Podcasts about maggi van dorn

Maggi Van Dorn is our guest on this special episode of Deacons Pod. She is the host of the wonderful podcast “Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols” from America Media. The Paulist Deacon Affiliates ask Maggi about the deep dive she takes into the history, music, and lyrics of one specific Christmas carol or hymn on each installment of "Hark!" released during Advent. As an example, Maggi tells the deacons about the history of "O Holy Night." Maggi shares that one of the upcoming hymns featured on "Hark!" will be "We Three Kings." The episode will include thoughts from Eric Vanden Eykel, author of "The Magi," who was a guest on Deacons Pod in December, 2022. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it's especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church. Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers. More at deaconspod.com

In this special Jesuitical episode to kickstart the Advent season, Ashley speaks with her colleague, Maggi Van Dorn, the host and creator of America's podcast, "Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols." Maggi previews an all new season of "Hark!" launching today, November 29, and reveals what she uncovered about the Magi and the star of Bethlehem while working on the classic carol, "We Three Kings." Hark! is available everywhere. Listen on Apple or Spotify or your podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To kick off the fourth season of “Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols” we're embarking on an adventure to learn about an American-born carol that features some classic nativity characters—figures that, though very familiar to us, we know little about. It's a Christmas song that begins on a plodding, somber note and erupts into a thrilling epiphany. We're exploring “We Three Kings.” To help us understand who the magi were—at least from the perspective of Matthew's Gospel— host Maggi Van Dorn invites Eric Vanden Eykel, author of The Magi: Who They Are, How They've Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate and Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Ferrum College. The magi's gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh have long been viewed as symbolic of Jesus' kingship, divinity and humanity, but how were these two herbs used in antiquity? Maggi learns about their earliest uses from Emiliana Patrick, a fourth year doctoral student in Classical Chinese Medicine at Daoist Traditions College in Asheville, North Carolina. To trace the star the magi followed, Maggi turns to the director of the Vatican's observatory, Guy Consolmagno, S.J., a Jesuit brother.  Finally, to better appreciate the musical genius of the carol's composition, she speaks with ContraForce, a folk metal band known for their eclectic range of musical styles at contra dances, who specially created an instrumental rendition of “We Three Kings,”specially for “Hark!,” that is woven throughout the episode. The music featured in this episode is courtesy of ContraForce, Michael Logozar, Cynthia Boener, Dante Bucci, the Lee siblings of the Seasons band, Jeff Black and Lotos Nile Music. Special thanks to Jim Bilodeau, our sound engineer, and Jonathan Reid Gealt for lending their vocal talent. Support Hark! by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine at: americamagazine.org/subscribe Please donate for Giving Tuesday! From all of us at America Media, thank you! This season of Hark! is sponsored by Saints for Sinners, offering divine saint medals imported from Italy and meticulously hand-painted in New Orleans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hearts of Asheville Unite in Recovery. Join us on Women Lead Radio as Mary Van Dorn, your host of Heartfelt Horizons, has a conversation with Maggi Van Dorn (www.instagram.com/MaggiVanDorn), Sr. Audio Producer of America Media, and Leah Craig Chumbley, Executive Director of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue (www.BWAR.org), as they share stories of resilience, hope, and community from Asheville's unsung heros in disaster relief.   Sponsor Appreciation! Thank you to our partner and show sponsor, Microsoft (www.microsoft.com)!   Interested in Learning More About Connected Women of Influence? Click Here (https://connectedwomenofinfluence.com/attend-an-event-as-our-guest/) to Be Invited as Our Special VIP & Guest to a Future Event!   Interested in Becoming a Member of Our Professional Community!? Click Here (https://connectedwomenofinfluence.com/membership-application/) to Apply for Membership!  

A surefire way to lose your congregation's attention is to start a homily with “In today's Gospel reading,” says Thomas Groome. “The purpose of good preaching,” he says, “is to bring our lives to God and God to our lives.” A preacher's job, then, is to facilitate a meaningful conversation between the two. This week on “Preach,” Tom, a professor of theology and religious education at Boston College's School of Theology and Ministry, preaches for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Year B. Rather than speaking in theological abstractions, Tom uses a relatable concept - relationships - to illuminate the mystery of the Trinity, making it accessible to all. Tom joins host and co-producer Ricardo da Silva, S.J. and former student and co-producer Maggi Van Dorn, guest co-host for this episode, to share devices for connecting Scripture to everyday experience. He discusses his use of silence to deepen the congregation's encounter with God and themselves, and shares insights gained from the 20 years he served as a priest, and now nearly 50 years as a teacher, including how he found his unique preaching voice. Read Tom's homily. Read the Scripture readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Year B. Get daily Scripture reflections and support “Preach” by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're looking at a song that is indisputably a Christmas carol but with a reach that extends to every season – “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” It belongs to a collection of historic Negro Spirituals, which likely started on the slave plantations in the American South and were later picked up in the Civil Rights Movement by activists like Fannie Lou Hamer and later, The Freedom Singers.  “Go Tell It on the Mountain” has been performed by a multitude of heavenly singers and we were lucky enough to speak to one such star- Vanessa Williams- about why she chose to feature the carol on her 1996 Christmas album, Star Bright. Maggi Van Dorn, Hark's host, also garnishes rich cultural and theological insight from Catholic liturgical heavyweight, Eric Styles, along with expert music and history lessons from the wildly talented Emorja Roberson, Assistant Professor of Music and African-American Studies at the Oxford College of Emory University. The music featured in this episode is thanks to The OK Factor, Caleb Noeldner, Kendra Logozar, Kim and Reggie Harris, Vanessa Williams, and Universal Music Enterprises. Special thanks to Pauline Books and Media for the recording of “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A. We're grateful to Emorja Roberson for providing commentary and his singing voice throughout, and to Frank Tuson for his audio wizardry as the engineer on this episode. Frank also composed the Hark! theme music and successfully convinced members of his family to record “Down to the River,” heard on this episode. Support “Hark!” become a digital subscriber of America Magazine at: https://link.chtbl.com/04Jrg99F Or you can play a little reindeer game with us and win a subscription to America!  At the end of this episode, we've left a clue about next week's carol. Guess the carol in an Instagram post, tag three friends, and follow @americamedia, and you will be entered to win a one-year digital subscription to America. No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents only 18 and older. Prize value is $49.99 each. Promotion period November 26 to December 22, 2023. Twenty winners will be randomly selected and notified by D.M. by January 10, 2023. Instagram does not endorse this giveaway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on 'Preach,' the script is flipped: Ricardo da Silva, S.J., the regular host, becomes the guest preacher, and Maggi Van Dorn, a usual producer, takes the mic as the host. Maggi and Ricardo, who work together extensively on “Preach,” “Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols” and “Inside the Vatican,” compare how preachers and podcasters alike craft stories to captivate their audience On this Gaudete Sunday, Ricardo invites listeners to identify where they have experienced joy, even as he admits that we live in a world where joy is hard to come by. In his homily, Ricardo tells a story by Pedro Arrupe, S.J., who was the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus from 1965 to 1983. The story is about Arrupe's visit to a Brazilian favela, and it helps Ricardo explore the connection between joy and self-gift. “Joy cannot be manufactured. It's not something that we can create for ourselves,” explains Ricardo. “It's something that sort of happens in a moment, in a flash, and then we catch ourselves in a joyful state.” Read the full text of this week's homily and Scripture readings. Get daily Scripture reflections and support "Preach" by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine. “Preach” is made possible through the generous support of the Compelling Preaching Initiative, a project of Lilly Endowment Inc.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though Pope Francis recently canceled his trip to Dubai for COP28 on doctor's orders, the meeting still represents a huge initiative in Francis' papacy; in “Laudate Deum,” Francis writes that the meeting has the potential to be “a historic event that honors and ennobles us as human beings” (“Laudate Deum,” No. 59). So Ashley and Zac welcomed Jose Aguto, the executive director of Catholic Climate Covenant, on this week's episode of “Jesuitical” to discuss Catholic climate advocacy at this pivotal moment. They discuss: Pope Francis' commitment to climate justice throughout his papacy How Catholics should understand climate change as both a systemic and spiritual issue, and where we can find hope The history and current state of climate action in the U.S. church In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley check in with Maggi Van Dorn, host of the “Hark!” podcast, which explores the meaning and making of our favorite Christmas carols. The first episode of season three, which came out on Sunday, dives into “O Holy Night” and features Greg Boyle, S.J. Maggi takes the “Jesuitical” team behind the scenes of “Hark!” production and helps to usher in the Advent season. Links from the show: ‘Our ecological crisis is fundamentally a moral one': Catholic Climate Covenant's new executive director hopes to inspire care for creation Jose Aguto, Catholic Climate Covenant Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue Prudence and the Common Good Laudate Deum Laudato Si' The abolitionist history of ‘O Holy Night' “Hark!” Podcast  What's on tap? (knock-off) Chartreuse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hark! Season 3 debuts with a crowd favorite- “O Holy Night.” Born as a French poem in 1843, and set to music a few years later, this carol was banned for two decades from the Catholic Mass. It resurfaced in the hands of a Unitarian minister in the U.S. and became an anthem for abolitionists before the Civil War. It is also the song that you, our listeners, have overwhelmingly asked us to feature on Hark! Conductor Colin Britt returns to the show to unwrap the soaring verses and repeating leaps and skips in the music. Daniel Williams, professor of American religion and politics and author of several books on related subjects, narrates how “O Holy Night” has helped to shape Christmas culture in 19th-century America. Finally, Greg Boyle, S.J. of Homeboy Industries, shares with host Maggi Van Dorn the profound meaning this beloved carol has for him.  The episode features a brand new recording of “O Holy Night” performed by the renowned choir of King's College, Cambridge, under the direction of Daniel Hyde, and arranged by John Rutter, featuring the Britten Sinfonia. The story of Reginald Fessenden broadcasting “O Holy Night” was a theatrical production designed by our engineer, Jim Bilodeau. It incorporated a reenactment of the event available on Walts Welt Soundcloud channel.  Special thanks to Molly Cahill, Malukah de los Santos and Alexander Knutsen, Firjii, Salt of the Sound and Echoes Blue Music, and Chad Rehmann and Cremaine Booker of Grey Duck Records for providing music for this episode. Support “Hark!” become a digital subscriber of America Magazine. Or you can play a little reindeer game with us and win a subscription to America!  At the end of this episode, we've left a clue about next week's carol. Guess the carol in an Instagram post, tag three friends, and follow @americamedia, and you will be entered to win a one-year digital subscription to America. No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents only 18 and older. Prize value is $49.99 each. Promotion period November 26 to December 22, 2023. Twenty winners will be randomly selected and notified by D.M. by January 10, 2023. Instagram does not endorse this giveaway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas drinks, Christmas carols, Christmas movies–it's the Jesuitical Christmas special! On today's festive episode, Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis are joined by two colleagues, Maggi Van Dorn, the host of America Media's podcast "Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols" and associate editor Jim McDermott, S.J., to discuss the making of "Hark!", the incredible history of the Ukrainian classic, "Carol of the Bells", and why carols are so meaningful year, after year, after year. They also channel Mr. Grinch and discuss their least favorite carols. Merry Christmas to all! The story of ‘Carol of the Bells,' a Christmas classic born in Ukraine Don't forget to follow Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols on your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“In the Bleak Midwinter” is the greatest carol of all time! Or, that's what choir directors and choral experts across the U.S. and the U.K. told BBC Magazine in the 2008 poll that earned it this fame.  This haunting carol is born out of a poem written by an English poet in 1872 for a U.S. literary journal, Scribner's Monthly, unimaginatively titled: “A Christmas carol.” But, it would take more than three decades for this mystery poet's words to find a tune. So, intriguing is the pre-Raphaelite figure who penned these words, that you will need to listen to the episode if you want to find out the identity of our mystery poet.  But it was Gustav Holst, the world-renowned composer of the orchestral suite “The Planets”, who first set the text to music. His best-friend, Vaughan Williams, another renowned composer had asked him to write a Christmas carol for a new English hymnal that he had been asked to compile. It is out of this that the carol most people sing today comes to be. But it is not Holst's tune that was voted the most-beloved carol of choristers. That singular honor belongs to Harold Darke, who in 1909 set the words to his own tune. And, indeed, when you hear Darke's magical composition, weaving vocal parts in and out seamlessly and creating a Christmasssy soundscape that will bring your jaw from the pew to the cathedral floor, you'll understand why it has mesmerized music experts and enthusiasts alike. And on this episode, two British experts pull apart the music and verse with Ricardo da Silva, S.J, our guest host and series producer along with Maggi Van Dorn. First, we invite back Christopher Walker, a church composer known for his “Celtic Alleluia,” to tackle the tune. Then, the Rev. Rachel Mann, an Anglican priest, poet, writer and one-time music journalist with expert knowledge of our mystery poet, guides us, verse by verse, through this nostalgia-inducing carol, and reveals the identity of its author.  Special thanks to the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Christopher Walker and Greg Shockmann, Garreth Brooke, Sharlene Wallace and Greg Koller, The Ignatian Schola, Debra Buesking, Wayne Bennett and Gate City Brass, Cynthia Boener and Salt of the Sound, for providing much of the music on this episode. Our featured version of “In the Bleak Midwinter” at the end of this episode is performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge under the direction of Daniel Hyde. This recording is available on their latest album, “In the Bleak Midwinter: Christmas Carols from Kings”.  You can preorder a high definition recording of this year's Carols by Candlelight celebration which was pre-recorded at King's College Chapel in Cambridge and will be broadcast on the BBC this Christmas Eve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Church Meets World is proud to share the latest podcast in the America Media family: Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols. Subscribe to the entire Hark! podcast series online, on apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. It is hard to imagine a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve without Silent Night. Musicians may treat it differently—singing it a cappella, with spare chords on the organ in the background, or to the gentle picking of a guitar as its creators intended—but it is universally cherished. Its basic three-chord structure makes it a cinch to play and its lilting rhythm is perfect to soothe a congregation and lull a baby to sleep—even to sing to a president breathing his last. But it has also been usurped for evil. Join host Maggi Van Dorn on this final episode of “Hark!” as she plumbs the historical and emotional depths of this Austria-born classic with Jesuit priest Ed Schmidt and Rusty McDermott, the songbird mother of another Jesuit. To pull apart the chords and arpeggios of Silent Night, we invited back Colin Britt, the composer and conductor we spoke to in episode three about “Hark! the herald angels sing.”   Special thanks to the Liturgy Arts Group at Boston College, One Hope Project, Harpa Dei, Portsmouth Cathedral Choir; Portsmouth Grammar School Chamber Choir, Convivium Records and the Ignatian Schola for allowing us to play their recordings of Silent Night.  To support the production of “Hark!” and to access other great Advent reflections from America Magazine staff, please subscribe at americamagazine.org/subscribe.  Related articles: Ed Schmidt, S.J. : Is ‘Silent Night' the greatest Christmas song ever?

It is hard to imagine a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve without Silent Night. Musicians may treat it differently—singing it a cappella, with spare chords on the organ in the background, or to the gentle picking of a guitar as its creators intended—but it is universally cherished. Its basic three-chord structure makes it a cinch to play and its lilting rhythm is perfect to soothe a congregation and lull a baby to sleep—even to sing to a president breathing his last. But it has also been usurped for evil. Join host Maggi Van Dorn on this final episode of “Hark!” as she plumbs the historical and emotional depths of this Austria-born classic with Jesuit priest Ed Schmidt and Rusty McDermott, the songbird mother of another Jesuit. To pull apart the chords and arpeggios of Silent Night, we invited back Colin Britt, the composer and conductor we spoke to in episode three about “Hark! the herald angels sing.”   Special thanks to the Liturgy Arts Group at Boston College, One Hope Project, Harpa Dei, Portsmouth Cathedral Choir; Portsmouth Grammar School Chamber Choir, Convivium Records and the Ignatian Schola for allowing us to play their recordings of Silent Night.  To support the production of “Hark!” and to access other great Advent reflections from America Magazine staff, please subscribe at americamagazine.org/subscribe.  Related articles: Ed Schmidt's article for America: Is ‘Silent Night' the greatest Christmas song ever? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. bishops' debate over whether pro-choice policians like President Joseph R. Biden should be allowed to receive communion has been raging for over a year now. After the bishops' meeting last November, the bishops created a sub-committee aimed at addressing the challenges of working with a Catholic, pro-choice president. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, president of the U.S. bishops conference, informed the Vatican in March that the working group had decided to draft a document on “Eucharistic coherence,” and Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, responded in a letter telling the bishops that their document should not focus solely on politicians, and advising them to engage in dialogue with one another and with the politicians the bishops would be writing about. The Vatican's effort to temper the bishops' statement appears to have been successful: a leaked draft of the document lacked any explicit reference to pro-choice politicians, focusing instead on the idea of a Eucharistic revivial and a restatement of Eucharistic theology. On this deep dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” producer Maggi Van Dorn and host Colleen Dulle dig into the history of the U.S. bishops' engagement with political issues and give some background on today's “Communion wars” and the calls for a “Eucharistic revival.” They ask: If no one can win the “communion wars,” does everyone lose? Links from the show: Leaked draft of bishops' document on Communion lacks explicit reference to pro-choice politicians Can the U.S. bishops be saved from partisan politics? Explainer: Why the Eucharist is confusing for many Catholics (and survey researchers) No one can win the Communion wars over abortion Pope Francis: ‘I have never denied Communion to anyone.' Archishop Aquila: For the church to live in eucharistic coherence, we must be willing to challenge Catholics persisting in grave sin. Bishop McElroy: The Eucharist is being weaponized for political ends. This must not happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women are rising to new heights in the Vatican, but there is still a long way to go before women's voices and leadership are satisfactorily integrated in the Vatican. In this deep dive episode based on Colleen Dulle's cover story in America Magazine's October issue, Colleen and producer Maggi Van Dorn take a look inside the corporate culture of the Vatican to examine how things have been changing for women—and why it's difficult to have conversations about women's empowerment there. You'll also hear from three prominent women working in or with the Vatican: Cristiane Murray of the Holy See Press Office describes her experience over 26 years working in the Curia's most female office; celebrity economist Kate Raworth gives voice to a new understanding of women's contributions that Pope Francis seems to have adopted; and Sr. Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the synod of bishops, explains why she sees synodality as the way toward recognizing men and women's God-given equality. Links from the show: Women are rising to new heights at the Vatican. Could they change the church forever? Read America's women's month issue Doughnut Economics Action Lab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three years ago, a Pennsylvania Grand Jury report described in graphic detail the abuse of over 1,000 minors at the hands of more than 300 priests. Then, Theodare McCarrick, an influential cardinal in the American Church, was found credibly accused of abusing minors and adult seminarians. For survivors, the news was painful, yet validating. How did this second wave of scandal–the news of both abuse and cover up–affect the Catholic faithful more broadly? What do they  believe caused the crisis? Did the Grand Jury report and news about McCarrick impact their faith and affiliation with the Catholic Church? Maggi Van Dorn, the host of the Deliver Us podcast, unpacks a new and ground-breaking survey conducted by America magazine and CARA in the latest episode of the “Church Meets World” podcast. *Audio correction: Only 33 percent of respondents said their parish actually helped them process the sex abuse crisis. The word “percent” was mistakenly omitted from the original file.  Related articles: Editorial: How you see the sexual abuse crisis Three years after the 2018 ‘summer of shame,' what do American Catholics think about the sex abuse crisis? AWAKE Milwaukee Related episodes from the Deliver Us podcast: Episode 2: How's Your Celibate Life Going? What is the cause of the sexual abuse crisis? Does it happen more in the Catholic church than other institutions? Episode 4:  Are the reforms working? How has the Catholic Church dealt with the abuse crisis? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a time when so much has been lost, what does it mean to grieve well? In this episode, America's audio producer, Maggi Van Dorn, turns the mic on herself to capture a more intimate side of a subject that is already pretty personal- the experience of grief. To help her unpack this strange and unpredictable force, she turns to friends and people whose lives have also been visited by grief.  Support this podcast by subscribing to America! Related Links: Ben Perry: Crying as a spiritual discipline may change how you see the world Liz Hauck:  Home Made: A Story of Grief, Groceries, Showing Up & What We Make When We Make Dinner. Britt Luby: I felt alone after my miscarriage. Then other women (like Meghan Markle) began sharing their stories. How to celebrate with the graduate in your life who is grieving the loss of a loved one Fr. Richard Leonard, S.J.: Where the Hell Is God? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 6th, 2021, a violent mob, incited by President Trump, stormed the US Capitol. They were there to disrupt Congress as it was certifying the election of Joe Biden. The mob overwhelmed the capitol police and made their way into the offices and chambers, as elected officials ran for safety. In conversation with Fr. Matt Malone, America’s Editor in Chief, Fr. Bryan Massingale says the insurrection was a direct result of four years of lies from Donald Trump. This interview first aired as a video on America Media’s YouTube channel and has been reformatted for podcast with additional commentary from Sebastian Gomes and Maggi Van Dorn. Support this podcast by subscribing at Americamagazine.org/subscribe. Links from the show: Fr. Bryan Massingale’s article: The Racist Attack on Our Nation’s Capitol America’s Editorial: After the storming of the Capitol: We need accountability, repentance and a reckoning Watch Fr. Matt Malone, S.J. in conversation with Fr. Bryan Massingale: How to make spiritual sense of the attack on the Capitol Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brendan welcomes very special guest, Maggi Van Dorn, podcast producer at Sirius Satellite Radio as well as a producer on "Spiritual Asshole," and she has a Masters of Divinity from Harvard University (I heard through a friend, that's a good school).  The two discuss the best spiritual practices to get through the coronavirus, the right balance between staying informed and losing your mind, and Brendan wisely uses this time of crisis to try some jokes out on Maggi. 

Will the Catholic Church's sexual abuse crisis ever end? Nearly 18 years since the Boston Globe's Spotlight investigation's shocking revelations, U.S. bishops and The Vatican still struggle to hold the church fully accountable for decades of criminal wrongdoing.Last year's Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report revealed that over 1,000 children had been abused by Catholic priests across six dioceses over seven decades. A new Pew Research Survey finds that a large majority of American Catholics think abuse by clergy is still happening. This episode looks at the crisis from a unique perspective. Maggi Van Dorn, a Catholic committed to healing the Church from the inside, hosts "Deliver Us", a frank and remarkable series of podcasts that spoke with survivors of abuse, advocates and church experts. "The Church is marred in a really ugly way," Maggi tells us. "As a member of this family, it's really incumbent on me to work for reform."We discuss solutions, such as the Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the campaign to get justice for survivors, calls for greater transparency, and a stronger role for women in the leadership of the Church. Listen to "Deliver Us" here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If only Catholic priests would get married, sexual abuse wouldn't be a problem.    Everyone else abuses kids, too. It's not just Catholics.    After the Dallas Charter, there's practically NO sexual abuse by Catholic priests.    If the above statements make you

America This Week This week's guest is Maggi Van Dorn. We discuss Deliver Us, America's podcast on the sex abuse crisis.  We also discuss these articles:  I fasted on only bread and juice for Lent. This is what I learned. The most dangerous Devil is the one you cannot see Review: The life of Bing Crosby, reviewed

We talk a lot on this show about the church’s sexual abuse crisis, and while Gerry and I try to break down what’s new, we don’t often get to talk about the problems that are at the root of this scandal—or how hearing these stories over and over affects our own faith. Thankfully, there’s a new podcast from America Media that explores all of these questions. It’s called “Deliver Us.” Its host, Maggi Van Dorn, is a young Catholic reckoning with the abuse crisis. She interviews abuse survivors, experts and regular Catholics about how the church got so broken, and whether it can be fixed. So this week, instead of our usual Vatican news, we’re bringing you a special look behind the church’s sexual abuse crisis with episode one of Deliver Us. We’ll be back with more Vatican news next week. For more information and to subscribe to "Deliver Us" visit: http://deliveruspodcast.org

Will the Catholic Church's sex abuse crisis ever end?  In her new podacst Deliver Us, Maggi Van Dorn speaks as a Catholic committed to healing the church from the inside. Van Dorn and her producer Eloise Blondiau talk with our host Bill Baker on the origins of the podcast and what they hope to accomplish. 

On our debut episode of “Deliver Us,” Maggi Van Dorn asks: How can I stay in a church where so many children have been hurt? Not everyone does. Melinda Henneberger, a journalist for The Kansas City Star, tells Maggi why the latest wave of sex abuse news pushed her to leave the Catholic Church. In the hopes of understanding what the church’s future might look like, Maggi also talks to Brian Flanagan, a theologian who puts the sex abuse crisis into historical perspective. For show notes, links and more content visit: http://deliveruspodcast.org The theme music for Deliver Us is composed and produced by Kris McCormick. Additional music courtesy of APM.

Will the Catholic Church's sex abuse crisis ever end? That's a question everyone has been asking since the latest wave of news in 2018. In Deliver Us, host Maggi Van Dorn is a Catholic committed to healing the church from the inside. She wants to know: How did this happen? And what, if anything, can we do to help? Hear from experts, advocates, and survivors to learn what the church can do to move forward. Because you can’t fix something until you know how it’s broken

This week it's all about Prince Harry! Biographer Katie Nicholl takes us back to Harry's complicated childhood, his wild years from Eaton to Vegas, and the experiences that defined Harry as a soldier and humanitarian. We learn where the royal family gets their wealth and how Meghan marrying in could give the monarchy a big tax headache. While Craig is away, producer Maggi Van Dorn joins Sean to calculate what makes this reformed bad boy of Buckingham so swoon-worthy. Special thanks to Isabelle Mattinson for narration.

Kensington Palace has been dishing several new weddings developments this week! This minisode savors the details of Meghan and Harry's wedding cake and invitations. The cake reflects the flavors of the current spring season, but the invitations harken back to a much older era. While Sean is recovering from his time in the tower, Craig is joined by the show's producer Maggi Van Dorn. Special thanks to Isabelle Mattinson for narration and to Jason Elrod for his whistling kettle.

  Host (and guest) Maggi Van Dorn Our Guest:  This time on “Interfaith Matters,” host Maggi Van Dorn is our guest!  ICNY’s Director of Programs, Dr. Henry Goldschmidt, talks with Maggi about her Catholic faith background, as they reflect on two seasons of podcasting, highlighting some memorable interviews with New York City faith leaders, and discussing how podcasts are such a valuable forum for interfaith conversation. As Maggi departs our podcast after two wonderful seasons, we wish her tremendous continued success as the Religion and Spirituality producer at Spoke (a new podcasting app from SiriusXM) and as associate producer for The Adventures of Memento Mori podcast, which was just named one of The Atlantic’s 50 Best Podcasts of 2017.   Podcast Episode Highlights: On why podcasts are the most visual medium: “You can only hear my voice, and as a result, you have to conjure images in your mind that might be so much more powerful than anything that you would see on a TV screen.” On how a Catholic imagination fuels interfaith conversation: “If you’re trying to understand the divine and you’re starting at a place of human flourishing then I can look at human flourishing all around the world and in so many different people and say, ‘There’s the glory of God!'” On how podcasting enhances interfaith work: “We can talk very abstractly about a diversity of voices or perspectives, but podcasts strip away those abstractions because you literally have a human voice that is textured and unique, which discloses the person’s identity and their community.  To give greater representation of diverse backgrounds, what better way to do that than through the human voice?”   ___________________________________________________ This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one of their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live.” ___________________________________________________ Podcast Questions? Comments? Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at socialmedia@interfaithcenter.org.  And please be sure to rate us!

Host Maggi Van Dorn (left) with Kevin Tarrant   Our Guest:  This time on "Interfaith Matters," host Maggi Van Dorn talks with Kevin Tarrant, of the Hopi and Ho-Chunk Native American tribes.  Kevin is the former executive director of American Indian Community House here in New York City, and the founder of Silvercloud Singers, an inter-tribal dance and drumming group.  In Native American culture, Kevin's ministry is that of a "songcatcher," which serves as a rejuvenating force for the entire community.  Kevin is also Musical Director of a play in performance right now on the Lower East Side called "Don't Feed the Indians: A Divine Comedy Pageant."  Podcast Highlights: On Native Americans in NYC: "According to the latest census, there are 112,000 Native Americans in New York City.  It is the largest urban population of Native people in America."  On being a Song-catcher: "It’s a gift...there’s a tree of life and every time the leaf falls, that’s a song. And every time that leaf comes down and hits the ground the song is no longer there. But some people are attuned to catch that song and I’m lucky enough to be one of those people.” On the healing role of the drum: “A part of knowing this knowledge and being one of these song-carriers and dancers is you do these things for those that can’t. And you do these things to make yourself feel good and make others feel good.” On the Standing Rock protest to protect the environment: "Everybody is realizing that there’s going to be nothing for our grandchildren, our great grandchildren. What are we leaving them? You’re destroying every bit of nature there is."   Don't Feed the Indians: A Divine Comedy Pageant   Kevin and his wife, the director Murielle Borst-Tarrant, are currently presenting a play called "Don't Feed the Indians: A Divine Comedy Pageant," a comedic Native-Aesthetic look at the marginalization of Indigenous Peoples and the appropriation of Indigenous cultural and intellectual property. The play is being performed now through November 19 at La Mamma, on East 4th Street.  More info and tickets are available here.  ___________________________________________________   This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one of their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live.” ___________________________________________________ Podcast Questions? Comments? Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at socialmedia@interfaithcenter.org.  And please be sure to rate us!

Host Maggi Van Dorn (left) with Onleilove Alston Our Guest:  This time on “Interfaith Matters,” host Maggi Van Dorn talks with Onleilove Alston, executive director of Faith in New York, an affiliate of the PICO National Network, committed to the work of justice and faith-rooted community organizing.  Onleilove knows the vital importance of this work more intimately than most: as a child, Onleilove experienced homelessness, shelters and foster care before she was ten years old.  Today, she is a contributing writer and board member of Sojourners magazine, and founder of “Prophetic Whirlwind,” an organization – and forthcoming book – about the Black presence in the Bible. Onleilove will be one of the experts working with faith leaders at ICNY’s upcoming “Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy.” Podcast Highlights: On her conversion experience and the call to work on behalf of social justice causes: “Encountering a God of the orphan and the widow was empowering because I was an orphan.  Reading about a God who preached good news to the poor was good news to me because I was poor.  And I began to think I could do something to change my community and to help other young people like myself.” On faith-based advocacy: “[It is] harnessing the power of faith communities to make a difference in public life – to bring a moral imperative to public life. It’s a moral travesty that families are going to sleep homeless every night.” On spirituality in NYC: “The Bible Belt may be the most Christian-active part of the country, but as far as spiritual activity of any faith, New York City is actually the most spiritual place in America. If just 10% of those people who are spiritual were infused in public life to support progressive policies, we could change this city.” Three things faith leaders stand to gain from attending the Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy: “One, to build relationships with like-minded faith leaders. Two, to build relationships with organizations doing [social justice] work. And three, to gain strategic tools they can use to change conditions in our city.”  On how faith leaders can avoid burnout while responding to the political crises that come up seemingly every day: “Discern the one, two or three issues you’re going to work on, so that when things happen, that guides you, and share the burden, with people in your congregation, with other partners, so you are not overwhelmed.”   ___________________________________________________   This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one of their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live.” ___________________________________________________ Beginning in November 2017, ICNY will sponsor 20 faith community leaders to participate in evening training workshops on a bi-monthly basis in civic engagement, legal literacy, and community organizing. These workshops will be led by expert partners including: The Center for Court Innovation, Faith in New York, The Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, CUNY CLEAR as well as the NYPD. Individual participants will each receive a $1,000 stipend + seed funding for community projects. The application deadline is October 2, 2017 Program details and application info is available at http://interfaithcenter.org/icla For more info, email Iman Boukadoum or call 212.870.3515. ___________________________________________________ Podcast Questions? Comments? Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at socialmedia@interfaithcenter.org.  And please be sure to rate us!

  Our Guest:    This time on "Interfaith Matters," host Maggi Van Dorn talks with Jonathan Soto, executive director of Mayor Bill de Blasio's newly-formed Center for Faith and Community Partnerships.   The center is designed to transform the way faith and other community organizations access city services.  We discuss why collaboration between faith communities and local government is not a violation of the First Amendment, but is essential to protect freedom, and help citizens in need. Jonathan will be one of the experts working with faith leaders in ICNY's upcoming "Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy."   Podcast Highlights:   On the importance of connecting faith communities with local government: “A house of worship could be the first institution a person interacts with when they come to this city or this country for the first time. It’s an important step, especially as it relates to services, to ensure that houses of worship are really well-resourced, and well connected to city services.”     On why faith community outreach helps protect city services: “There can be a policy argument that services should be cut because people aren’t using them, while in reality what’s happening is that government isn’t doing a very good job of letting people know these services are available.”     On what faith leaders will gain from the upcoming Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy: “Government is like a labyrinth, and it’s hard to navigate it if you don’t know the language. My hope is that [the Academy will] make the language accessible, and we can be open about ways to engage intentionally and collaboratively in order to maximize the benefit government can provide to people.”   On protecting religious liberty for others: “There is no religious liberty if we elevate one perspective over the other. If my Muslim sister or brother doesn't have religious freedom, then I don't have religious freedom. We give up a lot of our power when we work in silos.  But we maximize our power when we engage in collaborative action and work together."    FAITH COMMUNITY LEADER RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PROGRAM:   Faith community leaders interested in joining the Weekend of Action, or who would like to connect with the Center for Faith and Community Partnerships, please contact Jonathan Soto directly at jsoto@cityhall.nyc.gov. The “Access HRA” app is a new online portal from New York City’s Human Resources Administration.  People in your community can use the app to apply online for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Cash Assistance, Medicaid renewal, manage benefits, read agency notices. It’s available on iPhone and Google Play Stores or click here.  The "Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy" (ICLA):   Beginning in November 2017, ICNY will sponsor 20 faith community leaders to participate in evening training workshops on a bi-monthly basis in civic engagement, legal literacy, and community organizing. These workshops will be led by expert partners including: The Center for Court Innovation, Faith in New York, The Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, CUNY CLEAR as well as the NYPD. Individual participants will each receive a $1,000 stipend + seed funding for community projects. The application deadline is October 2, 2017 Program details and application info is available at http://interfaithcenter.org/icla For more info, email Iman Boukadoum or call 212.870.3515.   ___________________________________________________   Podcast Questions? Comments?   Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at socialmedia@interfaithcenter.org.  And please be sure to rate us!

    Pictured Above: Thomas Lennon in a Beijing Film Studio. Lennon's earlier work in China earned him an Oscar and two Academy nominations.   Our Guest:  This time on "Interfaith Matters," host Maggi Van Dorn talks with Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Thomas Lennon about "Sacred," his recent million-dollar global documentary for PBS.  Two years in the making, and utilizing more than 40 film crews in more than 20 countries, "Sacred" explores ritual practice around the world through stages of life the film terms "Initiation," "Practice" and "Passage."  As the film journeys through the milestones of private life and the faith practices of individual human beings, a singular story begins to unfold, of universal humanity.    "Sacred" is premiering around the country this year, and, as a WNET-TV production, will be on public TV in 2018.  Jump to the link below to watch the trailer. Click here to check for upcoming film screenings in the United States and around the world.   Podcast Highlights:   On what motivated him as an agnostic filmmaker to produce a film about religion: "Jonathan Sacks said, 'Religion is fire: it can warm, or it can burn.'  The media have done a very good job of looking at the ways in which it can burn. And I thought why don't I go off by myself and take a few looks at how it can warm."    On faith as a primary human experience: "The wisdom of [religious rituals], psychologically, does not require you to be a person of faith for you to recognize and be grateful for that transmission of advice from generations before you."   On his experimental approach to global film-making: "If there is a scene you want covered in Myanmar or in Madagascar... the chances are very good that there's a filmmaker there who's going to have an intimacy of relationship with that scene, with that language, with that culture, with that faith, that you do not have - and so it behooves you to invite them into a collaboration."   On the spiritual creativity of prisoners:  "It's an extraordinary act of existential choice to say, 'I'm not going to think about the fact that ... I'm not going to leave these prison walls except in a body bag...I'm going to think about this other reality that I'm going to insist is the dominant reality.'"   VIEW THE "SACRED" TRAILER HERE:     ___________________________________________________     This episode of Interfaith Matters is underwritten by One Spirit Learning Alliance – an interfaith learning institute that trains spiritual leaders and offers workshops for the public to spark personal transformation. More information is at Onespiritinterfaith.org/Matters, where our listeners can find a free download of one of their teachings, “The Life We Are Called to Live."   ___________________________________________________   Questions? Comments?   Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at socialmedia@interfaithcenter.org.  And please be sure to rate us!  

      Vivian and Robert DeRosa with host Maggi Van Dorn (right)   In this latest episode of “Interfaith Matters," Maggi Van Dorn talks with Robert and Vivian DeRosa, leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes known as Mormons. Robert is president of the Lynbrook New York Stake (a geographic area similar to a diocese or parish) that includes Eastern Queens and Western Nassau, Long Island. Vivian is the leader of the young women's programs.    Some Highlights:   On the origins of the word "Mormon": "It's a nickname people have given to us over time. It simply refers to the Book of Mormon and the person Mormon, who was the compiler and editor of 1,000 years' worth of history [that comprise the Book of Mormon]."   On what attracted the DeRosas to the Mormon faith: "It answered so many questions that I had, and I realized this just feels like home. Families can be together forever... these relationships that we treasure so much in life continue."   On diversity within the Mormon faith: "[In Queens alone], we have people whose place of birth is from 94 different countries ... there's a great diversity in the church. We have a core set of beliefs, yet there are cultural and ethnic differences that are wonderful, and that enrich our community."   On shared Humanity: "We believe that our Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, that you and I are brother and sister. We don't look at it as an analogy, or a simple way to explain a difficult idea - we literally believe we are children of our Heavenly Father."  "When we love and serve one another, that commonality is much stronger than whatever other differences that we've got."   And a Special Invitation:   On March 18, Mandarin-speaking New Yorkers are invited to research their family histories at a Family History Discovery Day, held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 145-15 33rd Ave FLUSHING, New York from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.  There is no charge for participating in the event.   Have a question for our guests, or a comment on our podcast series?  Please feel free to leave comments on your podcast player, or send us an email at socialmedia@interfaithcenter.org.  And please be sure to rate us!

From the first week of President Trump’s administration, refugee and immigration issues have become a pressing moral concern for many Americans, with New York City taking center stage as demonstrations spring up everywhere and Mayor de Blasio upholds our status as a “Sanctuary City.”  Even before President Trump launched aggressive new policies targeting undocumented immigrants this week, the Washington Post reported that the number of houses of worship that have declared themselves sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants has doubled nationwide over the past year, while DNAInfo described local congregations signing on to shelter immigrants.  New Yorkers of faith are looking to their religious leaders for guidance, who in turn are gathering to share information and resources.  A lot is happening very quickly and people feel the need to understand not just the events themselves, but what they and their communities can do.    In this latest episode of the “Interfaith Matters” podcast series, Maggi Van Dorn responds to that need through a conversation with Dr. Diane Steinman, the Director of the New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform. In this brief interview, Dr. Steinman offers listeners: A multi-faith appreciation of human value, that resonates with America’s foundational understanding of equality A history of the “Sanctuary City” movement, and the ways such policies have protected both undocumented immigrants and American citizens Immediate steps that faith leaders and communities can take to join the growing advocacy movement, including providing Sanctuary in houses of worship Have a question for Dr. Diane Steinman? Want to become connected to the New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform? Leave a comment on your podcatcher or email us at socialmedia@interfaithcenter.org.   ___________________________________________________   Special Invitation to New York City Religious and Civic Leaders     As noted above, ICNY is holding a full-day conference for New York’s religious and civic leaders on April 5th, exploring the emerging challenges for religious leadership under the presidency of Donald Trump.  Please click here to register for Hospitality in a Time of Hate: Religious Leadership for an Inclusive City under the Trump Administration.  Participation is entirely free, thanks in part to a grant from the Fellowship in Prayer.   ___________________________________________________  

We're launching our new season with a podcast survey and a chance to win tickets to a new Broadway Musical!   See below for details.   Click here to take the survey and register for the  chance to win a pair of tickets to IN TRANSIT or copy this link into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5ZHVLCN _________________________________________________________     Andy von Salis and ICNY Podcast Producer Maggi Van Dorn   In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn talks with Andy von Salis, a clerk (or presiding moderator) of the New York Religious Society of Friends, also known as "Quakers," on how the practice of silence and commitment to equality have guided Quakers as some of the most powerful peace and justice makers in American history and have personally empowered his own civil disobedience.   On the Fundamental Belief of Quakerism: “There is that of God, an element of the divine, that is alive within each person.”   The Quaker “SPICES” (Fundamental Values): Simplicity Peace Integrity Community Equality Service   On Taking Oaths: “Quakers had always refused to take oaths right back to George Fox and often went to jail as a result." Quakers' commitment to Integrity impels them to affirm that they speak the truth always, and not differentiate statements under oath.   How to visit a Quaker Meeting or Event: Quaker meetings for worship are held regularly and are open to everyone. There are six Quaker Meetings in New York City, each with its own website and calendar of events. Brooklyn Meeting, for example, offers worship twice every Sunday and Tuesday evenings at 6:30. The Quaker meetinghouse in Flushing (built 1694) is the oldest house of worship in continuous use in New York State.There are occasional public tours of the Quaker-owned cemetery located in the middle of Prospect Park in Brooklyn.   We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.   ______________________________________________________________________   Take our Survey for a Chance to win 2 Tickets to IN TRANSIT       And as we head into this new season we want you to hear from you! What do you enjoy most about the show? What do you want to learn more about?  In the interest of knowing you better, we’ve created a very brief survey that you can access by clicking the link below.    And here’s the really exciting part: if you complete the survey by January 1, you'll  have a chance to win a pair of tickets to the new Broadway musical IN TRANSIT.      “SHOWSTOPPING AND HEART-PUMPING. IF LOVE ACTUALLY WERE A MUSICAL SET IN THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY SYSTEM, IT WOULD BE IN TRANSIT.“- ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY   “A RAPTUROUSLY HARMONIOUS AND SURPRISINGLY MOVING EXPERIENCE.“- VARIETY   “VIBRANT, PLAYFUL, AND INFECTIOUS. A LOVE LETTER TO NEW YORK CITY.”- THE STAR-LEDGER   This new musical follows the story of 11 New Yorkers hoping to catch the express train to their dreams—and all the stops they make along the way.  And it’s a capella score was written by a team that includes the creators of Pitch Perfect and Frozen. It’s a powerful show, not to be missed.   So after you listen to this episode, click to fill out the survey and register for the chance to win tickets to IN TRANSIT!   Click here to take the survey and register for the   chance to win a pair of tickets to IN TRANSIT   or copy this link into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5ZHVLCN   ______________________________________________________________________    

  MaggiVan Dorn talks with Peter Gudaitis In the wake of the 9/11tragedy fifteen years ago, an organization called New York Disaster InterfaithServices (NYDIS) came together to coordinate disaster relief.  Since thattime, NYDIS has grown and gone on to provide relief after Hurricane Sandy andother disasters.  In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn talks with Peter B.Gudaitis, Chief Response Officer of NYDIS, about the challenges of coordinatingdisaster relief in a city comprised of hundreds of separate cultural and faithcommunities, and how to train religious leaders to provide emergency responseto a multi-faith population.  Highlights: On the current state ofnational disaster relief: "Inthe United States, when a disaster happens, only citizens and green cardholders can get federal disaster assistance… you could be in legal immigrantstatus but not qualify for federal assistance or state assistance." On the importance of religious diversity literacy: "Is the city prepared to feed [peoplevegetarian, halal or kosher meals]?  Do our medical professionalsunderstand the prohibitions against different genders touching one another? Doour shelters have the ability to shelter men and women separately, or women andchildren separately from men? The answer today quite frankly is no." On recent advancements in disaster relief: Sincethe Obama administration, F.E.M.A. has adopted something called whole communitydoctrine, which in short means that government needs to be prepared to supportthe needs of all communities at the local level, and not just the majority …that means marginalized communities, non-English speaking communities, thepoor, the well-resourced … men, women, children, gay communities, straightcommunities, all of that." On the unfortunate reportsof judgmental chaplains at the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting: "If you don’t see the personyou’re caring for as a whole person, if you see the part of them that you findsinful as something that you have to make some sort of navigating decisionsaround, you’re not fully present for that person, and they’re going to be ableto tell." On disaster chaplains: "Disaster spiritual care isan expertise that has to be taught and learned and practiced … it’s not a giftof the spirit in and of itself.  Certainly since 9/11 there have beensignificant changes in the application of emotional and spiritual care … it'sbeen more structured … it's kind of like the distinction between graduatingfrom medical school and being a brain surgeon.  You might have the basicsbut you really have to develop and practice an expertise." We hope you will not justlisten to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving,jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted whennew installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about thefaiths of our New York City neighbors.

  Maggi Van Dorn talks with Nitin Ajmera   In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn talks with Nitin Ajmera, former president of the Jain Center of America, located in Elmhurst, Queens.  In this richly informative and entertaining two-part interview, Mr. Ajmera describes the origins of Jainism (one of the oldest religions in the world), and speaks about the three main principals of the Jain faith: devotion to nonviolence (Ahimsa), a rejection of possessiveness (Aparigraha), and embracing the understanding that there are multiple paths that lead to establishment of the truth (Anekantvada). His engaging talk is a rare and valuable opportunity to learn about Jainism and how Jain belief and practice can enlighten world views on Climate Change, vegetarianism, moral responsibility, and much more.    On the doctrine of non-violence known as “ahimsa”: “It is beyond killing of a physical, visible form … ahimsa is like nonviolence in thought, action and speech.” On diversity: “The identity of a group has to be maintained but as long as we acknowledge that identity allows us to see a different kind of bloom in our garden… it’s beautiful right….why? Because different looks nice.”   On Jainism’s understanding of God: “The concept of God as a creator doesn’t exist in Jainism; the concept of God as an Eternal Truth?  Yes.”    On the Jain respect for all life forms, even to the degree of not eating root vegetables so as not to harm earthworms: “Each soul has its own right to survive and meet its own fate. We are nobody in influencing that.  If we can’t make it better, who gives us the right to take it away?”   We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.  

  Maggi Van Dorn talks with Nitin Ajmera   In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn talks with Nitin Ajmera, former president of the Jain Center of America, located in Elmhurst, Queens.  In this richly informative and entertaining two-part interview, Mr. Ajmera describes the origins of Jainism (one of the oldest religions in the world), and speaks about the three main principals of the Jain faith: devotion to nonviolence (Ahimsa), a rejection of possessiveness (Aparigraha), and embracing the understanding that there are multiple paths that lead to establishment of the truth (Anekantvada). His engaging talk is a rare and valuable opportunity to learn about Jainism and how Jain belief and practice can enlighten world views on Climate Change, vegetarianism, moral responsibility, and much more.    On the doctrine of non-violence known as “ahimsa”: “It is beyond killing of a physical, visible form … ahimsa is like nonviolence in thought, action and speech.” On diversity: “The identity of a group has to be maintained but as long as we acknowledge that identity allows us to see a different kind of bloom in our garden… it’s beautiful right….why? Because different looks nice.”   On Jainism’s understanding of God: “The concept of God as a creator doesn’t exist in Jainism; the concept of God as an Eternal Truth?  Yes.”    On the Jain respect for all life forms, even to the degree of not eating root vegetables so as not to harm earthworms: “Each soul has its own right to survive and meet its own fate. We are nobody in influencing that.  If we can’t make it better, who gives us the right to take it away?”   We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.  

Father Liam and ICNY Podcast Producer Maggi Van Dorn  In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn talks with Father Liam O'Doherty, an Augustinian friar and Catholic priest, currently of Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and formerly of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Staten Island.  Fr. Liam served 18 years as a missionary in Nagoya & Nagasaki, Japan, where he ministered to the descendents of Japan's first Catholic martyrs.  He is renown in Staten Island for his interfaith work in bringing together the Roman Catholic and Muslim communities around shared social justice concerns.  And Fr. Liam is also credited with arranging New York City Cardinal Dolan’s first visit to a mosque. On Muslim Neighbors: [When I see Muslims pray, I see] that what they have in their hearts is the same thing that I have in my heart - a deep desire to praise God, and to have a relationship with Him.  And the thing that comes out of that is a desire to support each other in their walk of faith, and also to do something for the people outside of the community.”  On singing as embodied prayer: “When you sing, your body becomes a musical instrument … it’s incarnational.” On how to Be a Priest/Faith leader: “Show up, be there, and don't get in the way of the action of the Holy Spirit." We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.

In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn and ICNY’s Directory of Programs Dr. Henry Goldschmidt talk with Dr. Anne Klaeysen, leader of the New York Society for Ethical Culture, ethical humanist religious life advisor at Columbia University and humanist chaplain at NYU.    On the first Humanists: "While they were experiencing their lives and their commitments to their vocations as religious they were beginning to separate that more from a belief in a supernatural, anthropomorphized deity." On the "1st manifesto": "Humanism is a philosophy and a religion that emphasizes human responsibility and accountability." On Adler’s Supreme Ethical Rule: "You choose to attribute worth and dignity to every human being, and secondly, you act in ways to elicit the goodness in others and when you act in that way you are eliciting the goodness in yourself."   Note: The music clips heard in this podcast episode are taken from the song “What About Love?" with full permission from its writer and performer, Athena Reich.  Complete song and lyrics here.    We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.  

In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn talks with Al Cadena, one of nine members of an elected body called the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New York City.  Al provides a wonderful introduction to Bahá'í beliefs, and how the faith informs a person's ethics.  He also shares his inspiring journey to victory on the game show "Jeopardy!".   On Bahá'ísm: "Bahá'í stresses the unity of all the world's religions, that they all come from God."  On Youth: "Oftentimes society believes that youth doesn't have the ability to be role models... but if anything, youth have the ability to move the world. So let's let them do that." On Morality: "The soul has no gender, no color, no class.  Because each one of us has a soul that comes from God, then we have to treat each other beautifully.  It's the 'Golden Rule,' but goes further because you want better for your brother or sister than for yourself." Note: The music clips heard in this podcast episode are taken from the song “Morning Prayer.”  The words are those of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Bahá'í faith.  The music was written, and the song is performed by, Saphira Rameshfar.  Complete song and lyrics here. We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.

In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn interviews dancer, singer, choreographer, teaching artist, artistic director and Orisha devotee Michael Manswell.  Mr. Manswell talks about the origins and practices of the Yoruba tradition (one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa), religious leadership, and "Something Positive," an arts and education organization dedicated to the art and culture of the African Diaspora and its cross-cultural influences through performance and education.   On his preferred title of "devotee": I have always felt that the word "priest" places you in a solitary position, in a kind of enforced solitude ... whereas the Yoruba [leader] is part and parcel of who the community is... is woven into the fabric.   On divination: "Opening the portals so you can see your possible paths ... or the possibilities that lay if you were take a certain action ... or not."     On chanting and movement: "It is a channel through which you can present your petition, your thanks,your rage, your disappointment, your hurt your grief, your love to the divine because it inhabits a place that’s not seen."   We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.

On Sikhism: "It's about having direct devotion and access to the Divine, and if that's our way of thinking, that is a commitment to radical equality.  Prayer is an important access point to the divine, but prayer is also fighting against injustice, organizing, feeding people, clothing people..." On being a faith leader: "There's no concept of 'clergy' in the Sikh faith.  I define [a faith leader] as someone who is organizing and mobilizing people from a particular faith community for ... at its best, various forms of social and economic justice." On leadership opportunities for youth: "We're seeing very smart and on-point young folks that are challenging some of the more conservative elements of our community... about homosexuality, caste, and gender equality." In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn interviews Sonny Singh, a Brooklyn-based justice educator, activist, published writer and community organizer and musician, who talks with us about Sikhism, his call to social justice, and the expression of his faith and calling in music.  We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.

"Legitimacy can be established through credentials ... or it can be established through a track record and work experience, that you have indicated through some type of continuous effort that you are someone worth listening to.""Our bigger challenge today is ... the amount of indifference that exists.  That you see injustice taking place in front of you, and you have the ability to do something about it, and you still don't.  You can have a perspective on a person or a community that they represent, without having ever met someone from that community." "Find the courage to go and be with those who are different rather than waiting for them to be with you."In this episode of our free podcast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn interviews Imam Khalid Latif, who shares with us his experience as the first Muslim chaplain of NYU, the emerging faith leadership of young adults, and how conviction inspires and necessitates a person to work across faith lines.  We're pleased that this episode will be the first entry in the Storybank of Religions for Peace USA’s "Our Muslim Neighbor" initiative, a long-term collective impact effort geared toward combating Islamophobia with a positive, informed, and consistent message of Islam and Muslims in the U.S.We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.

About Hinduism and Monotheism: "Hindus believe in one supreme Brahman. The anciet sages and the seers always worshiped a formless form of the Lord. The form came in for common people to be able to focus their worship." On Hinduism and deitieis: "We strongly believe that God is in everything.  You can invoke God in a piece of stone.  Every part of a deity's body gives us a message - Ganesha's ears prompt us to be good listeners, his eyes teach us to be focused."On the role of the House of Worship: "Temples are bulit for a community platform, people get married here, children love to come and sing, dance."On Religious Diversity: "We must appreciate differences.  Ultimately we all want to reach the supreme lord.  All religions are equal. In our prayers, we always say 'Let the entire universe be happy and healthy.'"In the fifth episode of our free podscast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn interviews Dr. Uma Mysorekar, about her roots in faith, her medical practice, and giving back to the community, helping to found the Hindu Temple Society of North America – New York City’s oldest and largest Hindu temple, in Flushing, Queens.We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.

Maggi Van Dorn talks with Theo and Phyllis Harris, stars of the Off Broadway show “Alive 55+ and Kickin"“Every time I lift my eyes to the sky, I’m reminded of a time in my life When all the dark clouds hung over me, I was lost inside, in search of a key. I remember loved ones being so kind, saying things would get much better with time. And I admit sometimes it did for a while, then I’d find myself back under the cloud. But right in the midst of the rain, my heart was so filled with pain, You came and rescued my soul, and then your love took control. Right in the midst of the rain you taught me to smile again. My life was awesomely changed right in the midst of the rain.” In the fourth episode of our free podscast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn interviews Theo and Phyllis Harris, about their lives and art.  During Theo’s many years of incarceration, Phyllis struggled with raising a family.  In their shared love of singing, the two of them found the strength to keep their marriage together and give inspiration to countless others through their performances in “Alive 55+ and Kickin,” at the Dempsey Theater in Harlem.  The show, now in its third year, was produced by Vy Higginson, creator of the acclaimed gospel musical “Mama, I want to Sing.”  As described on the “Alive 55+ and Kickin'” website, the show is about “the healing and transformative power of story and song. With music ranging from gospel, to soul, to blues, to R&B, to pop, and Broadway, ALIVE! captures a wide spectrum of the total Black experience in sound.” We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.

On Sufism: “The inner knowledge of the nature of the human being, and the divine reality within the human being.” On being a female Muslim leader: [When you’re not used to it], that’s why you find all these so called holy reasons why it shouldn’t be.” On Rumi: “When love speaks, it will express itself in poetic form, like the hymns we sing.” In the third episode of our free podscast series “NYC Faith Leaders,” Maggi Van Dorn interviews Sheikha Fariha of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi tariqa located in Tribeca, who speaks about the spiritual path of Sufism, the direct transmission of divine love through the relationship of Sheikha and dervish, and the awakening of the heart in community worship. We hope you will not just listen to this series, but download the podcasts to hear while driving, jogging, or washing the dishes.  And subscribe in order to be alerted when new installments are available.  It’s a great way to learn about the faiths of our New York City neighbors.www.interfaithcenter.org