Podcasts about Diocese

Fr. Michael Duesterhaus was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington in 1991. He spent 27 years, Active and Reserves, as a Naval Chaplain, mostly serving with units of the U.S. Marine Corps. Father has presented over 125 formal cases before Tribunals of seven dioceses of the United States. He currently serves as Parochial Vicar at St. John the Baptist Parish in Front Royal, Virginia. In Today's Show: Do you have to love everyone to get to heaven?   Why is God more wrathful in the Old Testament? To what extent do we defend our faith? Is it OK for a Catholic layman to attend a Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah? What should a eucharistic minister do when they drop the consecrated host? Can you please help me with a complicated family situation? Is it ever licit for a non-service animal to be in the sanctuary during a Catholic Mass? If not, what can be done about it? ​​If someone has autism or ADHD, and they feel rejected by others within their church community because of their struggles and for being different, how can they see God in this? ​​​​What do you think is causing young people to be more and more interested in the Church?   Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

To mark Refugee Week 2026, Paula Gooder chats to Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani about her life, her faith, and her own experience as a refugee. Bishop Guli was born in Iran and fled to the UK when she was a teenager following the murder of her brother during the Islamic Revolution. In this conversation, Bishop Guli reflects on her experiences, on the history of Christianity in Iran and the theme of migration in Scripture. She traces the importance of faith in her life and uncovers what it means to have courage and hope in God. The Right Reverend Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani is Bishop of Chelmsford and a member of the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords. She previously served as the first Bishop of Loughborough, in the Diocese of Leicester, from 2017 to 2021. Guli arrived in this country as a refugee from Iran, aged 14. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, a Biblical Scholar and the author of many academic and popular books on theology, faith and the Bible.

Deacon Steve Greco is a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Orange in California; he is the Director of Evangelization and Formation for the Diocese as well.  He is also founder and president of Spirit Filled Heart Ministries, which engages in evangelization and support of the foreign missions. He and MaryAnne have been married for over 50 years and have three adult children.  They discuss the Mass readings from Sunday mass.The Bible and You airs live weekdays at 2:30pm Pacific Time go to spiritfilledevents.com website or download our Spirit Filled Radio App for Android or Apple Devices.Archives of shows from Spirit Filled Radio are available on podcast at spiritfilledevents.comSupport the show Support the show

In his Homily on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 12, 2026), Bishop Robert Gruss said the sacred heart of Jesus isn't just a symbol — it's a window into God's boundless love and mercy for you. But in a world filled with division, fear, and chaos, how can you truly experience this divine compassion? He said the feast day is a call not only to reflection but to deep, personal transformation.God's love actively pursues us, he said. It transforms us, and calls us to respond. He reveals that the sacred heart is more than an image; it's a divine invitation to enter into a relationship with a loving God whose mercy knows no limits.During the Mass, Bishop Gruss also consecrated the Diocese of Saginaw to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.Learn more about the Consecration at saginaw.org.

The vehicle's event data recorder documented the accelerator at full capacity, zero brake application, and a direct trajectory into a commercial building in Strongsville, Ohio at approximately one hundred miles per hour. Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan were pronounced dead at the scene. Mackenzie Shirilla survived. The defendant never provided a statement to law enforcement and did not testify at trial. The case was built entirely on physical and digital evidence.The evidentiary foundation included the data recorder findings, prior threats documented in text messages — Shirilla told Russo weeks before the crash she would "crash this car right now" — and evidence that Shirilla had driven to the same dead-end road days before the fatal night. Monitored jail calls between the defendant and her mother Natalie Shirilla, conducted in a private coded language, were intercepted and decoded by investigators. According to prosecutors, the decoded communications revealed the defendant asking whether they could inform police she had experienced a seizure prior to the crash. The seizure theory — attributed to a blood pressure condition called POTS — became the defense's primary argument. The court rejected it, finding the defendant's actions "controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful."Post-conviction institutional records document thirty-six conduct violations in under three years at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, with guilty findings on thirty-two. Citations include unauthorized medication, altered prison clothing, contraband, refusing work assignments, and more than one hundred video visits with an unapproved former inmate conducted under another individual's name. On recorded calls, the defendant characterizes herself as the third person harmed and continues to describe the incident as a car accident. She has declined participation in institutional rehabilitation programs.The family's conduct compounds the post-conviction record. Natalie Shirilla stated on a monitored call that prison programs are intended for "people convicted of crimes like actual criminals." She characterized the Russo family as "evil." Steve Shirilla publicly challenged the evidence on a podcast while the court's written findings remain in the public record. His contract at Mary Queen of Peace School was not renewed by the Diocese of Cleveland following his appearance in Netflix's The Crash.Coffindaffer and Dreeke examine the complete behavioral arc — from the pre-crash threats and rehearsal drive through the decoded calls and institutional conduct — and assess whether anyone in the defendant's environment has provided genuine accountability at any stage.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MackenzieShirilla #TheCrash #DominicRusso #DavionFlanagan #DataRecorder #Strongsville #JenniferCoffindaffer #RobinDreeke #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime

Mackenzie Shirilla's parole eligibility date is September 2037. Her institutional record at the Ohio Reformatory for Women raises substantial questions about whether that date will produce a different outcome than continued incarceration.In under three years of imprisonment, Shirilla has accumulated thirty-six conduct violations — guilty findings on thirty-two. Documented infractions include unauthorized medication, altered prison-issued clothing, contraband possession, and refusal of work assignments. The most notable entry involves more than one hundred video visits conducted with a former inmate who was not an approved visitor, performed under another individual's name. Shirilla has declined participation in institutional rehabilitation programs. On recorded prison calls, she has characterized herself as the third person harmed in what she continues to describe as a car accident. She has expressed her intention to pursue work as a life coach upon release.Defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis examines the parole board's evaluative framework. Ohio's parole system weighs institutional conduct, program participation, demonstrated accountability, and risk assessment. An inmate who refuses rehabilitation, accumulates violations at this rate, and maintains a characterization of the offense inconsistent with the court's findings presents a specific profile that parole boards are structured to evaluate — and typically to deny.The family dimension introduces additional complications. Prosecutors decoded calls in which the defendant and her mother Natalie communicated in a fabricated language designed to circumvent monitoring. In one decoded exchange, the defendant allegedly proposed telling law enforcement she experienced a seizure prior to the crash. Those communications were admitted as evidence at trial. Natalie Shirilla was separately recorded characterizing the family of victim Dominic Russo as "evil people." Steve Shirilla's contract at Mary Queen of Peace School was not renewed by the Diocese of Cleveland following his appearance in Netflix's The Crash, during which he expressed comfort with his daughter's substance use.Faddis examines whether the family's public statements and recorded communications are actively undermining the defendant's prospects, what legal exposure Natalie faces, and whether Shirilla's current trajectory makes the 2037 date functionally meaningless.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MackenzieShirilla #TheCrash #TheCrashNetflix #DominicRusso #DavionFlanagan #EricFaddis #ShirillaParole #NatalieShirilla #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime

Steve Shirilla lost his teaching job after defending his convicted daughter on Netflix. Natalie Shirilla was recorded on a prison call telling Mackenzie that Dominic Russo's family are "evil people." Prosecutors decoded calls where mother and daughter spoke in a private made-up language to evade monitoring — and in one decoded exchange, Mackenzie allegedly asked if they could tell police she had a seizure before the crash. Those calls were introduced as evidence at trial.Eric Faddis examines whether this family is helping Mackenzie or building the record against her. Steve went on a podcast and challenged anyone to produce evidence his daughter acted deliberately — while a judge's written findings sit in the public record. On camera for Netflix, he acknowledged being comfortable with his daughter's substance use while teaching at a Catholic elementary school. The Diocese of Cleveland confirmed his contract at Mary Queen of Peace was not renewed. Natalie's "evil people" characterization of the family whose son was killed in the crash — made on a monitored call — is exactly the kind of statement a parole board reviews.Mackenzie's institutional record tells its own story. Thirty-six conduct violations in under three years at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Guilty on thirty-two. Unauthorized medication. Altered prison clothing. Contraband. Refusing work assignments. More than a hundred video visits with a former inmate who wasn't approved, conducted under someone else's name. She refuses rehabilitation programs. She refers to herself as the third person harmed in what she still calls a car accident. She told her mother on a monitored call she wants to become a life coach when she gets out.Her parole eligibility is September 2037. Faddis breaks down what the parole board actually weighs when they sit across from someone with this institutional record — whether violations push eligibility back, what program refusal signals about readiness for release, whether the recorded statements on monitored calls are quietly becoming the prosecution's exhibit file for a future parole hearing, and what legal exposure Natalie could face for the decoded calls that were used as evidence at trial.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MackenzieShirilla #TheCrash #TheCrashNetflix #SteveShirilla #NatalieShirilla #DominicRusso #EricFaddis #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #ShirillaParole

The crash that killed Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan wasn't the first time Mackenzie Shirilla drove to that dead-end road in Strongsville, Ohio. She'd been there days before the fatal night. The data recorder from her car captured the final run — accelerator at full capacity, zero braking, a straight line into a commercial building at close to a hundred miles per hour. Russo and Flanagan were dead at the scene. Shirilla survived.She never talked to police. She never testified. Investigators built the case from the car's data, the prior threats — Shirilla told Russo weeks before she would "crash this car right now" — and monitored jail calls where she and her mother Natalie communicated in a private coded language that investigators cracked. According to prosecutors, the decoded calls revealed Shirilla asking whether they could tell police she'd had a seizure. That claim became the defense theory — a blood pressure condition called POTS allegedly caused a blackout. The judge didn't buy it. He called her actions "controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful."The post-conviction picture hasn't shifted. Thirty-six conduct violations in under three years at the Ohio Reformatory for Women — guilty on thirty-two. Unauthorized medication. Altered clothing. Contraband. Refusing work assignments. More than a hundred video visits with an unapproved former inmate conducted under someone else's name. On recorded calls, Shirilla calls herself the third person harmed by what she still describes as an accident. She told a friend she plans to become a life coach.Her family has reinforced every instinct. Natalie told Mackenzie on a monitored call that prison programs are for "people convicted of crimes like actual criminals." She called the Russo family "evil." Steve Shirilla went on a podcast to challenge anyone to produce evidence of intent — while the judge's written findings sit in the public record. He acknowledged comfort with his daughter's substance use on camera for Netflix while employed at a Catholic elementary school. The Diocese of Cleveland didn't renew his contract.Coffindaffer and Dreeke examine the behavioral pattern from the threats through the rehearsal drive through the crash itself — and why the prison record is the same pattern continuing under a different roof.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MackenzieShirilla #TheCrash #DominicRusso #DavionFlanagan #Strongsville #JenniferCoffindaffer #RobinDreeke #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #OhioCrime

Prosecutors decoded calls where Mackenzie Shirilla and her mother Natalie spoke in a private made-up language to evade prison monitoring. In one decoded exchange, Mackenzie allegedly asked if they could tell police she had a seizure before the crash. Those calls were introduced as evidence during the trial that convicted her of killing Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan.That decoded conversation sits at the center of two questions Eric Faddis examines. First: what legal exposure does Natalie Shirilla face for participating in communications designed to circumvent monitoring — communications that contained what prosecutors characterized as an attempt to fabricate evidence? Second: is this family collectively building a record against the very person they're trying to free?Natalie was recorded on a separate monitored call telling Mackenzie that Dominic Russo's family are "evil people." Steve Shirilla lost his teaching position at Mary Queen of Peace School after the Diocese of Cleveland declined to renew his contract following his appearance on Netflix's The Crash. On a podcast, he challenged anyone to produce evidence his daughter acted deliberately — while a judge's written findings documenting exactly that sit in the public record. On camera, he said he was comfortable with his daughter's substance use while employed at a Catholic elementary school.Inside the Ohio Reformatory for Women, Mackenzie's institutional record has grown to thirty-six conduct violations in under three years — guilty on thirty-two. Unauthorized medication. Altered clothing. Contraband. Refusing work assignments. Over a hundred video visits with an unapproved former inmate conducted under someone else's name. She refuses rehabilitation programs. She refers to herself as the third person harmed. She told her mother she wants to be a life coach.Faddis breaks down what a parole board sees when an inmate's institutional file looks like this, whether the monitored calls are building the case against her own release, and whether September 2037 is a date that still means anything given the record she's compiling.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MackenzieShirilla #TheCrash #TheCrashNetflix #NatalieShirilla #SteveShirilla #DominicRusso #EricFaddis #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #DecodedCalls

This week on The Uncommon Good, Dr. Bud Maher flies solo while Bo Bonner continues his doctoral studies in England. His guest is Dr. Stephen Lawson, a longtime friend and newly appointed associate professor of theology at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas — a position so new he hasn't appeared on the university's website yet. Check back at newman.edu this fall to follow his work. The Stone-Campbell Movement Dr. Lawson grew up in Grayson, Kentucky, the son of two Bible college professors deeply rooted in the Stone-Campbell (restorationist) movement — a tradition that intentionally uses generic church names like "Church of Christ" or "Christian Church" to emphasize unity over denominationalism. He explains the movement's founding principle ("where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent"), its surprisingly robust understanding of baptism and weekly Eucharist, and how its Biblicist roots ironically pushed many of its most serious scholars toward deeper engagement with church history. The Academic Journey From Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, to Emmanuel Christian Seminary, and finally to Saint Louis University's PhD program in historical theology, Dr. Lawson describes how immersion in the Cappadocian Fathers, Augustine, and patristic scholarship created a hunger the Stone-Campbell tradition couldn't fully satisfy. He reflects on a remarkable cohort of fellow Stone-Campbell scholars at SLU — including mutual friends Alex Giltner, Jordan Wood, and Alden Bass — many of whom have since entered the Catholic Church. Hauerwas, Peterson, and Newman Two thinkers proved pivotal: ethicist Stanley Hauerwas, whose radical ecclesiology pushed Lawson to ask serious questions about what the Church actually is, and Protestant-turned-Catholic theologian Erik Peterson (1890–1960), whose conversion story Lawson wrote his dissertation on. He was asked three times during his dissertation defense: Why aren't you Catholic? Landing the Airplane The decisive moment came when an institutional merger at Austin Graduate School of Theology — where Lawson was teaching — produced an administrator's claim that a theology degree was "basically the same thing" as a degree in marriage and family therapy. That reduction of Christianity to a subjective self-help tool made staying in a subjectivist tradition impossible. He and his wife Emily entered RCIA at St. Ignatius Martyr Church in Austin, Texas, and entered full communion with the Catholic Church. Their baptisms were recognized as valid; no rebaptism was needed. Teaching Theology Today After three years teaching at a Catholic high school in St. Louis, Dr. Lawson reflects on what really matters in the classroom. His approach shifted away from memorizing theological vocabulary toward helping students encounter Christ through texts — most notably, using Augustine's Confessions as a mirror for students to map their own spiritual geographies and key life moments. Pope Leo's Encyclical Dr. Lawson offers an early take on Magnificat Humanitas, Pope Leo's new encyclical on human dignity and artificial intelligence, describing it as a text with real, lasting impact — one that calls the Church back to the concrete, local, embodied person in an age of commodification and algorithmic control. He sees limited room for AI in theological education, where the goal is encounter, not output. Dr. Lawson's conversion essay is available through his Facebook page. Look for his published work in the Newman Studies Journal. Dr. Bud Maher teases a return visit to go deeper on the encyclical. Pray with Iowa Catholic Radio: Rosary on air at 4:30 AM, 6:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 8:30 PM. Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 2:57 PM. Download the Iowa Catholic Radio app to pray anytime, anywhere, and stay connected to events across the Diocese of Des Moines. Visit IowaCatholicRadio.com for events, donation options, and more. #TheUncommonGood #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicConversion #StoneCampbellMovement #CatholicTheology #NewmanUniversity #BudMaher #DrStephenLawson #RestorationistMovement #ChurchHistory #CatholicFaith #Patristics #StanleyHauerwas #PopeLeo #MagnificatHumanitas #AugustineConfessions #CatholicPodcast #ConversionStory #SacramentalTheology #TeachingTheology #CatholicIntellectual #ErikPeterson #FullCommunion #SaintLouisUniversity #ProtestantToCAtholic Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fr. Estevan Wetzel joins us to reflect on Sunday's Gospel.  Michael Villanueva, Bien Medrano talk about a leadership program for high school students. We'll hear about sharing our experiences with the sacraments. You'll also get up to date on the latest news and events in the Diocese of Phoenix.   Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.

Deacon Angelo Giambrone was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Orange in 2015.  He is assigned to St. Vincent de Paul Church in Huntington Beach.  He and wife Cindy have supported several ministries in the parish, including bringing communion to the sick and homebound and as chairs of the annual September-fest. They also run the Alpha Marriage course at the parish and are involved with the Worldwide Marriage Encounter ministry.  In this episode, they discuss the difficulties which arise day-to-day in marriage.Wedding Banns airs live weekdays at 7:30am and3:00pm Pacific Time go to spiritfilledevents.com website or download our Spirit Filled Radio App for Android or Apple Devices.APPLE LINK FOR APPGOOGLE PLAY LINK FOR APPArchives of shows from Spirit Filled Radio are available on podcast at spiritfilledevents.com Support the show

We're joined by Dina Dow, director of evangelization and catechesis in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, with segment from the USCCB Plenary Assembly where they will consecration our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Dr. Mark Williams, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux joins us with a final update as superintendent. He will also inform us about Aspiring Scholars Program and how it's helping families put their children in Catholic schools. Scott and Elisabeth Williams, co-founders of Catholic Concepts, talk about good Father's Day gifts.

Father Casey Jones is a priest of the Diocese of Venice, Florida. He currently serves as the pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish and school in Naples, Florida. In Today's Show: What is a good response to someone who says Jesus in the New Testament isn't an accurate depiction? Father Casey's Catholic radio background. Does a priest need to touch a host with his bare hands to consecrate it? Is there a physical limit when a priest blesses water? Will Magnifica Humanitas change the way Catholics perceive technology? Do people afflicted with demons typically get red eyes or very black eyes? Is the desire to do things specifically for praise from our peers and superiors wrong? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

On this episode of Catholic Forum, Raymond Martinez II joins the show to discuss his role as a Perpetual Pilgrim on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage "One Nation Under God" route that is bringing the Blessed Sacrament to many east coast dioceses this Summer, including the Diocese of Wilmington on June 11th and 12th. To learn more about Raymond and his fellow perpetual pilgrims visit eucharisticpilgrimage.org. To learn more about the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage events in the Diocese of Wilmington visit cdow.org/cabriniroute or thedialog.org! We hope you'll join us on the route to glorify our Eucharistic Lord, the Source and Summit of our faith! Each week you can listen to The Catholic Forum podcast on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music podcasts and youtube.com/dioceseofwilm every Wednesday; and on Relevant Radio 640 every Saturday afternoon at 1:30 for those in the Delmarva/South Jersey region. More information is available at cdow.org/CatholicForum and Facebook.com/CatholicForum. Catholic Forum is a production of the Office of Communication of the Diocese of Wilmington (supported by the Faith and Charity Appeal!) Please like, subscribe and share.

We're joined by Sarah McDonald, Communications Director of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, with update and Clarion Herald stories. Sr. Heart of Jesus, Sr. Yve Marie and Sr. Cecilia, with the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament play their new song. Dr. Tom Neal, Chief of Evangelization and Mission Engagement of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee with Catholic 101 segment: How do I start a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?

On the northern fringe of Sydney, among gum trees and very loud native bird song, the Catholic Church plans to build Australia's newest cathedral. The proposal by the Diocese of Broken Bay has attracted criticism for its expense. But the church hopes the stunning new design, which captures the essence of the nearby bushland, will convince the critics.GUEST:Niall McLaughlin is the architect on the planned Broken Bay Catholic cathedral.

Churches and charities are warning that the federal government's plan to increase taxes on discretionary trusts could cost the welfare and community sector billions of dollars in donations. They fear up to 30 per cent of their income could disappear.If you attend a Donald Trump rally in the United States, you'll almost certainly hear his favourite song – the high-camp late 70's hit by the Village People, “YMCA”. And you'll increasingly hear another song that, strictly speaking, has nothing to do with politics. It's the evangelical anthem, “How Great is Our God”. Now, some evangelical leaders fear the MAGA movement has hijacked their music, even their worship style.  On the northern fringe of Sydney, among gum trees and very loud native bird song, the Catholic Church plans to build Australia's newest cathedral. The proposal by the Diocese of Broken Bay has attracted criticism for its expense. But the church hopes the stunning new design, which captures the essence of the nearby bushland, will convince the critics.GUESTS:Mark Fowler is a charity lawyer and advisory committee member for the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission, a commonwealth agency. Professor Leah Payne of the Portland Seminary is the author of God Gave Rock & Roll to You.Niall McLaughlin is the architect on the planned Broken Bay cathedral.

Fr. Michael Duesterhaus was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington in 1991. He spent 27 years, Active and Reserves, as a Naval Chaplain, mostly serving with units of the U.S. Marine Corps. Father has presented over 125 formal cases before Tribunals of seven dioceses of the United States. He currently serves as Parochial Vicar at St. John the Baptist Parish in Front Royal, Virginia. In Today's Show: How can we get more Catholics to attend Mass? What is a good Catholic response to those who support Planned Parenthood because they help prevent STD's? Do the intentions that we hold privately during the Mass have the same weight as those that are announced during the Mass? Are personal vows to God binding? What is the difference between solemnities and feasts? Is putting religious stickers up in public a sin? Can mortal sins be forgiven outside of confession? What is the retirement process like for priests? Why do Catholics wear the Crucifix?  Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Bishop Gruss explains devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and connects the upcoming consecration of the U.S. and the Diocese of Saginaw to the Sacred Heart with the nation's need for healing. Bishop Gruss emphasizes how Christ's love is the antidote for wounds, division and anxiety.

Deacon Tony Mercado, a permanent deacon with the Diocese of Orange in California, offers his thoughts on suffering and how it can help us to grow spiritually.  In this episode, he talks about the loss of a child. Support the show

Deacon Steve Greco is a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Orange in California; he is the Director of Evangelization and Formation for the Diocese as well.  He is also founder and president of Spirit Filled Heart Ministries, which engages in evangelization and support of the foreign missions. He and MaryAnne have been married for over 50 years and have three adult children.  They discuss the Mass readings from Sunday mass with a special focus on Corpus Christi Sunday.The Bible and You airs live weekdays at 2:30pm Pacific Time go to spiritfilledevents.com website or download our Spirit Filled Radio App for Android or Apple Devices.Archives of shows from Spirit Filled Radio are available on podcast at spiritfilledevents.com Support the show

We're joined by Dr. Cindy Ryals, Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Dr. Johann D'Souza, Clinical psychologist, Harvard research affiliate and author of Saving Teens from Toxic Screens, talks about teens, screens and summertime. Emily Jaminet, executive director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network, talks about a home enthronement to the Sacred Heart.

Father Christopher Mahar earned a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy from Providence College in 2000 and subsequently completed his Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2003. He was ordained a deacon in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in 2003 and a priest in the Diocese of Providence in 2004. He currently serves as Pastor at St. Augustine Church in Providence, Rhode Island.  In Today's Show: If we don't receive the Eucharist, do we receive any graces/blessings from attending Mass?  How do we tell other Catholic parents not to do Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny? Why isn't Holy Thursday a Holy Day of Obligation? What is the difference between burnout and sloth? Does separation violate the marital vows of caring in sickness and in health? Does a priest need to have his stole on for a sacrament to be valid? What are the different occasions of sin? What is the most effective way to pray for holy souls in purgatory? Why are young children not able to receive the Eucharist despite their understanding of it? And more. Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Big Bend Borderlands Ministry: Water Conservation, Rancher Collaboration & Creation Care in Marfa Traveling between Alpine and Marfa, Texas, Bishop Michael Hunn of the Diocese of the Rio Grande rides with the Reverend Mike Wallens, who serves Borderlands Ministry and five Big Bend congregations, as they head to Mexico to meet the mayor of Ojinaga and visit two shelters the ministry has supported for years. They discuss environmental work in the Big Bend focused on drought and grasslands, including collaboration with Sul Ross State University's Borderlands Research Institute and interim head Billy Tarrant, who convenes water conservation efforts, encourages measuring ranch water levels to assess aquifers, and promotes land practices that slow runoff, reduce flooding, and recharge groundwater to sustain streams and bird migration habitat. Wallens also describes a Creation Care grant-funded tree-planting project in Marfa's low-income housing, with trees provided and planted with help from an Apache group and maintained by church members and residents. 00:00 Road to Marfa 00:31 Bishop on the Borderlands 01:18 Water and Grasslands 02:28 Ranchers and Aquifers 03:14 Wildlife and Migration 04:13 Restoring Water Flow 05:19 Tree Planting in Marfa 06:25 Closing Reflections

Father Martin hosts Connecting the Diocese for the Diocese of La Crosse, highlighting the June 6 diaconal ordination at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman and the significance of Corpus Christi. Guest Christopher Ruff, Director of Ministries and Social Concerns, describes his 25+ years serving the diocese, his role in restarting and shaping deacon […]

Who is better equipped to teach us about spiritual health than an exorcist? Father Dan Reehil, Roman Catholic priest, exorcist for the Diocese of Nashville, and host of the Battle Ready podcast, joins Dr. Chris Motley and Dr. Anis Khalaf for a live conversation that bridges spiritual warfare, self-discipline, and whole-body health in a way you've never heard before. How's your spirit these days? We're pretty conscious of our minds and bodies, but we also must be aligned with our spiritual health for true balance. Father Dan's message to us? Spiritual growth requires discipline, and in our modern world, discipline is in short supply. Father Dan makes the case that spiritual discipline isn't just a religious practice, it's your strongest protection against the forces that keep you stuck, sick, and spiritually depleted. In a culture that's abandoned discipline entirely, that protection is more urgent than ever. Check out the episode to learn his remedies for spiritual discipline AND find out what exorcism training really looks like.  In this episode you'll discover: *The one thing Father Dan sees in every single case of spiritual oppression, and the daily practice that closes that door *Why self-discipline is not a restriction on your freedom but the key to it *How to shift your perspective so there are no more "bad days"...only days of grace *What exorcism training in Rome actually looks like, and what it taught Father Dan about spiritual oppression *Why the family that prays together genuinely does stay together — how shared spiritual practice is protective *How morning prayer, fasting, and intentional living transform not just your soul but your physical body *Whether you're coming from a place of faith or simply searching for deeper meaning, this episode will challenge the way you think about spiritual health — and give you practical tools to strengthen it starting today. ------  Follow Doctor Motley! Instagram TikTok Facebook Website Follow Dr. Anis Khalaf https://www.instagram.com/acupuncturefit/ https://www.tiktok.com/@acupuncturefit https://www.youtube.com/@AcupunctureFit Follow Father Dan Reehil https://www.instagram.com/fatherdanreehil/ https://www.youtube.com/@fatherdanreehil Check out his podcast: Battle Ready ------  * Ready to take the plunge into cold therapy? You can get 12% off Barrels and Chillers with code DRMOTLEY at https://shorturl.at/JSe4N *Join Doctor Motley's newsletter for TCM insights and regular podcast updates: https://www.doctormotley.com/ *Do you have a ton more in-depth questions for Doctor Motley? Check out his course on emotions and the body in his membership. You'll find other courses full of his expertise and clinical wisdom, plus bring all your questions to his weekly lives! To try risk-free for 15 days click here: https://www.doctormotley.com/15

Steve Shirilla's teaching contract at Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland was not renewed following his appearance in the Netflix documentary The Crash. The Diocese of Cleveland confirmed he will not be returning. Natalie Shirilla was captured on a recorded prison call referring to the family of Dominic Russo — the man their daughter was convicted of killing — as "evil people." Defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis provides analysis on whether the Shirilla parents' conduct has legal or procedural implications for their daughter's case.Mackenzie Shirilla was convicted in August 2023 of killing Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan after driving her vehicle into a brick building at approximately a hundred miles an hour in Strongsville, Ohio. She is serving two concurrent sentences of fifteen years to life, with parole eligibility in September 2037.Prosecutors decoded recorded prison calls in which Mackenzie and Natalie communicated using a fabricated language designed to evade the monitoring system. In one decoded exchange, Mackenzie allegedly asked whether they could tell police she had a seizure before the crash. These transcripts were introduced as evidence during the 2023 trial.Steve Shirilla has made public statements across multiple platforms challenging anyone to produce evidence his daughter acted deliberately — despite a judge's findings that address intent directly. On the Netflix documentary, he stated he had no issue with his daughter's substance use while employed at a Catholic elementary school.Faddis addresses Natalie's potential legal exposure, whether Steve's public campaign could affect the appellate process, and whether the family's collective conduct is creating an evidentiary record that may work against Mackenzie Shirilla at a future parole hearing.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MackenzieShirilla #ShirillaParents #NatalieShirilla #SteveShirilla #TheCrashNetflix #DominicRusso #DavionFlanagan #TrueCrime #EricFaddis #TrueCrimeToday

Natalie Shirilla used a private coded language on recorded prison calls to communicate with her convicted daughter. Prosecutors decoded those calls and presented them as evidence at trial. In one exchange, Mackenzie allegedly asked if they could tell police she had a seizure. On a separate call, Natalie called the Russo family — the family of the man Mackenzie was convicted of killing — "evil people." Defense attorney Eric Faddis addresses whether any of this crosses a legal line.Meanwhile, Steve Shirilla's teaching contract at Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland was not renewed by the Diocese after he appeared on The Crash, a Netflix documentary about Mackenzie's case. On camera, he defended his daughter, said he had no problem with her substance use, and challenged anyone to show him evidence of intent — while a judge's findings sit in the public record.Mackenzie Shirilla is serving two concurrent sentences of fifteen years to life for killing Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan in a 2022 crash in Strongsville, Ohio. Her parole eligibility is September 2037.Faddis, a criminal defense attorney and former felony prosecutor, examines what legal risks exist for a parent who coaches a convicted inmate on monitored calls. He explains whether Steve's very public campaign helps or damages the appeal. And he confronts the larger question: is this family so locked into protecting Mackenzie that they're building the case against her themselves?Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MackenzieShirilla #NatalieShirilla #SteveShirilla #ShirillaParents #TheCrash #DominicRusso #TrueCrime #EricFaddis #HiddenKillersLive #ShirillaPrisonCalls

On this edition of Catholic Forum, Joanne Varnes, Program Manager at Catholic Charities joins the show to discuss the Food Assistance Program she manages with Catholic Charities and the ongoing need for donations to the food pantries around the diocese. Joanne discusses how grateful she is to be involved in the work of Catholic Charities and what it means to be able to serve her neighbors in need. To find out more about the work of Catholic Charities and the Food Assistance or Diaper Bank Programs, you can visit ccwilm.org and get in touch with Joanne. And we're back with a video interview this week so head over to youtube.com/dioceseofwilm to watch the interview with Joanne!  Each week you can listen to The Catholic Forum podcast on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music podcasts and youtube.com/dioceseofwilm every Wednesday; and on Relevant Radio 640 every Saturday afternoon at 1:30 for those in the Delmarva/South Jersey region. More information is available at cdow.org/CatholicForum and Facebook.com/CatholicForum. Catholic Forum is a production of the Office of Communication of the Diocese of Wilmington (supported by the Faith and Charity Appeal!) Please like, subscribe and share.

We're joined by Eric Miller, with the Louisiana Knights of Columbus.  Bethany Kline, founder of 365 Catholic Singles Community, will talk about dating culture and how Catholics should respond. Hannah Guilliam, Acadiana youth director with Louisiana Right to Life, Marie Ortego and Kate Clapper, will talk about the Pulse Leadership Institute. Kathleen Higgins, director of youth and young adult ministry in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, talks about summer activities.

In this episode of The Anchored Podcast, Jeremy speaks with Thomas Maloney, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Lansing. Thomas shares his journey from growing up in a Catholic family to leading Catholic education in Lansing, Michigan. He discusses the decline of Catholic education in America, the challenges it faces today, and the renewal currently taking place in Catholic schools. He emphasizes the importance of faith, culture, and the Catholic intellectual tradition in shaping future generations.From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age by Monsignor James P. Shea

Fr. Mitch welcomes Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois to reflect on the life, legacy, and upcoming Beatification of the Peoria native Venerable Fulton Sheen.

Julie Nelson and Chris Magruder sit down with Stephanie Parks — Director of Campus Ministry at Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines and co-author of Michelle Duppong: Hope in the Depths of Suffering (written with Patti Armstrong) — to tell the story of a modern woman whose life and death are captivating the Church. Who Was Michelle Duppong? Born in 1984 and raised on a North Dakota farm, Michelle was a faithful Catholic who experienced a powerful conversion through FOCUS and Eagle Eye Ministries summer camp. After graduating from North Dakota State University in Fargo, she served six years as a FOCUS missionary — opening campuses and discipling students — before joining the Diocese of Bismarck for adult faith formation. In late 2014, she was diagnosed with stage four cancer and given two months to live. She lived a full year more, transforming everyone around her — hospital staff, nurses, cafeteria workers — through her contagious joy. She died on Christmas Day, 2015, surrounded by her family. Her cause for canonization was officially opened in 2022, and she now holds the title Servant of God. The Book Stephanie co-authored Michelle Duppong: Hope in the Depths of Suffering with Patti Armstrong, whose connection to Michelle's family in Bismarck perfectly complemented Stephanie's perspective from inside FOCUS. The book covers Michelle's life, her heroic suffering, and the signs of hope her family experienced after her death — including a beautiful account from her sister Lisa. How to Support Michelle's Cause Prayer cards are available. If you experience a grace through Michelle's intercession, report it to the Guild overseeing her cause. Also in This Episode — Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 2026 June 11th: The USCCB will consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence — a first in American history. Enthronement resources: WelcomeHisHeart.com Film: Sacred Heart: His Reign Has No End — screening in Des Moines, Waukee, and Waterloo on June 9, 11, and 12. For family consecration guidance, revisit the Catholic Women Now episode with Emily Jaminet from January. Episode Contributors Julie Nelson, Chris Magruder, Stephanie Parks #CatholicWomenNow #MichelleDuppong #ServantOfGod #HopeInThDepthsOfSuffering #CatholicSaints #FOCUS #RedemptiveSuffering #SacredHeartOfJesus #CatholicRadio #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicWomen #NewSaints #CatholicFaith #DowlingCatholic #StephanieParks Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows:Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian MoncadaCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonMaking It Personal with Bishop William JoensenMan Up! with Joe StopulosSunday Dive with Katie PatrizioThe Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo BonnerThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fr. Estevan Wetzel joins us to reflect on Sunday's Gospel. Fr. Jim Kelleher joins us to talk about the Immaculate Heart, the Sacred Heart and the Rosary. You'll also get up to date on the latest news and events in the Diocese of Phoenix.   Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.

In this episode of the Diocese of St. Cloud podcast Speaking of Faith, Mary Parks, a trauma-informed educator, healthcare chaplain and spiritual director, shares about human formation—developing emotional skills, virtues, maturity and freedom to live in alignment with God. Mary explains how Catholic teaching on human dignity and the four pillars of formation makes human formation foundational, especially for ministers who risk harming others if they ignore their own limitations. She discusses common obstacles like fear, denial and control, and introduces her small-group program "Created, Called and Sent" an accessible, CPE-inspired cohort meeting monthly (mostly virtually) with individual sessions, verbatims and topics like trauma and non-violent communication. Join the upcoming June 17 informational webinar Webinar registration for Human Formation – Fill out form. Visit Mary's website www.thememoryofgod.org Additional information about the Human Formation Cohort: Created, Called, Sent: A reflective human formation experience for ministerial leaders: Informational Webinar – 6:30 p.m. Webinar sign-up: Webinar registration for Human Formation – Fill out form Engage in life-changing inner work alongside supportive peers in a nurturing environment. This program is designed for Catholic ministers — both lay and ordained — committed to growth through self-exploration. It runs from September 2026 through May 2027 and includes seven group meetings as well as seven individual coaching sessions. This will be a hybrid format: three meetings take place at Saint John's School of Theology, and the remaining sessions will occur online. The application can be found at Created, Called, Sent Human Formation Cohort – Fill out form.

What does the theology of the body have to teach us about bodily suffering? What do Jesus' wounds have to do with our wounds? What can we learn from the theology of the body about abandoning ourselves to the will of God?Today's episode is part III of a series on the theology of the body with guests Chris O'Neill, Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and Trey Weaver, Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. With Jillian, they'll explore what theology of the body has to teach us as we walk the path of infertility.Links:Part I: Getting Started With The Theology of The BodyPart II: What Does Theology of the Body Even Mean?John Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body Karol Wojtyła, Love and Responsibility

Deacon Tony Mercado, a permanent deacon with the Diocese of Orange in California, offers his thoughts on suffering and how it can actually help us to grow spiritually. Support the show

"One of Us" is a brief snapshot of people who support the Catholic church in various ways in the Diocese of Wilmington. We regularly feature people who may be recognizable within their parish or school communities.

In this episode, Fr. John Dear joins me to explore his latest book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace and one of the core convictions at the center of it: genuine peacemaking begins not with better strategy or more effort, but with total surrender to the God of peace, to the will of God. We talk about what it looks like to take the Sermon on the Mount seriously, why following the non-violent Jesus is the way, and how the daily practice of "not my will, but yours" carries not only inner transformation, but political implications that go all the way to the streets.Fr. John Dear is an American peace activist, lecturer, author and Catholic priest residing in the Diocese of Monterey in California. Dear has written 40 books on Jesus, peace and nonviolence, and has been arrested 85 times in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience against war, injustice, poverty, racism, executions, nuclear weapons, and environmental destruction. He is the founder and director of the Beatitudes Center, where he offers the "Nonviolent Jesus Podcast". Fr. John's Book:Universal LoveConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Support the show

Deacon Steve Greco is a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Orange in California; he is the Director of Evangelization and Formation for the Diocese as well.  He is also founder and president of Spirit Filled Heart Ministries, which engages in evangelization and support of the foreign missions. He and MaryAnne have been married for over 50 years and have three adult children.  They discuss the Mass readings from Sunday mass with a special focus on the Blessed Trinity.The Bible and You airs live weekdays at 2:30pm Pacific Time go to spiritfilledevents.com website or download our Spirit Filled Radio App for Android or Apple Devices.Archives of shows from Spirit Filled Radio are available on podcast at spiritfilledevents.com Support the show

Deacon Steve Greco is a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Orange. He is founder of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry, director of evangelization and formation for the Diocese of Orange and host of Empowered by the Spirit.  This 2016 encore episode features Armando Cervantes talking about ministry to young people.Empowered by the Spirit airs live weekdays at 10:00am and Fridays at 5pm Pacific Time go to https://www.spiritfilledevents.com/empowered-by-the-spirit website or download our Spirit Filled Radio App for Android or Apple Devices.APPLE LINK FOR APPGOOGLE PLAY LINK FOR APPArchives of shows from Spirit Filled Radio are available on podcast at https://www.spiritfilledevents.com/empowered-by-the-spiritSupport the show Support the show

Father Casey Jones is a priest of the Diocese of Venice, Florida. He currently serves as the pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish and school in Naples, Florida. In Today's Show: How can a fallen-away Catholic re-enter the Church? Can someone who is homebound or disabled enroll in OCIA? How can a Catholic physician balance their religious beliefs with their duty to respect patients' decisions? Does the Catholic church obligate us to vote in elections? ​Why don't we go back to traditional hymns and chant for modern Masses? Can an annulment be done incorrectly? Are our prayers less effective if prayed under duress?  Do we have to register at the parish that is closest to us?  If the Gospel is to be preached universally, how should Catholics understand the existence of different gospel presentations universally? Can a Catholic work at a farm that grows marijuana in a legal state? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

During the First Friday gathering in Saginaw on May 1, Bishop Gruss quoted Pope Francis and reminded listeners that every baptized person is called to be a missionary disciple.“A missionary disciple is someone who knows Jesus personally, loves Him deeply, follows Him faithfully, and shares Him boldly,” he said in his talk. (View the video below or watch it HERE.)He stressed that evangelization is not about having all the answers, but about sharing one's encounter with Christ.“A witness is someone who says, ‘I have met the Lord and He has changed my life,'” Bishop Gruss said.Bishop Gruss reflected on the Sacrament of Confirmation and missionary discipleship, and encouraged Catholics to rediscover the power of the Holy Spirit already at work within them through the Sacraments. He emphasized that Confirmation is inseparable from missionary discipleship. “The Spirit was poured upon the Church for one reason,” he said. “To evangelize.”“Wake Up the Sleeping Giant”Bishop Gruss encouraged Catholics to develop a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and rely less on self-sufficiency. “The Holy Spirit is already in you,” he said. “But perhaps He's dormant. Wake up the sleeping giant in your life. You have everything you need to live as a disciple of Jesus in the world today.”First Friday attendees were encouraged to pray simple prayers each day asking the Holy Spirit to become more active in their lives.He also encouraged young people preparing for Confirmation to approach the Sacrament with openness and courage. The Sacrament of Confirmation is meant to be a life-changing moment in one's life and call to discipleship, as it was for the disciples of the early church."“Don't be afraid to live an extraordinary life in Christ,” he said. “Christ is calling all of us to be saints.”Speaking during the Diocese's confirmation season, Bishop Gruss reflected on visiting parishes across the Diocese to celebrate Confirmation with young people. “Confirmation is not an ending. It doesn't complete anything. It's a beginning,” Bishop Gruss said.He explained that Catholics often reduce the Sacraments to events they attend rather than encounters with Jesus Christ himself. “When we look at the Sacramental life merely as events, then we have diminished them by 99.9%,” he said.Instead of saying, “I'm going to Mass,” Bishop Gruss suggested Catholics think differently: “I'm going for an encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.”Jesus Is the One Who ConfirmsBishop Gruss reminded attendees that Jesus himself is the minister of every Sacrament. “Jesus baptized you. He confirmed you. He gave himself to you in Holy Communion,” he said. “In the Sacrament of Confirmation, he uses my thumb.”Reflecting on his own Confirmation and Baptism dates, Bishop Gruss encouraged Catholics to learn and celebrate those dates as important milestones in their lives of faith. “These are two of the most important dates,” he said, “more important than your birthday.”He urged Catholics to contact the parish where they were baptized to obtain their Sacramental records and reflect more intentionally on those moments of grace.Confirmation and the Holy SpiritDrawing from the Acts of the Apostles, Bishop Gruss compared Confirmation to the transformation experienced by the apostles at Pentecost. Before receiving the Holy Spirit, the apostles hid in fear. Afterward, they boldly proclaimed the Gospel.“Peter went from fear and denial of Jesus to being a strong, faithful witness of the Gospel,” Bishop Gruss said. “Everything changed.”"That same Holy Spirit is given to the disciples is given to each person in the Sacrament of Confirmation, not diminished in any way. This is why it should be a profound life-changing experience."Bishop Gruss encouraged Catholics to ask the Lord to “bring alive the grace” of Confirmation again in their lives.“The Spirit is never dead,” he said. “Ask the Holy Spirit to ignite your faith.”

Bishop Gruss announced a major moment for our local Church: a Year of the Holy Spirit beginning on the Solemnity of Pentecost, May 24, 2026, through Pentecost 2027.

May 2026 meditations are written by Porter Taylor and recorded by Jason Merritt. Support this podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠forwardmovement.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Porter Taylor is a lifelong Episcopalian and served as the sixth bishop of Diocese of Western North Carolina. He is the author of three books, including his latest, Are You Persuaded? In and Out of Being a Bishop. He is married to Jo, and they live in Asheville, North Carolina.

May 2026 meditations are written by Porter Taylor and recorded by Jason Merritt. Support this podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠forwardmovement.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Porter Taylor is a lifelong Episcopalian and served as the sixth bishop of Diocese of Western North Carolina. He is the author of three books, including his latest, Are You Persuaded? In and Out of Being a Bishop. He is married to Jo, and they live in Asheville, North Carolina.

May 2026 meditations are written by Porter Taylor and recorded by Jason Merritt. Support this podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠forwardmovement.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Porter Taylor is a lifelong Episcopalian and served as the sixth bishop of Diocese of Western North Carolina. He is the author of three books, including his latest, Are You Persuaded? In and Out of Being a Bishop. He is married to Jo, and they live in Asheville, North Carolina.

Check out this great show from May 30, 2024 Bible Study: (1:52) 1 Pt 2:2-5, 9-12 Growing into salvation! Mk 10:46-52 Trust & salvation Letters: (28:00) - Thank you, Father for your views about the Diocese! (30:55) - Catholicism, the Jews, and killing Jesus Word of the Day: Boundary (39:03) Callers: (42:52) - I do the Liturgy of the Hours, I always thought the Feast of Corpus Christi was on a Sunday? (44:53) - Could you explain the Agnus Dei? (45:57) - Guardian Angel Prayer, to light and guard and rule and guide. Could you explain the word 'rule'? (47:23) - Fornication, divorce and remarriage and how is that word interpreted and diff from the Protestants and way they look at it? (49:16) - Conversion process in the early Church, and I'm involved in RCIA, what was it like converting during the Roman times?

May 2026 meditations are written by Porter Taylor and recorded by Jason Merritt. Support this podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠forwardmovement.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Porter Taylor is a lifelong Episcopalian and served as the sixth bishop of Diocese of Western North Carolina. He is the author of three books, including his latest, Are You Persuaded? In and Out of Being a Bishop. He is married to Jo, and they live in Asheville, North Carolina.