Podcast appearances and mentions of dave pivonka

Good morning! We're continuing to celebrate the Resurrection on this Thursday in the Octave of Easter, and we continue to remember our late Holy Father who will be laid to rest this weekend. On today's show, our Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast will remember him as a champion for the elderly. Fr. Dave Pivonka will offer his memories of meeting with Pope Francis a number of times. And Rita Heikenfeld will share some recipes to cook his favorite foods.

Good morning! We’re continuing to celebrate the Resurrection on this Thursday in the Octave of Easter, and we continue to remember our late Holy Father who will be laid to rest this weekend. On today’s show, our Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast will remember him as a champion for the elderly. Fr. Dave Pivonka will offer his memories of meeting with Pope Francis a number of times. And Rita Heikenfeld will share some recipes to cook his favorite foods. Fr. Robert Nixon – TAN Resurrection series Fr. Rob Jack – Driving Home the Faith Fr. Dave Pivonka – Franciscan University Dr. John Bergsma – Jesus and the Jubilee Rita Heikenfeld – About Eating Gary Michuta – Hands On Apologetics Courtney Brown – Ruah Woods Institute Gary Zimak – Following the Truth Fr. Philip-Michael Tangorra – This Is Our Faith Joan Lewis – Joan’s RomeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good morning, and happy Easter! We continue to celebrate the Resurrection in this Octave of Easter and also remember the late Pope Francis. On today’s show, Liz Lev will talk about the Holy Father’s choice to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Ken Craycraft will discuss his legacy in light of Catholic Social Doctrine. Plus Fr. Rob Jack and Gary Zimak will reflect on his death in light of the promise of new life in the Resurrection we celebrate this week. Fr. Philip-Michael Tangorra – This is Our Faith Fr. Rob Jack – Driving Home the Faith Gary Zimak – Following the Truth Ken Craycraft – Citizens Yet Strangers Fr. Patrick Briscoe – Our Sunday Visitor Marlon De La Torre – Knowing Is Doing Liz Lev – Elizabeth-Lev.com Fr. Boniface Hicks – Father Boniface.org Laura Strietmann – Cincinnati Right to Life Fr. Dave Pivonka – Franciscan University Fr. Augustine Wetta – Humility Rules Kris McGregor – Discerning HeartsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who is the Holy Spirit? How can we get to know Him? We often find it easier to relate to Jesus and God the Father, having spoken directly in the Scriptures and displayed qualities we can understand. But the Holy Spirit often remains mysterious or distant. Join us in the pew as Fr. Dave Pivonka unpacks why that is—and how we can invite the Spirit into our lives in a real, transformative way. This Lent, we have an opportunity not just for sacrifice, but to grow in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Stop chasing the world's version of success, and instead, anchor yourself in the power and presence of God. When we stop clinging to control and let the Holy Spirit lead, we discover that true strength isn't found in worldly achievements, but in trusting Him—the One who makes all things new. Check out Fr. Pivonka's Work: https://wildgoose.tv/ https://www.youtube.com/@WildGooseTV https://franciscan.edu/ https://www.youtube.com/user/FranciscanUSteubie Check out Fr. Pivonka's Books: Breath of God: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/breath-of-god?srsltid=AfmBOopelaWqysQWP2t7muKs94kqiX0QVZYJlc94pUB13Pt-XLgrnZIg Spiritual Freedom: https://a.co/d/6x3owrO Launch a Life Changing Group for Men in Your Parish! ⛪️ http://www.justaguyinthepew.com Learn more about our pilgrimage: Walk in the Footsteps of St. Paul in Greece and Turkey with John

On Friday's Take 2 with Jerry & Debbie we catch up with our friend Fr. Dave Pivonka, author, podcaster, and president of Franciscan University.

On Friday's Take 2 with Jerry & Debbie we catch up with our friend Fr. Dave Pivonka, author, podcaster, and president of Franciscan University.

Adam Wright continues to bring coverage from SEEK25 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Today he speaks with FOCUS Missionary Allison Seiler about Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg's homily at Holy Mass this morning.  Jonah Maurer shares about the message Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, shared with the men at today's Impact Session. Student Kathryn Lindauer shares what stood out from Fr. Mike Schmitz's keynote talk on our "rebellion" as the day comes to a close. Download the Covenant Network app today! Pray the Visual Rosary at VisualRosary.org For more information on Covenant Network, visit OurCatholicRadio.org

In the first episode of Ave Explores Advent with Heather Khym, Fr. Dave Pivonka, president of Franciscan University, reflects on his favorite traditions of the Advent season and offers practical ways we can embrace the slow and intentional moments in the beginning of the new Liturgical year. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Join Fr Rob, Alyssa and Justine in this episode of Season 12 of the Catholic Influencers Podcast as they break open this week's upcoming Gospel. 28th Sunday in Ordinary TimeGospel: Mark 10:17-27Throughout this episode, you'll hear highlights from an interview between Augie Angrisano & Chris Bray. You can find the extended interview exclusively on our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@CatholicInfluencersPodcastChris Bray is a full-time Catholic speaker & musician. Having received multiple Gospel Music Association Covenant awards and numerous #1 hit songs on Christian radio in Canada, his ministry has spanned North America from headlining the National March for Life rally on Parliament Hill for 25,000 people, the Air Canada Centre, working with great figures such as Matt Maher, Matt Fradd, Jackie Francois, Leah Darrow, Emily Wilson, Paul J. Kim, Steve Ray, Ralph Martin, Chris Padgett, Fr. Dave Pivonka, Sr. Miriam James, Teresa Tomeo, involvement in Life Teen, World Youth Day, Steubenville Toronto, National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), featured on EWTN, Salt & Light TV, 100 Huntley St., Shalom World TV, presenting to tens of thousands each year at hundreds of conferences, retreats, schools, and churches. Chris is a husband to Katie, and a proud father of their five daughters. For a shorter, more reflective explanation of the Gospels, be sure to check out our sister podcast Catholic Influencers Fr Rob Galea Homilies.Discover more OSV Podcasts content by signing up for monthly updates on the latest show highlights at www.osvpodcasts.comSupport the showAn OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Join us on "Catholic Life Every Day" as we sit down with Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, President of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and a dynamic voice in contemporary Catholic discourse. Father Dave delves into the symbiotic relationship between faith and technology in this enlightening conversation, highlighted by the impactful use of the myParish app during the Steubenville conferences. He shares his unique perspectives on leadership, spiritual growth, and the integration of faith into everyday life. Despite a slight delay in release, this episode, recorded in June, offers timeless insights and inspiring stories that resonate with anyone interested in deepening their faith experience. Tune in for an episode full of wisdom and encouragement from one of the leading voices in Catholic education and ministry. https://myparishapp.com/ https://steubenvilleconferences.com/ https://faithandreason.com/

In this bonus episode, Heather is joined by Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR live at the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) for a special Abiding Together and They that Hope podcast mashup. They reflect on their experiences at the NEC and share how they hope God will transform the lives of not only those in attendance, but also those at home. Heather and Fr. Dave also discuss finding Jesus in our daily lives and the importance of feasting on God instead of earthly things. This episode is a production of Franciscan University and OSV. Special thanks to MAX Studios for recording and hosting the live podcast stage.   Heather's Highlight from the NEC - Adoration with Floriani  Heather's One Thing - Receiving a copy of her new book:  Encountering Emmanuel (A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation) Fr. Dave's Highlight from the NEC - His time spent with the young people at the Congress Fr. Dave's One Thing - Deep friendships Other Resources Mentioned:  Msgr. James Shea's Full Speech at the National Eucharistic Congress   Announcement: Season 15 begins September 2024 - join our email list to receive updates!   Journal Questions: How have I experienced Eucharistic revival this year? Have you allowed the stress of your duties and burdens take your eyes off Christ in this season? How can I shift my gaze from my inner world to Christ?   Discussion Questions: How has Christ encountered you personally when you felt lost in the crowd? What obstacles cause you to miss Him when He's right in front of you? How can you put yourself back into the reality that God is sovereign and in control?   Quote to Ponder: “The One whom the Father has sent into our hearts, the Spirit of his Son, is truly God. Consubstantial with the Father and the Son, the Spirit is inseparable from them, in both the inner life of the Trinity and his gift of love for the world. In adoring the Holy Trinity, life-giving, consubstantial, and indivisible, the Church's faith also professes the distinction of persons. When the Father sends his Word, he always sends his Breath. In their joint mission, the Son and the Holy Spirit are distinct but inseparable. To be sure, it is Christ who is seen, the visible image of the invisible God, but it is the Spirit who reveals him.” (CCC 689)   Scripture for Lectio:  “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:30-32)

Matt and Shane sit down with Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University of Steubenville and creator of “The Wild Goose” and “My father's Father” video series.   Through very personal and intimate stories, Fr. Dave shares: How children catch the faith through their parents' everyday witness. The unique role of fathers in preparing their children for adulthood. What it means to be a father, and what it means to be a son. What Christ reveals about our heavenly Father. What makes Christianity unique among religions.   This is the perfect episode to share with the fathers in your life and encourage them in embracing their God-given role.  

We continue our discussion with Father Dave Pivonka, president of Franciscan University of Steubenville. We discuss the University's growth and success, overcoming challenges, embracing his role as priest and president, and much more.

In this episode, we are joined by Father Dave Pivonka, president of Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio to discuss what sets Franciscan apart, the university's success under his leadership, helping students find their life's calling, and much more.

In this week's episode, we welcome Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR as our guest to dive deep into what it means to be in relationship with God as Father. Together we chat about how our earthly fathers both positively and negatively impact our relationship with God the Father and how to begin to receive the love of God the Father. We also share how our relationship with God the Father has changed through the loss of earthly fathers. Check out Fr. Dave's new (free!) video series entitled My father's Father.    Heather's One Thing - Upcoming pilgrimages with Franciscan to France and Alaska  Sister Miriam's One Thing - The the beauty of the Pensacola beach Michelle's One Thing - Watching NFL Playoffs with Sister Miriam  Fr. Dave's One Thing - The book A Little Liar by Mitch Albom    Other Resources Mentioned:  My father's Father Trailer Link My father's Father on Wildgoose My father's Father on Faith and Reason S3 E18: The Holy Spirit with Fr. Dave Pivonka S5 E22: The Holy Spirit with Fr. Dave Pivonka The Father's Love Spotify Playlist   Journal Questions: What does (or did) my father's relationship with our Heavenly Father look like? In what ways can I grow in honoring and being honest about my father? Other than my earthly father, who in my life revealed the heart of our Heavenly Father to me? For those whose fathers have passed away: how has my relationship with God the Father changed since my father passed away?   Discussion Questions: How has your relationship with your earthly father shaped your relationship with your Heavenly Father? In your current state of life, when do you feel most connected to your identity as a child? What thoughts, emotions, and associations arise when you think of your primary identity as a child? How can you grow in and more deeply receive your daughterhood from the Father?   Quotes to Ponder: “The whole of the Christian life is like a great pilgrimage to the house of the Father, whose unconditional love for every human creature, and in particular for the 'prodigal son,' we discover anew each day.” (JPII Tertio Millennio Adveniente)   Scripture for Lectio:  “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)   Sponsor - Ascension: With the Ascension App, you can easily find answers to the most challenging questions about church teaching and Scripture. Designed to help you understand the faith like never before, you'll experience the peace that comes from deepening your prayer life and knowledge of God. The Ascension App includes: Both of Fr. Mike's In a Year podcasts in one place Transcripts for every podcast episode The full texts of the Bible and Catechism Nearly 1,000 questions that Bible In a Year listeners have had over the years with their answers! Episode summaries, bonus content, and reflection questions Daily readings with video reflections from your favorite Catholic creators! And if you're feeling overwhelmed or disconnected as you prepare for Lent, you're not alone. The Ascension App will be a one-stop-shop for prayer this season, with Fr. Mark Toups' Lenten Companion audio + video reflections guiding you day-by-day to an encounter with the person of Christ. Explore the Ascension App's premium features with a free 7-day trial!

In this week's show, I talk with Father Dave Pivonka. He is an author, speaker and President of Franciscan University. Fr. Dave is well known for his series, The Wild Goose, which helps you discover a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. I recently saw Fr. Dave speak in Pittsburgh at The Magnificat Conference. His love of the Holy Spirit is contagious through his honesty and deep faith life. In this show, Father Dave and I talk about what life can look like as you give the Holy Spirit the reigns to your life. It can sometimes be scary and uncertain, but Fr. Dave shares how before anything else you must open your heart to the love of God the Father. It is through this love that you are encouraged and equipped to go where God leads you. As you listen to the interview, discern how active the Holy Spirit is in your life. Do you allow the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn freely in your life as trust his lead or do you try to tame it and keep it under control out of fear of what might happen? Here is a link for Fr. Dave's new series, My Father's Father. You can check out more Fr. Dave videos at Wild Goose TV. Jennie Guinn is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, and the founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry, she equips and encourages middle-life women to encounter the love of the Father and to be transformed and healed by the power of the Holy Spirit so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.

Tom McDonald previewed Wonka. Fr Dave Pivonka gave a Christmas reflection. Fr Chris Boutin provided our Sunday Gospel reflection for Advent. 

In this episode, Matt interviews Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, President of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, who speaks forthrightly about seeing God's freedom at work in the students and really all of God's people.In the context of discussing freedom in Christ, Fr. Dave tells the story that led Franciscan University to offer new students free tuition for a semester. He and Matt discuss how unexpected ideas from the Lord require discernment and stepping out in faith!We learn that freedom is a constant theme throughout the scriptures and how God always invites us back, even after we have compromised that freedom.Fr. Dave teaches how “freedom from” something leads to “freedom for” a new future. He describes what freedom looks like, his inspiration by students who come from difficult situations into beautiful faith, and gives poignant examples of people allowing their suffering to count for the kingdom.Be drawn into deeper freedom in your own life, and learn to walk in  the spirit through a more personal encounter with the Lord, reclaiming the kingdom of God in your heart.Join us at one of our Freedom in Christ conferencesSupport our mission and donate today!Check out Unbound and find other resourcesRelease: November 2023Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary Strohm at Command-S

We discuss what it means to “live Metanoia” with Fr. Dave Pivonka. What does a lay vocation look like? We talk with Fr. Brent Bowen and Al asks if we are living in a New Tower of Babel.

We discuss what it means to “live Metanoia” with Fr. Dave Pivonka. What does a lay vocation look like? We talk with Fr. Brent Bowen and Al asks if we are living in a New Tower of Babel.

DescriptionHave you ever wondered what it would be like, as a layperson to go from listening to homilies to giving them? I know I have. What if you as a ministry leader, professor, and conference speaker were also called to be a Deacon in the Catholic Church? You've been giving talks, thousands of them, for many years and now you are giving homilies in a local Church on a weekly basis. What would that transition be like? What are the challenges, hiccups, and new lessons to learn?Well, if you've ever wondered what that would be like - you are in for a treat today - actually either way you are in for a treat today, as I sit down with the one and only Deacon Bob Rice to discuss his convictions around teaching and preaching, but also a deep dive on what it's like to begin giving homilies as a Deacon. Bob Rice loves being Catholic. He is a husband, father of seven, permanent deacon for the diocese of Steubenville, and Professor of Catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He has a PhD in Theology from Liverpool Hope University where he researched Catholic youth and evangelization. Deacon Bob is a highly sought after presenter, author of many books and articles, and the co-host of a popular weekly podcast called They That Hope with Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR. Bob has recorded numerous CDs (his music can be found on Apple Music, Spotify, and others) and leads worship for over ten thousand people every year, mostly through the Steubenville Adult Conferences. Amazon link to the “Heart of the Diaconate” by Dcn James KeatingConnect with Deacon Bob at his websiteCheck out “They That Hope”, a podcast from Dcn Bob Rice and Fr. Dave PivonkaLinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here's a link to the channel. Better Preach is a proud member of Spoke Street, a Catholic Podcast Network that amplifies the voice of the Creator through fostering content that invites. Check out Ryan's FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook Join the Better Preach email list. I made this podcast with help from Riverside FM. Want to try it out for your podcast? Here's a link to get you started.

Father Dave Pivonka discusses the dangers of transgenderism especially for students at Steubenville. Jessica Hooten Wilson explores the writings of Flannery O'Connor and Catholic realism.

As schools are now back in session across the country, we check in with Jessica Hooten Wilson examining the lives of great saints as she reminds us: "When we read stories of holiness, we live vicariously through those stories, and then we body them forth in our reality.." With the Diocese of Cleveland's new policy on gender identity released this week, Father Dave Pivonka joins to discuss steps he's taken at Franciscan University to protect students when playing collegiate sports in this era of 'transgenderism.' Father Roger Landry also offers an inspiring homily to prepare us for this Sunday's Gospel. Catch the show every Saturday at 7amET/5pmET on EWTN radio!

We chat with Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University. Topics we cover: Goodness, is that what's drawing people in? The Church is scandalous and beautiful at the same time Infused virtues and praying for virtues Growth in spiritual life Prayer time The need for prayer Season of prayer life A lack of fatherhood Exodus 90 – JOIN US Support Us on Patreon Become a Patron! Over 40 interviews, a course with Karlo Broussard, a 10 part series on the domestic church, a course on fitness and virtue by Pat Flynn, and free thank you gifts for supporting the show! Click here to join Join Our 2024 Pilgrimage Select International Tours in the best in the business. We are planning on a 2024 pilgrimage. Click here so you won't miss it. Living Beyond Sunday: Making Your Home a Holy Place Our new book is available for pre-order from Ascension Press! “I love this book. It provides wise counsel with beautiful simplicity. So, if you are looking to safeguard your family life from the wiles of the enemy and encourage your spouse and children to become the saints God is calling them to be, this is a book for you.” – Fr Gregory Pine Home life can be difficult and busy, and it's easy to get distracted from the point of it all: raising a family of saints. In Living Beyond Sunday: Making Your Home a Holy Place, two married couples share what has helped them make their homes a place of encounter with God–a place where saints are being made. Want to help The Catholic Man Show? By giving us a rating on iTunes, it helps others find the show. Want to say up with The Catholic Man Show? Sign up for our mailing list: Click Here Looking for a prayer to pray with your wife? Check this blog out. Are you getting our emails? Sign up for our newsletter where we give you all bacon content – never spam.  SIGN UP HERE:

Author and professor Carlos Eire talks about his new podcast on Christian Mysticism & Father Dave Pivonka talks about the dangers of transgenderism.

Cuban-born scholar Carlos Eire joins to discuss the realities of his native land and his own experience being exiled from his family at such a young age. He also talks teaching at Yale in the age of wokeism and his new podcast exploring Christian Mysticism. As Riley Gaines has made waves calling out the unfair reality of transgender athletes playing in sports, we also revisit with Father Dave Pivonka about why he is concerned about his own female athletes at Franciscan University given the current secular atmosphere. Father Roger Landry offers a moving homily for Divine Mercy Sunday. Catch the show every Saturday at 7amET/5pmET on EWTN radio!

On "EWTN News Nightly" tonight: Republican Jim Jordan says the FBI's Richmond office was targeting Catholics. President of Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, Fr. Dave Pivonka, joins to share his reaction to Representative Jordan's push demanding answers about the leaked memo. And as he headed out for an overseas trip this morning, President Joe Biden, told reporters the ruling in Texas to halt the use of mifepristone “is completely out of bounds.” Last summer, Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act aimed at protecting same sex marriages. A group of Republicans say loopholes make religious institutions and charities vulnerable to retaliation and they want new protections in the bill. Meanwhile, the president of Taiwan is condemning China's recent military drills. Author Gordon Chang, joins to share what he makes of the president of Taiwan's remarks and what it signals for any imminent aggression from China. The governor of Texas has made school choice a top priority on his legislative agenda, and bishops in the state are following suit. Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, joins to tell us about this legislation. Finally this evening, the Vatican recently spoke out against the exploitation of lands and historical forced assimilation of native peoples. EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief, Andreas Thonhauser, joins to tell us more about this statement from the Vatican. Don't miss out on the latest news and analysis from a Catholic perspective. Get EWTN News Nightly delivered to your email: https://ewtn.com/enn

EP036: Fr. Dave Pivonka, Franciscan TORIn this episode of The EDIFY Podcast, Father Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University of Steubenville, explains how we can have a relationship with the Holy Spirit and gives us his advice for living in the world, but not of the world.Learn more about Father Dave by clicking here.

The Body Matters: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2022/04/28/transgender-athletes-conversations-university-president/7217994001/?gnt-cfr=1 Pro-Life Op-Ed: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/09/03/unpregnant-film-trying-turn-abortion-into-humor-column/5674006002/ Dr. Dave's Book "Breath of Life:" https://www.amazon.com/Breath-God-Living-Life-Spirit/dp/1594715807 Franciscan University: https://franciscan.edu Steubenville Conferences: https://steubenvilleconferences.com OUR COMMUNITY Locals: https://mattfradd.locals.com/support Special thanks to all our supporters for your continued support! You don't have to give anything, yet you do. THANK YOU! SPONSORS Hallow: https://hallow.com/matt Exodus90: https://exodus90.com/matt-home/ MERCH PWA Swag: https://shop.pintswithaquinas.com SOCIAL Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/pintswithaquinas Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mattfradd Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mattfradd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattfradd Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/312eXMI31liKUHSx6U5p1H Parler: https://parler.com/mattfradd Website: https://www.pintswithaquinas.com

We're in a “father crisis” right now. More kids than ever are raised without dads. And even when both parents are around, it's Mom who takes the kids to church, not Dad. We can't save our culture without good fathers. Fr. Dave Pivonka knows just how high the stakes are. From years of working with guys at Franciscan University, and helping people like me get ready for marriage, he's got his pulse on what we need to do about the culture today – starting with the men. If you want to know what real fatherhood is all about, don't miss this!

www.cafeteriacatholicscomehome.comhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m35t68b4me8

With the Biden administration's latest push with the transgender mandate, Father Dave Pivonka joins to discuss the detrimental impact this will have on young female athletes especially in college sports.

As the HHS announced new rules about transgender surgeries that could impact conscience protection rights for thousands of doctors and healthcare workers, we revisit with Father Dave Pivonka about how these new efforts only hurt his student athletes at Franciscan University--and across the country. As we marked the anniversary death of Flannery O'Connor this week, we talk to University of Dallas professor and author Jessica Hooten Wilson about this fascinating writer and The Scandal of Holiness. Father Roger Landry also offers an inspiring homily to prepare us for this Sunday's Gospel. Catch the show every Saturday at 7amET/5pmET on EWTN radio!

With the Biden administration's latest push with the transgender mandate, Father Dave Pivonka joins to discuss the detrimental impact this will have on young female athletes especially in college sports.

With the Supreme Court leak this week of the Dobb's decision, Dr. Grazie Christie chats with TCA colleagues Ashley McGuire and Maureen Ferguson about this unprecedented moment, why Justice Alito's reasoning is a courageous gift to American children, and how we can best mobilize to help women choose life. Franciscan University president Father Dave Pivonka joins at the bottom of the hour sharing why biology matters and the dangers of gender ideology--especially within collegiate sports. Father Roger Landry also offers us an inspiring homily for this Sunday's Gospel. Catch the show every Saturday at 7amET/5pmET on EWTN radio.

Tune in today to hear Bishop Frank J. Caggiano speak with Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University of Steubenville!

As we step further into this first reflection of St. John Climacus on Renunciation, we begin to see how he paints with broad strokes. His intention is that we would begin this journey with a clarity of focus. Our asceticism is to be driven not by our own will or by fear or by hope of reward - but by love.  So often, we can turn the ascetical life into a matter of endurance, or self-punishment rather than a means of healing and drawing us into deeper intimacy with God. Thus, all the images that John uses in this first step call us to let go of our preconceived notions of the spiritual life and of God. We are to allow Him to draw us forward and Bis Spirit to guide us along the path that fosters our sanctification and salvation.  God wants us to enter this path with zeal and fervor. Love must fuel the fire within the heart that makes us run with swiftness when Christ calls us. We are to run with love and be motivated by desire. God and the pursuit of divine things cannot be set aside anything within this world as comparable in value or importance. God must be the beginning and end of all that we do. We must be ever so careful not to become calculating in our view of the spiritual life and never asceticism as another means of self-help. In fact, the self must be set aside in order that we might constantly gaze upon the face of Christ. It is Love that motivates us and beckons us and it is this Love alone that will bring us to what our heart longs for the most.  --- Text of chat during the group: 00:09:25 Cindy Moran: Good Evening!!   00:09:46 kevinferrick: Yes good eve!!!   00:13:59 Edward Kleinguetl: In a secular culture that is at war with the values of the Gospel   00:23:20 iPad (10)maureen: Sorry it was on by mistake   00:30:12 Bridget McGinley: Wow Father, that insight is profound as with the comparison of the Biblical texts. Thank you   00:30:18 Eric Williams: Stone is a building's foundation. Brick structures are built on top. Should pillars be built on bare earth? I don't know, but my guess is that doing so makes a structure vulnerable to ground eroding underneath. So, we must start our ascent will a solid foundation, for to attempt advanced ascesis too quickly would invite disaster. We might ask ourselves how firm the ground is under our ladders.   00:33:34 Ryan Schaefer: I think it is easy to focus on how much energy we put into putting awareness in Christ, rather than directly focusing on Christ. Does that make sense? Something that I have been thinking about this past week.   00:33:52 Andreea and Anthony: What page/paragraph are we at?   00:34:06 Anthony: 14   00:34:11 David Robles: Father, if a good foundation is Love and Chastity (see #8), and Innocence, fasting and temperance, which take time to learn (see#10), how can we attain to that in the beginning to be used as a foundation? In other writings Love is the summit of the spiritual life. What kind or measure of love do we need at the beginning? How is that love different from the kind of love that is our goal?   00:34:13 Carol Nypaver: 56. 14   00:36:58 Joseph Caro: Wow, I really love your interpretation of #14 Father. I thought at first it was good to build on stones. . .but your interpretation made me notice that the first two people are building structures (a stable dwelling place, either way  -- pillars on bare ground might not be within building codes but it would make a house anyway) whereas the third is running free. That's a strange juxtaposition that is only illuminated by your explanation.   00:37:13 David Robles: Thank you Father. That makes sense!   00:39:47 Eric Williams: I don't mean to belabor the point, but I may have insight as a runner. Attempting to run a race or a hard workout without warming up first could lead to either injury or poor performance. So, this metaphor doesn't strike me as very different from the others.   00:40:49 Sam Rodriguez: We live in a time of celebrity Priests and Catholic speakers that can often engender a cult of personality, self-promotion, and product-mindedness in much of our current catechetical offerings. When one contrasts that phenomenon against what St John Climacus, it seems to point to some concerning implications as to the spirit as to how current and future generation of Catholics might be formed, if not checked   00:41:39 Rachel: This is a pernicious temptation where when one is trying to avoid multiplicity they are in fact focusing too much on self   00:41:39 Sam Rodriguez: *contrasts that phenomenon against what St. John Climacus is saying   00:42:42 Andreea and Anthony: Everyone is needed in the Lord's kingdom. My wife and I have benefited greatly from Bishop Barron and Fr. Mike Smitz, Fr. Dave Pivonka, etc   00:45:22 Anthony: Simplicity vs multiplicity. It may be better to smoke or drink in peace of heart on one's own porch than to listen to many Catholic teachers on YouTube.   00:46:03 Sam Rodriguez: Oh I agree, Andrea and Anthony. And I'm not saying its intrinsically bad. But I'm saying it *can* be bad... and i'm not pointing to any particular Priest/Speaker... and quickly acknowledge that many are wonderful and holy... but i'm speaking to the aggregate impact that such phenomenon can have to people seeking to give their life to ministry.... the glitz and allure of celebrity can be distracting... and launching a ministry such as that can sometimes rely upon self-promotion, which inherently carries spiritual risk and must be checked...   00:46:33 Andreea and Anthony: Judge not that you may not be judged. We cannot know how God is acting in someone else's souls   00:48:26 Sam Rodriguez: If you re-read what I'm saying in those past two comments, there is no judgment intended to be expressed. This is merely a caution flag being waived. Nothing more.   00:48:29 Ren: My mind is also turned to the man found building a barn on the night he is going to die, and to Christ speaking of the destruction of the physical temple, and the enduring nature of the temple of his body. Everything in the New Testament, and here in this chapter, points us towards a less earthly, less secure (in one sense) way, and towards total abandon to the person of Christ.   00:52:01 Anthony: And it came to dust because it was intended to receive Messiah.  But when Messiah was rejected, the earthly glory was dismissed..  It's a warning for our cathedrals and basilicas too.   00:52:16 Robyn Greco: sorry im late   00:58:12 Sam Rodriguez: Amen, Father. Thank you   01:04:01 Ambrose Little: ❤️   01:05:51 Robyn Greco: i lost my spot can someone tell me where on page 57 we are? thank you   01:06:08 Rachel: I wonder at the examples of monks who fell away because of the lack of clarity Fr. Abernathy was speaking of a few minutes ago. The clarity Father A speaks of seems to be one received at every moment, from Our Lord through union with Him in whatever degree and capacity we are able to in that moment.                    In relation to St. John C., we will be pulled down by fears manifested in different idols and desires. The labor and grief also seem to be the pain that comes from the Divine Sculptor chipping away our illusions, of self and more importantly God Himself. Consumed by God Himself Also, ! I am not too sure what sublimation, that you mentioned means, so I will have to look up what you meant and how that related to what your were saying and how it relates.     01:06:15 Erick chastain: the joy of virtue should not exclude tears of compunction though   01:06:55 Rachel: Yes, Erick, a joyful sorrow. :)   01:07:43 Rachel: I was thinking the same thing. btw and am not afraid to say it lol   01:08:25 Rachel: What is peace?   01:12:37 Andreea and Anthony: Listening to the story about the Franciscan whose gift to the poor was destroyed by them before they could benefit, should we draw the conclusion that building on a large scale for others is always a mistake and a way of self-aggrandizement? For example, should Pope Saint John Paul the Great not have started any of the “big projects” he started such as World Youth Day, visiting so many countries, the work of the Catechism, Theology of the Body, etc … Should Saint Teresa of Calcutta not have built any of the homes for the poor? THAT was the way SHE was called to be the face of Christ in the world …   01:12:55 Andreea and Anthony: From Anthony: Regarding the idea that as soon as we try to enter the kingdom things go south, that seems very discouraging. Why would anyone then attempt it? It seems to me that God allows trials in accordance to what we need for the salvation of our souls, not allowing the devil to crush us immediately.   01:14:00 Erick chastain: joy should include suffering and  compunction, it is not a worldly joy   01:14:54 Erick chastain: suffering with christ   01:17:04 Cindy Moran: Thank you so much!   01:17:12 Rachel: Thank you   01:17:21 Sam Rodriguez: Thank you. Father!!   01:17:24 Rachel: If you say so lol   01:17:38 Rachel: Yes, it is drinking pure light   01:17:48 Ann Grimak: Thank you

Produced by St Gabriel Catholic Radio

Produced by St Gabriel Catholic Radio

Join Christie Fleming, Director of Alumni Relations, and Meghan Coen, Class of 2010, as they speak with Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, Class of 1989.   Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, is now President of Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Produced by St Gabriel Catholic Radio

In this episode, we complete our four part series on the identity of daughter. This episode is now offered in video on youtube! We discuss the full redemption God desires for his daughters emotionally, spiritually, sexually, and in a particular way as women, physically through our bodies and beauty. We chat about the practice of repentance and declaring the truth about ourselves, body and soul. We pray you would allow Christ to bring your whole self into communion with him in your identity as daughter so you may grow into a sister, a mother and a bride. Be sure to subscribe to the Abiding Together Podcast on YouTube to watch our video podcasts!    Sister Miriam's one thing -  Healing Wounds Meditation with Dr. Bob Schutchts on the Hallow App. You must subscribe to Hallow to listen!  Michelle's one thing - The Every Sacred Sunday Mass Journal Heather's one thing - The Metanoia Series - Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR and 4pm media   Other Books Mentioned -  The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom - Henri Nouwen   Discussion questions:     What stood out to you from this week's episode? Where do you feel at war with your body and where do you feel at home in your body? How is God inviting you to see your body as a blessing rather than a burden? What beliefs about yourself have you felt inspired to renounce and repent of after today's episode? What truth does Jesus desire to speak into your heart to fill this space.   Journal Questions: Have you cursed your body or believed the lie that your body is too much or not enough? Take a moment to practice repentance and ask God to speak his truth into your body. Can you imagine your body as a temple where the Holy Spirit is dwelling and what kind of temple does it look like? What is the Holy Spirit doing in this temple? Where is He illuminating? Where is He healing? Where's He moving?  Are there areas brought up in the past few weeks that you would rather avoid than allow Jesus to redeem and restore? Take a moment to commit to moving through the cross towards the resurrection with trust that Christ desires your redemption.   Quotes to Ponder:  Because their shame was twofold and disgrace was proclaimed their portion, They will possess twofold in their own land; everlasting joy shall be theirs.  Isaiah 61:7     Scripture for Lectio Divina -  “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesians 3:14-21   This episode is sponsored by Every Sacred Sunday. The Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal is designed to help you intentionally prepare and engage with the Mass each week. It contains the readings for each Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation for one liturgical year with a simple journaling template after each reading. Other features include thick quality paper, a durable hardbound cover, original illustrations, and key prayers of the Mass. This journal is lovingly & thoughtfully designed by hand, and we hope that it invites you to say yes to God, one Sunday at a time. Use the promo code abide5 for $5 off your next purchase! Available now on our website, www.everysacredsunday.com/shop.

On "EWTN News Nightly" tonight: The Supreme Court is back to the bench, and this term the justices will consider major cases on issues including abortion, gun rights and religious freedom. Co-founder of SCOTUS Blog, Amy Howe, joins to talk about the cases on the docket. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden went before the cameras to urge lawmakers to raise the debt limit. He warned that even before the default date arrives later this month, Americans could see retirement accounts take a hit, face higher mortgage rates and car payments. And the fighting continues among Democrats over the size and scope of the 2 infrastructure bills in Congress. Progressives and moderates are at odds over the final amount in the larger multi-trillion dollar Human Infrastructure Bill and that's caused a stalemate on the smaller road and bridges infrastructure package. The Vatican is preparing for the World Meeting of Families in the summer of 2022, amid the continuing pandemic. Preparations have been ongoing for more than 3 years. Senior Rome Correspondent of Catholic News Agency, Hannah Brockhaus, joins to tell us more about the World Meeting of Families. Finally this evening, the world celebrates the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order known for his love of nature and animals. Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, President of the Franciscan University of Steubenville joins to tell us more about the beloved saint. Don't miss out on the latest news and analysis from a Catholic perspective. Get EWTN News Nightly delivered to your email: https://ewtn.com/enn

In this episode, we reconnect after our summer break to discuss the ways God has grown us this summer and our hopes for the season to come. We marvel together at how the Lord continues to heal us, remind us of His truth, and invite us to abide deeper in who He is and who He says we are. We chat about how the maturation that comes with repentance and the willingness to start over again with God. We pray that God will do a new thing in you as you join us on the journey this season! Sister Miriam's one thing - Separate Vocations of Man and Woman - Edith Stein from Essays on Woman (The Collected Works of Edith Stein) - Edith Stein Heather's one thing - Speak the Unspoken Podcast S02 E02: The power of story with Heather Kyhm Michelle's one thing - Fr. Dave Pivonka, Dr. Bob Rice, and the entire orientation team at Franciscan University of Steubenville Discussion questions:     What stood out to you from this week's episode? What areas did you learn you needed to grow over this summer? How did God stretch you, humble you, invite you to abide more? In what ways would you like to begin again today? What must you repent of? What must you turn your eyes away from to be able to see Christ looking at you? Journal Questions: How did you see the Lord using events or memories of your past to grow you, mature you and heal you this summer? What desires would you like to name for the Lord to fulfill as we move into a new season?  How can you let the Lord love you where you are most vulnerable and dependent? Quotes to Ponder: “Always, we begin again.” - St. Benedict  Scripture for Lectio Divina -   “It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity,  but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:12-14

Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, shares how he prepares for his homilies so that his preaching might bring about conversion in the hearts of the listeners. 

www.cafeteriacatholicscomehome.com

Homily: 3rd Sunday of Advent, Dec. 13, 2020; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood; readings: Is 61:1-2A, 10-11; Resp: Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; 1 Thess 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28. The book Fr. Chuck mentions and reads from is Breath of God, by Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR. 

“It is impossible for us to live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit” Dan Driver speaks with Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, NET Alum and the new President of Franciscan University of Steubenville, on how to live a life in the Holy Spirit. In This Episode: -Introduction -What does it mean to be baptized in the Spirit? -Realize the freedom on needing God's grace to grow -Fr. Dave's prayer to God to learn about what living in the Spirit means -How it changed his life -Call the Lord directly related to the call to be holy -What it means to get close to the heart of God -Always say yes to the nudgings of God -We are too busy to recognize the Holy Spirit -Identify & act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit -Lack of knowledge of how the Holy Spirit works -Letting the Holy Spirit into every part of their life -Things to know -Be aware of Spirits presence and power -Discerning what God is calling you to. Wrestling with what God wants us to do -Role of Sacraments in spiritual life -Learning to recognize God's working in good and bad -Recommendations -Dan's: Do something different -Matt's: follow https://www.instagram.com/roadtonow103/ Mentioned in the show: (19:00) Charisms: (prophecy, words of knowledge, tongues,...) (19:24) http://www.newadvent.org/summa/2068.htm (20:05) “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:15-20 (22:34) “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 (26:51) Hedonism (35:07) “Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. Did I make a mistake when I humbled myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? I plundered other churches by accepting from them in order to minister to you. And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way “ 2 Corinthians 11:6-9 (58:40) Fr. Dave's talk (1:01:52) Wild Goose Ministry (1:03:46) 4PM Media (1:04:07) “and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” Romans 5:5Special Guest: Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR.

Summary of today's show: On our Thursday show, Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Antonio Enrique considered the news headlines of the week as they appear in The Pilot and The Anchor newspapers, including a Mass of Thanksgiving on the 10 anniversary of the Dallas Charter; Stand Up For Religious Freedom rally; National Review Board reports to US bishops; Priests meeting on pastoral planning; Fathers for Good; and International Eucharistic Congress Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Antonio Enrique, editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today's show: Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today's topics: 1st segment: Scot and Susan talked about baseball to start the show and the perfect game pitched by San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain. Scot said some say it was the best 9-inning pitching performance of all time. A perfect game is where a batter never reaches base, whether through walk, hit, hit by pitch or any other means. Fr. Roger said the best pitching performance was Scot's no-hitter that he caught for Scot in senior league. Scot said Kerry Woods' 20-strickeout, 1-hit performance for the Chicago Cubs. Antonio said he'd rather speak about the Euro 2012 Cup in soccer. He's hoping that his native Spain will win the Euro Cup, especially since they won the last World Cup and Euro Cup. Scot said Germany is the most frequent pick among the pundits. Scot recommends the Euro Cup for those who aren't soccer fans, but are sports fans. 2nd segment: Scot said Cardinal Sean celebrated Mass this past Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of the charter for the protection of children. It was a Mass of Thanksgiving for all those who have worked in child protection. Susan said Cardinal Seán did a wonderful job of integrating this message with the Feast of Corpus Christi. She said the children's choir at Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton was terrific. She said there was a sense that this was ongoing and the work would continue. Scot said it's an anniversary we wish we didn't have to celebrate because it recalls a very dark period, but it's important to mark such events and the progress we continue to make. Antonio said the purpose was mostly a recognition that the Church has listened and has acted in reaction to what happened. Also, to give thanks to all the volunteers who made the choice to get involved after learning of the scandal and who have implemented all these programs over the past 10 years. Scot said on the agenda of the US Bishops meeting being held in Atlanta this week was a report from the National Review Board. Fr. Roger said the secular media is only covering the Church when there's bad news to report. This report notes the real progress made in the Church in the past decade. He said the religious freedom angle has been getting a lot of attention, with people concerned over the impact this will have on the presidential election. But the bishops have said this is not a partisan effort or has an intention to affect the election. Fr. Roger thinks this focuses Catholics in the US on religious freedom and how that will affect how they vote. Scot said the other big front-page story in the Pilot this week is the convocation of priests for pastoral planning. A lot of the article covers the experience of Bishop Richard Malone in the Diocese of Portland, Maine, where they implemented similar changes for the sake of shoring up evangelization efforts. Antonio said Bishop Malone said you cannot make changes in the structure of the diocese without having a focus on evangelization. Bishop Malone said this is an opportunity to evangelize both those in the Church and those who are far away from Christ. Whenever people come back to the Church, they land in the parishes, so it's important to have a welcoming parish infrastructure. Scot said Bishop Malone's talk, which is available on Planning2012.com along with the other main talks, has two main points: “It is so important to have the lamp of the New Evangelization shining brightly on all the aspects of this pastoral planning process.” he said. “May your work together going forward, guided by the Holy Spirit, be for you and all you serve even with the challenges and all of that what John Paul II, in ‘Novo Millennio lneunte: called an exciting work of pastoral revitalization. Think of that, pastoral revitalization, our work involving all of us.” the bishop said. And “I do want to affirm how crucial your role is. Nothing good will come of this project without the highest quality of pastoral leadership offered by each one of you.” he told the priests. Susan said his comments about the crucial role of pastoral leadership connect to the experience of parishes where there is already great collaboration among pastoral leaders. Antonio said Bishop Malone said the unity of the presbyterate was vital got moving forward. Fr. Roger said he wasn't surprised that closing parishes was not very popular. A lot of hard work has gone into this. There's no easy way to do this. You need to move slowly. He was thrilled to see how so many of the comments were incorporated into the process. He also liked to see how priests can see whether their own opinions were outliers or whether they were in the mainstream. He thinks the big picture gives hop not just to the Archdiocese of Boston, but also gives hope to other dioceses who will go through the similar effort in the future. Antonio said at the most recent meeting showed how much the commission is listening. He also notes how the tone of immediacy has been dialed back. Now they are talking about phasing in by region and having pilot parishes to observe over a longer period of time. He said it's impressive how the people have complained about proposal to remove every pastor and have all new pastors. Scot said the idea was that if one of the parishes in a cluster kept its own pastor, there would be favoritism. But in the consultations they learned that no one liked that idea. Now the mantra is that they will find the best priest, whether a current pastor or another priest from outside. Susan said the nine key findings show that this process is not a rubber stamp and they are listening. She said she's heard from several parishes who are willing to go forward in the pilot process. A couple of official appointments this week: Fr. Paul Clifford has been named a new pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Braintree. It's former pastor was named Secretary for Parish Life and Leadership. This is pending Fr. Hamilton's successor being appointed at St. John the Evangelist in Hopkinton. In Lynnfield, Fr. John Farrell at Our Lady of the Assumption has been granted Senior Priest retirement status. Also the Standup for Religious Freedom Rally took place in Boston, along with those in 160 other cities in the US, last Friday. Ray Flynn, Janet Benestad, and Don Feder were among the speakers. Fr. Roger said this is citizens taking back their country from the elites running it, like with the Tea Party and Occupy movements. It builds a certain dynamism. What has happened is that Catholics have been a sleeping giant and now recognizing that we are to be salt and light in the world. We are recovering that flavor of Catholicism that helped make our country great. Ordinary citizens are saying “this is what we stand for, this is what we believe.” Antonio said he was impressed by Don Feder, who is Jewish, and it was very telling about his grandfather coming to the US where he found his human rights. He talked about the dangers of the overreach of government. Susan said Don has been a friend to the pro-life movement for many years. Susan said Janet Benestad's background was in political science and she noted that June 8 was the anniversary of the introduction of the Bill of Rights in the constitutional congress. Fr. Roger said these rallies encourage everyone to say that there's strength in numbers. The biggest thing for the Fortnight for Freedom is for Catholics to get together and pray about this, educate ourselves within the context of history, embolden ourselves and get ready for a long-term cultural education effort. He said some Catholics on the Cape have been standing on the sides of some roads educating people about the issues. Scot said the Knights of Columbus have a website called Fathers for Good. Fr. Roger said men and women need continual formation in the faith. Parishes can provide much, but not everything. One of the best organizations to form men to be real men of God is the Knights of Columbus. Fr. Roger has contributed some of this writings to Fathers for Good. He profiled it in the Anchor to educate men about this free resource and to lift up the work of the Knights to buttress them with a real fraternity that is very patriotic and helps many parishes. Fr. Roger said every man should consider becoming a Knight of Columbus. Susan noted from the article about Brian Caulfield who runs the site who spoke about the difficult birth of his son: “The first time I saw that beautiful little face lying in the incubator, I knew the great joy that God was sharing with me, and the great responsibility.” he said. “It struck me that this was for keeps - there would never be a moment for the rest of my life when I would not want to know how my son was doing, where he was going, and what I could do to help. I held him in my arms that day and walked around the neonatal unit praying softly in his ear. It was the start of a new life for me too, a life given for the good of another.” In Dublin right now is the International Eucharistic Congress. Scot said Ireland is going through tough times and he hopes the Congress will begin to create a stronger Church in Ireland. Antonio noted that so many missionaries have gone out from Ireland in the past. It's been a beacon of hope in Europe for being stalwart in faith, but sthe sex abuse crisis has injured that. He said hopes this Congress is an opportunity for renewal. Antonio said we turn to the Lord who renews, heals, and strengthens his people. Scot said we pray that publicity for the congress will renew people in their appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist. Fr. Roger said that during the Eucharistic Procession on Corpus Christi Thursday, Pope Benedict talked about the misconception that Eucharistic adoration was downplayed by Vatican II. Pope Benedict tells us we need to adore the Lord before, during, and after we receive Him. If we don't adore the Lord, we aren't really receiving him worthily. The connection between Communion and adoration was always meant to be there. He acknowledged that adoration is making a comeback in many places and he hopes it will continue. Fr. Roger said the more we love the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, the more we will care for every single part of the mystical body, the children of the Lord. Scot said the website Any Given Sunday is a great site with a fantastic video Why Go To Church. 3rd segment: This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Mary Adams from Stoneham, MA She wins by Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today's show: Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today's topics: Christmas message from Cardinal Seán and Bishop Coleman; Profile of Cardinal Seán in the Boston Herald; Pastoral letter for undocumented immigrants; the famous musical Fr. Pat; New pastor; New saints Summary of today's show: In our last news show of the year, Scot Landry, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy discuss Cardinal Seán's Christmas message that will air on Vatican Radio, as well Bishop George Coleman's message to the Fall River diocese; a laudatory front-page profile of Cardinal Seán in the Boston Herald; a pastoral letter from Hispanic bishops of the US to undocumented immigrants; the famous musical Fr. Pat from La Salette who's celebrating 40 years of ministry; a new pastor for Catholics in Townsend; and miracles to make new American saints. 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Roger and Greg to show and noted how today is the first day of winter, but it's 53 degrees outside. He asked Fr. Roger how his Christmas planning is going and whether it's easier for priests when Christmas is on a Sunday. Greg talked about Christmas traditions for his family, which is a blended family of both Cuban traditions and New England traditions. Scot and Fr. Roger talked about their family gathering in New Bedford at Fr. Roger's church on Christmas Eve. 2nd segment: Scot said Cardinal Seán recorded a Christmas message for the world to air on Vatican Radio. WQOM listeners get a preview of the message today. [Cardinal Seán's Christmas message to air on Vatican Radio across the world] This is Cardinal Seán O'Malley from the Archdiocese of Boston. At Christmas our God comes to us as a humble pilgrim in search of hospitality. Nourished by the bread of life that comes to us from the manger, let us open our hearts in welcome to this Divine Humble Pilgrim, to the Lord Jesus. By reaching out with compassion and loving care we can give Him hospitality as he comes to us disguised in the hungry, the homeless, the mentally ill, the imprisoned, the stranger, the immigrant. Jesus came to reveal the merciful face of the father: the poor, the sick, the marginalized were the protagonists of His Gospel. It is our task to be the merciful face of Christ - as the Father sent me, so I send you Jesus tells us. He does not send us alone but with our brothers and sisters whose faith and solidarity sustains us. And He gives us the spiritual food of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. At Christmas we come to the manger to see the Baby Pictures and rejoice as we look at our Family Album. But our faith tells us that Christ born at Bethlehem 2000 years ago is still, Emmanuel, God with us. He comes to offer us His friendship and love and to invite us to a life of discipleship in His Church. At Bethlehem the Shepherds were filled with joy and wonder and were anxious to share that joy with others. Knowing the Lord, carries with it an obligation to make Him known and loved. Christmas is the feast of the Child, the Christ child, our God who made Himself small to be close to us. Jesus says in the Gospel- Unless you become like a little child you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. God came to us in the humility and simplicity of a little baby—God's love in face of a child, always new, always fresh, that never tires of loving us, of giving us another chance. We can go to Him only in the humility and simplicity of a child. Children have a sense of trust in their parents - God wants us to have that trust in Him and in His love. At Christmas we are able to catch a glimpse of the face of God and His love. When we discover His love, we discover who we are. Merry Christmas to all of you who are listening. Scot said he was struck how we can describe Jesus by serving those who come disguised as the poor, the hungry, the ill, the immigrant. Greg was thinking of how in the Old Testament God would show himself as a cloud with thunder and lightning that terrified the people who said they didn't want to see him. So instead God came in a form that wouldn't terrify us, but is a sign of meekness. Scot said at Christmas, God talks on flesh to show us his love. His face is that of a baby. Fr. Roger said it is a remarkable sign. The child wrapped in swaddinling clothes is a very ordinary sign for the extraordinary Lord to appear in. Pope Benedict talked a few years ago about this translation confusion about what the angels say to the shepherds. What is the good will they t alk about? It's not just peace to those of us who are Christian. It is God's good will and our good will comes in response to God's good will by imitating that humility of God by going out in serving all the rest, not to be afraid to be poor or immersed in the lowest human reality to continue to serve Christ's mission of lifting up others. We need to become like children. We need to abbreviate ourselves like a God abbreviated himself in a child. Scot said a few weeks ago he trashed a slam-piece in the Boston Herald against the Church, but today, Joe Fitzgerald has a really good profile of the Cardinal. He talks about his Christmas traditions growing up in eastern Ohio. “My father always waited until Christmas Eve to get our tree because he wanted us to be excited when we got up,” he recalled, smiling. “He and my uncle Ed would go to get it together. Ed was our bachelor uncle, the fun uncle, the one who'd set up our electric trains. “By Christmas Eve, of course, the trees were pretty well picked over, so sometimes they'd have to buy two, then drill holes into one in order to stick in replacement branches.” The absurdity of that story made him laugh. “Then we'd all go to my grandmother's house for dinner, all the uncles, aunts and cousins, an all-day affair where we'd sing carols before heading off to Mass together. I came from a very faith-filled family.” […] It meant telling his parents, Ted and Mary Louise, of the path he had chosen to follow. “Their reaction was a blessing to me. They said, ‘That's great. Try it! And then if you decide it isn't for you, you can always come home.' They wanted me to know I had their support one way or the other, which was a wonderful attitude. You don't want to be so enthusiastic that a kid feels he can't turn back.” For O'Malley, there was no turning back. “I never had any doubts.” The cardinal then talked about his work in Washington, DC, among Spanish-speaking immigrants in the turbulent Sixties and Seventies. And at the end of the article: “And I guess that's the message I'd most want to give others this Christmas, that we have a loving and all-powerful God who wants us to feel how close He is to us. “That would be it; I'd love us all to catch just a glimpse of the love He has for us.' Fr. Roger said Joe Fitzgerald is one of the best columnists in New England. He's always written sympathetically of believers and has always been on the side of the mission of Christ in the world. Despite his Irish last name, he is Protestant but is very fair and friendly to Catholics. Greg said the editors could have buried the column, but they made it a front-page headline. Greg said most people's only exposure to the Cardinal is a soundbite in the news or his policy decisions, but very few people actually know the man. It brings to a wide audience a picture of this man who comes from a background of faith and has a very normal background and upbringing. Scot said Bishop George Coleman of the Diocese of Fall River also has a Christmas message in The Anchor this week. Dear friends in Christ, This holy season provides me the opportunity once again to share with each and every one of you the Good News that God has become man and is born among us. Of course, Our Lord's Nativity is an event that happened long ago. The basic story is surely familiar to all of you: the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Son of God, in Bethlehem more than 2.000 years ago. Christ entered the world not as a conquering king at the head of an army in a mighty show of power, but as a defenseless child, born in poverty. The first Christmas can seem like an occurrence from a long time ago that once took place in a faraway land. Yet, it is an event which happens even today and which can speak to all of us again. The birth of a child is always a momentous occasion which fills all people with hope. But, this Child was no ordinary infant; for, Hc was the Son of God. And, when He takes on our human flesh with all its weaknesses, He reveals in Himself and in the power of the Holy Spirit, the true nature of humanity, the true worth of all human life, and the dignity of every person. We cannot, however; overlook the challenges that face us today: a slow economy, unemployment and underemployment, addictions and drugs, crime and violence, wars, and a morbid fascination with darkness. We bring all these troubles to Christ. We offer them to Him. We ask Him to transform them for us and to turn them into something life-giving. As our Holy Father Benedict XVI assures us, the birth of Christ has the power to change the world, “for it bas the power to choose hearts, to enlighten minds, and to strengthen Wills? (homily at Mass in Manger's Square in Bethlehem, May 13,209). At Christmas, Jesus calls us to be witnesses of His victory over sin, death, and sadness. Therefore,let nil men and women, believers and non-believers, but especially all Christians, rejoice at the birth of Christ, which brings a divine light into the world now and forever. May the Infant Jesus bless you and your families with the peace and joy of this holy season. Scot reiterated that Christians must rejoice at the joy of Christmas and be joyful witnesses. Greg said earlier in the letter he spoke about the idea that we can easily think of the coming of Christ as something that happened 2,000 years ago, but Christ can be born in our heart at any time. We need his help to overcome his sin and so we need his presence to be born in us. Scot noted how he said that we need to bring our troubles to Christ and ask him to transform them. Fr. Roger said “Jesus” means God saves. “Emmanuel” means God with us. We're not alone in facing our challenges. We have the one who conquered sin and death on our side. He may not take them away, but he will help us not to be overcome by them. It's time to announce this week's winner of the WQOM Benefactor Raffle. Our prizes this week are “Let Us Adore Him”, a music CD of traditional Christmas hymns by the Dady Brothers and Friends; by Fr. Dave Pivonka, and , also by Fr. Pivonka. This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Richard Grande from Concord, MA. Congratulation, Richard! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 3rd segment: Scot said earlier this week a group of US Hispanic bishops wrote a pastoral letter to undocumented immigrants in the US. Fr. Roger said a lot of immigrants feel totally abandoned, like the wandering Holy Family in Bethlehem, who are told there's no room for them in our country. The bishops said regardless of their legal status, they have a home in the Catholic Church and they will be welcomed with open arms. The bishops noted that they are sometimes scapegoated for some of the economic issues facing our country. Fr. Roger said it was an unprecedented of the 33 Latino bishops in the US. It doesn't mean that immigration laws aren't important, but that we need to have our eyes open that beyond the legal issues and real concerns for safe borders, we do need to look at those in our country as people beloved by God. Scot noted statistics that show that there are more low-income jobs than those willing to take them in the US, but there are only about 70,000 visas available for immigrants who would want these jobs. Greg said the bishops are advocating for a rational immigration reform. Fr. Roger said immigration isn't just an issue to be solved. It's our brothers and sisters who need to know the love of God. 4th segment: Last Saturday, the Women Affirming Life breakfast saw record numbers. Increasingly, women are bringing their own young daughters to the breakfast to begin preparing them to take up the battle for life. Scot said having women leading the pro-life side disproves the argument that legal abortion is a necessary right for women. “That so many Catholics come together and so readily share their values through this event is a sign of hope not only for the Pro-Life movement but for the Catholic Church as well,” said Marianne Luthin, director of the Archdiocese of BostOn Pro-Life Office, which oversees WALI. The primary speaker was Sister Maris Stella Karalekas of the Sisters of Life religious order, which is dedicated to pro-life work. Fr. Roger said they not only care for women in crisis pregnancy but also taking the message out to the world and educating people about pro-life. Moving to a new topic, he reviewed an article in the Pilot about the new CatholicTV show for women called “The Gist”. Scot talked about the hosts and the audience it's aimed at. He noted that we talked about it at length on . Greg talked about how the show can be a good outreach to young mothers who might have drifted away from Church and discover it on cable TV. In the Anchor this week is a profile of Fr. Pat of the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro and his 40 years of musical ministry. He does two concerts a day during Advent at the shrine which is famous for its Christmas lights and displays. He's had a busy year traveling to India and cutting new CDs. He has a beautiful gift of using music to connect the faith to where people are in their faith today. Scot said in the Pilot this week are some new priest assignments announced, including Fr. Jeremy St. Martin who has been made pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Townsend, and leaving his ministry as coordinator of deaf Catholic ministry in the archdiocese. Scot said Townsend is the farthest corner of the Archdiocese. Greg said he always shows a special preference for Townsend and Ashby when covering stories about events there because of how far they are. Scot said there is an article about Mother Marianne Cope, who ministered alongside St. Damien of Molokai among the lepers. Scot said she was named Servant of God only in 2003, beatified in 2005, and will be canonized soon, which is very quick. Fr. Roger said there were many miracles attributed to Bl. Marianne. He also noted that Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha will also be canonized. It's very exciting for our country, which has only 10 saints so far. As far as they are aware, she is the first American laywoman who will be a saint.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today's guest(s): Bonnie Rodgers, Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Programming, and Helen Lee, Manager of Social Media and VoD, of CatholicTV Links from today's show: Today's topics: Christmas at CatholicTV and new programs in the new year Summary of today's show: Every year, CatholicTV becomes ChristmasTV for three days starting Christmas Eve. Bonnie Rodgers and Helen Lee from CatholicTV join Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams to talk about all the great programming on tap for the holiday as well as the new shows on tap for the new year, including The Gist, a new talk show for women. They also discuss CatholicTV's ubiquitous presence in new media and how they're using every possible medium to spread the message. Plus all their favorite CatholicTV shows. What's your favorite? 1st segment: Scot explained why The Good Catholic Life did not air live on 1060AM yesterday because of difficulties at the network in Buffalo, but listeners can listen to it online on our site and it will air again next Tuesday, December 27. Fr. Matt said he loves the Christmas season, including driving around and seeing all the lights decorating homes. He will celebrating Masses at St. Joseph in Holbrook, where he lives. For his family, their celebration will center around liturgies. His family gets together on the day after Christmas for a memorial Mass for all the deceased members of his family. His grandmother died many years ago on December 26 and it's become a tradition ever since. Scot mentioned that tonight is the night for , when every church and chapel in the archdiocese will be open 6:30-8pm for confessions. If you're looking for a parish, go to . Fr. Matt talked about why we need to go to confession especially before Christmas as we prepare to welcome Christ. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Bonnie Rodgers and Helen Lee. He asked Bonnie what brought her to CatholicTV. She's been there for 4 years. She met General Manager Jay Fadden in the Masters of Arts in Ministry program at St. John Seminary. She was working for Verizon at the time, then got early retirement from her job. Jay hired her first as part-time in marketing and now she's been there four years full-time overseeing public relations, marketing and programming. She said those three aspects really connect together. Helen started at CatholicTV about 4 months ago. She oversees all social media: Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and manages video-on-demand resources. Scot said CatholicTV is trying to reach people in their 20s like her. Helen majored in college in new media communications and theology, so she was looking to do something like this when she graduated. Twenty-somethings are in those media and that's where they are. She's in the Facebook newsfeeds of many of her Catholic friends from Fordham University now. Scot asked Bonnie all the ways people can get CatholicTV, in addition to cable TV. Bonnie said they want to be wherever people are consuming media. They want to be on every platform, but they want to design for the particular platform. They're on Twitter, articulating the faith in 140 characters or less. There is YouTube, where they tailor their work for the format. They include both soundbites and segments as well as full programs. They're on Facebook as well. They are now available throughout the country on cable and Sky Angel IPTV. Scot said you can watch the content at CatholicTV.com. And a small widget can be placed on any website or blog so people can watch the programming on other websites. Bonnie said a diocese in Ohio was using content from CatholicTV for faith formation via DVDs on cable access television. But they adapted it for CatholicTVjr and the whole diocese started using it. They introduced it to the bishops at the US bishops meeting and they're having dioceses ask them to tailor it to their purposes. Scot asked how many people watch the programs on other platforms other than TV. Bonnie said it's hard to quantify how many are there, but she loves the stories. She encountered a man in New Jersey once who stopped her and knew her from the daily Mass. He'd watched every day from Afghanistan on his iPod and remembered seeing her do the readings. They are now in a little more than 11 million homes via cable. They do see a big spike in viewership on Sunday for the Mass from the University of Notre Dame and the Mass from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Scot said “Going My Way” is a funny program that interviews priests and makes them sing songs and do other bits. Bonnie said the premise is to show priests are normal people and having a good time. When she first started at CatholicTV, she thought the show was pretty hokey, but they get so many calls for the show that love it. One man called who had been in RCIA and was getting discouraged at the “Church of No”, but he saw the priests on Going My Way and how much fun they were having and he decided he wanted to be part of a church like that. It's a sing-a-long show with priests from anywhere in the world they can get them. Fr. Matt said he was on the show in 2008, just before July 4 and just before World Youth Day Sydney. He remembers saying he didn't know what to sing, because he's not much of a singer. He sang patriotic songs and so now it airs every year before July 4. Scot asked if Going My Way is the most popular show. Bonnie said absolutely. The show has a great following from young to old. She said Stephen Colbert's Comedy Central show “The Colbert Report” once featured it and called Fr. Chris Hickey, the host, the modern Merv Griffin. Bonnie said there are just about 30 people now working at CatholicTV, so everybody pitches in to carry off all the programming. Scot said he notices that people spend their whole careers at CatholicTV, there's a lot of loyalty among the employees. Bonnie said there's a great ability to attract people, especially those in technical fields. Part of the attraction is that with such a small crew, people can try their hand at many disciplines. 3rd segment: Scot said Christmas is a big deal at CatholicTV because of all the special programming. Bonnie said they turn into ChristmasTV starting with Christmas with midnight Mass from the Vatican. Many of the shows do special Christmas editions. Fr. Reed and Jay also do special reflections. There are also many programs of music including choirs from the Vatican. They have some movies and cartoons about St. Nicholas. It goes for three days. Scot said people love to watch the homily of the Holy Father on TV. Bonnie said the midnight Mass is so beautiful, as well as Masses from the Basilica of the Saxcred Heart at Notre Dame, and the National Shrine. Scot said there are 61,000 fans of CatholicTV on Facebook. Helen said online they plan to post many different video reflections and soundbites on YouTube and Facebook. They also had a musical group last week. Fr. Matt asked how many follow them on Twitter. She said about 12,000. He said he's amazed how many young people are moving from Facebook to Twitter. Helen said the Twitter users are very active, retweeting their content. He asked how to use Facebook and Twitter to evangelize. Helen said she's lucky at CatholicTV to have the daily Mass to pull from the homilies and other good messages from shows. She also uses her theology background to create messages to reconnect people to the faith as they go through their day. She said when there are big events that CatholicTV covers during the work day, she tries to tweet excerpts for those who are at work and can't watch. Helen noted that many of the followers on Facebook and Twitter aren't even from this country and communicate in other messages. Scot said that Facebook and Twitter users skew young, but aren't only young. Helen said there are many followers on Facebook who are 35-50 who are vocal and a lot of younger followers who are pretty quiet. Bonnie said at the National Catholic Youth Congress they had over 700 kids like them on Facebook and told them that while they don't post much there, they do read it. 4th segment: Scot said it seems like CatholicTV is always launching new programs. He asked about the new program launching in January called The Gist. Bonnie said the hosts are Danielle Bean, editor of Catholic Digest, Rachell Balducci, author of How Do You Tuck in A Superhero, and Carolee McGrath from Springfield. They will talk about anything and everything of their faith. They've recorded their first six episodes already. They drive home that our faith is a lived one. Scot asked if it's a Catholic version of the View. Bonnie said it's like that where talk about current events, issues of life, and anything else through a Catholic lens. They talk about managing their families and raising kids, for example. It launches January 3. It will have five or six air times. One of the toughest things about coming up with a new show is the new show title. They were excited that Helen was able to grab the name on Facebook and other social media. Danielle and Rachel are very into social media while Carolee is just into media. Scot said Rachel was on one of our early shows and it was a very funny episode. Her blog is chronicling raising her six boys and one daughter. Helen said user-generated content will be important for the Gist. They started weeks ago on Facebook and Twitter with polls and questions to get real-world feedback from women to feed the discussion on the show. Scot said on Thanksgiving they launched “Mass Confusion”, the first Catholic sitcom. Bonnie said there's been a lot of great feedback. It was created by Greg and Jennifer Willits from Georgia. She noted that Georgia has the fastest growing Catholic population. She said they've created other great content that CatholicTV has used in the past. Scot said the Willitses co-host a daily radio show on SiriusXM's The Catholic Channel. It was big departure for them to do completely scripted TV. It's also a very expensive show to produce because of the number of people involved. But the appreciation and response was so great that they are looking at how to make it work if they can. Fr. Matt asked about the premise of the show. It features two Catholic families, the other played by Mac and Katherine Barron, and the first show is about a birthday party for Jennifer and some confusion over a pregnancy. Scot said it's about real life and family. He said he saw it at the Catholic New Media Celebration in October and the crowd of 200 people laughed boisterously. He said it's family friendly. There's nothing you'd be unhappy about your kids watching, even though the quality is as good or better than what you see on network TV. Scot said entertainment is part of CatholicTV's mission. We're Catholics that love to laugh, to express joy, to take our faith seriously, but not to take ourselves seriously. Bonnie spoke of another show called House+Home where Fr. Reed goes into a home to meet a family and they take over the house for the day. With Mass Confusion, they took over the Willitses house for several days. Helen said people can watch it on YouTube, on Verizon on Demand, or on the CatholicTV website. 5th segment: Scot asked about programming that comes from other Catholic dioceses. While they are part of the Archdiocese of Boston, they are also America's Catholic TV Network. Diocese of Trenton produces a youth program called , which has won Emmy Awards and Gabriel Awards. Diocese of Springfield, Diocese of Rockville Centre, and Diocese of Brooklyn produce shows too. Diocese of Worcester does a show with Bishop McManus. Scot asked Helen about her favorite program. She said she likes Mysteries of the Church and Seventh Street Theater. It's not a Catholic TV show, but it's a theater troupe that put on faith-inspired shows. Scot said one of his favorites is Catholic Destinations with Kevin Nelson. They have gone to many cathedrals and shrines around the country and in some other nations. He's also enjoyed House+Home, including seeing how families integrate the faith into their lives. Bonnie said Mysteries of the Church is from the Diocese of Brooklyn and it's as good as any Discovery Channel show. Scot asked about Way of Beauty. It was shot on Thomas More College and it has high-production values. It looks at how art expresses our faith. Helen said ClearVoice is a Catholic magazine show that helps people be informed about what's going on in the Church all around the world. Scot said Wow: The CatholicTV Challenge is now going into its 10th or 11th season. It's a game show for kids which quizzes them on their faith. Bonnie said people call from all over about how great it is. Catechists tell them that they use the show to teach their classes. Scot said his kids love the competition aspect, but it also leads to discussion about the faith. We've Got To Talk with Fr. Dan O'Connell has been on the air for over 20 years. Bonnie said he brings energy and love to that show. It's the longest-running program, outside of the Mass. He gets into all kinds of situations with the show and brings the same energy. The Spotlight features Fr. Chip Hines and Fr. Bill Kelly doing movie reviews. Scot said it's a wonderful program that takes movies seriously. It's time to announce this week's winner of the WQOM Benefactor Raffle. Our prizes this week are “Let Us Adore Him”, a music CD of traditional Christmas hymns by the Dady Brothers and Friends; by Fr. Dave Pivonka, and , also by Fr. Pivonka. This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Richard Grande from Concord, MA. Congratulation, Richard! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams **Today's guest(s):** Gabriel Delmonaco, National Director and Vice President for Development of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association in the United States * [Catholic Near East Welfare Association](http://www.cnewa.org) * [CNEWA on Twitter](http://www.twitter/CNEWA) * [CNEWA on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/CNEWA1926) * [Gabriel Delmonaco's blog](http://gabedelmonaco.wordpress.com/) * [Gabriel Delmonaco on Twitter](http://www.twitter,com/GabeDelmonaco) **Today's topics:** The Catholic Near East Welfare Association **Summary of today's show:** Gabriel Delmonaco talks with Scot and Fr. Matt about the work that the Catholic Near East Welfare Association does with Eastern-rite Catholics in North Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia, helping match sponsors who want to help with important projects for small Christian communities that are often in the minority and under pressure in their own countries. CNEWA helps fund healthcare for refugee mothers in Jordan, formation for seminarians in Egypt, schooling for deaf children in Bethlehem, and more, all under the mandate of Pope Benedict XVI. **1st segment:** Scot welcomed Fr. Matt back to the show and asked him how his holiday weekend was. He spent time at a couple of different family parties and caught up with his family. Scot went to a bunch of cookouts on Friday and Saturday and then took his kids to the Boston fireworks on the Cambridge side of the Charles River. Yesterday, Fr. Matt was on CatholicTV's This is the Day program to promote  the upcoming Witness to Truth high school leadership program next week. It's not too late for teens from all over the archdiocese to sign up, meet kids from all over, grow deeper in faith, and learn leadership skills that come from the book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers," by Sean Covey. It's coupled with the theological and cardinal virtues. Find out more at [the ONE website](http://www.one4boston.org) or their [Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/one4boston) **2nd segment:** Scot welcomed Gabriel Delmonaco to the show. He was born in Italy and he worked in the Vatican at the Congregation for the Eastern Churches. They take care of all the Catholic Eastern Churches around the world. In 1999, he came to Boston for a conference organized by Congregation for all the Eastern Churches in the English-speaking world. He met people from the Catholic Near East Welfare Association and was taken with their mission. He told his wife that he wanted to move to New York and work for CNEWA.  Scot asked him about the Eastern Churches. Gabriel said there are the Byzantine, Syrian, Coptic, Armenian, Ethiopian/Eritrean and Syro-Malankara. Some of these churches are directly linked to the apostles. Over the centuries there were many divisions in the Church, often over politics. The main division was between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. But over time many of these churches reunited with Rome. They are located primarily in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. Scot said the Western Church has three or four rites, including the Latin-rite, the Ambrosian-rite (in Milan). What's different in these Eastern churches is the form of the Liturgy, but the commonalities are greater. When we talk about rite that's mainly about how we celebrate liturgy and pray. In the Latin-rite we have the Latin liturgy in both the ordinary (Novus Ordo) and extraordinary (Tridentine) forms.  Gabriel said the Catholic Eastern-rites include anywhere that there are Catholic Eastern rite churches, such as in India (Syro-Malabar) or in Ethiopia (Geze). Scot said there is a Geze rite liturgy every Saturday in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Scot said in the Eastern churches, there is one particular congregation that serves the needs similar to the different congregations for the rest of the Church such as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for the Bishops, etc. In the past, there were departments within each of the other congregations to care for Eastern Churches, but in 1926 all those functions were consolidated into one new congregation. One of the reasons was to give more attention to the churches as  they are. The churches felt they were being too Latinized, so a new congregation was created to help them maintain their traditions. **3rd segment:** CNEWA puts together people who want to help with people who are need. Sometimes the needs of Christians in those countries is overwhelming. "It's better to light a candle, than to curse the darkness." They light candles every day, saving one life at a time.  Not just those overseas, but also benefactors back in the US. In the Holy Land, Christians are a minority, less than 2%. In Iraq, there were 1 million Christians in 2003. Now, they're less than half that. Christians are fighting to maintain their foothold in their own countries. CNEWA helps them to thrive in their countries. In the West Bank, instead of giving money to families or just reparing churches, instead they put people to work repairing local churches. Sometimes their help comes as medical care. For some people, it's the only health care they get. In a town north of Amman, they provide a clinic for mothers and children and there is no other way for them to get medical care. They serve all faiths, not just Christian. When the clinic was created, before the Dominican Sisters of Catherine of Siena would visit patients, the husbands would accompany their wives and would be the only ones talking to the doctors. When the sisters came to the hospital, this changed the culture and suddenly women could go to the hospitals themselves and talk to the sisters. One of CNEWA's missions is to foster interreligious dialogue. They try to promote the many areas in common among the religions. In October 2007, a group of 100 representatives of Islam presented a document to Pope Benedict explaining all the commonalities between Islam and Christianity. In most of the countries where  they work, the Catholic Church is not a "Church of numbers" but a "Church of service". The Catholic community provides so many schools, hospitals, and more that vastly outweighs their proportion of the population. In Jordan, they are serving more than 500,000 Iraqi refugees and 1.9 million Palestinian refugees. They help not just individuals, but also the dioceses. They help form seminarians and sponsor religious novices and postulants. The sponsorship program connects people who want to help with people in need. They sponsor children, religious in formation, and seminarians. They allow correspondence between donors and the sponsored individual. Very strong bonds are formed between them, up to the point where the sponsors see them as their own children, even seminarians as their sons. They work through, with, and for the local Churches as a sign of respect for the people who live there. Twice per year in Rome, there's a meeting of all the agencies working for assistance to Christians in the Near East. They often meet with Pope Benedict. At a recent meeting, he asked Catholics to help those who wish to stay in their home countries above all, but even for those who don't to render all possible assistance. CNEWA's website has specific opportunities with dollar amounts to support individual projects such as a church in Iraq or a rectory in Damascus. American dollars go much further in these countries. A church in Iraq can rebuilt in Iraq for just $15,000. A rectory could be built for $30,000. A hungry family could fed for $2000 a month.  **4th segments:** It's time to announce the winner of the weekly **WQOM Benefactor Raffle**. Our prize this week is a Book Pack (3 books): [Made for More](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934217492/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1934217492) by Curtis Martin; [Spiritual Freedom](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0867168609/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0867168609) by Fr. Dave Pivonka and [Hiking the Camino](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/086716882X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=086716882X), also by Fr. Dave Pivonka    This week's winner is **Robert Romig from Winthrop**. Congratulations Robert! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit [WQOM.org](http://www.WQOM.org). For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. **5th segment:** Every year, through the local bishops they receive thousands of projects and they narrow it down to 200 or. In Bethlehem, the Congregation of the sisters of St. Dorothy have a community for the deaf and mute called Ephatha. Because of interfamily marriage there are many genetic problems that result in deafness. This provides societal shame and the kids aren't sent to schools. The Sisters go from home to home to teach the children, including teaching them how to speak Arabic using some high-tech computer programs. They also teach the kids to lip read. They show them how to make their way around in the city, including crossing streets. The Sisters' devotion is unique. CNEWA supports about 100 of the children each year. At an AIDS clinic in India, Gabriel met a religious sister who carried an HIV-infected man on her back to bathe him each day. Gabriel said the India director of CNEWA proposed $ 2 million worth of projects but they were only able to fund $700,000. They also make ongoing commitments to schools and clinics and hospitals. There is $13 million given directly by donors, another $6 million in wills and bequests, and another $4 million in endowments, so about $25 million total. Scot said it's often difficult to make sense of all the different collections they are asked to support. CNEWA is partly helped by the World Mission Sunday collection during October, but it helps primarily Propagation of the Faith, which takes care of mostly Latin-rite areas. 81% goes to Propaganda of the Faith and 19% goes to the Congregation for the Eastern Churches in Rome. CNEWA funds come directly from donors. Right now, there are bout 50,000 regular donors. The typical donor is a woman on Social Security who is giving from her want to help a Christian in India or the Middle East or North Africa. Their oldest donor is 98 and she has been giving since 1926.  Their donors are often invited to travel with Gabriel overseas to visit with those they are helping. Gabriel said his work has affected his faith life. He often thinks of the Scripture: "Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do it for me." He believes all of their donors receive a gift when they support CNEWA recipients. Scot said we often mistake needs and wants in the United States. there are a lot of projects that CNEWA supports that are for true needs of food, shelter, healthcare, and worship. Gabriel is able to tell his son how life is not as easy for everyone as it is for those of us who live in the developed world. With all the upheaval in the Middle East recently, it is becoming more difficult for those CNEWA serves. Food prices are rocketing upward around the world and projects and families are finding it harder to feed the hungry, for example.