgi, November 22, 2025. Screenplay of Wake Up Dead Man by Rian Johnson, the director and writer, available on his website. Fr Scott Bailey at the Archdiocese of Denver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

Explore the powerful but often overlooked OCIA stage of Purification and Enlightenment with Gomer and Dave. They unpack the Church's ancient roots, from exorcism prayers and spiritual warfare to the Rite of Election and Lenten scrutinies, and show how this period reveals what needs healing, strengthens what is good, and prepares the elect for the Easter Vigil. Whether you're in OCIA ministry or simply curious about the Church's process of formation, discover a fresh vision of Lent, conversion, and discipleship. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

In moments of uncertainty, disappointment, and confusion, it's common to  wonder in our hearts, "Lord, are you really there?" Dr. Sri encourages us by unpacking Jesus' promise in the Great Commission: “I am with you always.” He explains how Christ remains present to us at all times through His Church, Scripture, the sacraments, and especially the Eucharist. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

“This is not a curriculum, it's a pattern of life.” Gomer and Dave dive into the heart of the catechumenate: what it is, why it matters, and how it's meant to form not just informed Catholics, but transformed ones. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

 Can people who practice other religions be saved? Dr. Sri grounds his answer to this complex question in the theological virtue of hope, thereby preventing us from falling into two common extremes—despair or presumption. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

We hope that you are enjoying Leaving Egypt. We would invite you to join the Leaving Egypt community on Substack by becoming a paid subscriber: https://leavingegyptpodcast.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode, Al Roxburgh and Jenny Sinclair meet Fr John Armitage. These days, there is much talk about the challenges for leadership and what it means to be church in a post-everything society. Anxious questions abound: Is revival coming, or are we sliding into an even more uncertain season? Yet when listening to Fr John, a completely different response emerges. Amid what he describes as the great emptiness of modern life - the worship of idols, the loss of community – here is a wise, seasoned leader who carries a quiet sense of joy, anticipation, and delight in the work God has given him right where he is. What's the secret? First, he is deeply rooted in place. When asked about himself, he begins with the story of where he grew up. It's as if he's saying: if you want to know who I am, you need to know where I was planted. The relational character of working-class culture has shaped his life. Second, he is firmly rooted in the Catholic tradition; the ordered rhythms of the Church have formed him. There is no fancy strategy to what he does, no new thing that makes the parish successful. But there is this deep rooting in the Gospel. These realities give him the grounding to be present with people, to enter their everyday lives in a way that lets them know they're being met by someone held by a bigger story. This is a man in love with his neighbourhood, his life in God, and therefore with the people around him—core elements, it seems, in being a kingdom people in Egypt.Monsignor John Armitage is the longstanding parish priest at St Margaret's Church in Canning Town, his lifelong East London home. Fr John is an inspirational retreat leader, speaker and mentor to clergy and has held senior roles in the Diocese of Brentwood, including Vicar General. For five years between 2014 and 2020, he was Rector of the National Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham, overseeing its modernisation and leading the Rededication of England to the Dowry of Mary during the Covid lockdown. Deeply committed to social justice, he was instrumental in founding the UK's first community organising alliance, the East London Communities Organisation (TELCO) in 1996, which launched the original Living Wage campaign in 2001. Since 2020, he has also taken on the leadership of the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom, the UK Catholic evangelisation charity which has birthed the WeBelieve Festival of Catholic Life.For Monsignor John Armitage:https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/clergy/rt-rev-mgr-john-armitage/https://www.guild-ransom.co.uk/abouthttps://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/our-work/living-wage/videos/east-end-dockers/Mentioned in this episode:England: The Dowry of Our Lady of MaryArticle by Maurice GlasmanFor Alan J Roxburgh:http://alanroxburgh.com/aboutFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.roxburgh.127/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecommonsnetworkBooks:Forming Communities of Hope in the Great Unravelling: Leadership in a Changing World (with Roy Searle)Joining God in the Great UnravellingLeadership, God's Agency and DisruptionsJoining God, Remaking Church, Changing the World: The New Shape of the Church in Our TimeFor Jenny Sinclair:Substack: https://t4cg.substack.com/s/from-jenny-sinclairWebsite: https://togetherforthecommongood.co.uk/from-jenny-sinclairLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-sinclair-0589783b/Twitter: https://twitter.com/T4CGFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TogetherForTheCommonGoodUKInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/t4cg_insta/ Get full access to Leaving Egypt at leavingegyptpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

What if becoming Catholic wasn't just a class, but a public commitment that changes your entire life? Gomer and Dave unpack the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens in the OCIA process and why it marks a serious turning point in someone's journey toward Christ. They explore how the early Church treated baptism as a life-altering decision, why the Church publicly “receives” catechumens, and what it means to say yes to following Jesus in a real, concrete way. They also discuss conversion, spiritual warfare, and why modern discipleship often lacks the weight it once carried. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

Distraction, dryness, boredom, and discouragement are common in prayer. In this special pilgrimage episode, Dr. Sri stands in the home of St. Catherine of Siena—just outside the room where she spent years in deep prayer. Drawing from her wisdom, Dr. Sri explores why prayer can feel so difficult and what to do about it. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

OCIA is meant to guide people into a living relationship with Jesus Christ, but too often it skips the most important step: real evangelization. Gomer and Dave break down the stages of OCIA, expose the biggest gaps, and explain why many people fall away after entering the Church. They share practical ways to rethink parish evangelization, how to know if someone is truly ready for the sacraments, and why a personal encounter with Christ must come first. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

What makes the Gospel reading at Mass so different from every other reading in Scripture? Dr. Sri invites us to look more closely at the beauty, reverence, and meaning behind the Gospel proclamation in the Liturgy of the Word. From standing and singing Alleluia to the procession of the Book of the Gospels and the sign of the cross traced on our minds, lips, and hearts, every detail reveals the central place of Jesus' life in our faith. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Are we having a Catholic revival? In this kickoff episode of the new season, Gomer and Dave return to unpack one of the most important, and often misunderstood, processes in the Catholic Church, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). They explore why OCIA matters not just for those entering the Church, but for every Catholic, and how it reveals the deeper mission of evangelization in today's world. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

What does the resurrection story in Luke 24, the road to Emmaus, reveal about the Mass? Dr. Sri invites us to see how the disciples' journey on the road to Emmaus mirrors our own spiritual lives—filled with hope, confusion, joy, and sorrow. More importantly, it reveals what God truly desires from us at every Mass: not perfection, but presence. Not routine, but relationship. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

As Catholic schools navigate a world increasingly hostile to virtue, Dave VanVickle sits down with Christina Mehaffey, principal of Faustina Academy in Irving, Texas, to explore how a school can authentically live its Catholic mission. From social media policies to forming saints, Christina shares insights on creating a culture where students, families, and teachers work together to evangelize and pursue holiness. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

As we approach Divine Mercy Sunday, many of us feel an unspoken pressure in our spiritual lives: Am I doing this right? From prayer to parenting, vocation to discernment, we can approach our faith with anxiety, striving for perfection rather than resting in God's love. Dr. Sri reminds us of a powerful truth revealed in Divine Mercy—God is not waiting to evaluate you; He's already inviting you. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Dave calls us to finish Lent strong through prayer, especially at abortion clinics, and to respond wisely to evil. Rather than fixating on shocking cases, we should focus on everyday evils like abortion, pornography, and broken families, responding with faith. The true battle is won through ordinary holiness, evangelization, family love, daily faith, and trust in Christ, guided by Mary. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

The "Good Thief" was actually mocking Jesus earlier on Good Friday, so what changed? Dr. Sri explores his dramatic conversion and what it reveals about human weakness, repentance, and the limitless mercy of God. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Father Simon Esshaki, a Chaldean Catholic priest from San Diego with over 500K TikTok followers joins Matt to talk about why he became a priest, what celibacy actually means, confession and how to pursue sainthood no matter your state in life. Ep. 572 - - -

In this final episode of the season, Dave offers a clear and compelling roadmap for living as a missionary disciple in everyday life. Drawing from the wisdom of evangelization movements and his own pastoral experience, he unpacks ten essential principles—from a personal encounter with Jesus Christ to bold proclamation, sacramental living, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

What if the moment Jesus is condemned to death is actually the moment He reveals who He truly is? As we prepare for Palm Sunday, Dr. Sri takes a deep dive into Gospel of Matthew and the dramatic trial of Jesus before Caiaphas. Far from a simple courtroom exchange, this scene is steeped in prophecy, symbolism, and divine revelation. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Evangelization can feel intimidating—but mercy is something we all understand. Dave sits down with Dan Gallagher of Move a Mountain Missions to explore how simple encounters with the vulnerable can transform hearts and become the most powerful form of evangelization. Snippet from the Show We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

The raising of Lazarus is more than a miracle—it's climactic sign that reveals Jesus' love that leads Him to the Cross. Dr. Sri explains how this miracle is a turning point in the Gospel and how it shows us Jesus' deepest love for His friends. Just as Jesus calls Lazarus to come out, he continues to calls each of us by name to step out into new life. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Most people drive past these inner city neighborhoods—but missionaries from Vagabond Missions walk straight into them. Dave sits down with founder Bob Lenosky and president Andy of Vagabond Missions to talk about evangelizing inner-city teens, the messy reality of conversion, and why simply showing up can change a life. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

What is the role of feelings in romantic relationships and marriage? Dr. Sri explains that while emotions play an important role in relationships, they cannot be the foundation of love. Instead, real love requires commitment, clear judgment, and growth through challenges. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

It's easy to see sports as a distraction from faith, but what if they're actually a powerful path to it? Dave sits down with Julianna Calzonetti and Alex Ruston, Catholic sports outreach coordinators and missionaries serving athletes. Together, they share how the world of sports can become a mission field and how each of us can evangelize by bringing our passions and our faith together. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

God created sensual desire. It is powerful, beautiful, and good. But what happens when that desire becomes detached from love and commitment? Dr. Sri continues unpacking Pope John Paul II's profound insights on the key difference between authentic love and subtle forms of mutual use. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Dave is joined by Jim Beckman, director of Impact Center, to explore what it truly means to be a missionary disciple. Together, they dive into the beautiful messiness of mission and the bold obedience required, even when it challenges comfort or expectations. If you feel God stirring your heart to start a Bible study, lead a mission trip, or step out more boldly in evangelization, this conversation is for you! We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

What's happening in the human heart when we feel that sudden “spark” of attraction? Dr. Sri turns to the wisdom of St. John Paul II and his profound work Love and Responsibility to helps us to understand how to navigate our attractions so that they lead to authentic love—rather than lust and use. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Gomer and Dave will be back next week! In the meantime, please enjoy the episode from the archives: What is your plan for Lent? Is there anything you've been avoiding that the Lord is tugging at your heart to revisit? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle explain where our focus should be and how Lent is a time to become more disciplined, virtuous and free. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

As Lent begins, the Church invites us into the mystery of Christ's temptation in the desert. Drawing from the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas, Dr. Sri explores why Jesus allowed Himself to be tempted—and what His victory reveals about humility, spiritual maturity, and confidence in the Father's mercy. For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

How do you balance the joys and trials of living out your vocation? Dave talks with Gomer and his wife, Shannon to discuss the dynamic of being called to serve, while having a family. They share the good, the bad and the ugly of being on mission for the Lord and detail the sacrifices of daily life. No matter their calling to serve, they remember their first calling is to serve their family. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

Lent is coming—but is your plan just about doing more, or about letting Jesus go deeper? Dr. Sri unpacks Jesus' powerful words from the Sermon on the Mount and shows how Lent isn't meant to be a checklist of prayers and sacrifices, but a pathway to interior transformation. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

Have you switched the light on in your faith? Drawing from Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Mount, Dr. Sri explores what Jesus truly meant when He called His disciples to be salt of the earth and light of the world. Unpacking the historical world of first-century Judaism—with its political turmoil, Roman oppression, and competing religious responses—Dr. Sri emphasizes Jesus' powerful message centered on wholehearted surrender to God. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.