Podcasts about Middleboro

We loved talking with Josh Rashid, the owner of Coffee Milano in Middleboro about his DANCE FOR COFFEE trend that has gone viral!

Send us a textThe 1994 Movie Natural Born Killers, spurred many real life nightmares. Michael Freeman 21, of leafy Avon, Massachusetts, was apparently easily influenced. He recruited two dim witted friends Leonard Stanely 21, of Easton,Ma. and Patrick Morse 19, of Middleboro for murder. The mayberry-like town of Avon, would never be the same.Natural born killer or simple Shitbird? Those choices seem to sum up Michael Freeman of Avon, Massachusetts, he was never any good, not really. The good citizens of the Commonwealth thought they'd seen the last of Mr. Freeman, in 1996 after he confessed to stabbing a retired 65 year old combat veteran, almost 27 times. He confessed to this grisly crime and should have went down for the dirt nap. That did not happen be cause, well, Massachusetts. Mr. Freeman went on to attempt to kill another inmate in 2009, stabbing this person numerous times. In 2014, Freeman beat an inmate to death with his bare hands, prison can't even stop this animal from savaging others. What would have stopped these heinous attacks…Capital Punishment!Patriot Ledger-https://bit.ly/3Mt50e3Justia-Commonwealth v. Michael Freeman-https://bit.ly/4dIPYNtWorcester Telegram-https://bit.ly/4cOt3z8

Jaimey was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008. He was treated and received a clean bill of health and remained cancer-free. In May 2015, a routine blood donation led to a life-changing discovery when the Red Cross director urged him to seek immediate medical attention. Jaimey was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which, contrary to its typical slow progression, advanced rapidly in his case. Jaimey remained active, cycling and running to maintain his mental well-being.However, six to nine months ago, his CLL numbers began to rise again, promptingdiscussions about future treatments. Although his white blood cell count is high and he has low antibodies, making illnesses particularly severe, Jaimey remains optimistic with Dana-Farber's support. After obtaining an A.B. cum laude in chemistry at Harvard College, Dr. Davidscompleted his M.D. cum laude at Yale University School of Medicine. He served as an intern, resident, and assistant chief resident in internal medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He then completed his fellowship in hematology and oncology in Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, and a Masters in Medical Science (M.M.S.c.) at Harvard Medical School. He is an attending physician in the Division of Lymphoma, and serves as the Director of Clinical Research, as well as Associate Director of the CLL Center. He is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and attends on the inpatient hematologic malignancies service at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children, andtreatments result in a good chance for a cure. Acute lymphocytic leukemia can also occur in adults, though the chance of a cure is greatly reduced.

How about a little THC for the holiday dinner table on Thanksgiving? WBZ's Jim MacKay has got an idea for you from the heart of cranberry country in Middleboro.

Some students at Nichols Middle School in Middleborough have been doing so much damage to the school that parents are receiving invoices to pay for the damages caused by their children. WBZ's Jim MacKay reports:

In this episode, we sit down with Lorna Brunelle! Lorna has had an incredible career in all things performing arts.  After graduating from The Boston Conservatory, she began working for Boston casting, and at the age of 24, opened The Burtwood School of Performing Arts in Middleboro, MA.  In its current location, the school building is also the home of The Alley Theatre. Lorna is passionate about teaching and sharing her love for the arts. She has worked as a vocal instructor, acting coach, pageant consultant, producer, and more.  She curates and hosts many great events and shows, such as her vendor market series - Sip and Stroll.  After being diagnosed with Thyroid cancer at 33, Lorna found that there was limited information and resources for treatment and what to expect with this prognosis.  This led her to write her first book - Dirty Bombshell: From Thyroid Cancer Back to Fabulous!  Lorna then tells us the story of her Mother's Cancer diagnosis years later, the amazing approach Wanda took to cope with it, and the adventures it led them on.  This later became her second book, The Buoy Projects.  You can find more information about Lorna, The Burtwood School of Performing arts and the Alley Theatre Here: https://www.facebook.com/lorna.brunelle and IG @lornabrunelle You can find Lorna's books on Amazon.

Chuck Mollor, author of The Rise of the Agile Leader: Can You Make the Shift? Chuck Mollor and Bill Ringle discuss insights about how you can benefit from messages contained in feedback from 1:1s to 360s for small business leaders. >>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today's top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle's mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations. Interview Insights Top 3 Takeaways When our business grows, so do our responsibilities. As leaders, we need to learn how to change where we spend our time, delegate obligations, and know when to hire external help. Receiving 360 feedback will give us words that can hurt us. But feedback is critical because we might be 100% assured that we are competent enough with a job that sometimes we need our people to point out when and where we're falling short. When our own people are hesitant to share their honest feedback even when asked, that is a sign of lack of trust and an urgent matter we need to fix. Read the Show Notes from this Episode Chuck talks about his greatest influence growing up, his best friend's father Frank, who is also a father figure to him. [01:44] Understanding how the size of our organization affects how we communicate and how we care about our people. [04:28] How does a manager's time shift as an organization grows? [07:31] The five drivers of growth: growth, direction, integrity, innovation, engagement, and urgency. [09:33] Recognizing when we're not doing our job and when to seek external help. [11:42] What can you learn from receiving 360 feedback that can make you a better leader?.[14:26] CASE: Mike and why lack of trust alarm bells sound if our people don't talk to us even when asked. [18:37] My Quest for the Best lightning round begins. [26:22] Expert Bio Chuck Mollor is the founder, CEO, advisor, and executive coach at MCG Partners, an organization that helps develop leaders and teams, optimizing both businesses and individual talent. His new book and best-selling book, The Rise of the Agile Leader: Can You Make the Shift?, is a guide for the aspiring, mid, and seasoned c-leader and executive that introduces a new leadership paradigm, a roadmap of what makes a great leader, and what organizations must do to develop great leaders. Contact Info and Social Media for Chuck Mollor Primary website Travels from: Middleboro, MA Connect on: Twitter | LinkedIn Resources Mentioned During the Interview Below are key people, places, books, quotes, websites and other resources that we discussed, so you can explore further. Item1 Published by Chuck Mollor

Today we got a call from Toni at Middleboro Recycling who shared that they wanted to donate some toys. Well, "some" is not a really accurate word to describe how much they gave.

Here's the whole show!

Today we got a call from Toni at Middleboro Recycling who shared that they wanted to donate some toys. Well, "some" is not a really accurate word to describe how much they gave.

Here's the whole show!

The MBTA adds a Chinatown stop to its shuttle bus line, Middleboro drops its first Little League World Series game and a grocery chain is seeking a pumpkin spice taste-tester. Five minutes of news that will keep you in "The Loop."

Training includes desensitizing a dog to loud noises, like using wind chimes that clang nearby. WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe reports.

We play every morning at 8:05 am. Today's player was Ellen from Middleboro! Was she Supah Smaht? Think you're Supah Smaht? Sign up here to play! https://wror.com/contests/supah/ All this and more on the ROR Morning Show with Bob Bronson, LBF, and Brian Podcast. Find more great podcasts at bPodStudios.com…The Place To Be For Podcast Discovery

Boston marks nine years since the Marathon bombings. A fast-thinking teen in Middleboro chases off a would-be robber with a knife. A great Boston accent could land you in Hollywood. 5 minutes of news that will keep you in The Loop.

This week, Ghost Tour Manager and Paranormal Investigator, Christy Parrish, joins us to share her journey into the paranormal which began when she experienced what she terms extreme hauntings at her home in Tennessee.  After relocating to Massachusetts for her “day job”, she was drawn to The Oliver House and became heavily involved in ensuring the property and, more importantly, the energies that reside there would never be forgotten.She is a frequent speaker at paranormal events, highly sought-after for her ingenuity in raising funds to help the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts maintain the property and has a deep connection to all of the families who once called The Oliver House home.  She leads a group of volunteers committed to sharing the history of the home, its significance to The Revolutionary War and learning what really happened within those four walls, from the energies who continue to reside there.Join our Facebook Community below to attend an exclusive online event Halloween night from 8:00 - 9:00PM EST!  Attend the event and be entered to win Oliver House giveaways, including an opportunity to be a part of an overnight paranormal investigation of the property! Episode and Guest LinksFollow The Oliver House on FacebookSecrets of The Peter Oliver HouseChristy Parrish on Chronicle WCVB-TVHaunt ME Season 6, Episode 1 - The Oliver HouseDiscover Middleboro MA - The Peter Oliver HouseAssorted Conversations LinksPodcast HomepageAssorted Conversations Facebook PageStay up-to-date on podcast happenings and share them with your friendsAssorted Conversations Podcast Facebook CommunityA collaborative and supportive community for you to engage with us, our guests and other listenersShare your passion, network and connect as we all pursue what makes us happy.Exclusive behind-the-scenes content and infoSpecial online events for community members             Follow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramMusic and Artwork CreditsMusic Credit:  True Living by Patrick MooreRoyalty free music license purchased at soundotcom.comHalloween Music Credit:  Plague of the Zombies by Haunted CorpseCourtesy of The Free Music Archive. License:  CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Assorted Conversations Podcast emoji's designed by OpenMoji The open-source emoji and icon project. License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Join Amelia and Beth this week as we talking about one of our favorite spooky locations, The Oliver House in Middleboro, MA, with veteran investigator Christy Parrish, Oliver House care taker, event coordinator, and paranormal investigator!

David Tuerck, president of the Beacon Hill Institute talks about the Millionaires Tax that will be in the state ballot in 2022. Local businessman Peter Brown and Andrew Sullivan discuss why voters should approve a proposed debt exclusion for a community center at tomorrow night's Pembroke's Annual Town Meeting. State Auditor Suzanne Bump visits to discuss audits that were recently done on the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission and BAMBSI (Brockton Area Multi-Service Inc). Mike Gioscia, host of Americanarama shares info on next weekends summer concert series, hosted by WATDs Almost Famous, at the Soule Homestead Education Center in Middleboro.   Do you have an topic for a future show or info on an upcoming community event? Email us at mondaynighttalk@gmail.com. If you're a fan of the show and enjoy our segments, you can either download your favorite segment from this site or subscribe to our podcasts through iTunes today!  © Monday Night Talk with Kevin Tocci - 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the show host and/or owner is strictly prohibited.  

An active shooter was captured safely in Middleboro, three former MBTA transit police officers are set to be arraigned July 20th, and some happy news for a family affected by the Florida condominium collapse.5 minutes of news that will keep you in "The Loop."

Elsa races off to the Northeast. A man accused of opening fire outside a MassDOT facility in Middleboro is captured. A man searches for the man who pulled him from a frozen Brookline pond 50 years ago. 5 minutes of news that will keep you in The Loop.

A shelter in place ordered in Middleboro, MEMA working to keep the lights on and bracing for Elsa's impact along the coast. 5 minutes of news that will keep you in "The Loop."

We play every morning at 8:05 am. Janice from Middleboro was ready to play this morning! Was she Supah Smaht? Think you're Supah Smaht? Sign up here to play! https://wror.com/contests/supah/ All this and more on the ROR Morning Show with Bob Bronson, LBF, and Brian Podcast. Find more great podcasts at bPodStudios…The Place To Be For Podcast Discovery  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Hajjar plead guilty to wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, and filing a false tax return.

In Part 2 of 2 with Mike Pasalacqua of Harper Lane Brewery we discuss his Hop Farm and being Middleboro's brewery and much more. Cheers! www.harperlanebrewery.com.

Sarah Dionne is a psychotherapist, life coach and Yoga instructor, blending psychotherapy and yoga together to help women heal entirely: body, mind, and spirit. Sarah began her recovery from an eating disorder in 2004, the same year she discovered Yoga and a path to spiritual healing. After the birth of her daughter, Sarah experienced a resurgence of her eating disorder alongside postpartum depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. After seeking the support she needed and deserved, Sarah experienced a spiritual awakening, giving her the inspiration and confidence back into her life. Sarah founded a group private practice -- Whole Health Collaborative -- in Middleboro, Massachusetts, focusing on holistic methods of therapy. Today, Sarah’s purpose is to bring light into the lives of those she works with, and support new parents in their healing so that they too can experience joy and fulfillment.

Nestled within the towns of Abington, Rehoboth and Freetown the Bridgewater Triangle includes Brockton, Whitman, West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Middleboro, Dighton, Berkley, Raynham, Norton, Easton, Lakeville, Seekonk, and Taunton.... as well as a host of UFO sightings, bigfoot encounters, puckwudgies, ghosts, criptids, and.... emus? Join Beth and Amelia this week as we dive deep into the unknown of the Bridgewater Triangle.

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #073  John Costa The Gunrunner LLC   When I called John Costa, owner of The Gunrunner LLC,  was on the phone with Glenn Beck. I read this story the day before about his gun store. I left my number and a couple hours later, we set up the time for an interview the next day.    During the breakout of COVID-19, many businesses and stores in Massachusetts were ordered to close. MA Governor Charlie Baker made a (vague) list of essential businesses.  President Trump eventually said that gun stores were essential businesses and should remain open. On March 31, Governor Baker included firearms retailers in the essential businesses.  Within hours, Governor Baker retracted firearms retailers on the list. Then Attorney General Maura Healey tweeted that gun stores were NOT essential and that gun owners were a danger to police officers, first responders, and domestic violence victims. The gun stores in Massachusetts would also not be on the list of businesses that could receive financial help from the government. Firearm instructors were also sent an email stating they were not approved to be teaching courses in person or virtually until at least May 4, 2020.    The Gunrunner in Middleboro, MA, a small business since 1986, decided to stay open to sell guns and ammunition to those who needed a firearm to protect their families and loved ones.    The owner, John Costa, came to the United States when he was 2 from the Azores. He learned to speak English when he started school.  His mother struggled to earn enough money to get her husband and young John to bring them to America. John served this country during the VietNam War.    Like other businesses, The Gunrunner has struggled through challenging times and done well in good times. But this government overreach, telling small businesses, who can remain open and be essential and which businesses are not essential and must close, was too much for The Gunrunner.    We spent a lot of time talking about how things have changed and quickly! Mr. Costa is very worked up about how this socialism is taking over the country and how easy it has been for us to give up our Rights, when this is what he and many others fought to stop around the world.    The Gunrunner had the Board of Health show up at the store with a cease and desist order and Mr. Costa took the order and threw it on the floor.    Currently, The Gunrunner is selling firearms and ammunition and will continue to do so. He’s been reaching out to suppliers and other stores and driving up to 4 hours roundtrip to get supplies to sell.  Favorite quotes: “No I am not closing my shop. No I am not going to stop selling firearms. I am going to protect us, the citizens, from the tyranny of these socialists.” “I, myself, call it bully shootings. Because that’s what I think it was.” “Why in the hell is she (Maura Healey) letting the prisoners loose? A crook is a crook always. They don’t change.” “Stopping the gun classes has nothing to do with the virus. This is all about gun confiscation.” “I don’t want to start a riot.  I don’t want to do any of that. But I want you people to wake up! See what’s going on!” John Costa on The Blaze with Glenn Beck https://www.theblaze.com/news/gun-shop-owner-openly-defies-massachusetts-governors-order-to-close   The Gunrunner LLC Website https://thegunrunnerllc.com/   The Gunrunner LLC https://www.facebook.com/The-Gunrunner-LLC-1436275726607329/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Asfaleia Designs https://asfaleiadesigns.com/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Or listen on:iTunes/Apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/riding-shotgun-with-charlie/id1275691565   Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4EEPud0XzYz4wo0MYmA9uB   iHeartRadio https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-riding-shotgun-with-charli-30654270/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Meet Loren Paul Decker,  pastor of LifeHouse Church in Middleboro, Massachusetts.  Loren recently launched his own podcast called Soul Chaser.  That also happens to be the title of his inspiring new book “Soul Chaser: Devotions to Anchor the Soul.”  You’re going to hear two old pals, from different religious backgrounds, agree on many matters of the soul, the human condition and the eternal chase for meaning, one very much worth having. Jordan Rich is Boston's busiest podcaster, appearing on over 400 podcast episodes and currently hosting 14 shows. To connect with him, visit www.chartproductions.com.

The Booth Notes – Mar. 17, 2020Sinista1 returns the airwaves with a vengeance this Tuesday night at 6:00 PM NY EST!!!If you want to get in on the conversation LIVE on air you can call into the show at (508) 251-5722 or join us in the LIVE Chat on FB!Topics for the night...Local/National News BoothCoronavirus – Is it the Real Deal? Sinista1 will provide you with the most recent local & national information.Entertainment BoothArtists across the country are pulling together to help other artists whose shows are being cancelled nationwide. Streaming subscriptions BOOM while movie theatre totals drop down to a 20 year low for this past weekend. Filming & promotional tours for new projects are being halted on all films and television shows as more sports stars & celebs are testing positive with the COVID-19. The gaming community is thriving with new games like PSO2, DLC, cross-play & much more to make the stay at home a little easier!Legal BoothWhat legal rights do you have during a mandatory curfew or shutdown & what are the things you DON'T want to be doing?Sports BoothBRADY IS GONE!!!Trump Troubles BoothPresident Trump's 17 Day Vacation irks the ire of many, but is it a cover-up for the obvious?Event Reminders & Shout OutsEverything is CANCELLED… LOL, LOL LOLCongrats to Reece Marcal, Middleboro who was nominated for the Dave Cownens Award out of 18 FinalistMarcal was an inspiration to his teammates as he became a standout on the court despite dealing with diabetes. Marcal not only scored 323 points this year, he also set a single-season record of 70 3-pointers as the Sachems finished with their most wins in 10 years. Marcal finished his career with 718 points in three varsity seasons, which places him sixth all-time at Middleboro. The two-time South Shore League All-Star is an excellent student and maintains a 3.2 GPA. Next year he plans on majoring in sports management in college.*Veana Marie's EP "Vee" is now available on iTunes & YouTube.These will be some of our topics on “The Booth” tonight and don't forget if you join & converse in our FB Live chat you can win a FREE t-shirt courtesy of ILoveBostonSports.com!*New Look on OBS & FB Live with MUCH MORE to COME!!!#Discuss #AreYouListening #DoYourHomework #TheBooth #Whoobazoo #Sinista1 #SeeYouNextTuesday #7PM #ILoveBostonSports

Episode 19 – Emmy Vadnais, OTR/L interviews Marilyn Zurwaski, OTR/L and Carroll Noel-Mozer, OTR/L about “Acupressure and Your Health” on the Healing Connections Podcast episode 19 on 2/17/20. Marilyn Zurwaski is the Co-President for Soul Lightening International. Marilyn is a Soul Lightening certified practitioner for Clinical Acupressure and Process Acupressure, and teaches several of their acupressure courses. Marilyn is an occupational therapist, and for the past 25 years she has been in private practice providing occupational therapy in Middleboro, MA. Carroll Noel-Mozer is an occupational therapist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s outpatient site in Wellesley, MA. She has more than 35 years of experience in neurological and orthopedic disorders. Carroll is Neurodevelopmental Technique trained and has taken several acupressure courses that she uses extensively in her practice. Visit SoulLightening.com and TotalApproachTherapy.

This episode takes you to Lulu's in Allston, the Mayflower in Provincetown, Russ and Marie's Marconi Beach Restaurant in Wellfleet, Highland Fried in Cambridge, Dave's Diner in Middleboro, and the Coast Cafe in Cambridge! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Join Amelia this week as she dives deep into the history of the very spooky, very haunted, Peter Oliver House located in Middleborough, Massachusetts.

Welcome back to the Top Shelf! Join what Lenny calls "the three amigos" as they discuss how millennial culture is changing the lives of every generation, all while dining at the Charred Oak Tavern in Middleboro, MA. Follow The Top Shelf on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat @bethetopshelf, and look out for video highlights from the podcast on The Top Shelf’s YouTube channel. Plus, check out this week’s blog post at bethetopshelf.com for even more Top Shelf content! Rated M for mature language.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetopshelf/support

Farmer Dave Purpura from Plato's Harvest in Middleboro joins Andy to talk about organic certification, the Plymouth Farmer's Market, and Community Supported Agriculture.   Intro music is from "Across the Line" by the Wellington Sea Shanty Society.

A Brockton business owner has figured out the way to cut down on operating costs at his new venture in Middleborough - start a nonprofit, use the grants from it to pay exclusively special needs workers, and then don't pay them while trying to con them out of their cars. Also, we listen to the conversation Uncle Turtleboy had with the banana clam scammer, as well discussing the New Bedford kiddie diddler cop and dancing on Rian Waters grave.

In this episode we talk with Junior Damato owner of AAA Approved Auto Repair Junior's Automotive. Junior after 55 years is closing his Boston shop---Middleboro his other location has doubled in size. We also review the Buick Envision and talk with our great callers

In this episode we talk with Junior Damato owner of AAA Approved Auto Repair Junior's Automotive. Junior after 55 years is closing his Boston shop---Middleboro his other location has doubled in size. We also review the Buick Envision and talk with our great callers

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection has a new leader with a five-year contract! Kathy Kraninger – the recently confirmed BCFP director – is expected to face many tough decisions in the next few years, including some that could impact your ability to effectively operate an accounts receivable management industry company.In episode seven of ACA Cast, industry veteran Jay Gonsalves moderates an informative discussion about the new leadership with ARM experts Lauren Valenzuela, compliance counsel at Performant Recovery Inc., and Anthony DiResta, partner with Holland and Knight. Gonsalves, IFCCE, MCE, president of Action Collection Agencies Inc., in Middleboro, Mass., also serves as chairman of ACA International’s federal affairs committee and is a former ACA president and board member. Support the show (http://www.acainternational.org)

Official Website: https://www.lawabidingbiker.com This is part 2 of a two-part series is all about our 2018  midwest motorcycle trip. In June 2018, members of Law Abiding Biker™ Media along with members of the Sworn Few LEMC embarked on a 10 day 4500 mile 12 state cross-country motorcycle trip. This trip would take us out of Washington State and into Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico & Colorado. We stayed over in cities such as Twin Falls, Idaho, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Papillion, Nebraska, Kansas City, Amarillo, Texas, Gallup, New Mexico, Grand Junction, Colorado & Boise, Idaho.  In the middle of our midwest motorcycle trip, we met up with our beloved Patron Members in Papillion, Nebraska for an entire day. Our Patron Members support us financially, so we can help as many bikes as we can worldwide. Of course, our Patron Members get benefits and exclusive access such as meetups like this.  The local Patrons had an awesome day planned for a very large group. We all met up in the morning and they took us on a beautiful day ride, which included a stop for lunch. We all had plenty of time to visit and get to know each other on a more personal level. We ended the day at a private location where the Patron Members and their friends and family had a feast prepared for everyone!  We visited many places and saw a ton of great country on our midwest motorcycle trip. We stayed at some good and not so good hotels and motels. We ate at some good restaurants and some bad ones.  We experienced good and bad weather and a few of the bikes experienced some mechanical problems that had to be fixed. We had some very funny times as a group and made memories that will last a lifetime. Everything that happened shaped the trip in some way.  Listen in as we tell all the stories of this Mid-West motorcycle trip. We also share tips and tricks to assist riders who may be thinking of an extended road trip.  New Free Video Mentioned: Bates Taser Motorcycle Riding Boots & Shoes-Biker Review Sponsor-Ciro 3D CLICK HERE! Innovative products for Harley-Davidson Affordable chrome, lighting, and comfort products Ciro 3D has a passion for design and innovation Sponsor-RickRak CLICK HERE The Ultimate Motorcycle Luggage Rack Solution Forget those messy straps and bungee cords Go strapless with a RickRak quick attach luggage system & quality bag New Patrons: Maurice Neveu of Weare, NH Chris Teegarden of Lusby, MD Elijah McKay of Henagar, Alabama Donna Gross of Holt, Missouri Perry Jackson of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Joe St. John of Freedom, Pennsylvania Chris Thompson of Middleboro, MA Dale Davis of Piperton, Tennessee Chuck Darby of Lubbock, Texas If you appreciate the content we put out and want to make sure it keeps on coming your way then become a Patron too! There are benefits and there is no risk. Thanks to the following bikers for supporting us via a flat donation:   David Stanton Peter Lazenkas of Ontario, Canada Samuel Sinel of Pawtucket, Rhode Island ________________________________________________________ FURTHER INFORMATION:   Official Website: http://www.LawAbidingBiker.com   Email & Voicemail: http://www.LawAbidingBiker.com/Contact   Podcast Hotline Phone: 509-731-3548   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawabidingbiker      Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawAbidingBiker

Opinion and Sunday Editor Jack Spillane talks with State Rep. William Strauss about commuter rail improvements planned for the SouthCoast. Construction could begin in 2019 and trains rolling in 2022.

Laurie Los and Brendan Kurie preview Wareham and Old Rochester's section finals showdowns with Millis and Middleboro, plus a look at the rest of Week 10 high school football action. NOTE: The GNB Voc-Tech and Fairhaven games are Thursday, not Friday as said in this podcast.

Police say Kathleen Dias of Middleboro left 410 bags of fentanyl in a hotel room in Dartmouth, then called to say she'd be back to pick it up. When she got there, police were waiting. Curt Brown and Brendan Kurie discuss her arrest.

Laurie Los and Brendan Kurie sit down to discuss the upcoming Lakers season and their Week 1 showdown with Middleboro.

Jack blasts players and parents from Bensalem and Middleboro, Pa for unsportsmanlike conduct at a game he recently umpired. Wow!

Summary of today's show: Live from Jerusalem! Fr. Mark O'Connell joined the show by phone from the Holy Land where he's on pilgrimage with Cardinal Seán and brother priests to give a taste of the amazing experience, including renewing baptismal vows in the Jordan and celebrating Mass in the Lord's Empty Tomb as well as riding a camel. Then Fr. John Sheridan joined Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines to talk about his experience as a pastor of a parish that's joining one of the new Disciples in Mission collaborative even as he takes a new assignment as pastor of another of the collaboratives. Listen to the show: Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines Today's guest(s): Fr. John Sheridan, Pastor of St. James Parish in Salem Links from today's show: Today's topics: Fr. Mark from the Holy Land; Fr. John Sheridan on beginnings and endings in parish collaboratives 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show, including Fr. Chip Hines and Fr. John Sheridan. Also joining us is Fr. Mark O'Connell calling in from Jerusalem. He talked about the photos of him from yesterday of him riding a camel. Scot asked Fr. Mark about his highlights of visiting the Holy Land. Fr. Mark said it far exceeds his expectations to be on this trip with 29 priests and Cardinal Seán. It's a holy trip. He put his feet in the Sea of Galilee and they prayed at the Wailing Wall for the beginning of the Sabbath. Tomorrow, they're going to the Holy Sepulchre early tomorrow morning. They discussed the the experience of riding the windy, choppy seas on the Sea of Galilee, but he was told that it's usually even more choppy and so he imagined what it must have been like for Jesus to walk across the water. He added that the guide pointed out so many areas all around, little things like the hill which was the reference to a “light on the hill”. Fr. Mark said that celebrating the Mass of the Annunciation in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, right where the Angel Gabriel came, was the first “oh my goodness” moment of the trip, but those come every hour. Tomorrow, he expects to be the peak as they go to Bethlehem after the Holy Sepulchre and then later to the Upper Room. He said that even the men who have been to the Holy Land before recognize this is a special trip. They didn't have their cardinal renew their baptismal vows in the Jordan River or celebrate Mass literally in the Tomb of Jesus tomorrow. Scot asked Fr. Mark what is it about the trip that is exceeding his expectations. Fr. Mark said what he's read in the Bible clicks into place when you've been there. Reading the Bible passage while you're looking at it, all the little things click into place. Walking up from the Kidron Valley, through the gate of the city, and to the Holy of Holies like Jesus makes it so real. Scot then asked Fr. Mark about the photo of Fr. Mark, Fr. Paul Soper and Cardinal Seán wearing headgear in the desert. Fr. Mark said they got out on an overlook to Jerusalem and some men were selling some Bedouin headdresses. He ignored them at first, but then he saw the cardinal wearing one and they didn't want the cardinal to be all alone. Truth be told, they got snookered. Fr. Paul negotiated them down from $20 to $15, but they found out later that the Cardinal paid only $5. He said Fr. Stephen Zukas not only rode the camel but also a donkey and as he's 6-foot-5, that was quite a sight. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Chip discussed the tangible joy in Fr. Mark's voice even though it's after 11pm in Jerusalem. Fr. John said this has lit the fire under him to go sometime. Scot asked Fr. Chip how it's been going at St. Joseph in Medford. Fr. Chip talked about going through the Triduum for the first time with the new parish, how exciting it is each time. He's settling into a good rhythm and they're working in collaboration with St. Francis in Medford. Scot also noted that Fr. Chip is on the cover of CatholicTV's monthly magazine advertising the movie review show Spotlight. Fr. Chip said they've recorded 114 shows so far. He encouraged people to send ideas for the show to Scot now welcomes Fr. John Sheridan, currently pastor in Salem, but soon to be pastor in Middleboro, Lakeville, and Rochester. Fr. John said he's looking forward to Fr. Chip's review of “42”, about the legendary Jackie Robinson. Scot said the Salem collaborative under the Disciples in Mission pastoral plan will be the only four-parish collaborative. He will be moving to the extreme southern end of the Archdiocese. Fr. John said there couldn't be a better pick to become pastor in Salem than Fr. Dan Riley. He said they've been working for two years in Salem to bring together the lay leadership and see how the parishes can work together. Scot noted Fr. Riley helped Sacred Heart in Weymouth a few years ago to bring the community together to rebuild the church after it burned down and now the parish is thriving. He said it was no small accomplishment by the leadership in Salem to get four parishes to agree to be part of Phase 1 of the Disciples in Mission. Fr. John talked about the now-closed St. Joseph Parish, which was his first assignment, and how the people of Salem have grown after that parish closed. Fr. Chip asked about the diverse community in Salem. Fr. John said there's a Polish community and a Hispanic community and there's even a Ukrainian Catholic church, which isn't part of the archdiocese, but they wanted to work with. They determined to work on what everyone has to bring to the table and what they all have in common. Each parish has it's unique skills and gifts and they build on what's there. Fr. John was at St. Joseph's from 1990 to 1996 and then came back to St. James in 2004 and has been pastor there since, about 14 years total. Scot asked him about his discernment in offering his resignation to go where the cardinal determines he would best serve the archdiocese. Fr. John said he's walked through a lot of emotions. When he announced there would be a new pastor in Salem, there were gasps. He's been there long enough to have seen children grow from baptism to communion. Fr. John said the Willows in Salem has a store called Hobbs that sells the best popcorn anywhere. They have a hundred-year-old corn popper there that makes amazing popcorn. But he said as much as he'll miss Salem, he's spent his last Holy Week and Easter focusing on the Resurrection. The chaos of the last few weeks is a jumble of excitement, loss, and a sense the Lord is calling him to do this. He got into this knowing he serves at the pleasure of the Archbishop. On holy Thursday, he used Pope Francis' Chrism Mass homily as the basis of his homily and he's felt that over the last 8 years he's given himself in that way to the parish. All the good work they've done never ends. Fr. Chip said it's testimony to Fr. John that he was asked to be a pastor in a Phase 1 collaborative to continue this work. Fr. John said Fr. Aveni, who is the current pastor, has done a great job. Fr. John said it's three towns, three churches, two parishes, and one pastor. He said it's perfect in happening between Easter and Pentecost, in the middle of the now and not yet. He said he's been down to the parishes to visit and he said it's a lively community with lots going on. Scot noted He's going from city life in Salem to some of the most rural parishes in the Archdiocese. Fr. John said he's always served in cities, but he's the son of a farmer and the first time visiting St. Rose of Lima he looked out over dairy farms and took in a deep breath. Scot noted that that these two parishes might be the largest in combined land area. Fr. John said the people there have a great sense of humor about being on the fringe. He said Middleboro is the second biggest town in the Archdiocese in land area, second only to Plymouth. He noted that the churches are in three different environments, in town, by a lake, and out by farms. In Middleboro, they have five buildings including a large hall which he thought would be great for youth ministry. In Salem, he stressed that the archdiocese wants to work with the parishes and provide everything they need to do what they have to do. Fr. John said his motto for this 2013 on New Year's Day was “Behold I make all things news” and this was before he knew what was going to happen. Scot asked him about his custom of taking a motto from Scripture for the year. Scot said the parishes will be surrounded on three side by the Diocese of Fall River. He said most dioceses in the US fall along county lines, but because they didn't want to have Cape Cod separated from Fall River/New Bedford went they created the diocese, Fall River was given five communities in southern Plymouth County. Fr. John he tells people that he'll be out by Edaville Railroad and they say, “Oh yeah!” Scot asked what aspects about the Disciples in Mission training that Fr. John is looking forward to. Fr. John said he has been told that people will be trained to build the youth ministry with him, to figure out what is needed by the people in the mission. He said he has been in some of the most difficult situations before and now he's got a new blank slate with a lot of potential. Scot asked Fr. Chip as a member of the archdiocesan clergy personnel board about what it takes to assign priests under the new pastoral plan. Fr. Chip said they know that they are affecting people's lives in very big ways and the board has reached out to priests who are being affected by this heavily. Some are upset and others are joyful. But the internal process he can speak about has always been about who is the best person for the job. There's a lot of information to take in regarding the collaboratives and they use it to find the best person. Since only 12 pastors are chosen for the 28 parishes, there's a lot of displaced priests and they're working to transition them. It's been challenging, fun, and even heartbreaking as people are leaving places they like. Scot said anger happens when people's expectations get violated. We're in a new chapter in our archdiocese in how we staff our parishes. He noted that at one time it was said every pastor would move, but now the policy is to look at each situation and find the best guy whether the current pastor or a new one. But that opens it up subjectivity where people say, “Who could be better for the job than the priest we've had so long?” Part of the process is to clarify expectations. Fr. John talked about how he plans to spend his last couple of months before June 4 when he shows up at this new assignment. It will be tough to leave the rectory where he lives with some senior priests in residence. Scot and Fr. John discussed how people don't travel from North to South through the archdiocese and how they treat the other side of the archdiocese as a distant country.

Summary of today's show: The Archdiocese of Boston unveiled Phase 1 of the Disciples in Mission pastoral plan, including 12 collaboratives of 28 parishes that will be the first to band together in a new arrangement in order to pool resources and work together to bring about the New Evangelization. Scot Landry and Susan Abbott were joined by Fr. Paul Soper, director of Pastoral Planning for the Archdiocese, to discuss the reasons for the initiative, the names and groupings of the first phase, the expected timeline from this point, and makeup of some of these newly announced collaboratives. Listen to the show: Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Fr. Paul Soper, Director of Pastoral Planning for the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today's show: Today's topics: Phase 1 of Disciples in Mission 1st segment: Scot Landry said it's an exciting day in the Archdiocese of Boston, following up an exciting week with the ordination of Bishop Deeley last Friday and the launch of Catholic Faith Essentials. Today, Phase 1 of the Disciples in Mission pastoral plan was launched and it is so significant that we are focusing on that topic instead of our usual news headlines for Thursday. Scot and Susan discussed how long this has been in process. Scot welcomed Fr. Soper to the show. He said Fr. Soper has been busy today being interviewed by the media and then meeting with the Presbyteral Council. A group of people including two pastors from the collaboratives, parishioners, and members of the archdiocesan pastoral planning commission were interviewed by National Public Radio and the Salem News and other news outlets. Fr. Soper said today we announced the list of the Phase 1 collaboratives. He said the first phase is a learning phase. They took 10 percent of the total parishes and took the opportunity to learn from it. There will be 135 collaboratives when they're done, so they have 12 collaboratives including 28 parishes. Saint Luke and Saint Joseph, Belmont Saint Mary, Saint Margaret, Saint John, Beverly Saint Mary, Saint Theresa, Saint Andrew, Billerica Saint Mary, Brookline (a one-parish collaborative) Saint Mary of the Angels, Roxbury and Saint Thomas and Our Lady of Lourdes, Jamaica Plain Saint Mary and Sacred Heart, Lynn Our Lady of the Assumption and Saint Maria Goretti, Lynnfield Saint Lucy and Saint Monica, Methuen Sacred Heart, Middleboro and Saints Martha and Mary, Lakeville Sacred Heart and Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton Saint James, Saint John, Immaculate Conception, and Sainte Anne, Salem Saint Jerome and Immaculate Conception, Weymouth Fr. Paul said they needed a good sample of parishes to represent the whole archdiocese. In these 12, there are 2 in each region of the archdiocese with 4 in the north region. There's one single-parish collaborative, one-four parish collaborative, one urban, one rural, six with schools, six without, and of those who do, one has two schools. Several collaboratives are bilingual and two are trilingual. Scot said it's a diverse mix of big, small, urban, rural, suburban and so on. Fr. Paul said they also didn't have to reach into the pot of parishes not ready for this mix. They had a significant number of parishes volunteer for phase one. Fr. Paul said he's pleased with the list because they are places that can embrace the mission of evangelization and because they can embrace the challenges they will face. He doesn't think they will all have it easy, but he hopes to glean lessons from the future from the challenges they face and he's confident they will all be successful. Scot said a lot of things need to happen now. He said the current pastors know that being part of Phase 1 is that they will all submit their resignations so Cardinal Seán can select the best pastor for each collaborative. The current pastors can re-apply. Fr. Paul said it's very hard for the 23 pastors to submit their resignations, even though all of them knew the process. They love the parishes they serve and aren't eager to leave. At the same time, they put themselves at the service of the Lord. He said the resignations are important because Cardinal Seán needs the freedom to look at each collaborative to decide the priest best fitted to that collaborative to advance the mission of evangelization. Fr. Paul said the priests of the Archdiocese are shining through this process. He hasn't met a single case of hostility or resentment as he called each of the pastors this past weekend. Scot said the number 12 is significant for Catholics as it is the number of apostles and tribes of Israel. Fr. Paul said they chose 12 intentionally. He said when Jesus called the 12 apostles, he was reconstituting Israel and re-establishing the ancient order of grace. Twelve is putting the people back together. That's what Disciples in Mission is about. Scot asked when the collaboratives become official. Fr. Paul said they will be formally inaugurated on July 1. Before that they hope the pastors will be assigned by early April. Until then, his office will go out and talk to pastors, parish staffs, parish councils, and the like to begin discussions. The new pastors will be trained in May and June in leadership and evangelization and administrative matters. Catholic Leadership institute will be providing the leadership training. Fr. Paul said most pastors will take their formal duties on June 4, which is called the Spring transfer date. This is usually 10 days after ordination and it's when most priest re-assignments take place anyway. Susan asked if the parish council dissolves when the pastor resigns. Fr. Paul said the pastors' resignation becomes effective when the Cardinal accepts the resignation, which could be in June when the new pastor starts. Shortly after June, when the collaborative is formally inaugurated, the responsibility of the pastoral council and finance council will be restructured to be a single council of each type for the whole collaborative. They then discussed where the people on those councils will come from, whether from existing councils or people who are not yet involved. Fr. Paul said the new councils will have to have members from all the parishes in the collaboratives. Scot asked about the parish staff in the new collaboratives. Fr. Paul said nobody is going to go in and just start firing people. There will be hard decisions to make. In most cases, where someone's job is redundant, there might be space for horizontal movement. So if they only want one religious education director, one of them could become a youth minister or adult faith formation director or something like that. Scot said most pastors don't have as much staff as they need, but the phase 1 collaboratives have adequate offertory to properly staff the needs of all the parishes, especially where there are economies of scale. Scot said his sense is that we will need more people working in our parishes in the future, especially with lay ecclesial ministers and pastoral associates and directors of religious education. Fr. Paul said in some cases we have been more modularized and maybe the model is to become more generalized in their functions, which is what many are already doing in practice. Susan said she's heard from parish secretaries and business managers that they're concerned about their positions. She asked what happens after July 1? Fr. Paul said for most pastors, from the day they're appointed they will being the process of gathering the staff and the councils. Susan clarified that current staff keep their positions indefinitely until and unless the pastor re-allocates the roles in a pastoral team. Fr. Paul said when Phase 1 is done, they want it to be a case study for the collaboratives in later phases. He said they plan to give the pastors the best support they can. He plans to have a team of people who can go out and provide support. For example, there will be an IT person who can help a pastor bring together all their computer systems or phone systems in the various parishes, providing recommendations for the pastor. If the pastor is okay with the recommendation, then the IT person will take care of everything. Another support person is a human resources person. The offices of the Central Ministries will be providing similar support to the parishes. Scot asked what Fr. Paul says to someone worried about closing parishes. Fr. Paul said Disciples in Mission is about establishing parishes as advancing the goals of evangelization. Closing parishes would be counter-productive as you want a place for people to come to. That said, no one can say no parish will ever close again. If a collaborative determines in its pastoral plan that it does advance evangelization, then that would be considered. It could be that the local collaborative would be the one to say that they think a parish should close in order to use those resources otherwise. Fr. Paul said it would only happen after every other possibility had been tried. 2nd segment: This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Arlene Motta from Lynnfield She wins the book by Diane L. Allen. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 3rd segment: Scot said what stands out from the list of collaboratives are the one-parish and the four-parishes. Fr. Paul said they have about a dozen single-parish collaboratives on their list, either because the parish is really large, is alone in a town and standalone, or a has a distinct mission, like St. Ignatius in Chestnut Hill. In some cases, because they're on the geographic borders of the archdiocese and their neighboring parishes are in other collaboratives. But they will still undergo all the training, form their local pastoral plan, and show how they will re-tool themselves for the mission of the New Evangelization. On the four parish collaborative, Scot said the complexity seems a tougher challenge. Fr. Paul said it emerged from their local experience. He said the parishes had already been meeting collaboratively for several years. About a month ago, the collaborative was struggling with whether to be in Phase 1. At the request of the pastors, Fr. Paul attended an open meeting attended by about 150 people. They talked at length and depth and grappled with the questions. At the end, they took a straw poll and two-thirds said they wanted to be in Phase 1. Scot said there's a lot of data that the archdiocese captures now and much of that is shared on the Disciples in Mission website. Looking at the data for the Salem collaborative, it looks like it will be busy. They have 14 Masses at the four parishes, five priests assigned, with 2,200 plus attending Mass. They have 460 students in religious education. On the website, there's also a map of the territories, plus financial information, listing of the buildings, and statistical data. They have 23 years of sacramental data. Fr. Paul said the historical data shows us what growth can look like in these places. It should be possible to get back to the levels we had in 1989. Fr. Paul said these statistics are supportive of the broader national statistics. He said it's pointed out very well in the book by Sherry Weddell, Forming Intentional Disciples, that it's adult religious experiences that form religious adults and so it's adult faith formation that we should be focusing on. Scot and Fr. Paul discussed the listing of buildings in the collaborative and how the collaborative could use those buildings for ministry or to use them for rental income. Fr. Paul said the empty buildings could have great potential to effect the New Evangelization. Fr. Paul encouraged people to go to DisciplesinMission.com to look at the data and remember that we are doing this because Parish Evangelization works, but to do so we need strong parishes. Scot encouraged people to read Fr. Paul's blog on the website which updates nearly every day.

Summary of today's show: One of Bl. Pope John Paul II's major emphases in his pontificate was the New Evangelization and Pope Benedict XVI has continued that work with the establishment of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams talk with Ralph Martin, a lay member of the council and president of Renewal Ministries, about what makes the new evangelization different from the old and then discuss practical tips on how to seek opportunities to share your faith, how you might do so effectively, and why it's the call of every baptized Catholic to do so. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today's guest(s): Ralph Martin Links from today's show: Today's topics: The New Evangelization 1st segment: Scot Landry and Fr. Matt William caught up on their week and Fr. Matt said he's been out at all the vicariates in the Archdiocese to meet with priests to talk about youth and young adult ministry, to see how his office, the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults can better serve them. Scot said he's made the rounds of the meetings four times in his six years at the Archdiocese. They talked about how big the Archdiocese is. Fr. Matt commented on how even after 9 years in the priesthood and he's still introducing himself to priests he doesn't know. Fr. Matt is also planning a retreat this weekend, Friday to Monday, for teen leaders called Witness to Truth about Love, adapting the teachings of Pope John Paul's Theology of the Body for teens. About 10 of the teens will be going to the Dominican Republic this summer on a youth service trip. Scot said today's guest, Ralph Martin, has been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization and has been on the forefront of Catholic evangelization for decades. 2nd segment: Ralph is the president of Renewal Ministries and also director of graduate studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Scot said Detroit reminds him a lot of the Archdiocese of Boston, including its evolution over the years. Scot said both Ralph and Curtis Martin were singled out as two lay Americans appointed as consulters to the Council. Ralph said it was a total surprise. He received a call asking him to call them back in Rome. He was told he had been appointed. Ralph said we had become used to Pope John Paul II speaking about the need for a new evangelization and some wondered what Pope Benedict would do about and it was a surprise when he institutionalized it and made it as prominent as he did. The Pope also chose the new evangelization as theme of the synod of bishops in October. Ralph said the Pope is painfully of the erosion of Catholic life. Scot asked what the new evangelization is. Ralph said evangelization was traditionally preaching the Gospel to those who have never heard it before. It brings people to relationship with Christ. The new evangelization, according to John Paul II, is directed to baptized Catholics who aren't living the faith and have drifted away. His encyclical makes three distinctions in Section 33. He called for new fervor in preaching the Gospel and what the different kinds are. The fact that there is a diversity of activities in the Church's one mission is not intrinsic to that mission, but arises from the variety of circumstances in which that mission is carried out. 51 Looking at today's world from the viewppoint of evangelization, we can distinguish three situations. First, there is the situation which the Church's missionary activity addresses: peoples, groups, and socio-cultural contexts in which Christ and his Gospel are not known, or which lack Christian communities sufficiently mature to be able to incarnate the faith in their own environment and proclaim it to other groups. This is mission ad gentes in the proper sense of the term.52 Secondly, there are Christian communities with adequate and solid ecclesial structures. They are fervent in their faith and in Christian living. They bear witness to the Gospel in their surroundings and have a sense of commitment to the universal mission. In these communities the Church carries out her activity and pastoral care. Thirdly, there is an intermediate situation, particularly in countries with ancient Christian roots, and occasionally in the younger Churches as well, where entire groups of the baptized have lost a living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church, and live a life far removed from Christ and his Gospel. In this case what is needed is a “new evangelization” or a “re-evangelization.” Scot said one of the reasons for this falling away is that so many of us haven't been living our faith publicly as a witness as we should. Ralph said that was one of the emphases of the Second Vatican Council and it's universal call to holiness in the mission of Christ as part of our baptism. Fr. Matt said when people experience a conversion they sometimes think they are called to a religious vocation or to work for the Church as a job, but he said we also need people to be on fire in all areas of society. He said as a Church we're just beginning to help people understand that. Ralph said there's a growing understanding is that the purpose of leadership in the Church not to do the whole work of the Church, but to equip all Christians to do the work of the Lord. They need to help laypeople awaken to their participation in the work of the Church. Ralph said he was just in Rome a few weeks ago meeting with the president of the Council on the beginning of the work and getting organized. They're having lots of meetings, especially with US bishops in Rome on their ad limina visits. But the council will ultimately take their marching orders from the results of the Synod of Bishops. Ralph expects the document will continue the work begun by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Ralph said there will be three major events in Rome in October: the Synod, the Year of Faith, and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council. He said each bishops' conference will send a proportionate number of bishops for a total of about 350 total from around the world. There will also be a number of experts who will give 3-minute presentations like everyone as well as auditors who will be present but won't speak. He said he thinks the result will be a recapitulation of the theology of evangelization and an encouragement to use new means. It may recommend diocesan and parish committees and offices of the new evangelization. It probably won't get very concrete. Scot asked Ralph what he thinks is working in new evangelization in the US and abroad. Ralph said it isn't programs that do the work, but people, and some people will feel comfortable with one approach and others with another. The main thing is for everyone to do something they feel equipped for. A diocese can't just mandate one thing for all parishes, but should make available a whole range of possibilities. Some parishes will do Alpha or Cursillo or Ignatian Retreats or Life in the Spirit or Marriage Encounter or anything else. Let a thousand flowers bloom. Scot said many people will know a friend or family member who hasn't practiced their faith in quite a while. What would Ralph recommend for them to propose to others to rejoin the Church actively. Ralph said it depends on the relationship and where the person is. There must be prayer and love for the person at the base. Then be sensitive what would be helpful, like inviting them to a parish mission or a parish talk on faith or coming to church with them. It might be just giving a book or pamphlet to read. Ask them what their reasons for not coming are and find answers. And a lot of times these people aren't on the timetable to be reached now so we have to be alert for a time when we can have another opportunity to invite. Ralph said a lot of times you can have a random encounter. He related an encounter he had with a man who said he didn't believe in God and so they had time to sit down and have a conversation. He knew he couldn't answer all objections in a short conversation, but he wanted to remove some of the biggest obstacles. He said he challenged the man to ask God every day for one week in prayer to ask Him to reveal himself. Sometimes we plant a seed, sometimes we water a seed that someone else has planted, and sometimes we're there for the harvest. Fr. Matt encouraged listeners to pray for the man. Fr. Matt said his seminary formation spent more time on pastoral care than on evangelization. He asked Ralph how seminary formation has implemented new evangelization over the years. Ralph said in his seminary that it's been implemented. The motto of the seminary is to prepare heralds for the new evangelization. Cardinal Adam Maida, former archbishop of Detroit, also implemented a pontifical degree in new evangelization. That was originally for laypeople, so Ralph asked to offer required courses for seminarians. They also changed their apostolic experience to include evangelization, in addition to hospital work and serving the poor. We get so consumed with those who do show up to church, we forgot those who don't and we don't have a plan to go after them. Scot asked how the priests ordained from this program impact their parishes. Ralph said they have been ordained over the past four years and they're doing things like censuses, Catholics Come Home nights, making liturgies more welcoming (training greeters and readers, etc.). Scot reiterated parishes often focus on those who are in the pews, but we need to focus beyond them to those who aren't with us. Some people may saw that they're not suited to evangelization. What can we say to them?Ralph said the Sacrament of Baptism says it unites us to the living God and Jesus is within us. What He wants to do is awaken us to the Father, to love Him like He does, and to love other people as He does. A lot of Catholics haven't awakened to the meaning of the indwelling Trinity. 3rd segment: This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Collette Lavallee in Middleboro, MA. He wins the CD “The Apostle of the Rosary: Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton” and the booklet “Preparation for Total Consecration” by St. Louis de Montfort. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 4th segment: Fr. Matt asked how one goes about evangelizing another person, like a random person you're sitting next to on an airplane. Ralph said he usually strikes up a purely small-talk conversation, then maybe ask a little about the person. This tells you whether the person is willing or interested in talking. If they are willing, they might ask you what you do or who you are. This is an opportunity to put on the table something about being a Catholic. That opens the door to asking about their faith background. From there just keep talking and find out where they are and maybe give your own testimony, mentioning important books or events in your life. Sometimes conversations in airplanes, he's ended up praying with someone and promising to send them a copy of a book. When he prays for God to give him opportunities, he sees them. When he doesn't pray for them, he doesn't see the opportunities. Fr. Matt said it has to be the work of the Holy Spirit, who is the animator of evangelization. Fr. Matt asked about praying with strangers and what that's like. Ralph recounted the story of encountering a family at a restaurant, talking about being Catholic. The guy later Googled Ralph, find out who he is, and emailed him, asking if they could get together and talk. Ralph and his wife went to their home, talked about their sorrows and prayed with them because they were trying to have another baby. Later, Ralph was back in the city and at a church he sat behind the man's wife and she turned around and she was pregnant. Scot said Ralph's TV show on CatholicTV “The Choices We Face” is one of the oldest Catholic TV shows. They started Renewal Ministries in 1980 and they have several TV programs and radio shows. They also work in 30 countries, including Kazakhstan and Zimbabwe, recently. They help the local Church and sometimes organize huge rallies, as a way of countering pressure from evangelicals and other Protestants. They also do training for catechists and others. They partner with local bishops and others and maintain relationships with those local churches in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Scot asked how people would join in on their short-term missions to these other places. Ralph said people can get information and sign up at their website, as well as their other resources. Ralph said they also do parish missions and seminars in the US. They also do a major rally in Toronto every year through their Canadian branch. Scot asked for practical steps to get prepared for the Solemnity of Pentecost this Sunday. Ralph said since John XXIII the popes have been crying out for a new Pentecost. We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We need to encounter the Lord and recognize his magnificence, the fire for evangelization won't be there. So we should pray for the Holy Spirit to come, to remove obstacles and hesitancies. We should pray to surrender ourselves so we become a more docile instrument in the hands of the Lord. Ralph said the Cursillo movement brought him back to the Church and then went deeper through the Charismatic renewal. He encouraged people to participate in a Life in the Spirit seminar, if that seems the way for them. Fr. Matt asked him to explain the Life in the Spirit seminar and the Charismatic renewal. Ralph said Cardinal Suenens described its purpose as not being for everybody to join, but to be a witness and living voice to awaken the whole Church to recall what belongs to the Church. He's not encouraging people to join a movement, per se, but to open themselves to the Holy Spirit. Ralph noted that even the apostles, who had the best teaching from Jesus, didn't really get it until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Matt said the Holy Spirit makes a difference for the preacher, teacher, and the one who's open to the Lord. Scot said Ralph's last book was a guidebook for people on a spiritual journey. Ralph said 7 of the 33 doctors of the Church had major insights into how we make the spiritual journey and he put all their best insights together. He said people don't want to just have an emotional experience, but a steady enduring relationship with God. Scot said there's a study guide for the book so a groups in parishes can go through the book together. Ralph said there's also a video based on the book from EWTN as well. Ralph has another book coming out in September that deals with the confusion that can impede the new evangelization. He wrote it while in Rome finishing up doctorate last year. Fr. Matt said he read Ralph's book and it's a wonderful book with words of wisdom from great saints.

Summary of today's show: The Xaverian Missionary Fathers serve Christ in the missions in African and Asia, as well as at the Fatima Shrine in Holliston in the Archdiocese of Boston. Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor talk with Fr. Rocco Puopolo and Fr. Joseph Matteucig about their service in the Xaverian Missionaries in both Sierra Leone and Taiwan, as well as the initiatives they are undertaking in this country to connect American youth with their counterparts elsewhere. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Today's guest(s): Fr. Rocco Puopolo and Fr Joseph Matteucig Links from today's show: [St. Guido Maria Conforti]: http://www.guidoconforti.com/ [Xaverian Missionaries USA]: http://www.xaviermissionaries.org/ Today's topics: Xaverian Missionary Fathers 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Chris talked about the celebrations at the end of seminary year. The seminary years ends on May 18. They had a deacons night the other night in which they salute, toast, and roast the deacon class who is going to be ordained. There are 13 resident and 3 or 4 religious community seminarians, about 17 total. They had Fr. Jason Jalbert of the Manchester diocese came to give a talk about priesthood. Scot pointed out that the 17 are from 4 dioceses and several religious orders. Fr. Chris said the two happiest days in the seminary are opening day and ordination day. The other celebration at the seminary was for Bishop Arthur Kennedy who is ending his service as rector at St. John Seminary. Fr. Chris said they commemorated Bishop Kennedy's distinguished service. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Chris welcome Fr. Joe and Fr. Rocco from the Xaverian Missionary community. Scot said there are 45 men's religious communities in the Archdiocese and those in the metro west region are probably familiar with them. Fr. Rocco said they were found in 1895 by a young diocesan priest in Parma, Italy. He was unable to be a missionary and later became a bishop and archbishop. He founded the order under the patronage of St. Francis Xavier. He noted they are not related to the Xaverian Brothers order that runs Xaverian high school in Westwood. The Xaverians came to Holliston in 1947 after the war. His mother and grandmother assisted with the community from those early days. He became a Xaverian in order to become a missionary in Asia. He was ordained in 1977 at St. Catherine of Siena in Norwood and was sent to Africa. Fr. Joe said he is from northern Italy in the town of Udina, near what used to be Yugoslavia. He entered the Xaverians in Italy and was sent to Chicago for seminary. There was a Xaverian community just a short ride from his home in Italy. He entered while he was still in high school because he felt a strong attract not the community. Fr. Chris asked about St. Francis Xavier. Fr. Joe said he could be described with zeal, a passion for Christ, and enthused, because he wanted to share the Gospel with everyone. Francis did not start as a saint, but loved to fight and party, but when he encountered St. Ignatius of Loyola, he left his old ways and became one of the first Jesuits. Francis Died before getting to China and so the founder of the Xaverian Missionaries wanted them to complete his mission to China. The founder is St. Guido Conforti. He was born in 1865 and died in 1931. As a seminarian, he conceived of the seminary. He started the community as a vice-rector of the seminary. He sent out the first seminaries in 1899. In 1901, he became Archbishop of Ravenna, but he was only there a few years when he got very ill. He went back to Parma to die, but regained his health. He became coadjutor of Parma and then bishop until he died. He made one trip to visit his missionaries in China in 1928 and died in 1931. Fr. Joe said Guido wasn't well known in northern Italy until recently. Fr. Chris noted he was just made a saint last October. Fr. Joe said what made him special was that he said the Xaverian Missionaries have the gift of living faith which challenges him to see God, seek God, and love God in all. Also, Guido had a dream to make the whole world one single family and we as Jesus' disciples have to fulfill that dream. He also wanted them to be religious and missionaries. Other missionary orders do not take religious vows. They take four vows: poverty, chastity, obedience, and the missions. Fr. Rocco said he was a pastor of souls locally and a missionary globally. He was committed to helping save souls worldwide. Scot asked Fr. Rocco about the Holliston shrine. Fr. Rocco said the property used to have a high school seminary on it. Since they didn't have parishes in this region, they wanted property to help people know they were here, It's a Fatima shrine, because the message of Fatima is a missionary message. Scot said it's a good visit for families with young kids. They have an outdoor rosary made of large boulders and chains. Fr. Rocco said they had an African night at their hall this past week. People came to hear the head of the Africa Social Justice Network come talk about the Africa synod that took place in Rome a few years ago. Different ethnic communities hold pilgrimages to the shrine. Fr. Chris noted the grounds are lit up with Christmas lights each December. Fr. Joe said people like to come because it's a quiet place to pray. Fr. Joe said one of the things that attracts children is that the boulders of rosary have prayers in different languages of the world. They are soon going to start a regular outdoor language and will invite people to come forward and pray the Hail Mary in their own language. Fr. Chris asked what formation of men for the missions is like. Fr. Rocco said they hope the men can deal with diversity in a comfortable way. Working and living overseas can be uncomfortable. In formation he would often send the men to work in parish in ethnic communities very different from their own. They help them to be open and comfortable with people of different faiths, to witness to Christ and to listen to the gifts of the spirit found in people throughout the world. 3rd segment: This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Shirley Bramante from Middleboro. She wins the CD, “The Apostle of the Rosary: Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton” and the booklet “The Secret of Mary” by St. Louis de Montfort. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 4th segment: Scot said Fr. Rocco served many years in Sierra Leone, Africa. Fr. Rocco said he went there as part of his graduate studies. It was a last minute switch from Indonesia. He went back to the States and right after ordination went back for six years. He did some mission work in the remote northern area of Sierra Leone. It is in West Africa near Liberia, about the size of North Caroline. It gained independence in 1961. The “blood diamond” trade has resulted in the exploitations of many people. He eventually became superintendent of schools. He came back in 1984 for 10 years and then went back, this time in the middle of a war. Charles Taylor of Liberia was trying to annex a portion of Sierra Leone that was rich in diamonds. For 10 years, Liberian-backed insurgents wreaked havoc in the country. Fr. Rocco became a staff member of the bishops' conference that covered Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Gambia. He did a lot of work in conflict resolution and was also a national youth minister. Scot noted Fr. Rocco was shot in the course of his missionary work. He had been working with youth to empower them to reach out on a peer level. Many of these youths were being enticed into the ranks of the soldiers. As their pastoral center was being looted one day in 1988, Fr. Rocco engaged a conversation with one of these children looters. He went away and came back drunk, demanding money and other goods. He shot near him without trying to hit Fr. Rocco, but did hit him in the thigh. The 100 kids were later rounded up by the army and they were all shot. Scot asked what percentage of Sierra Leone is Catholic. Fr. Rocco said the number of Catholics has increased because the Church staged during the dark days of the world. At the time, 10 percent were Christian, half of them Catholic. About 30% Muslim, and the rest animists. Fr. Chris asked about the culture. Fr. Rocco said there is no privacy. It is important to greet everyone or risk offending them. He said he couldn't walk between the high school and the church without it taking three times as long as it should. Fr. Joe's primary service overseas was in Taiwan. Fr. Joe said he spent 13 years in Taiwan. He learned the language and culture in three years and had active ministry for 10 years. He said you need a musical ear and a good memory to learn the language. He gave examples of how difficult it would be. He did find that when he arrived in the country he felt at home. His teachers were very understanding and solicitous almost too a fault. They were always very positive and affirming. For three years they studied Chinese for three hours per day, then the bishop of Taipei asked him to be part of the diocesan youth office. Ninety-five percent of high school and college students coming to diocesan youth programs were non-Catholic. They felt attracted to the values of the Gospel. The goal was to show that God created them for something special. The Chinese culture emphasizes taking care of yourself and working hard. He found the youth to be extremely generous with time and talents. The students would be in school from 7:30 am to 4:30pm. Then from 5:30pm to 9:30pm they go to remedial school to review the topics of the day. They are preparing for then end of high school exams which were a lot of pressure. So they do their homework until midnight and get up at 5 or 6 pm. Yet, when there were programs, they were always willing to come out. Fr. Chris asked if the government was supportive. Fr. Joe said it was much like in the US, where you could do anything that's allowable within the law. That contrasts with China where you have to be much more attentive. In mainland China, they work mostly with disabled children and adults. He said about 60 million people have disabilities in China. Fr. Rocco said a high percentage of people in the developing world are under the age of 15. In the majority of countries they work in, the majority of people are young people. He said there are about 800 Xaverian Missionaries. They have about 80 men in formation. Fr. Chris about the Taiwanese culture. Fr. Joe said the Chinese are very curious. People have no compunction about looking into places that we would see as private, or asking questions, but you learn that it is a kindness because they want to know you better in order to serve you better or give you a better gifts. They are also very superstitious, especially about numbers. They are also very generous. Scot said they have a program in Holliston called Global Youth Mission. Fr. Rocco said for the past 10 or 15 years they have been looking at ways to reach out to young people. The order initiated the outreach to empower youth to be active in the Church, to help them link with young people overseas. They are also working with the Office of Cultural Diversity to connect with youth immigrants from Africa and Asia to help them connect with the Church locally. Fr. Rocco said they have information on their general website and still working on a specific website for the initiative.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Msgr. Robert Deeley, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today's show: Today's topics: 2012 Catholic Appeal Summary of today's show: This weekend marks the launch of the 2012 Catholic Appeal, the primary fundraising effort for the central ministries of the Archdiocese of Boston. Msgr. Robert Deeley joins Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell to discuss the importance of the Appeal to the work of the Church, not just for those that are directly funded by it, but for all Catholic parishes and apostolates that depend on the support of the central ministries, as well as the work of Cardinal Seán and the other bishops. Scot and Fr. Mark then consider Cardinal Seán's homily for this coming Sunday in which he considers God's call for us to be transfigured and how our response to that call can take shape. Fr. Mark also notes that his work on the Tribunal over the past 11 years has positively affected the lives of many people and supported the work of priests and pastoral associates. He said it would not have been possible without the generosity of donors to the Catholic Appeal. 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Mark discuss that this weekend is the kickoff for the 2012 Catholic Appeal. Fr. Mark said its important every year. Scot said it was moved from a May start to a March start a few years ago to coincide with Lent and give Cardinal Seán an opportunity to preach on Lent in a video or audio recorded homily throughout the Archdiocese. They will discuss the homily in detail in the third part of the show. Scot welcomed vicar general Msgr. Robert Deeley to the show and said it's his first Catholic Appeal as vicar general. Scot said this is a big deal for every ministry in the Archdiocese whether it receives money directly or not because it undergirds the central ministries. Msgr. Deeley said its the most important effort to raise funds every year. The Catholic appeal is the foundation for all the work we do. It enriches our parishes because it is the instrument by which we help priests, deacons, and pastoral associates. We also work to strengthen families, inspire the next generation of Catholics, and aid our leadership here in the Church. Campus ministry is an important part of our ministry. He recently celebrated Mass at the chapel at MIT and it was standing-room only with students excited to be there. In the brochure for the Appeal is a picture of Stephen, a young man at MIT who has been served by campus ministry, and Msgr. Deeley was able to speak with him about how he has been helped by the ministry. Fr. Mark asked how money helps with evangelization of Catholics. Msgr. Deeley said the Cardinal has asked Bishop Kennedy to head a special initiative for evangelization over the next year. We hope that in our parishes there can be evangelization, which is supported by the ministries at the Archdiocese. Scot said the materials for the Catholic Appeal look great. The theme this year is “The Good Samaritan is You.” Msgr. Deeley said that is not only this year's theme, but is also a new way to look at the Catholic Appeal. It reminds us that the work of the Church is about each of us individually. As Jesus speaks of the Good Samaritan, he teaches that when we serve one another we serve the Lord. The Good Samaritan is the perfect exemplar of what Jesus was calling us to be. Being Church is about each of us in our own way and able to afford, provide what we can for the needs of others. This is fundamental to what we are as Catholics. Scot said last year about 44,000 families contributed to the Catholic Appeal. How does he answer someone who asks why they shouldn't just support the parish? Msgr. Deeley said the parish can't exist without the Archdiocese. The Catholic Appeal is foundation of any other ministry happening. It is the offertory of the Archdiocese. Fr. Mark said some pastors hate asking for money, but if you believe in the good use it goes for, you should be able to stand up and ask for what you need. Msgr. Deeley said taking care of the Church and the poor the Church serves is part of our Christian responsibilities. It may not be comfortable to preach on, but it is a duty. Scot said pastors said having the Appeal launch in Lent ties in with the almsgiving of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Why is it important all Catholics in the Archdiocese to come together? Msgr. Deeley said the strength we have by the collective gifts we can use to further the mission of the Church makes it possible for other programs to exist. He offered the example of Catholic Charities, which has its own sources of fundraising, and turns to the Archdiocese for a lot of help. Scot said there's a lot of information online which offers a transparency. Chancellor Jim McDonough concludes his service to the Archdiocese today. Msgr. Deeley said its hard to overstate what Jim has accomplished. He's been a tremendous help to the Cardinal in moving the Church of Boston forward. Fr. Mark added his agreement. Jim McDonough gave both an outsider and insider perspective as both a former banker, but also a Catholic with a great love of the Church. Scot said both Msgr. and the cardinal will be on the road this weekend. Msgr. Deeley will be preaching at three parishes within about a 10 mile drive of the cathedral where he lives, while the cardinal will have about a 50-minute drive. Msgr. Deeley will be at St. Eulalia's, Winchester; St. Brigid, Lexington; and Sacred Heart, Cambridge. Cardinal Sean will be at Holy Family, Amesbury, and Sacred Heart, Middleboro. Monsignor said the goal was to have them cover all five regions and the cardinal got first choice. Msgr. Deeley lived at St. Brigid's for a number of years when he was working on the tribunal. Those Masses are intended for anyone who would like a live kickoff to the Appeal. Everyone else will hear a video or audio homily from Cardinal Seán. Msgr. Deeley would like everyone to think about we can never do anything alone. We are strengthened by our common bond in the Church. It helps us to speak and act in ways that no one of us can do alone. The Catholic Appeal is our way to be the Good Samaritan and to make the Church stronger. 2nd segment: Every Friday we discuss the readings for this coming Sunday. Because we want to preview Cardinal Seán's homily for this Sunday, we want to read them now to give the context for what he says. God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” he replied. Then God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.” When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger. “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son. Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said: “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing- all this because you obeyed my command.” Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent (Mark 9:2-10) Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. Scot said we hear these readings every Lent on the second Sunday. The first reading prefigures the crucifixion of Christ and the transfiguration helps the apostles understand why God would send His only son in a bloody sacrifice on the cross. Fr. Mark said both readings have a returning, an unbelievable moment of God and then a return. The first reading is one of the most striking stories in the Bible. Abraham is never the same again. In the Gospel, Peter, James, and John are terrified. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience of God and then a return to normal. Most of our life is lived in those moments of “return”. Scot said we are called to be listening and responding. We will now hear what Cardinal Seán said about this first reading about Abraham's call: The History of Salvation began with a call. God Calls Abraham by name. He was an unlikely choice. God's choices often surprise us. Abraham was too old, he was childless, hardly the right person to be the father of a great nation, but what Abraham lacked in human attributes, he compensated for by his great faith. A faith that allowed him to trust in God completely, to hope against hope, to obey even the hardest command ever imaginable: to sacrifice the son of the promise, Isaac who was born when Abraham was 80 years old. This was the son whose descendants would be as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore. Abraham's faith in God is of such magnitude that he felt God would be able to resurrect the slain Isaac in order that His prophesy might be fulfilled. Such faith in God's word and in His promise lead this Old Testament passage to be regarded as incredibly significant and exemplary one. Isaac carrying the wood for his own sacrifice prefigures Jesus carrying the Cross up the Mount of Calvary to be sacrificed. The ram or the male sheep that Abraham is to substitute for his son as the sacrifice, points to Christ the Lamb of God, a substitute for humanity. And Abraham's willingness to give up his own son Isaac is seen as a foreshadowing of the willingness of God the Father to sacrifice his Son. This powerful passage has been an inspiration to Christians, Jews and Muslims who all claim to be spiritual descendants of Abraham. To us Catholics there is a powerful Eucharistic symbolism but the story also speaks to us about faith and sacrifice. We too are being called to be a part of God's holy people, to journey towards a promised land and to fulfill a mission in this world. God is calling each of us by name. Scot said the Cardinal began and ended by saying the history of salvation began with a call to Abraham and to us. The response is to model Abraham and Jesus by responding with faith and a generosity that recognizes all our gifts come from God. Part of our duty is knowing we can return it in love to God. Fr. Mark said a call is not necessarily a call to something that's fun or easy. The call of Abraham, Isaac, and Jesus was a call to something difficult and hard to understand. Yet we have to listen to that type of call too in our lives. So many people listening have been called to carry the wood of the cross through illness or financial burdens or needs of their families. We're all called to carry the cross. We're not always called to something to jump for joy about. Scot said there are many levels of call. The Latin word is vocare from which we get vocation. From all of time we were created with a purpose for own lives that will return us to heaven. Then there is a call which is a substantial path to heaven that we call our personal vocation: religious life, married life, priesthood, etc. Beyond all the other good things we can do, our main path in life is to be the best husband or priest or religious. Sometimes our job vocation and personal vocation conflict, the calling to be a good husband or priest or religious takes precedence. Then there are the daily calls, the competing demands and requests and the ways we can respond each day in prayer. This is the call Cardinal Seán is talking about this weekend: How much am I being asked to sacrifice financially for those in need here in the Archdiocese of Boston. For some it might not be a lot, even if it's just the widow's mite for someone who can't afford much. Certainly we are all called to holiness. Fr. Mark said it takes everyone of us. He recalled a recent example in his own life of a man who stepped up to help Fr. Mark communicate with a deaf man. It took their combined gifts to reach this deaf man. Lent is a time for us to reaffirm our faith and our willingness to embrace the sacrifices a life of discipleship demands of us. Lent is about making time and space for God, going into the desert, climbing the mountain. We need to step back from the routine, the noise, the distractions that prevent us from seeing what is really important in life. Lent is a communal retreat that all Catholics are making together. Our Lenten sacrifices and prayers prepare us to renew our baptismal vows at Easter and to walk closer to Christ and our fellow disciples. The geography of lent begins with the first Sunday in the desert and now the second Sunday finds us on the mountain. I can never hear this gospel without recalling my own visit to Monte Tabor, the place of the Transfiguration. I was making retreat with a group of priests from Massachusetts. We were staying at a retreat house on the mount of the Beatitudes. In the mornings we had prayers and conference, and in the afternoon we visited the holy places. To get to Mount Tabor we went in buses to the foot of the mountain, but the mountain was so steep that the buses could not make the climb. They took us up in some old Mercedes taxicabs with kamikaze drivers. The hairpin turns and the sheer cliffs were terrifying. When we arrived at the top I felt like St. Peter. I wanted to kiss the ground and say: “how good it is to be here. Let's build some tents and stay because I'm not getting in that cab again.” The views from the mountain are spectacular, but what the apostle saw in that secluded place is much more stunning that the view of the valley; for they glimpsed the glory of God. The apostles needed to know that Jesus is much more than a persuasive rabbi or a great miracle worker. They needed to be assured that the scandal they would soon find in the cross is not the end, that it is necessary, and that all will end in glory for the Lord and for themselves. The mystery of the Trinity is made visible. A bright cloud overshadowed them, it is the shechinah, the luminous cloud that covered the Israelites during the exodus. That represents the Holy Spirit, and the voice of the Father is heard: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him”. Our Lord is strengthened and confirmed as to his unique sonship, his necessary cross, and his glorious future beyond, and because of it. The lesson for us can hardly be different. Carrying our daily cross, in imitation of Jesus, is our own prelude to glory. Transfiguration also means there is another level to our Christian lives that is yet to be. And what blessed one it is! On Mount Tabor were present the three persons of the Trinity, the three apostles and the two prophets. Heaven and earth meet in this event. At our Sunday Eucharist God's glory is hidden but present. The community helps us to climb the mountain and glimpse Christ's loving presence among us. Here we find the strength and motivation to continue on our journey of faith and to fulfill the mission that Christ has entrusted to us. Scot said he loved that the transfiguration is for us a sign of how heaven and earth meet which is similar to how heaven and earth meet at every Mass in the Eucharist. The partaking in the Eucharist as a community strengthens and motivates us to continue in our faith with the mission entrusted to us. Fr. Mark said no one us will encounter Christ like the apostles did in the transfiguration, but all of us get glimpses of God. He said a new father showed him the photo of his newborn baby and God is part of the pulse of that miraculous child. Scot said his wife and son were on the Mount of the Transfiguration this past Tuesday in the Holy Land and she described what it was like to go up there on the very high mountain with a beautiful view. It's not difficult to imagine that if God was going to give his voice from heaven on a cloud, it would be on top of this mountain, not just because of its beauty, but because it can be seen from miles away. As we look out from these mountains, we are often struck by the wonder of creation, which is a glimpse of God. We're all called to be aware of how we will be transfigured if we respond to Jesus' call to us. Just like the apostles didn't really understand, we're not going to understand exactly how heaven is until we're there. Fr. Mark said he's never been to the Holy Land, but everyone he knows who's been, it's been a lifechanging event. You never look at the Bible the same again. The lifechanging event is a transfiguration. But Cardinal Sean also points out that lifechanging events begin in the desert with quiet and solitude. The desert is a challenging place. But to truly be transfigured, we must start with prayer and penance and fasting. It is during this Lenten season that I come to remind all of the Catholics of the Archdiocese that our mission of evangelization, our works of mercy, and our service to the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the formation of priests, deacons and lay leaders, our outreach in campus ministry, the youth, our apostolate to immigrants, and the countless services and activities of the faith community depend upon your participation, your generosity, and spirit of sacrifice. Each year we turn to our Catholic faithful to ask for your help to be able to carry on our mission. We ask for your prayers, your time, treasure and talent. We know that many grandmothers in nursing homes are our prayer warriors. They join us each day for Mass and rosary on Catholic Television. We have thousands of volunteers who carry on so many acts of community service, works of mercy, religious formation of our young people and so many other ministries . On my own behalf and on behalf of the wider community, I thank each of you sincerely. We are also profoundly grateful for the monetary support given through the Catholic Appeal from many Catholics throughout the diocese. I know that it is your faith that allows you to make this sacrifice as did the Good Samaritan who stopped to care for someone he didn't even know. Let us continue to work together to carry on the mission joyfully and generously so that the Gospel will be known and loved. Each of us must do our part. We are not alone but surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who urge us on together through the forty days of spiritual renewal to the joy of Easter resurrection. Know that you are ever in my prayers. Scot said we each one must do our part so that the everyone can hear the Gospel. Fr. Mark said he's been a priest for 21 years and worked in Central Ministries for over 11. He thinks what he's done in the Tribunal for 11 years has helped heal a lot of people and helps priests and parishioners fulfill their vocations. This is possible through the Catholic Appeal. He knows without a doubt that God works through him and that dollar in the Appeal in part funds him and every other person in the building and throughout the Archdiocese who have a direct effect on the lives of people. He knows the effect and wants to say Thank You for allowing him to do what he does. Scot said the person who gave to the Appeal 30 years ago or 25 years ago, investing in everyone who worked for the Church, have left this legacy so Fr. Mark can minister to people today and for many more years. And those investments 25 years ago in him lead to his current and future service. Scot spoke of Bishop Kennedy's upcoming new role starting in July as the vicar for the New Evangelization. We all know someone who isn't practicing their faith anymore and we all know we can do a better job in proclaiming the faith and reaching out to them. We want the biggest family reunion in heaven ad that's really the work of the Central Ministries of the Church. While The Good Catholic Life isn't directly funded by theCatholic Appeal, it wouldn't be possible without the Catholic Appeal. Every gift makes a difference. Scot said he spent his first 4 years at the Pastoral Center in the development office and he knows that the every gift matters, no matter how much. We are a much stronger family works together.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today's show: Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today's topics: Rite of Election; Catholic Appeal; Mary Ann Glendon; 10 ways to grow in faith this Lent Summary of today's show: Our Thursday news show had a more local flavor than recent weeks. Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, and Greg Tracy began by discussing the Rite of Election this past Sunday at Holy Cross Cathedral and then talked about the importance of the Catholic Appeal, not just to the central ministries, but to parish ministries as well. Mary Ann Glendon's talk at the seminary on the vocation of politics called on Catholics to be engaged in the public square and Fr. Roger Landry's editorial this week gave fodder for discussion with the top 10 ways to grow in faith during Lent. Also, a commemoration of an immigration raid in New Bedford five years ago and a suggestion to give up coffee for Lent to benefit the poor. 1st segment: Scot welcomed Susan and wished her a Happy March. Susan recommend listeners read Emily Dickinson's poem about March. Dear March — Come in — How glad I am — I hoped for you before — Put down your Hat — You must have walked — How out of Breath you are — Dear March, Come right up the stairs with me — I have so much to tell — I got your Letter, and the Birds — The Maples never knew that you were coming — till I called I declare — how Red their Faces grew — But March, forgive me — and All those Hills you left for me to Hue — There was no Purple suitable — You took it all with you — Who knocks? That April. Lock the Door — I will not be pursued — He stayed away a Year to call When I am occupied — But trifles look so trivial As soon as you have come That Blame is just as dear as Praise And Praise as mere as Blame — They discussed their activities over the past week. Susan said she was in the Diocese of Providence for a day of prayer for diocesan employees. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Greg to the show. Scot said that on the front page of the Pilot this week is a story about 500 people preparing to enter the Church on Easter gathering at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Sunday for the Rite of Election. “The fathers of the Church often see Noah's Ark as a metaphor, or a sign, of the Church. We are tossed on rough seas. Some passengers are seasick, some of the crew have mutinied, some have fallen overboard, and yet we are one billion Catholics in all sizes, shapes and colors, and speaking every language imaginable,” he said. “Although it is sometimes a rough ride the Lord has promised that he will always be with us,” he continued. Susan clarified that there are two groups in the candidates. One consists of Christians who come from other faiths and Catholics who were baptized but didn't receive any of the other sacraments of initiation. She said adult converts to the faith often bring a special zeal to the Church with them. She also spoke about how everyone in the Church is responsible for evangelization and bringing others to our faith. Scot said Greg was himself a convert to the faith. He noted that there are so many people entering the Church that they have to hold two different services for the Rite of Election. Scot said Fr. Jonathan Gaspar, director of the Office for Worship, is quoted as well: “They are already elect members of the Church, even though they haven't been baptized. They gain a new status in the Church. The cardinal, the local bishop, is a reminder that for us as Catholics, it's not just about belonging to a local parish, although that is very important. For many people their entrance into the Church is because of the outreach of local clergy and local Catholics. At this moment in their preparation they see with their own eyes and experience in the liturgy that they belong to a universal Church,” he said. “The bishop and the rite itself reminds all the fully initiated who are there present that it is our responsibility to support them with our prayers and by our example,” he said. “For us as Catholics it is a day of great joy, we anticipate it all year round, and to see new faces, to see new people being added to the family of God in the Church brings us tremendous joy,” Father Gaspar said. Susan recalled being a sponsor for a candidate at one time and asking them and other after the ceremony about their experience. Many spoke of the truth and beauty of the Catholic Church. Greg said it's significant that the ceremony is held at the Mother Church of the Archdiocese and connects them to the universal Church. The rest of their preparation is in the parish so this gives them a connection beyond the parish and even personally to the cardinal. They spoke of the importance of the physicality of the cathedral and how the statues and windows and paintings of churches is a catechism lesson in images. The 2012 Catholic Appeal launch is this weekend and most parishes in the Archdiocese will have a recorded homily for the parish. Cardinal Sean will be personally in Amesbury and Middleboro parishes. The theme this year is “The Good Samaritan is you.” Many of the central ministries of the archdiocese are funded through the appeal including Susan's office for religious education. She said when she was working at her parish during Catholic Appeal time, her pastor would always tell people that if they like the programs in their parish, they should give because those ministries only do the work they can because they receive support from the central ministries. Greg said Msgr. Deeley, the vicar general, made a good summary, which is that the Appeal funds that which makes us a Church. While we may be very parish centered on a day to day basis, it is the ministry of the archbishop that makes us one Church. In the end, every ministry in the parish is affected by something funded by the Catholic Appeal. He said the Pilot is not funded by the Catholic Appeal, but they are located in the Pastoral Center which supports their ministry. Also in the Pilot is a story about Mary Ann Glendon, former US ambassador to the Vatican, giving an address at the seminary about the vocation of the politician. “Anticipating practically every excuse most of uS would think of, [Pope John Paul II] said that ‘Charges of careerism, idolatry of power, egoism, and corruption, as well as the common opinion that participating in politics is an absolute moral danger, do not in the least justify either skepticism or an absence on the part of Christians in public life,'” Glendon told The Pilot. “I think he was reminding us, based on his own personal experiences in Eastern Europe, that the work of politics - despite all its frustrations, disappointments, and grubbiness- is what determines whether other human activities like philosophy. art, literature, science, and commerce, all flourish or wither,” she added. She related her experience teaching at Harvard Law in which she saw idealistic students become disillusioned in their years of study about the state of politics. But where would we be if good people didn't get involved in public service? Greg said she makes the compelling point that Catholics have an important mission not to retreat from the public square. Scot said the article ends with Fr. John Mulloy talking about the address and his admiration for Glendon. Scot said that describes how a lot of people feel about her. She is one of the most influential lay Catholic women in the Church worldwide. Susan said she has known Glendon for some time and she has a wonderful way of presenting the truth of the Church without stridency and with love. She is obviously brilliant. Susan cited Edmund Burke: “All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.” Scot said there is also a story about an upcoming breakfast by Women Affirming Life on the topic of assisted suicide. The breakfast will take place on March 10 at Four Point Sheraton in Norwood. To register, call the Pro-Life Office at 508-651-1900. Scot also cited a couple of local stories in this week's Anchor on a 5th anniversary service commemorating an immigration raid in New Bedford that detained 300 illegal immigrants and another on an initiative in Fall River asking people to give up their daily coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts and donate the money to the missions. Find out more at 3rd segment: This week's editorial in the Anchor cites ways to grow in faith during Lent. It includes 10 suggestions related to growing in faith. Lent is a time for growth in faith. It begins with our being marked with ashes and instructed to turn our backs on sin so that we may be faithfully the Gospel. There is for sure a need for us to grow in a personal, trusting adherence to God, something that happens as we seek to pray more and better, to discipline ourselves through fasting and other means, and to give of what we are and have in alms to others, confident that our Provident God will not only sustain but reward us. The first three suggestions are to study the Catechism of the Catholic and the documents of the Second Vatican Council; Go on a pilgrimage, even to a local shrine; and increase one's devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Susan suggests for studying the Catechism that people pick up YouCat for youth and the from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Of pilgrimage, she said we often just need the attitude of pilgrimage. Scot said pilgrimage could even just be going to a church you've never been to before. The next four are to grow in friendship with the saints as a holy, heroic witnesses to the faith; reading the writings of the Holy Father, who is one of the best teachers we've ever had as a pope; to attend missions and days of recollection; and attend conferences and study days. Greg said the idea of becoming more familiar with the saints can include getting to know the two new American saints who will be canonized in October, Blessed Kateri and Blessed Marianne Cope. Scot pointed out that there are calendars of events throughout the dioceses published in the newspapers and on their websites. The final four are celebrate the faith more intensely during Mass; examine your conscience on sins against the faith; give added attention to teaching the faith in Catholic school, religious educations programs and homes; and communicate your experience of faith to peers. Susan said the new translation of the Mass helps us to pay renewed attention to what is going at Mass and is a good opportunity for an examination of conscience and confession. Scot said there are two lengthy obituaries in the Pilot for priests who died this past week, including Fr. James Curtin and Fr. Edward O'Flaherty, SJ. There are also several articles in both newspapers about the Health and Human Services contraception mandate. Scot especially recommended an opinion column by John Garvey, president of Catholic University of America on the topic. Greg wrapped up by talking a special travel and pilgrimage section in the Pilot this week.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Kevin Sepe, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Braintree * [St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Braintree](http://www.sfab.org/) * [Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda](http://www.catholicbermuda.org/) **Today's topics:** Fr. Kevin Sepe shares his path to the priesthood, the wonderful community at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Braintree, how the clergy personnel board assigns priests, and what does a vicar forane do? **1st segment:** Scot welcome Fr. Mark back to the show and Fr. Mark says he was in Bermuda this past week. Boston has been appointed by the Vatican for many years as the tribunal for the Catholic Church in Bermuda and Fr. Mark made a pastoral visit with the priests on the island. He also spoke to laypeople on the topic of annulments. He said Bermuda is at the same latitude as North Carolina and only two hours by plane. Scot was at St. Michael's in Andover, the largest parish in the Archdiocese, for a vicariate meeting on the work of Catholic media. Also tomorrow is the priestly ordination for six men in the Archdiocese of Boston, at the Holy Cross Cathedral at 9am. Fr. Mark taught them canon law in the seminary and said they are a very fine group. They will receive their assignments tonight from Cardinal Sean. Fr. Mark resides at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Braintree, where the pastor is today's guest, Fr. Kevin Sepe. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark welcome Fr. Sepe to the show. He is also pastor of the geographic region in which the Pastoral Center resides. The first day the Pastoral Center was open, Fr. Sepe brought collection envelopes to the Chancellor. Fr. Sepe grew up in St. Michael's in Lowell and attended high school. In 1977 there was a graduating class of 17 men, 3 of whom are now pastors in the archdiocese. They never discussed the seminary in high school, but they all came to the seminary later. He believes its the foundations they received from the priests in the parish. Scot said he was stunned to learn that Fr. Kevin grew up in  the same parish Scot grew up in. When Fr. Kevin was in high school, he admired the headmaster of St. Michael's school, who was also his Latin teacher. One day at the end of school, the priest asked him, "Sepe, did you ever think of the priesthood?" He said, "No", and the priest replied, "Start." Fr. Kevin said that seed developed and grew and he couldn't escape it. It wasn't in his brain, so much as his heart. After that, he talked to a parish priest who recommended he talked to someone at the seminary who offered a weekend retreat for college-age men. While he was a little rambunctious on the weekend, it was a foundation. Fr. Kevin's father was a classic WWII vet and while he had a profound faith, he was no theologian. To have a son as a priest was an honor. His mother was a registered nurse and had worked in a psychiatric hospital and seen many difficulties in people's lives so she wanted to make sure he would be happy. Scot said Fr. Kevin is celebrating 25 years in the priesthood this year. His experience is far different from the day of his ordination. At the time, you couldn't expect to be pastor for 25 years, but that quickly changed. His first assignment was St. Joseph, Quincy, where had a wonderful five years with the pastor and a parish school in a city. He stayed friends with the pastor afterward. After that assignment he went to Middleboro and learned how large the archdiocese is. The parish itself is 75 square mile and is the southernmost part of the archdiocese. On a communion call one time he got lost on the back roads and it took him all day to get back home. After that assignment, he was at St. Mary in Randolph with Fr. Richard Harrington. Fr. Kevin has been a pastor for 14 years this coming August. He remembers being on a board that investigated making rectories separate from the church's offices, which has turned out to be a good respite for many priests to enable them to have a place of prayer apart from the work place. It's a relief to leave the office, come home, and rest and have a prayerful place. At St. Francis, the rectory has the parish offices in the building, but there's a clear separation. It's a former convent and it had a cloistered area built into the architecture. **3rd segment:** Scot said St. Francis is known as a busy parish. He said they have a parochial school with 360 students and they provide them with a Mass once per month and he's in the school regularly. Their religious education program has 700 students. They have an active sacramental life, they have about 100 funerals per year and about 120 baptisms. With the school, there is an access to a percentage of parents you would not normally connect with during the week. About 50% of the students live within Braintree and the rest are commuters from other parishes or other towns. Fr. Mark said there is a lot of charitable activity in the parish. There is an active St. Vincent de Paul Society. On Thursdays, there is a food pantry day serving a number of people in the parish. They have a monthly canned food drive to stock the pantry. There is also an agreement with [Panera Bread](http://www.panerabread.com/) where they receive the day-old bread that would normally be thrown away. It allows them to give baked goods to families who not have access to them. They help on the average of about 60 to 120 families and that number has increased in recent years, as well as requests for assistance with rent, fuel, and clothing. The parish has an annual giving tree at Christmas where parishioners supply gifts for specific children. Fr. Mark said they also help parishes overseas. Each week 10% of the parish's offertory is sent to organizations locally and globally. The parish is involved with the [SMA Fathers](http://www.smafathers.org/), where they host a priest for 2 months from Africa, giving them a respite from the missionary labors. At the end of their stay, there is a collection from parishioners. Last year, the provided a roof and a generator for a parish in Northern Nigeria and even a motorcycle for the catechists to reach remote parishioners. After Hurricane Katrina, the parish collected $60,000 for relief efforts to the people of the Gulf region. The parishioners are very aware of their need to give of their time, talent, and treasure. Fr. MArk said this comes from the leadership of a priest like Fr. Sepe who models the behavior and encourages. Scot said the numbers of kids involved in religious ed and the school makes it sound like it's a very young parish. What works to bring them to the parish? Fr. Kevin said they have a weekly family Mass on Sunday at 9am and encourage families to bring them. The kids come up to sit near the altar during the homily and  the homily is geared to the children. At baptisms, they make them prayerful liturgies and they encourage parents to bring the kids even if they make noise. It's how the kids become comfortable in the church. They also have religious education meeting on a Sunday in order to invite them to the 9am Mass and the 10:30 Mass. They do their First Communions at their Sunday Masses, small groups at every Mass over two weekends. It reminds them of the importance of coming to Mass as a family. He wants to draw them back to the Church on Sundays. They have a unique ministry called the prayer shawl ministry. Fr. Kevin said there are many women who gather to pray as they crochet or knit. They do it in silence as they listen to meditative music and pray for people. They then give the shawls to the homebound or people in hospice or to expectant mothers who know they are connected to a parish that cares for them. **4th segment:** Fr. Kevin is also a vicar forane and serves on the clergy personnel board and is a fire and police chaplain. Scot asked Fr. Kevin how Cardinal Sean assigns a priest. For the newly ordained, they are interviewed by the board. They are asked questions and the board gets to know them, their talents, and more mundane matters like allergies to pets or the like. Whether they'd like to be near a school or in a city or if they need to be assigned near a relative who needs their care. Also, their language abilities. Meanwhile, the board has prepared a list of parishes that would be suitable assignments for new priests. Their first assignment is only 3 years. They might become pastors in only 8 years, but recently one priest was made a pastor after his first assignment. They want the priest to be able to learn quickly how to become a pastor. They're thinking of making them only two year assignments. When a pastorate opens, a priest can submit his name for a particular parish. Or one of his friends can nominate him. Or his name can be generated by members of the clergy personnel board. They look at the statistics of the parish: demographics, financials, and the ministerial staffing. They then look at the list of the priests of the archdiocese, their current assignments, and when they were ordained and maybe find a name of a parochial vicar who might be a good fit. They come up with a slate of three names recommended to the Cardinal. they put them in order of who they believe would best fit. Fr. Kevin has been on the board for 6 or 7 years. Today, they consider assignments with pastoral planning in mind and they consider not just the parish, but the whole region and the whole archdiocese. They now use GPS and mapping technology to show the locations of parishes around the open pastorate and see, for example, priests who are close to retirement in nearby parishes and thus affect who they will assign in the currently open assignment. The slate of candidates goes to the cardinal and he can choose one of the names or he can choose anyone he wants. The cardinal usually runs the list by several other priests as well. But he typically goes with the recommendation even if he changes the order of the priests on the list. Fr. Michael Medas of the Clergy Personnel Office calls the priest and meets with him to talk about the parish and to encourage him to accept the assignment. A new wrinkle is that pastors are now being asked to be pastors of more than one parish at a time. They've asked pastors of nearby parishes to take on neighboring parishes as well. Scot said the Archdiocese is divided in 5 regions and each region is divided in vicariates, sub-regions. The vicar forane helps the Cardinal in administering the vicariate. He hosts meetings of the pastors and allows for an avenue of communication from the archbishop to the priests and back. As vicar forane he coordinates that communication. At a vicariate meeting today they had the vicariate's representative the presbyteral council give a report on the recent meeting of the council. The priests give their feedback to the representative and then he brings it back to the cardinal and the council. The vicariate meets about every 4-6 weeks. Fr. Kevin tries to schedule them for just after the presbyteral council meetings. Fr. Mark said the Church works with principle of subsidiarity, pushing all activity to the lowest level applicable. **5th segment:** We look at this coming Sunday's Gospel as we do every Friday. * [Gospel for Sunday, May 22 (John 14:1-12)](http://usccb.org/nab/052211.shtml#gospel) >Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? > >And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” > >Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? > >Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.” Fr. Kevin said many priests would select this Gospel for a funeral Mass. He dwells on the Lord saying, "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places." What does he mean? Is this like a giant house at the beach. Scot said his kids are at the stage of asking him what heaven will be like and he tells them we cannot know, but that it will be greater than we can imagine. Fr. Kevin tells them to dream and imagine what they would like to be there. He recalled the graveside ceremony prayer: "Inflame in our hearts a desire for heaven." What does it mean for heaven to be like a banquet? It's a giant feast that we never have t o get up from, we're never full and we move from table to table to be with one another. Scot notes Jesus's response to Philip, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?" He imagines what Jesus might say to himself: Have I been with you in prayer and in Mass and in the people you love, do you still not know Me? We have to make sure to be aware of the ways in which Jesus is present to us every day. Fr. Mark notes that in John's Gospel that Philip is often portrayed as not having a clue and always needs a little reassurance and yet does great things in his life later on. Scot said to imagine being Philip, and how confused Philip must have been to hear these teachings for the first time without the benefit of two thousand years of trinitarian theology to help him. Fr. Mark likes to have a role model in Philip who needs some help and may not be the best student. That will conclude today's presentation of The Good Catholic Life. On Monday, Michael Miller from the Acton Institute and Andreas Widmer from the Seven Fund will talk about entrepreneurial solutions to poverty and on Tuesday, Fr. Robert Reed of CatholicTV will be on the show to tell us about all their great programming. For recordings and photos of today's show and all previous shows, please visit our website: TheGoodCatholicLife.com. You can also download the app for your iPhone or Android device at WQOM.org to listen to the show wherever you may be. We thank our guest, Father Kevin Sepe. For our co-host, Father Mark O'Connell, our Production team of Rick Heil, Anna Johnson, Justin Bell, Dom Bettinelli, and George Martell, this is Scot Landry saying thank YOU for listening, God bless you and have a wonderful evening!