Podcasts about Diocese

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/18/26 from Fr Jim Korda, host of Wineskins and retired priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.  

What is the Daily Office in Anglicanism, and how do we pray it? In this edition of Ask the Church, we explain Morning and Evening Prayer and the basic structure of the Daily Office—confession, psalms, Scripture readings, the Apostles' Creed, and prayers. We also offer practical help for beginners, particularly when the Daily Office feels awkward or “stilted” at first when prayed alone. The Daily Office is a way of joining the Church's shared prayers and letting Scripture and prayer shape daily life together.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/17/26 from Fr Jim Korda, host of Wineskins and retired priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.

"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.

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: Is stealing sinful if it's a necessity? Does the Church permit birth control for medical treatment outside of contraception? Would a North Korean baptism be valid? Was Jesus truly tempted in the desert if he couldn't sin? How did St. Joseph receive the title of "Terror of Demons"? Can you work in business and be a hermit? What is the blasphemy against the holy spirit? Will you go to Hell if you can't pay back your debts on Earth? Should a priest interject humor into his homily? Why does the Church require us to go to confession yearly, even if we have no mortal sins? 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!

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/16/26 from Fr Jim Korda, host of Wineskins and retired priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/15/26 from Fr Jim Korda, host of Wineskins and retired priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.

Rev. Justin Hendrix // I Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:1-14; John 9:1-13, 28-41

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/14/26 from Retired Deacon Greg Wunderle, from the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio.

Here Be Dragons: Lenten Meditations on the Silence and Darkness of God Bishop Michael Hunn introduces a series of three meditations titled "Here Be Dragons," focusing on Lent, the silence and darkness of God, and wilderness times, and exploring the APHA tradition of theology as a way of speaking about God when there is little to say. The meditations are designed as an audible experience available on both podcast and YouTube, with simple visuals, and listeners are invited to settle in with coffee or tea, perhaps light a candle, and pray along. The speaker offers gratitude to the seminarians and faculty of the Seminary of Sewanee, University of the South, who invited the meditations and first prayed them together on Ash Wednesday 2026, and also to the clergy of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, with the hope that the meditations will be edifying and support a holy Lent. 00:00 Lenten Meditation Series 00:13 Here Be Dragons Theme 00:26 How to Listen and Pray 00:54 Gratitude and Dedication 01:22 Closing Blessing for Lent

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/13/26 from Retired Deacon Greg Wunderle, from the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio.

On this episode of Catholic Forum, another episode of the Faces of Impact series in partnership with Catholic Charities. Abigail Klous is joined by Diocesan Archivist Susan Kirk Ryan to discuss the life of Msgr. Thomas J. Reese who built many of the programs we know today as Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington. To learn more about Catholic Charities and their work to to empower people, support families and transform communities by bringing God's message of love and hope to all, with a particular emphasis on the poor and marginalized visit https://www.ccwilm.org/. Information about the 2026 Annual Tribute Dinner and this year's honoree of the Msgr. Thomas J. Reese Award visit https://www.ccwilm.org/events/cc-dinner/ As always, listen to the complete audio version of Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio or Amazon Music podcasts. If you're in Delmarva or South Jersey you can also listen on Saturdays at 1:30 PM on Relevant Radio 640. Catholic Forum is a production of the Office of Communication of the Diocese of Wilmington (supported by the Faith and Charity Appeal!) Learn more at cdow.org/catholicforum or cdow.org. Please like, subscribe and share.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/12/26 from Retired Deacon Greg Wunderle, from the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio.

Fr. Will Schmid joins us to talk about this week's Gospel. Mary Permoda tells us about the new Photina Center and we'll learn about a statewide food drive with St. Vincent de Paul. 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 Tony Mercado, a permanent deacon with the Diocese of Orange in California, offers a reflection on suffering with Jesus.  In today's episode, Deacon Mercado explores how suffering affects us when we feel betrayed. Support the show

We will all have some experience with death. That reality is especially poignant during Lent. Bishop Caggiano speaks with Stephen Doran, a neurosurgeon and Catholic deacon who has written a tremendous book (especially good to pick up for the next few weeks of Lent) called To Die Well. Some of the things they discuss include: ...what, actually, is death? ...how can we prepare for death (our own and our loved ones')? ...how does living well prepare us for, and lead us to, dying well? ...what difference does a doctor's spiritual life make in the care he or she provides? By the way, we are blessed, in the Diocese of Bridgeport, to have the St Luke's Guild to strengthen and edify and provide community for healthcare professionals. Notes  Support Veritas Instagram Facebook Other Veritas Shows The Tangent (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)  Daily Gospel Reflections (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) The Frontline With Joe & Joe (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) White Collars (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)  Restless Catholic Young Adults: (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)  

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/11/26 from Retired Deacon Greg Wunderle, from the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio.

Deacon Steve Greco is a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Orange. He is founder of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry, and host of Empowered by the Spirit.  In this archived episode from 2021, Deacon Steve talks with Gil Alderete of Catholic Men's Fellowship.Empowered by the Spirit airs live weekdays at 10:00am and Fridays at 5pmPacific 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-spirit Support the show

Why do some churches celebrate Communion every week while others do it much less frequently? In this edition of Ask the Church, we explore how our church's understanding of the Eucharist shapes how often it is celebrated. The discussion centers on the idea of the “means of grace”—the ways God has promised to give His grace through the proclamation of Scripture and the celebration of the sacraments. Understanding the Lord's Supper in this way helps explain why many churches (including ours!) celebrate it more regularly.

Send a textRhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha joins Bartholomewtown to discuss his office's newly released report detailing decades of child sexual abuse allegations within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.The investigation identified more than 130 alleged abusers and hundreds of victims, with cases spanning generations.Neronha explains how investigators assembled the report, what it reveals about institutional failures inside the Church, and what accountability and reforms may come next.Support the show

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/10/26 from Retired Deacon Greg Wunderle, from the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio.

On this third Sunday of Lent, Fr. Joshua calls out all the grumblers: those who grumble about the state of the World, the Country, the Church, and the state of their own lives. Instead of grumbling, he invites us to hope. To hope in the Love our Father who has given us access to his heart. To hope like the women at the well who, in spite of her difficult circumstances, hoped for a Messiah. Hope is powerful! Our world desperately needs people who choose to hope rather than to grumble.This week was also the opening of the Diocesan Services Appeal: an annual appeal the funds all of the vital ministries of our Diocese, from pro-life work, to caring for the poor to providing for the education and formation of our Seminarians. If you missed it, check out Bishop Boyea's appeal here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9e0XTfDfq0), and make your contribution online belowhttps://www.dioceseoflansing.org/appeal

In this homily The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb, Bishop ofthe Diocese of Central Florida - during his visitation to St. George Episcopal Church - addresses the message in the reading from Romans. He says that all of us are longing for peace and reconciliation. We must trust that all is forgiven. God loves you because you are His and He wants you now – not a future better version. We have been reconciled to Him. Because of this, God will never stop loving you.Send comments to: musingsonfaith@gmail.com.

What if the ancient way of welcoming seekers is exactly what we're missing? When Dr. Chris Burgwald, Chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and I dug into the roots of OCIA, it struck me how much wisdom we've left sitting on the shelf. The early Church knew how to walk with people—slowly, personally, lovingly—and somewhere along the line, we traded that for efficiency. Dr. Burgwald shows why returning to this ancient, relational way of forming disciples isn't nostalgia; it's the key to helping people truly encounter Jesus and find a home in His Church again. And what's amazing is that this shift doesn't just change the journey for newcomers—it transforms the entire parish. When we implement OCIA the way the Church actually envisions it, gifts surface, people step forward, and a culture of prayer and hospitality begins to grow. Communities rally around seekers, and in the process, everyone gets formed. One person's “yes” becomes an invitation for an entire parish to rediscover its mission. [01:15] Meet Chris Bergal [12:23] Why People Are Converting [17:16] What Is OCIA? [22:34] Vatican II and Mission [25:22] Doing OCIA Well [30:20] Three Pillars of OCIA [37:50] Practical Parish Implementation [41:41] Parish Renewal and Activation [45:13] Handling Hard Situations [48:46] Not Assembly Line Discipleship [52:20] Model for All Formation [56:25] Teamwork and Leadership Models For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/09/26 from Retired Deacon Greg Wunderle, from the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio.

Rev. Steven Breedlove // Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; John 4:5-42

O SantoFlow recebe o Pe. Anderson Marçal para uma conversa profunda e testemunhal sobre vocação, missão e fidelidade a Deus ao longo da vida sacerdotal.Natural de São Paulo, membro da Comunidade Canção Nova desde 2000 e ordenado sacerdote em 2007, o Pe. Anderson construiu sua caminhada entre o estudo, a vida missionária e o serviço pastoral. Com mestrado e doutorado em Teologia Bíblica e Litúrgica pela Pontifícia Universidade Salesiana de Roma, hoje é pároco da Paróquia Santa Cândida, na Diocese de São Paulo.Neste episódio, ele partilha não apenas sua trajetória acadêmica e missionária, mas principalmente a história do seu chamado — os desafios, as renúncias, as alegrias e a beleza de dizer “sim” a Deus.Como nasce uma vocação?O que sustenta um padre nos momentos difíceis?Como viver uma entrega total em meio às exigências do mundo atual?✨ Um episódio sobre chamado, fidelidade e amor à Igreja.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/08/26 from Retired Deacon Greg Wunderle, from the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio.

Dear friends in Christ, welcome to this podcast from All Saints Episcopal Church in Portland. All Saints is a loving, welcoming parish serving Southeast Portland for over a century. Our purpose is to celebrate God's love, seek and serve Christ in all persons, and go forth into the world rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!Today, we invite you to join parishioner Alan Murray - licensed lay preacher in the Diocese of Oregon - as he preaches the gospel, and explores the mysteries of God in our modern world.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/07/26 from Fr Matthew Humerickhouse, a priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/06/26 from Fr Matthew Humerickhouse, a priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.  

Father Chad Ripperger is a Roman Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher, and exorcist serving in the Archdiocese of Denver. He is the founder and superior general of the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother (Doloran Fathers), a religious community dedicated to spiritual warfare, deliverance ministry, and the traditional liturgy. Born in Casper, Wyoming, and raised in a devout Catholic family as the youngest of six children, Father Ripperger was ordained in 1997 with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). In 2012, he established the Doloran Fathers, serving as exorcist for the Diocese of Tulsa from 2012 to 2016 before moving to the Denver Archdiocese, where he continues his ministry. Bound by the discipline of clerical celibacy in the Latin Rite, he frequently teaches on marriage, family, virtue, and the spiritual life. A classically trained Thomist, Father Ripperger holds degrees in theology and philosophy from the University of San Francisco, master's degrees from both the University of St. Thomas and Holy Apostles College, and a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. His scholarship and experience make him a respected authority on demonology, angelology, spiritual warfare, and the integration of theological principles with psychology. Through Sensus Traditionis Press, he has authored several influential works, including Deliverance Prayers for Use by the Laity, Dominion, and Introduction to the Science of Mental Health. Known for his clear, no‑nonsense teaching style rooted in Thomistic philosophy and Church tradition, Father Ripperger continues to give talks, conferences, and guidance on prayer, virtue, the sacraments, and protection from spiritual evil. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Go to https://RhoNutrition.com and use code SRS for 20% off. Take advantage of Ridge's once-a-year anniversary sale and get UP TO 40% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/SRS #Ridgepod Join thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family—apply today in just minutes at https://meetfabric.com/SHAWN Go to https://shopbeam.com/SRS , use code SRS. With my code SRS, you can grab Dream for 50% off. Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at https://shopify.com/srs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: Did Jesus know Nicodemus before His final week? How did Saint Dismas join Jesus in heaven the day he died if he was in Hell? How are hymns chosen in the Ordinary Form? How can we put the love of God first? Can priests reference previous confessions? Why are babies baptized instead of waiting until they are older? Why isn't sacred music more emphasized? Why don't Catholics observe the Torah? Was Jesus in the spirit form before he was incarnated? Are we in the end times? 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!

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/05/26 from Fr Matthew Humerickhouse, a priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.

 Fr. Will Schmid joins us to talk about this week's Gospel. We'll learn more about the people who help Bishop Dolan discern. Sr. Mary Fidelis shares some of her prayer practices to help us enrich our interior life.  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.

On this episode of Catholic Forum, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP joins the show to discuss his new book "Witness: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation" from Ave Maria Press. Fr. Briscoe also discusses his work as the General Promoter of Social Communication for the Order of Preachers and experiences he had while visiting his brother Dominicans in Israel which gave him inspiration for this new book. This is only a portion of the interview with Fr. Briscoe, visit the Dicoese of Wilmington YouTube channel to watch the interview in it's entirety.  With a foreword by Jonathan Roumie, Witness is a great addition to your Lent or Holy Week routine and will help you understand the passion narrative in a more tangible way. Pick up a copy of Witness from Ave Maria Press here: https://www.avemariapress.com/product... (And watch companion videos for each week of Lent featuring Fr. Patrick.) You can find out more about the Order of the Friar Preachers by visiting https://www.op.org/ or https://opeast.org/. And you can follow Fr. Briscoe and a few of his brother Dominicans on their podcast, Godsplaining: https://godsplaining.org/. As always, listen to the complete audio version of Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio or Amazon Music podcasts. If you're in Delmarva or South Jersey you can also listen on Saturdays at 1:30 PM on Relevant Radio 640. 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.

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AG Peter Neronha joins the show with reaction to yesterdays report on abuse within the Providence Diocese See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/04/26 from Fr Matthew Humerickhouse, a priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.

Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.This is the 57th episode featuring The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, one of the Episcopal Church's leading thinkers around 21st-century ministry and mission. The author of several books - including The Church Cracked Open, Radical Welcome and her latest, Church Tomorrow?: What the ‘Nones' and ‘Dones' Teach Us About the Future of Faith - she recently wrapped nearly a decade as canon to the Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, with responsibility for guiding the entire denomination's work on evangelism, racial justice, new ministry development and environmental stewardship. An honorary canon in the Diocese of New York, she currently serves as Canon in Residence at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church.On this episode of Madang Podcast hosted by Faith and Reason, Spellers and I talk about her book, Church Tomorrow? We discuss decline of the mainline church, nones and dones, post-Christian culture, White Christonationalism, and much more.Listen to Madang Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Facebook Reels, or wherever podcasts are streamed.I am grateful to the many sponsors of this Madang Podcast episode.1)Are you longing for deeper rhythm, grounding community, and space to listen for God? The Academy for Spiritual Formation invites you to Academy #44, beginning October 2026 at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, Alabama. For two years, you'll journey alongside a diverse community of seekers—practicing prayer, silence, study, and embodied faith. Through trusted faculty, guided retreats, and spacious rhythms, The Academy offers a sacred place to rest, heal, and be renewed. Step into a sacred journey of renewal and transformation. Learn more and apply at Academy.UpperRoom.org/44.2)Madang Podcast is sponsored by Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI). Church Publishing is a leading global, multi-market publisher of a wide variety of books and resources, serving millions of readers. Please read Church Tomorrow?: What the ‘Nones' and ‘Dones' Teach Us About the Future of Faith by the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, where she presents hard truths about declining religious affiliation in America, paired with stories and wisdom from her interviews with dozens of young people who either grew up with no faith or gave up formal religion. Please visit www.churchpublishing.org for more great books.3.This episode is presented by Central Seminary – a historic, accredited, diverse, cross-cultural, and ecumenical seminary. Central Seminary equips students with the theological knowledge, spiritual insight, and practical skills needed to lead in an ever-changing world. Central offers numerous graduate degrees and certificates, including our Certificate in Peace and Justice Ministry, which is facilitated in live, online classrooms. The Certificate in Peace and Justice Ministry will prepare you to lead and serve through social change in areas ​such as racial injustice, economic injustice, the climate crisis, war and violence, and more. To learn more, visit Central Seminary, Kansas City.4.PANAAWTM Spring Gathering will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 8pm ET on zoom. Any person who identifies as a woman or non-binary individual and as someone of Pacific Islander, Asian, or North American Asian is invited to join the community gathering and business meeting. The business meeting, which follows, is an important part of our annual rhythm, and this is the space where you participate actively as part of the community to shape the org. Please join! (Registration Link)

“One of my favorite parts of teaching younger students is getting to see them experience things for the first time. I was their introduction to choir a lot of the time, their first choir teacher. I got to see them have those moments like, ‘Whoa, we can do this, we can sing together, we can sound really cool.' Eventually, they can tell you, ‘we were not singing with tall vowels right there.' They call each other out on it. With kids that young, a lot of it is just that they're not used to that soundscape; they're not used to singing in a group. That exposure helps raise the ability level.”Molly Toups is a second-year graduate student at Louisiana State University (LSU) currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she graduated summa cum laude from LSU in 2018, earning her undergraduate degree in vocal music education and obtaining a University Medal. Throughout her studies, she has performed with the LSU A Cappella Choir, LSU Chorale, LSU Chamber Singers, and LSU Gospel Choir. Additionally, she has conducted the LSU Chamber Singers and LSU Chorale while obtaining her graduate degree.Ms. Toups taught music and choir in local public schools for six years before returning to graduate studies. In her most recent position, she worked as choir director and music teacher at Copper Mill Elementary in Zachary Community School District from 2021 to 2024. During her tenure there, the choral program doubled in size. Her choirs consistently achieved superior ratings at assessments, and her students were frequently selected for honor choirs at the local, state, regional, and national levels. She has been an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA), previously serving as Elementary Co-Chair and Secretary of her local choral directors' association. She recently served as guest clinician for the LMEA District VIII Elementary Honor Choir in February 2025, and she has been a frequent adjudicator for honor choir auditions and vocal rallies.Ms. Toups has sung with a variety of choral ensembles in recent years, including Red Shift Choir, Opus Ensemble, VIVA, and the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus. She currently serves as the music director at Christ the King Catholic Church at LSU and is a cantor at various churches within the Diocese of Baton Rouge.Ms. Toups believes in providing quality musical opportunities for all students and fostering a life-long pursuit of learning. She has completed Level I of Kodály training and Levels I, II, and III of Orff Schulwerk certification.To get in touch with Molly, you can email her at mollytoups1@gmail.com.Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

What is apostolic succession, and why does it matter? In this edition of Ask the Church, we explore how the Early Church understood the passing on of apostolic authority and why succession is about preserving the faith, not institutional prestige. Apostolic succession connects the Church today to the Apostles by safeguarding both doctrine and sacramental life. It is ultimately about faithfulness to Christ and the gospel entrusted to His Church.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/03/26 from Fr Matthew Humerickhouse, a priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.  

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: Advice for a protestant feeling the pull of the Catholic church. Was the person who died on the cross next to Jesus the same person who helped Jesus when he was born Is praying an equal act to physically helping people? How do indulgences work? How can we enjoy Heaven if some of our relatives may be in Hell? What should be done if you see someone take the Eucharist without consuming it? ​​Is it foolish to feel that your personal prayers are trivial to God with all the chaos going on? Can the Rosicrucians be disproven? Who is "The Angel of the Lord"? Are there any circumstances where we would want to pray to a specific member of the Trinity over God the Father? 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!

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/02/26 from Fr Matthew Humerickhouse, a priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.

Mary Rothwell Davis, Vice Chancellor for Immigration with the Episcopal Diocese of New York, talks to us about the Diocese's recent and ongoing work on immigration issues.

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection Daily Mass Readings and reflection for 3/01/26 from Fr Matthew Humerickhouse, a priest from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio.

Washington Post personal finance columnist, Michelle Singletary, tells the moving story of how a visit to her grade school by the Reverend Jesse Jackson inspired her life and career as described in her column, “How the Rev. Jesse Jackson Taught Me to Keep Hope Alive." Then Ralph welcomes Professor Eric S. Fish from U.C Davis School of Law to explain how grand juries are no longer rubber-stamping frivolous cases brought to them by the Trump Administration. Plus, Ralph gives us his take on Trump's marathon State of the Union speech and the Democratic response.Michelle Singletary writes the nationally-syndicated personal finance column “The Color of Money,” which appears in the Washington Post on Wednesdays and Sundays. In 2021, she won the Gerald Loeb award for commentary. She has written four personal finance books, including, What to Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide and The 21-Day Financial Fast: Your Path to Financial Peace and Freedom.The Trump administration's destruction of diversity, equity, and inclusion—they misunderstand what that means. It doesn't mean that you're giving jobs to people who are unqualified. It means that you recognize that the playing field wasn't even, and let's even this playing field. I liken it to a football team. You can't have a football team of all quarterbacks and win. You have to have a quarterback, a running back, a linebacker, you have to have a good kicker. It's the same thing—your team has to encompass people that represent all kinds of abilities to have a winning team. So DEI isn't a giveaway. It isn't charity. It recognizes that when you have people from different backgrounds and different perspectives and different skill levels, you have a winning team.Michelle SingletaryEric S Fish is professor of law at the UC Davis School of Law. Professor Fish's primary research is in criminal law, with particular focus on the ethical duties of participants in the criminal process, the structure of immigration crimes, and the system's emphasis on administrative efficiency. He has also served as a public defender, first with the San Francisco Public Defender's Office, and later as a Federal Defender in San Diego.This has been a really remarkable series of rejections of the Trump administration's prosecutions by ordinary people serving on grand juries, and one that is largely unprecedented in modern American history. I can't think of another example of grand juries rejecting such high-profile cases (and so many of them). Nothing really comes to mind. So in a certain sense, one might say this is the grand jury's original purpose…Initially they were a democratic institution of governance. They were a local check on the colonial oppression of the British (at least in the early colonial period). They refused to indict prosecutions under the Stamp Act, under the revenue laws. They were a tool of anti-colonial resistance to British oppression, and this seems at least broadly analogous to that—local grand juries in places like Minnesota, Chicago, Washington, D.C. are rejecting the Trump administration's attempts to prosecute its political enemies and bring trumped-up charges against protesters.Eric S. FishAll in all, [the State of the Union address] was fodder for political scientists for years to come. A dictatorial serial law violator, self-enriching chronic liar, cruel, vicious to vulnerable people and people without power (which is a majority of the people) elected dictator. This speech—which went for one hour and 48 minutes, the longest State of the Union speech ever—will be analyzed for a long time with the question at the center of the analysis being: How could so many tens of millions of voters be taken in by Trump's mouth, his lies, his false statements, his fantasies, his fake promises, his lack of any kind of record, whether as a businessman where he used bankruptcies as a strategy…and his record as a politician in his first term? That's the question we have to ask ourselves. And it's too easy to say that the Trump voters couldn't stand the Democrats who abandoned them. That's not enough. They could have not voted for Trump. They could have written in a vote. They could have voted for the Green, Libertarian, or other minor parties. They can't use the Democrats as a 100% excuse for voting for Trump. And a lot of them didn't. They just liked Trump. They liked his prejudices. They liked his lies. They liked his fantasies. They liked his fake promises.Ralph NaderNews 2/27/26* Our top stories this week come to us from our southern neighbor, Mexico. First, on February 22nd, Mexican authorities announced they had successfully conducted an operation resulting in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, aka “El Mencho,” who headed the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). In retaliation, the cartels launched a wave of violence throughout the country. Bafflingly, given the obvious enmity between the cartels and the government of Claudia Sheinbaum, Elon Musk implied that Sheinbaum is in the pocket of the very drug cartels with whom she is practically at war. Reuters reports Musk “responded to a 2025 video of Sheinbaum discussing cartel violence and alleged that she was ‘saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say.” Reuters notes that Musk did not provide further evidence. In fact, much of the strength of the Mexican cartels would actually be more accurately attributed to the United States. As USA Today writes, Mexican officials recovered a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, 10 long arm [rifles], handguns, and grenades, from El Mencho's weapons stockpile. Mexican Defense Minister, Ricardo Trevilla Trejo estimated that about 80% of the recovered weapons were purchased in the United States and smuggled into Mexico. This represents just the tip of the iceberg of the so-called “iron river” of firearms flooding Mexico's black market from the U.S. As opposed to the lax gun laws in the states, gun ownership in Mexico is “tightly restricted…[and] There is only one military-run gun store in the country.”* Meanwhile, President Sheinbaum is bucking American pressure by continuing to send humanitarian aid to the tiny, embattled island nation of Cuba. AP reports that last week, “Two Mexican Navy ships laden with humanitarian aid docked in Cuba…two weeks after…President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to the island.” These ships carried 800 tons worth of bundles of “Made in Mexico” goods, including rice, beans, amaranth and crackers — complemented by a bottle of oil, large cans of sardines and canned peaches. Another 1,500 tons of powdered milk and beans are expected to be sent to Cuba in the coming days. The U.S. has taken a more bellicose line with Cuba than it has in quite some time, even taking naval action in the waters surrounding the island, making Mexico's support that much more critical.* In another Cuba story, a diplomatic incident is unfolding this week regarding a Florida-registered speedboat. According to the island's government, the boat, carrying 10 passengers, entered Cuban territorial waters and opened fire on Cuban soldiers. The Cubans responded in kind, killing four people aboard the craft and wounding six others. According to the Cuban authorities, most of the passengers “have a known history of criminal and violent activity.” These include Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, both wanted by Cuban authorities based on their involvement in “the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of…acts of terrorism.” The Cubans also claim to have arrested one Duniel Hernández Santos, who was supposedly “sent from the United States to guarantee the reception of the armed infiltration.” They claim Hernández Santos has confessed. American authorities have so far evinced confusion more than anything else, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying “We're going to figure out exactly what happened.” This from AP.* Whatever cloak and dagger games the administration may be playing in the Caribbean, they have been pointedly unsubtle about their saber rattling regarding Iran – and the reaction from Congress has been meager. While anti-war members in the House and Senate are pushing war powers resolutions, namely Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie along with Senator Tim Kaine, not even the nominal opposition party is supporting these efforts. According to Capital & Empire, Democrats are seeking to “dampen momentum” and even “prevent the Iran war powers vote from advancing.” Democrats Josh Gottheimer and Jared Moskowitz, both arch Iran hawks, have publicly stated they will not back the war powers resolution, and many others have sought to split the difference, saying Trump should only move on Iran after consulting with Congress. As the Hill notes, the Senate did pass a war powers resolution restricting the president's use of military force against Iran without congressional approval during Trump's first term, with eight Senate Republicans backing the Democrats in support of the bill. It is hard to imagine such a bipartisan show of force this time around.* In more disappointing congressional news, on Tuesday the House voted down the bipartisan ROTOR Act, which would have beefed up aviation safety standards, NPR reports. This bill was drafted in the wake of the deadly midair collision over Washington D.C. last year. This bill, principally authored by Senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee which oversees transportation, would have required wider use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast – safety technology designed to transmit an aircraft's location to other aircraft. The Senate unanimously passed the bill in December, with the support of the Defense Department – now styling itself the Department of War – but the Pentagon yanked its support just before the House vote, citing “unresolved budgetary burdens and operational security risks.” The final House vote was 264 in favor and 133 opposed, 132 Republicans and Democrat Lizzie Fletcher of Texas. Despite the lopsided majority in favor, the bill needed a two-thirds vote to pass and was therefore defeated by the minority.* In another aviation related story, FBI Director Kash Patel is embroiled in a new scandal based on his alleged misuse of the FBI's Gulfstream jets for personal travel. CNN reports Patel's frequent jetsetting has even caused delays or issues in high-profile investigations, such as the assassination of rightwing commentator Charlie Kirk and the Brown University shooting last December. According to a letter authored by Senator Dick Durbin, Patel's incessant misuse of the official FBI planes for personal travel “has even frustrated White House and DOJ senior staff.” This story hits particularly hard at the present moment, with images of Patel chugging beer in the locker room celebration of the Olympic men's hockey team going viral. The FBI then had to spend days running cover for Patel, claiming the director was in Italy for “long-planned official business,” which just happened to coincide with the occasion.* Our next two stories concern AI. First, a new Public Citizen report documents how the AI industry is deploying a veritable army of lobbyists on Capitol Hill, absolutely dwarfing not only their opposition, but practically every other industry as well. According to this report, more than one quarter of all federal lobbyists are now lobbying on AI issues, representing a rise in lobbyist activity on AI issues of more than 265 percent over the past three years. This report finds the Chamber of Commerce hired the most AI lobbyists in 2025 at 91, followed by Microsoft at 63, Meta at 55, Intuit at 51, and Amazon at 48. This meteoric rise in AI lobbying activity is sure to give the industry massive firepower in the halls of Congress, ensuring a favorable regulatory environment for years to come. This will be particularly critical for data centers, which have faced a rash of local opposition. Per this report, that particular subset of the AI lobbying industry has expanded by a staggering 500 percent since 2023.* For all its newfound political clout however, the AI business seems to have found itself a formidable new opponent – Pope Leo XIV. This week, Pope Leo addressed priests from the Diocese of Rome and implored them to resist “the temptation to prepare homilies with Artificial Intelligence.” The pontiff argued “Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die. The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity.” He added that “to give a true homily is to share faith,” and that AI “will never be able to share faith.” This from Vatican News.* Turning to media news, this week, Paramount submitted a new offer to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Paramount's new bid amounted to $31 per share and, following a period of consultation with the Warner board of directors, this offer was deemed “superior” to the proposed deal with rival bidder Netflix. This triggered a clause in the Netflix merger agreement giving the streamer four days to submit a new, superior offer. However, that same day Netflix issued a statement officially declining to submit a new, higher offer, with representatives writing “the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer,” means “the deal is no longer financially attractive.” With Netflix out of the way, Paramount, led by Trump-aligned billionaire scion David Ellison, will now proceed with their acquisition of Warner Bros., including their prodigious intellectual property back catalogue and the cable news titan, CNN. A friendly relationship with the Trump administration means regulators are unlikely to hold up this deal. The Ellisons have already acquired CBS News, installing Bari Weiss as “editor-in-chief.” It seems likely they will follow a similar playbook regarding CNN.* Our final stories this week concern the continuing fallout of the Epstein scandal. This week saw the arrest of former British-U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson, joining Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) in the collection of high profile British individuals arrested in connection with the Epstein scandal. Meanwhile, at Harvard, former University President Larry Summers will resign from his academic and faculty appointments, including his University Professorship, at the Ivy League school following the conclusion of this academic year. Until then, he will remain on leave, per the Crimson. Summers regularly exchanged messages with Jeffrey Epstein about topics ranging from women, to politics, to Harvard-related matters as late as July 2019, the day before Epstein's final arrest. But the most noteworthy Epstein-related news this week came from Chappaqua, New York. On Thursday and Friday, Bill and Hillary Clinton testified about their relationships with the late financier and sexual predator. After much wrangling, these potential blockbuster hearings were held behind closed doors on the Clintons' home turf. What exactly was said remains shrouded in mystery. According to the BBC, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said he hopes to make videos of both Hillary and Bill Clinton's depositions publicly available soon. Robert Garcia, the Democratic Ranking Member on the committee, said a “new precedent” had been set by calling a former president to testify and demanded that Trump be called to testify before the committee next. We shall watch this space.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

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 do saints become the patrons of specific things? Is Mark 10:25 meant to be taken literally or as a warning? When an adult is baptized, is all sin removed? Does the Catholic Church fully reject the death penalty?  Are the General Intercessions at Mass supposed to address particular situations? Can priests lay "curses" on objects? What's the Catholic perspective on euthanasia? Why did Jesus tell some people not to tell others he healed them?  Can a cross that's not a crucifix be blessed by a Catholic priest? Could our general judgment be different from our particular judgment? 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!