Podcasts about most holy redeemer

There is a fascinating history surrounding today's Feast of the Dedication of the St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome. The magnificent church is just down the street from our Redemptorist headquarters and our own beautiful church of San Alfonso. The Basilica of St. John Lateran was built on land donated to Emperor Constantine by the Lateran family and given to the Church in the fourth century. It was dedicated to the Christ the Savior in honor of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. It was consecrated by Pope Sylvester I on November 9, 324 and is still considered the Pope's cathedral today. The structure has survived the ravages of war, earthquake, fire, and schism. When the papacy returned to Rome from Avignon, France in 1378, the church and the adjoining palace were in ruins. Pope Innocent X commissioned the work that has made St. John Lateran one of the most imposing churches in Rome. The front of the church has 15 towering statues of Christ, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, and 12 doctors of the Church. Inside the basilica, there is a simple wooden table in the sanctuary where tradition holds that St. Peter himself celebrated Mass. The church stands as a monument to God and all the work done for God through the Church. This is also a special day for the Redemptorists. On Saturday, November 9, 1732, inspired by God and guided by the Holy Spirit, our founder, St. Alphonsus Liguori and his companions, gathered around a simple altar in the nun's convent in Scala, Italy and dedicated their lives to follow Jesus the Redeemer by preaching the Gospel to the poor and most abandoned. We Redemptorists celebrate this day as the founding of our congregation and try to continue this mission today. It was not an easy decision for Alphonsus. He had to leave everything behind. He was well known and respected in Naples; a lawyer of civil and canon law, a sought after preacher, and close to his parents and six siblings. Yet, the goat herders living high above the city of Scala on the Amalfi coast of Italy had stolen his heard. They were even poorer than the street children he evangelized in Naples. He placed his sword before a statue of Our Lady of Ransom and left the city on the back of a donkey. He met his companions in Scala. They did not stay in the Cathedral of Scala, but in a convent, praying intensely for God's will to be done. The three days prior to November 9th, they had a Eucharistic Triduum with the sisters in their small monastery church. They were given the grace by God of seeing in the Eucharistic Host a figure of Christ holding his cross. They took this as a sign of heavenly approval and, with the authority of Bishop Falcoia who was with them, they took the name of the Congregation of the Most Holy Savior, a name that linked them to the dedication of the Pope's Cathedral in Rome. The name was soon changed by Rome to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.  Today, we give thanks to God for our vocations. We renew our commitment to continue this mission as prophetic witnesses to the Redeemer, who continues to call men and women to share in the charism of the Redemptorist family. May our Mother of Perpetual Help, St. Alphonsus, St. Gerard Majella, St. Clement Hofbauer, St. John Neumann, and all Redemptorist saints and blesseds pray for us. May we continue the work they began with love and perseverance. Blessings,Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.

Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787; born near Naples, graduated in law at the age of 16; entered the ecclesiastical state, and was ordained a priest in 1726; in 1732, he discerned a call from God to found the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer--also known as the Redemptorists--to labor for the salvation of the most abandoned souls; appointed bishop of St. Agatha in 1756, and retired to his convent in 1775, where he died Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/1/24 Gospel: Matthew 13:47-53

There's questions whether a Christchurch Catholic order will continue, even after being stripped of its authority, over unauthorised exorcisms and abuse. The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer's priests have been banned from practicing and told to leave the diocese, after 17 people raised concerns. Its leaders deny they manipulated and controlled followers and interfered in families' lives. Massey University religious expert Peter Lineham says losing its license may not stop the order. He explained it was once a renegade group pulled back into the Church by the Pope, and he wonders if it will go out again into the cold. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leaders of a Catholic group in Christchurch, the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, have been asked to leave the Christchurch Diocese after an investigation into allegations of abuse made by former members of the institute. 

Congressman Sean Casten joins us on Evergreen Park's Podcast to talk about local issues with the podt office and train delays. What can be done at the federal level to help the citizens of Evergreen Park and is there anyone to blame? A contingent from Most Holy Redeemer also stops by to promote their new annual Parking Lot Party with live music along 95th Street.  Brought to you by The First National Bank of Evergreen Park!  Find the account that is right for you today! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in and around Evergreen Park and stay connected to your neighbors! Evergreen Park residents join Chris Lanuti at his 9-foot homemade basement bar each week. Listen, interact & get all of your free subscription options at theEPpodcast.com​!

This is a special day for Redemptorists around the world.  On this day, 291 years ago, our founder, St. Alphonsus Liguori and five companions; Fr. Giovanni Mazzini, Vincencio Mannarini, Fr. Piatro Romano, fifty-year old Giovanni Battista de Donato, and aspirant to the priesthood, Silvestro Tosquez, gathered around a humble altar with Bishop Falcoia presiding and began the Congregation of the Most Holy Savior.  It was soon made known that there was another religious congregation with the name, Holy Savior, so the name was changed to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists.  You can imagine the scene when thirty-six-year-old Alphonsus left his family behind in Naples.  There were tears, of course, but he was determined to leave his Neapolitan gentleman's life behind.  He left on a donkey with two companions by his side.  They were headed for the mountain village of Scala on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.  They did not stop at the beautiful cathedral of Scala that could hold 2,000 worshippers or more, but continued up the rough mountain pass to where the goats and the shepherds lived.  There they stopped at a small monastery of nuns and met their other friends.  The nuns gave them shelter and they prepared themselves for the founding of the Congregation on November 9th, intentionally selecting the date of the Dedication of the Church of Rome, the great Lateran Basilica, which was also called the Church of the Holy Savior. Tuesday, November 6th, Wednesday, November 7th, and Thursday, November 8th, were spent in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  On these three successive days they were blessed with a vision in the Sacred Host of a cross that first appeared black, then changed to blood red, and then to white.  On the cross was Our Savior, Jesus Christ, with the instruments of his crucifixion by his side; the spear, sponge, and nails.  If they had any doubt about the start of this new adventure, this sign from God dismissed all fears.  The vision of our Lord in the Host led to the motto of the Redemptorists from Psalm 130: “Copiosa apud eum redemptio” (“With Him there is plentiful redemption”).   The Congregation was approved by Pope Benedict XIV on February 25, 1749.  From small beginnings, God has blessed the work and vision of St. Alphonsus.  Today we number almost 5,000 men in over 80 countries.  We are still reaching out to the poor and abandoned people of our world through parish missions, retreats, teaching moral theology, ministering in parishes, and in many other charitable works.  The message of plentiful redemption has been enhanced by lay women and men who share their gifts with us and are aptly called, Partners in Mission.  Together with the Redemptoristines, the marvelous contemplative order of nuns who share in all that we do, we look forward to future bright with promise. Every member, whether they be Partners in Mission, Redemptoristine nuns, or the religious brothers and priests of our Congregation - we all began our journey with a silent “yes” to the call of our Savior.  There is work for you, too.  Might God be leading you to a decision today?  

For the first time ever, Village Trustee Mark Phelan joins us in studio to talk about Most Holy Redeemer's continuing football dominance and the incredible work being done at the Evergreen Park Food Pantry. There are a lot of food drives this month, and The Deacon has the details. EPCHS Football Coach Jim Ramazinski wraps up the season with us, and Pyeisha Allen has some great fall activities and opportunities from the Youth Department in "30 Minutes of Good!" Brought to you by The First National Bank of Evergreen Park!  Find the account that is right for you today! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in and around Evergreen Park and stay connected to your neighbors! New On-Demand Podcasts release on Tuesdays & Fridays. Every week Evergreen Park residents join Chris Lanuti and their neighbors at his 9-foot homemade basement bar. Listen, interact & get all of your free subscription options at theEPpodcast.com​!

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican's Synod on Synodality has passed the halfway mark for this year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255696/this-week-at-the-synod-on-synodality-participation-focus-comes-amid-possible-early-exit-of-chinese-bishops Midway through the Synod on Synodality, two bishops from mainland China are suddenly departing the assembly early, and as of Monday there is not yet an explanation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255697/chinese-bishops-leaving-synod-on-synodality-early The Latin Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem has offered to be exchanged for the children being held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Hamas. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255694/jerusalem-cardinal-pizzaballa-offers-to-be-exchanged-for-gaza-hostages Today the Church celebrates Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, the French nun whose visions of Christ helped to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart throughout the Western Church. Her life changed in response to a vision she saw one night while returning from a dance, in which she saw Christ being scourged. Margaret believed she had betrayed Jesus, by pursuing the pleasures of the world rather than her religious vocation, and a the at the age of 22, she decided to enter a convent. Two days after Christmas of 1673, Margaret experienced Christ's presence in an extraordinary way while in prayer. She heard Christ explain that he desired to show his love for the human race in a special way, by encouraging devotion to “the heart that so loved mankind.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-margaret-mary-alacoque-626 The Church also celebrates Saint Gerard Majella. Saint Gerard entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1749 and professed of perpetual vows under the Redemptorist's founder, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, in 1751. He served as tailor and infirmarian and became known for his extraordinary supernatural gifts of bilocation, prophecy, ecstasies, visions, and infused knowledge. Though not ordained to the holy order of priest, his spiritual direction and advice were sought by many among the clergy and communities of nuns, to which he also gave conferences. He was most successful in converting sinners, and was widely known for his sanctity and charity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gerard-majella-21

Meet Stephen Davidson, the new principal of Queen of Martyrs. Hear about his plans, the combination of two parishes and why his kids have become his Catholic School Rivals. Glenn Pniewski checks in with a slate of village events. Plus, we have a booster club from Most Holy Redeemer with a huge fundraiser livestreaming on September 7th, along with one member with some great pipes in "30 Minutes of Good!" Brought to you by The First National Bank of Evergreen Park!  Find the account that is right for you AND get your FREE EP Podcast Car Magnet there today! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in and around Evergreen Park and stay connected to your neighbors! New On-Demand Podcasts release on Tuesdays & Fridays. Every week Evergreen Park residents join their neighbors at a 9-foot homemade basement bar. Listen, interact & get all of your free subscription options at theEPpodcast.com​!

Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787; born near Naples, and graduated in law at the age of 16; against much opposition, he was ordained a priest in 1726; in 1732, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists; appointed bishop of St. Agatha in 1756; retired, and died in his convent in 1787 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/1/23 Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43

Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of St. Alphonsus De Liguori, Patron of Confessors and Moral Theologians| August 1   St. Alphonsus de Liguori, founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer or the Redemptorists.He was endowed with a well-rounded talents so much so that he was also a composer, musician, artist, poet, writer, lawyer, philosopher and theologian. St. Alphonsus was born, eldest of seven children, in Marianella, near Naples, Italy, of a noble lineage on September 27, 1696. His father sent him to study as a lawyer. Before entering the university he was taught by tutors. At 16, he graduated from the University of Naples with doctorates in civil and canon law. When he was 18, he joined the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy to assist in caring for the sick at the hospital. Meanwhile, he was also practicing law, which according to him was full of difficulties. After eight years of practice, losing for the first time an important case at age 27, he resolved to leave the legal profession. That was when he heard a voice saying: “Leave the world and give yourself to me.” Soon, he decided to become a priest and entered as a novice at the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, but his father allowed him as long as he would not become an Oratorian. He was ordained on December 21, 1726 at the age 30. He spent his first years as a priest with the homeless and marginalized youth of Naples. He became very popular due to his simple and down-to-earth preaching. He was heard saying: “I have never preached a sermon which the poorest old woman in the congregation could not understand.” That was why his sermons were very effective and they converted many who had gone away from the faith. He founded centers of prayer, preaching, community social activities and education for the youth. They called them Evening Chapels. There were thousands active members and participants. In 1729 Alphonsus left his family home and resided in the Chinese Institute in Naples and began missionary work in the interior regions of Naples. There, he found people who were much poorer and much more abandoned than those in his first missionary territory. In 1731, while ministering to earthquake victims in Foggia, Italy Alphonsus said he had a vision of the Virgin Mary who appeared as a girl of 14. This vision and his scruples about sin, led to a greater intimacy with God and an ardent desire to serve Him unreservedly. Thus, on November 9, 1732, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. The charism of the congregation is to preach in the cities and the countryside, in the slums and other poor places. Besides preaching, the members of the newly founded congregation fought against Jansenism, the heresy that preached a very excessive and strict morality which did not consider forgiveness. The Redemptorists rightly believed that: “penitents must be treated as souls to be saved rather than as criminals to be punished.” The Redemptorists specialized in hearing Confession. In 1766, St. Alphonsus founded also the Redemptoristine nuns in St. Agatha. When St. Alphonsus was already sickly, he resigned his post as Bishop and he continued to live with the Redemptorist community in Pagani, Italy where he died. St. Alphonsus was beatified on September 15, 1816 by Pope Pius VII. He was canonized on May 26, 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI. He was named “Patron of Confessors and Moral Theologians” by Pope Piuys XII on April 26, 1950. His voluminous writings are still extant today and a famous Christmas song in Italian is still among the favorites: “Tu scendi dalle stelle” (From starry skies descending). In 1949, the Redemptorists founded the Alphonsian Academy for the advanced study of moral theology. St. Alphonsus is a Doctor of the Church and his greatest contribution were his writings on moral theology. The devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help was begun by his followers in 1923.      

Father Paul Guzman was away from his Evergreen Park parish for nearly two years. His path took him from Djibouti, Africa, to a tumultuous return with false allegations keeping him away from Most Holy Redeemer. Now his name has been cleared and he has stories to tell in "30 Minutes of Good!" Brought to you by The First National Bank of Evergreen Park!  Find the account that is right for you AND get your FREE EP Podcast Car Magnet there today! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in and around Evergreen Park and stay connected to your neighbors! New On-Demand Podcasts release on Mondays, with weekend specials on some Fridays. Every week Evergreen Park residents join their neighbors Chris & Hannah at a 9-foot homemade basement bar. Listen, interact & get all of your free subscription options at theEPpodcast.com​!

Meet the new head football coach of the Evergreen Park Mustangs. Jim Ramazinski sits down with us to talk about his plans, his relationship with previous head coach Jerry Verde & what it will be like to walk up to work few blocks from his home. A week after upsetting allegations rocked Most Holy Redeemer, the story has come to a good conclusion. We'll catch you up. And Chris shares his fear of the Easter Bunny. All of that and local news & events in "30 Minutes of Good!" Brought to you by The First National Bank of Evergreen Park!  Find the account that is right for you AND get your FREE EP Podcast Car Magnet there today! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in and around Evergreen Park and stay connected to your neighbors! New On-Demand Podcasts release on Mondays, with weekend specials on some Fridays. Every week Evergreen Park residents join their neighbors Chris & Hannah at a 9-foot homemade basement bar. Listen, interact & get all of your free subscription options at theEPpodcast.com​!

This week's "30 Minutes of Good" from The EP Podcast includes a visit from Mayor Kelly Burke, our good friend Frank Murray of The Evergreen Park Public Library, and the organizers behind a local fundraising event. Mayor Burke talks about a new event coming to Klein Park on August 11th, and updates us on the townhouse project she recently discussed on our show. Frank Murray has a bunch of events for the whole family, including some with NERF guns and craft beer. (Will they be part of the same event?) Plus, Most Holy Redeemer has a big fundraising event planned around their 80th Anniversary! Brought to you by The First National Bank of Evergreen Park!  Find the account that is right for you AND get your FREE EP Podcast Car Magnet there today! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in and around Evergreen Park and stay connected to your neighbors! New On-Demand Podcasts release on Mondays, with weekend specials on some Fridays. Every week Evergreen Park residents join their neighbor Chris Lanuti at a 9-foot homemade basement bar. Listen, interact & get all of your free subscription options at theEPpodcast.com​!

Monday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787; founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer--the Redemptorists--in 1732; appointed bishop of St. Agatha in 1756, where he served until his health was failing; died in his convent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/1/22 Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

August 1: Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, Bishop and Doctor1696–1787Memorial; Liturgical Color: WhitePatron Saint of moral theologians and confessorsA lawyer becomes holyToday's saint was given the gift of a comprehensive education by his parents from a young age. He finished his university studies with degrees in civil and canon law when he was just sixteen years old. After practicing law for eight years, and declining a marriage arranged by his father, the noble, highly educated, and intelligent Alphonsus made a mistake. A bad mistake. He overlooked a simple matter of fact in a legal proceeding and lost an important case for his client. Alphonsus was crushed by the embarrassment. He had never made such a galling, avoidable, public error before. But this one mistake would redound to the great benefit of the Church. Alphonsus decided to abandon the practice of law and his lust for vanity, wealth, and earthly glory. Shortly afterward, he heard an inner voice speak to him, on two separate occasions, while visiting the deathly ill at a hospital: “Leave the world and give yourself to me.” This was the turning point. Alphonsus made a dramatic gesture. He went to a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, placed his sword on the altar, and petitioned acceptance to a local religious Order.He was ordained a priest in 1726 and travelled throughout the region of Naples as a missionary, becoming well known as a lion in the pulpit and a lamb in the confessional. In 1732, after forming various friendships with local clergy and convents of nuns, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. The rest of Alphonsus' long life was spent building up this Order. Like so many nascent Orders, it struggled with internal divisions over its identity, matters of authority, and its specific mission in the Church. These struggles caused our saint no end of spiritual torment, especially after a deep division resulted from an act of forgery and betrayal by one of Alphonsus' closest priest collaborators.Saint Alphonsus took a personal vow to never waste a moment of time. It showed. He did everything, and he did it well. Amidst all of his duties as a founder and priest, he stole an hour hour here and an hour there to write a page or two, to dictate a few lines, or to take rough notes on a train of thought that had just crossed his mind. Over time, these stolen hours accumulated, and Alphonsus composed volume after volume on theology and devotion. He became particularly well known as a moral theologian. In that sensitive field of study, he acquired just the right balance. He was clear on the Church's teachings and demanding of its faithful but was not overly rigorous. His razor-thin moral distinctions clarified correct behavior on contentious topics but may seem belabored and overly detailed from a post-modern perspective. Alphonsus was personally scrupulous but aware of it. He never imposed his finely tuned conscience on the morally deaf. A Pontifical University in Rome dedicated to moral theology was founded by the Redemptorists and is named the Alphonsianum in his honor.Saint Alphonsus was made a bishop, over his objections, when he was sixty-six years old. He brought his typical energy and zeal to his diocesan responsibilities, demanding his priests celebrate Mass with true devotion or not at all. He maintained contact with every class of society as a bishop, no matter how downtrodden, poor, or forgotten a group was. His works on the Blessed Sacrament, the Virgin Mary, and Prayer became widely read. His reflections on the Stations of the Cross are still used in many parishes over two hundred years after his death. Alphonsus was also a talented musician and composed the music and words for a beloved Italian Christmas carol. After a long and holy life, he died at the age of ninety-one, an image of the Virgin Mary resting in his hands.Saint Alphonsus, may your life of spiritual suffering, writing, dedication to the truth, and apostolic energy provide sufficient witness for all priests and religious to do half as much as you did, laboring without cease for the good of the Church and the world.

As the MHR Carnival nears we sit down with Father James Hyland and Chris Brett of Most Holy Redeemer to learn why it was delayed, what will be at the event and why Father Hyland won't sing on stage. We are also at Music Fest this past weekend listening to live bands and hanging with neighbors in Evergreen Park. Two new winners for free golf at the EPCC Golf outing on 8/5 are also selected in "30 Minutes of Good!" Brought to you by The First National Bank of Evergreen Park!  Find the account that is right for you AND get your FREE EP Podcast Car Magnet there today! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in and around Evergreen Park and stay connected to your neighbors! New On-Demand Podcasts release on Mondays, with weekend specials on some Fridays. Every week Evergreen Park residents join their neighbor Chris Lanuti at a 9-foot homemade basement bar. Listen, interact & get all of your free subscription options at theEPpodcast.com​!

“Can I really be happy doing this?” Join hosts Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. David Pellican as they welcome Bishop Donald Hanchon, a Detroit native brimming with wisdom for vocational discernment. His Excellency shares his story of feeling called to the priesthood in grade school, attending high school seminary, and the questions and fears he faced along the way. A significant health concern in college seminary threatened his studies and brought him before Jesus in the Eucharist, a moment in which the Lord confirmed his vocation, “From your mother's womb, I have called you.” Bishop Hanchon reminds us that God's call for our life will bring us joy and satisfaction. (00:26) Fr. Craig Giera welcomes Fr. David Pellican and our audience to this episode reviewing the last one with Monsignor Tim Hogan and his experience as a Navy chaplain. This month's guest is Bishop Donald Hanchon, who is an auxiliary bishop here in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He shares a blessing about writing a talk recently for a Day of Prayer for the Family of Parishes' Central Region. Together they discuss a busy May with seniors graduating from high school, a chapel altar construction project, and artwork. (07:40) Fr. Craig shares a memory from his first year in the seminary, visiting Most Holy Redeemer parish, where the then-Monsignor Hanchon was pastor for many years. “I remember thinking, this guy is a cool guy.” His Excellency shares his passion for collecting memorabilia from his travels to the Holy Land and Mexico. Fr. Craig mentions his excitement over the upcoming Year of Prayer for Priestly Vocations, which starts with a Holy Hour with the Archbishop on the Vigil of Pentecost, June 4. (11:40) “When did you start thinking about being a priest?” Bishop Hanchon shares his experience of growing up with excellent models of the priesthood; he first thought of becoming a priest in grade school at St. Mary Parish in Wayne. He was invited to take the entrance exam at the high school seminary, which he did. During one of his interviews for admission, he remembers being asked, “Why do you want to be a priest?” He recalls sharing his response and the priest adding, “and to save your soul.” (19:50) College seminary: After a severe stomach ulcer that left him hospitalized, Bishop Hanchon feared he would be deemed unfit for the priesthood. Afraid, he went before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and crying before God, he felt his vocation was confirmed from Him quoting Jeremiah 1:5: “From your mother's womb, I have called you.” (23:23) “God has a sense of humor.” Bishop Hanchon served as the Director of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He shares: “A real vocation is something God gives you and that you respond to. If you think you have a vocation, talk to someone who knows more about vocations than you.” His Excellency feels God wanted him to discover the importance of friendship. This moved him to establish a priestly fraternity group, which has been going strong since 1975, allowing for the priests to hold each other accountable and trust one another with their blessings and difficulties. (39:45) Common fears: “Can I really be happy doing this?” Or “Can my son really be happy doing this?” Bishop Hanchon shares about the role of desire when it comes to discerning the priesthood. “Do you think God would call you against your will? That hasn't been my experience of God…. I don't think God wants you to be a priest if you don't want to be a priest.” Fr. David reminds us that His plan for each man is one of happiness and salvation. Fr. Craig details the challenges of the priesthood but explains how the sacrifice required is worth it. (53:00) Advice for men considering the priesthood: Bishop Hanchon explains his criteria: “Is this person generous with his time and patience?” Further, he shares that a man should also be “in the habit of prayer … and be open where God is leading you.” Bishop Hanchon closes the episode with encouragement and prayer.

This past weekend the Most Holy Redeemer grounds along 95th street were packed for a huge outdoor party. Join us for "30 Minutes of Good" recorded at the MHR Men's Club BBQ Bash. We chat with rib cooking teams, neighbors, friends and some noteworthy public figures like Mayor Kelly Burke and Village Trustee Norm Anderson. John Brand of Open Outcry Brewing Company also poured free beer from our competition tent, all while marveling at the kind of party Evergreen Park throws. If you were there, or if you missed it, we have all the festivities covered for you! Brought to you by The First National Bank of Evergreen Park!  Find the account that is right for you AND get your FREE EP Podcast Car Magnet there today! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in and around Evergreen Park, and stay connected to your neighbors! New On-Demand Podcasts release on Mondays, with a weekend update on Fridays. Every week Evergreen Park residents join their neighbors Chris Lanuti and Hannah Beth at a 9-foot homemade basement bar. Listen, interact & get all of your free subscription options at theEPpodcast.com​!

After Labor Day each year Evergreen Park launches into week after week of local events, festivals, parties and fun. We have everything you need to know as the village-wide garage sale and a fall tradition at Most Holy Redeemer will headline this week. We also visit with the Evergreen Park American Legion. They have a brand new FREE family event featuring cool cars and motorcycles near the end of September! Join us for "30 Minutes of Good!" Brought to you by The First National Bank of Evergreen Park!  Find the account that is right for you AND get your FREE EP Podcast Car Magnet there today! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in and around Evergreen Park, and stay connected to your neighbors! New On-Demand Podcasts release on Mondays, with a weekend update on Fridays. Every week Evergreen Park residents join their neighbors Chris Lanuti and Hannah Beth at a 9-foot homemade basement bar. Listen, interact & get all of your free subscription options at theEPpodcast.com​!

Blessed Chiara Badano poured out the love of God into a rich and generous life. Chiara Badano was a beautiful young woman who yearned to be the love of God to others. Her love knew no limits as she said "yes" to Jesus in everything, even to the point of suffering and death at an early age. She lived her best life with Jesus at her side.Our podcaster today is Liz Artymko. Liz is a young woman who works as a Young Adult Coordinator for the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, The Redemptorists. She has been working in ministry for 4 years and has spent a year after high school volunteering her time to a 'live-in' community in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba's capital in Canada, serving and ministering to the "most poor and abandoned." She now lives with her two cats, Miss Chew and Adonis. Liz loves to express herself through dance, photography, and digital art. Her most recent adventure is to start a business with her digital art! Making art for others and of the saints has helped to pass the time during the lockdowns in Canada and to bring joy to the little moments of her day.Read more about today's featured podcaster and saint here: https://www.littlewithgreatlove.com/blessed-chiara-badano/This podcast is sponsored by: Littlewithgreatlove.com + Redbird.love.Special thanks to slacker, Jeff Sanchez, for voiceover work; guest podcaster Liz Artymko; teammates Danielle Knight & Alyssa Sanchez; Karla Alfaro, and musician Rev. Dr. Martin Lohrmann.

Chris and Hannah celebrate Christmas in Evergreen Park with special guests Father Paul Guzman of Most Holy Redeemer and the return of Village Trustee Mark Marzullo. Plus, a special edition of "Mixology With Mike" to help you entertain guests with easy to make fancy cocktails! Get the latest news and information concerning everything going on in Evergreen Park! Every week Evergreen Park residents join their neighbor Chris Lanuti in his 9-foot homemade oak bar in his basement for "30 Minutes of Good". Got something to say? Call us at 708-459-8406 anytime and leave a message. #30MinutesOfGood #EvergreenPark #WeAreEvergreen

The superior of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Transalpine Redemptorists), based at Golgotha Monastery on the Orkney island of Papa Stronsay. A completely Traditional Order, their canonical status was regularised after having reconciled with the Holy See following Summorum Pontificum, having previously worked for many years with the SSPX.

Summary of today's show: For the past 25 years, Colbe Mazzarella has organized hundreds of people for a Good Friday Way of the Cross for Life through Boston, stopping at churches and in front of abortion clinics to pray for the end of the awful practice and offer reparations for their sins and those of our country and the world. Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell discuss with Colbe how the Way of the Cross has grown over the years into three simultaneous walks averaging about 400 people giving witness through the city. In preparation for Palm Sunday, Scot, Fr. Mark, and Colbe read and discuss the lengthy Passion narrative. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Colbe Mazzarella Links from today's show: Today's topics: Way of the Cross for Life 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Mark to the show. On today's show, we will be hearing and discussing the Passion narrative for Sunday, but first we'll talk to Colbe Mazzarella, organizer of the Way of the Cross for Life. Scot said the US bishops have asked everyone to pray and fast for religious liberty and protection of conscience. If everyone hasn't heard that yet, they could pray with us this prayer from the . O GOD OUR CREATOR, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome— for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us— this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Mark welcomed Colbe Mazzarella. Scot congratulated hero n the 25th year for the Way of Cross for Life. It started when she read a newspaper article about someone starting a similar walk in California. She told people what a good idea it is and when no one else started it she did. On Good Friday, they walk and stop and pray in front of several churches and abortion clinics, following three different simultaneous routes. They start at 9 am and usually end by noon and so people go on to a Good Friday service. They walk through Boston and Brookline and East Boston. Colbe noted how often as the people walk, praying not protesting, they get a good response from those who see them. Scot said the Good Friday connection helps people to acknowledge their own sinfulness, especially as it relates to the topic of abortion. They offer up reparation for our sins and the sins throughout the world. Colbe said reparation means “to repair” something bad that has happened, and abortion is something bad that is harming our whole culture. We need to make reparation as a whole nation. Scot asked how it's different now from 25 years ago. Colbe said for her, she started pushing a stroller with her baby and now he's a math teacher. Over the years, they've added reflections to the traditional Stations of the Cross that include a pro-life meditation that goes with each station. In Boston they start at Government Center. In Brookline they start at Planned Parenthood on Comm. Ave in Allston. In East Boston, the begin at Holy Redeemer. That walk ends at the Madonna Shrine. Colbe said attendance does fluctuate with the weather, but there's usually 400 or so who are usually there. The East Boston walk is more of a neighborhood event. In downtown Boston they walk through the business district and end up at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The Brookline/Allston walk mainly follows the streets of Allston. Colbe said Most Holy Redeemer is mainly Spanish speaking, so the prayers alternate Spanish and English. It has a touch of Latin cultural flavor. You don't have to sign up. Just show up at one of the starting points. Scot asked about the ups and downs of doing this ministry over 25 years. Colbe said having something that happens on a particular day every year makes it easier over something that's more open-ended. Having people who are meeting on a schedule is very important, whatever volunteer ministry you lead. Colbe said the walk is a mirror of what Jesus did: walk through the city with some people they pass for them and some against. It also keeps Jesus' suffering as something timeless, connecting the suffering of Christ with the troubles in own lives and our place. Fr. Mark ask if people are really against them and Colbe said they do hear awful things yelled at them. In response, they respond like Christ, silently and praying for the person. Scot asked what a difference it's made in her children's and grandchildren's lives to make such a public witness of their faith. Colbe said it's great to start when they're young so they don't see it as unusual. Her kids walk right up front holding the banner and later in life they're used to stepping up. When they see someone being negative, they see one angry individual versus a large group of prayerful people. They've borrowed the Holy Thursday tradition of the station churches. At each church, they go inside and say two of the stations. They also have Bible readings, going verse by verse through Salvation History, from Genesis to Revelation. Some of the stops include the Paulist Center, St. Thomas More chapel (even though it's closed now), St. Anthony's Shrine, St. James in Chinatown, Holy Trinity, and the cathedral. At the cathedral they make the same two stations, but are led by Cardinal Sean. This year it's in the downstairs chapel. They discussed the renovations that have happened in the cathedral, including the beautiful chapel. They also discussed the various languages prayed in the cathedral. Colbe said most people walk the whole route, but people do join along the way. 3rd segment: Now as we do each week, we look forward to the readings from this Sunday's Mass. We will hear the Gospel of the Pasison Narrative read in four voices. The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were to take place in two days' time. So the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to arrest him by treachery and put him to death. They said, “Not during the festival, for fear that there may be a riot among the people.” When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. There were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for more than three hundred days' wages and the money given to the poor.” They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he came with the Twelve. And as they reclined at table and were eating, Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one, “Surely it is not I?” He said to them, “One of the Twelve, the one who dips with me into the dish. For the Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will have your faith shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be dispersed. But after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be.” Then Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” But he vehemently replied, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all spoke similarly. Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch.” He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing. Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him. He returned a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand.” Then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him. One of the bystanders drew his sword, struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to seize me? Day after day I was with you teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me; but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled. Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked. They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. Peter followed him at a distance into the high priest's courtyard and was seated with the guards, warming himself at the fire. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none. Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. Some took the stand and testified falsely against him, alleging, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands.'” Even so their testimony did not agree. The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus, saying, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Christ, the son of the Blessed One?” Then Jesus answered, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.'” At that the high priest tore his garments and said, “hat further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as deserving to die. Some began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and struck him and said to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards greeted him with blows. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest's maids came along. Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” So he went out into the outer court. Then the cock crowed. The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” Once again he denied it. A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, “Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean.” He began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man about whom you are talking.” And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and wept. As soon as morning came, the chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of.” Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested. A man called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed. Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate again said to them in reply, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?” They shouted again, “Crucify him.” Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the praetorium, and assembled the whole cohort. They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. They began to salute him with, AHail, King of the Jews!” and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him. They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. They brought him to the place of Golgotha — which is translated Place of the Skull — They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself by coming down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him. At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. Here all kneel and pause for a short time. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. When it was already evening, since it was the day of preparation, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the council, who was himself awaiting the kingdom of God, came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was amazed that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died. And when he learned of it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. Having bought a linen cloth, he took him down, wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid. Scot said when he prays this on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, it's always difficult to shout as part of the crowd. But it drives home our own sin. Colbe said we do crucify Christ when we sin and so it's only appropriate that we are the ones to voice that. Fr. Mark said most priests don't preach a long homily after this, but usually emphasize the entry into Holy Week. But a few interesting parts include the line about the young man wrapped in a linen cloth, who some say was the author of the Gospel, St. Mark. It doesn't say it's Mark, but why is it in there? Other possible appearances of Mark might be the rich, young man and the young man who peers into the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. Scot noted that effects of nature, when true darkness falls over the land, earthquake, the veil in the Temple being torn in two. We could have been one of those shouting for the crucifixion, but we could also be the pagan centurion giving testimony, having witnessed the three hours darkness and the momentous events. Why is it just the single voice who reads this line? Colbe said it's always fewer who see Christ for who he is. But we are often both those who call for the crucifixion, and also those who express our belief. Scot said thinks about how often we are faced with choosing Jesus or Barabbas in our life, i.e. something that is a replacement for Jesus. How often do we choose not-Jesus? It could be as basic as praying more or watching television? Listening to Catholic talk radio or sports talk radio. Fr. Mark said we could be Pilate, who finds his way out and not understanding the full consequences of what he does. Rick Heil, producer, said we could be Simon Cyrenean, the bystander called from the crowd to perform a minor but extremely important role. People are often willing to step up and help if only they're asked. Scot said Judas comes off worst in this reading, but second worst in Peter. Eventually Jesus gives Peter a chance to repent, to choose Christ instead of himself three times, and then making him Pope. We can never do something that Jesus won't forgive. Choose Peter's way, not Judas' way. Colbe said the biggest difference between Judas and Peter is Judas wouldn't turn to Jesus, couldn't believe in forgiveness. Scot said the Agony in the Garden often gets overlooked in this long narrative, but there are important choices in that scene. For instance, the apostles couldn't stay awake and pray with Jesus for three hours. Sometimes we need to give our attention and best effort to accompany him in prayer. Let him accompany us. This was a gift to the apostles, to be in Christ's presence in that moment. Fr. Mark said we should pledge to spend time during Holy Week with Christ in the garden. Perhaps that could include the Way of the Cross for Life.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Bishop Robert F. Hennessey, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston for the Central Region and Fr. David Barnes, Pastor of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Parish in Beverly, MA Links from today's show: Today's topics: Confession and Preparing for Christmas Summary of today's show: Bishop Robert F. Henneseey and Fr. David Barnes discuss with Scot Landry the importance of Confession as a spiritual preparation for Christmas and on this Wednesday, the Archdiocese's The Light Is On For You program makes every church and chapel available for Confessions that evening. Many of the myths and misconceptions of Confession are debunked and the wonderful spiritual benefits are revealed. Also, other ways to use this last week of Advent to make the best preparation for Christmas and the Incarnation of Christ. 1st segment: Scot said we hear a lot in Advent to prepare the way of the Lord. One good way to do that is to make a good holy confession between now and christmas. This Wednesday, every church and chapel in the Archdiocese will be open from 6:30pm to 8pm as part of . The recalled the anniversary of Bishop Hennessey's ordination to the episcopate on last Monday, December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He's been a bishop for five years. Scot said he meets many people as a bishop, but only sees them once. Bishop Hennessey said as a bishop you don't have the same relationship with people as you did when you were a pastor. He loves going out to the parishes and doing confirmations, but he does miss life in a parish. Fr. David was the youngest pastor in the Archdiocese when he became pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea and he was parochial vicar before that and has been there 12 years. Bishop Hennessy said when he was pastor at Most Holy Redeemer in East Boston, he did more than 400 baptism a year and he still has people come up to him and say he baptized them. He said East Boston has been a gateway for newly arriving immigrants. Fr. David said he does about 75 in his own very large parish. Scot said Cardinal Seán launched The Light Is On For You during Lent 2010. It is occurring just one Wednesday this Advent on Wednesday, December 21. Bishop Hennessey said a lot of priests said during Advent that they would spend a lot of time preparing people for the new missal and wouldn't have as much time preaching on confession, plus one of the Wednesday's would be the vigil of the Immaculate Conception. Scot encouraged listeners to go to for resources on preparing for confession. He asked how Fr. David was encouraging people to come to confession. He said he preaches about confession quite a bit and blogs on it and writes in the parish bulletin. The kids at the parish school have also gone to confession and hopefully they're encouraging their parents. He said the more you talk about it and offer it, the more people will come to it. He notices that most of the people who come to confession to him now are under 40. The more you offer it and the more people know you're waiting, the more they will come. He said for a long time people thought you didn't need to come anymore. Bishop Hennessey said he remembers in the second grade, Sr. Marie Patrick asking them why Jesus came as a little baby. She said he did so because nobody is afraid of a baby. During Advent, people who say they are afraid to go to confession, that God won't forgive them, it's important to remember that God doesn't want us to fear him. Scot said we often picture God as a strong judgmental father, but Scot likes to remember the father of the prodigal son who races out to embrace his son and has a celebration to welcome the son home. It's the priest's role to be that loving father. Fr. David said in the parables Jesus said there is more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over 99 who don't need to repentant. Bishop hennessey said when we stand before God, it's natural to be afraid, like Mary before Gabriel and the shepherds before the choir of angels, but Jesus came into the world to save us, not condemn us. Scot said sometimes people forget the prayers and feel like they don't know how to go to confession, but all priests are willing to help someone through the process. Fr. David said that it's music to their ears because that's the person who needs to go the most. Scot said some people might be embarrassed by their sins and voicing their sins is intimidating. Bishop Hennessey said the success of The Light Is On For You is that people can go anywhere and not be recognized. Scot said he also likes the anonymity of the confessional box. He likes that he doesn't have to look someone in the eye so he can pray with his eyes closed. Fr. David said it's nice for people to see others also going to confession at the same time of all sorts and walks of life. Bishop Hennessey said a priest doesn't want to yell at someone and drive them away. Regarding sins that people think are too big, Bishop Hennessey said it is impossible for us to commit a sin God can't forgive. For people who think they will confess something that will shock the priest, Fr. David said anyone who's been a priest more than a week can't be shocked. The confessional is not a place of punishment; it's a place to receive the peace and love of Christ. Bishop Hennessey said when someone says it's been a long time, the priest thinks that's music to his ears. It's a great thing to experience. Bishop Hennessey said when they started the program a couple of priests were reluctant to do it, but after Lent they called him and said it was worth it because they had heard confessions of people who had been away for a long time. Scot said having heard many thousands of confessions in his life for Bishop Hennessy to be a witness to the grace must be one of the joys of the priesthood. Fr. David said it's a privilege. He said the best thing is a long line of confessions. It's exhausting, but this is what being a priest is all about. Bishop Hennessey said when he gives a penance and they say “Is that all?”, he explains no penance can pay back the debt of the sin, we can't make up for our sins. But it is an act that says we are willing to try to make some reparation and to start off on the right path. 2nd segment: Scot said Fr. David wrote about the Sacrament of Confession on his blog last Wednesday and one passage struck him: If you are particularly embarrassed about some sin or another, just say it. Usually, sins of the flesh are the ones that are most embarrassing. What is so amazing is how these sins appear to exercise such power over a person and then, the moment a person confesses them, they realize that the power of these sins evaporates. Sexual sins embarrass people into not confessing. But confessing these sins deprives the sins of all of their imaginary power. To this end, let me say that the priest hearing confessions has heard the words, “adultery, fornication, homosexual activity, pornography, and masturbation” before. Unless you happen to be the first person ever to go to confession to that priest, you are not going to tell him anything he hasn't already heard many times. What struck Scot about this is the power that some sins have over because we feel shame and guilt and we're not willing to ask forgiveness, even if it's a sin that keeps rearing its ugly head with us. Fr. David said he thinks it's St. John Vianney who said first the Devil comes and whispers in one ear that this sin isn't the biggest deal in the world so don't worry, then whispers in the other ear, now yo've done and God will never forgive you. Scot said Fr. Larry Richards often says to men that they should just say “I've been impure with…” and every priest will know what you mean. But the grace you will feel and forgiveness will be multiples of grace over the embarrassment. Bishop Hennessey said a lot of healing comes when you can just voice the sins. That's when people feel that great sense of relief. Scot quoted Fr. David's blog: “Remember, priests go to confession too. We know what it is like to be on the other side of the screen.” Fr. David said the priest is the first to need God's mercy and to be a good minister of mercy he must go to confession too. He says people are often surprised to hear that priests need to go to confession. Bishop Hennessey suggests people go to confession at least once per month. He recalls a retired priest kneeling down next to a young priest going to confession and it was a beautiful image. Scot said his friend Andreas Widmer tells the story of a priest who had fallen on hard times in Rome and became homeless. A priest going into an audience with Pope John Paul II noticed the homeless priest on the streets outside the Vatican and so he told the Holy Father about it. After the audience the Holy Father sought out the homeless priest and had him brought to dinner and at the end of dinner, the Holy Father knelt before the homeless priest and asked him to hear his confession. Bishop Hennessey said a former cardinal of New York would mention going to confession the previous week in almost every homily. When priests remind the people in the pew that priests go to confession, it's good for them. Fr. David said the present archbishop of New York says he slips into a pew at a random church in New York for confession. Scot said every time he goes to confession at St. Anthony Shrine in downtown Boston, he sees a priest waiting already. Scot tends to go at 6:30am at St. Anthony's. It's moving to him that Archbishop Dolan might show up at any church in New York to ask a priest to hear his confession. Bishop Hennessey said there used to be a chapel just for priests to go to confession. Fr. David also wrote: “After you've confessed all of your sins, let the priest know that you are done. A lot of people say something like, “For these and for all of my sins, I am truly sorry.” This helps the priest to know that you have finished confessing.” Scot said he never realized how important this is. Fr. David said often people are holding the hardest sin until the end and he doesn't want to cut them off. Scot said he likes to get the big one out of the way first. Fr. David said people who have been involved with an abortion carry that burden with them for decades. Sometimes they go on living a Catholic on appearances only because they're so ashamed and bothered by the sin. He wants them to know that they should never be afraid. He said you almost always know immediately when someone is coming to confess that sin. Bishop Hennessey said the father of the prodigal son was waiting for his son and Jesus is waiting for people to give them that forgiveness. Scot emphasized that to find a parish in the Archdiocese, go to . 3rd segment: Scot said Bishop Hennessey said he came to the show today in order to tell his Christmas story. He was told a story of girl going home to tell her grandmother that she was in the Christmas pageant. She said she was going to be the star, she would have the most important role. So the grandma told her friends to come see her granddaughter be Mary. But during the pageant, the granddaughter was nowhere to be seen until the star came in wordlessly to lead the shepherds to the manger and then came back to bring in the magi. It turns out she was literally the star of the pageant. The little girl told her grandmother that it was the most important role because she brought everyone to the baby Jesus. Scot said this week is the easiest week to invite people to come back to the Church. Be one of the people that rejoices at the the full pews and that you can't get your regular pew because so many people are there. Bishop Hennessey said he was just a meeting that told him that in the Central Region Mass attendance is going up. Scot about other ways to prepare for Christmas in the last few days of Advent. Bishop Hennessey said it aggravates him to see new stories of people shopping on Christmas Eve as if they didn't know Christmas was coming. If we're not ready when we know the day and time, how will we be ready when we don't know the day and time, either of our own death or the second coming of Christ. He said we tend to wait until the last minute. We can make last preparations this week, but to take a real look at ourselves and not kid ourselves. We need to make ourselves ready. Fr. David said they just set up the rather large nativity set in his parish and you inevitably hear the question of where is Jesus. He said he reflects that without Christ the manger is empty. Now matter how much stuff we have in our life, no matter how many relationships, if Christ isn't there, it is a great emptiness. Bishop Hennessey said in all that preparation, on Christmas God wants to give us a gift, His Son. He pictures the Blessed Mother herself saying, “I have him right here in my arms for you.” He's seen so much charity over the past few weeks, but with all the gifts we want to give to others, and God wants to give us his son. Fr. David said we are born with a great desire for happiness. God tells us his son is the answer to that desire, but everything is competing for that. Stores spend months telling us if we buy these as gifts, we'll be happy, but the lie is exposed when on the day after Christmas the sales start because we're still not happy. Scot asked people to create a list this week of things that will help us to grow closer to Christ this Christmas. He advised people to reflect on the Gospels of the nativity narratives this week before Mass. Christmas isn't just about gifts and isn't just about family or even about the birth of a baby. That baby is God himself. Bishop Hennessey said on the top of that list is to go to Confession this Wednesday at any parish or chapel. Scot asked Fr. David if they always do confessions at the school before Christmas. He said they do it before Christmas and Easter. He said it's so important because he wants the kids to remember the rest of their lives that they can go to confession when they commit sin. They will also remember that the priests didn't yell at them, but offered only forgiveness. Bishop Hennessey will be at St. Peter's in South Boston at the vigil on Christmas. He will be at the cloistered convent at Midnight Mass. Fr. David said he will have Masses at St. Mary's and St. Margaret's in Beverly Farms.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell**Today's guest(s):** Fr. Richard Erikson, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston, and Colbe Mazzarella, founder and organizer of the Way of the Cross for Life on Good Friday.    * [Archdiocese of Boston's Annual Report for 2010](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/annualreport)* [Life Matters TV show](http://www.lifematterstv.org/)* ["Way of the Cross for Life tradition continues" (The Pilot, 4/2/2004)](http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=1603)* [Way of the Cross for Life - Meetup](http://www.meetup.com/Way-of-the-Cross-for-Life/)**Today's topics:** Fr. Richard Erikson's role as vicar general and moderator of the curia; the Archdiocese's balanced budget; and the Way of the Cross for Life**A summary of today's show:** Fr. Erikson tells Scot and Fr. Mark what the vicar general and moderator of the curia does and then talks about the milestone of the Archdiocese's balanced budget, which is a foundation for the future of the church in Boston. Colbe Mazzarella discusses her founding of the Way of the Cross for Life as a spiritual component of the pro-life movement. Then a discussion of the first Gospel for Palm Sunday.**1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Mark back to the show. Fr. Mark was in Washington DC with the Canon Law Society of America. He is a member of the board of governors. There are thousands of members. Tomorrow, as the judicial vicar, he is the chaplain of the Catholic Lawyers Guild, and on the Saturday before Palm Sunday they have a day of recollection. Fr. Ed Riley will lead the day. All Catholic Lawyers and judges are welcome at the Pastoral Center tomorrow. Scot asked why the annual Mass for lawyers is called the Red Mass. Fr. Mark said it has medieval origins. It connects with the robes that the priests wore during that Mass, which were red.**2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark welcome Fr. Richard Erikson to The Good Catholic Life. Scot asks what Fr. Richard's job entails. He was asked by Cardinal Sean to take on the job five years ago and even then he didn't have a full understanding. Vicar comes from the word vicarious. So his job is to take Cardinal Sean's vision and make it reality. His job is to reflect the mind and the heart of the bishop. He said Cardinal Sean has an enormous mind and an enormous heart. He has the heart of a shepherd. There are a number of vicars general in the Archdiocese. The auxiliary bishops are also vicars general and Fr. Mark says that Fr. Rich's role is unique because of his job as moderator of the curia. The curia are all those who work in the Archdiocese, those who work in the Pastoral Center and all the priests. He is the pastor for them.Fr. Mark asked what are the privileges of his role. Fr. Rich said he has the privilege of working in Christ's name to bring Christ to others, to build the kingdom of God in the Archdiocese. It is also a responsibility of leadership as well.Scot said that on his first day of work, Fr. Rich talked with him about the ministry of development, and Fr. Rich talks about the ministry of administration. Fr. Rich is also an Air Force chaplain. What does it mean to have a ministry of administration? He says it's difficult not to be a parish priest. He had imagined he would spend his life in parishes. Everything we do in the Pastoral Center i service to others, to parishes, to hospitals, to others in carrying out the mission of Christ. Even though he spends a lot of time in meetings and writing memos and looking at budgets, all of it is service to Christ and the Catholic community. Scot noted that he was astounded when he learned how big the Archdiocese is, how many ministries there are, how many organizations. Fr. Rich said what even more impressive than the scope of the operations is the dedication of the people on the staff and the hours people spend and the devotion and commitment. He didn't know before he became vicar general that there were 144 communities in the archdiocese. His parish encompasses 1.8 million people. He's learned that there are wonderful people who devote their lives to Christ and the Church with great sacrifice, day in and day out. It includes people who also work in administrative positions.Fr. Rich had enumerated four pillars he hoped that all ministries would embrace: Service, outreach, communication, and coordination. The most important person in the archdiocese today is the person who will ring a doorbell looking for a priest, a prisoner seeking ministry, a child receiving First Communion. In outreach, we are about what happens outside this building in the parishes of the archdiocese. Communication: To get the message of Christ, we make the best use, particularly through the Catholic Media secretariat using modern means. Coordination: The Archdiocese is very complex with a need for many different departments, like benefits, payroll, legal, etc., plus coordinating with the five regions of the archdiocese and all the vicariates and parishes within them.**3rd segment:** For the first time in Cardinal Sean's tenure, the Archdiocese has achieved a balanced budget for central ministries. Fr. Rich said its extraordinary given the challenges Cardinal Sean had. He began with a $15 million deficit. The Knights of Columbus had given loans to help, but the loans had up to $3 million in interest payments. To get here has required a great deal of sacrifice. First, there is the generosity of the people of the Archdiocese of Boston, sticking with the Church through the darkest hour of our history. Second, there is the great work of the staff in the Annual Catholic Appeal, which is to the archdiocese what the weekly offertory is to parishes. Third, the work of Jim McDonough, the chancellor, and his staff, bringing the best practices of finances and administration to the archdiocese. The sacrifices have included most painfully reductions in staff. The people in the Pastoral Center are doing more with less. Fr. Mark asked about future signs of hope. Fr. Rich said he sees the balanced budget is something to be built on. We have made remarkable strides in evangelization over the past few years through the [Arise](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/ARISE.aspx?pid=464) program and [Catholics Come Home](http://www.catholicscomehomeboston.org) and the [The Light Is On For You](http://www.thelightisonforyou.org). These wouldn't happen if we didn't have our financial house in order and didn't have t he generosity of our people.Scot said one of the headlines for him that he didn't see in the secular coverage is the amount of information that's there and how transparent there is. No other diocese comes close. Fr. Rich said trust is so important in a diocese so devastated by the abuse of minors and what the Church did not do in relation to those crimes. Transparency is one more indication of the Cardinal's desire to earn the trust of the people of the Archdiocese.Fr. Mark said both the cardinal and the chancellor speak with optimism of the Improved Financial Relationship Model. Fr. Rich said Scot had the vision of a new relationship in terms of finances and stewardship between central ministries and the parishes of the archdiocese. Scot saw that the model for fundraising in the archdiocese needed improvement. The model is to increase offertory giving at the parish level--which has already seen great success--and then to have a fair share by each parish in its contributions to the central ministries. It's not about increasing what central ministries receives. It's about dividing the pie more fairly. It's not about money, but it's about relationships. The 30 parishes in the first phase have a far greater connection to central ministries and far greater sense of the Universal Church.Fr. Rich has [written about Holy Week](http://pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13236) in the Pilot this week. It's about Palm Sunday. As a priest he looks forward to next week for the opportunity to focus on our journey with Christ. The article looks at the Passion of the Lord and the fact that the Lord is with us. He encourages everyone to make the time to be with Christ next week.**4th segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark are joined by Colbe Mazzarella. She started the Way of the Cross for Life. Back in the 80s she heard about a Walk for Life on the West Coast and 24 years later it continues. There are three processions: one in Boston with Cardinal Sean; another in East Boston; and the original that used to start in Brookline. they used to walk between three different abortion clinics, but they've all since closed. That procession is now in Allston in front of Planned Parenthood. They all start at 9am.The Boston route starts at Government Center and all the stops are at churches. The Paulist Center is next to the State House, St. Anthony Shrine, St. James in Chinatown, and Holy Cross Cathedral. They saw two stations per stop and do readings.This is not a protest. There are no signs or anything. They carry a cross and a statue of Our Lady.Fr. Mark said when he did this in Rome, there is something invigorating about crossing the street with a big crowd of people witnessing to Christ. Colbe said it's about making reparation, like Jesus walking through the streets of Jerusalem, getting mixed reactions, being a witness. East Boston starts at Most Holy Redeemer. The Allston way stays in front of Planned Parenthood. The East Boston procession ends at the Madonna shrine in Orient Heights.At the cathedral, Cardinal Sean leads the last two stations and leads a consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The procession at the cathedral ends at noon and people usually stay for Good Friday services.Scot asked about the pro-life movement not being just about politics, but is about prayer and sacrifice as well. Colbe said politics is a means to an end. They're trying to help mothers and fathers and babies live a good life and end up in heaven. They're concentrating on the spiritual side of things. On Good Friday, Christ is pierced for what we do wrong. It's not just about women who've had abortions, but for all of us who may have failed to help someone in a crisis pregnancy or otherwise were silent. It has the spiritual goal to be in union with God. Christ asked us to take up His cross and follow Him.Fr. Mark noted that Colbe has eight children. This is a family friendly event. They take two hours to walk what would normally take 20 minutes. There are people with strollers and others walking with a cane.Scot asked how people could do something like this in their town? She said they've had others who've done Ways of the Cross for Life as far as India. She has a booklet that she can send or email anyone. Email her at [ccmaz@aol.com](mailto:ccmazz@aol.com).Colbe said that after 24 of these Ways of the Cross for Life, she knows that she has served Christ. It's not a great burden to organize it. Pick a time or place and invite others. Emphasis is on prayer, not on confrontation.**5th segment:** Scot, Fr. Mark, and Colbe consider the Gospel for Sunday. Because the Palm Sunday includes all of the Passion which is very long, they will consider the first Gospel that is read at the beginning of Mass.April 17, 2011 Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, Gospel of the Procession of the Palms (Matthew 21:1-11)>When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.' Then he will send them at once.”>>This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: Say to daughter Zion, “Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” >>The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” >>And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”Holy Week begins an understanding of Jesus as king, connecting to the Old Testament. Fr. Mark said he connected it with Colbe feeling sent to do something. Likewise, the disciples are sent and the result is the glory of Jesus. We do our part for the Lord and and Christ does the rest. We lead people to ask the question, "Who is this Jesus?"Colbe says she loves that we are in different roles within the crowd of different roles at different times in our lives. Scot said that in the Holy Father's new book, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection, he dictates it to the entrance to Jerusalem. He says hosanna is understood that it is connected to the coming of the king. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord would fulfill the messianic promises. Kings of the day controlled the means of transportation. The people understand that Christ at least believes he is the new king, but he is a king unlike what they were expecting, a king of peace, of simplicity, of the poor. Fr. Mark said they were ready to cheer the king they thought he was, but they abandoned him when he wasn't what they thought.The Holy Father also says the Palm Sunday is an anticipation of what the Church does each day in her liturgy. The Church sees the coming of Christ again and again in the bread and wine. The Church greets Him as one who continues to come. As a pilgrim, He comes to us and take us in His ascent to the cross and resurrection to the New Jerusalem.Fr. Mark said it is a perfect time to come home to the Church, to walk with Christ into the glories of Jerusalem. Don't wait for Easter. Come Palm Sunday with us on the journey.

  **Today's hosts:** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor, vice-rector of St. John's Seminary **Today's guests:** Bishop Robery Hennessey, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Boston, and Sinisa Ubiparipovic, a seminarian studying at St./ John's Seminary. **Today's topics:** The Light Is On For You, Lenten confessions, a seminarian from Yugoslavia, the St. James Society and South America * [St. John's Seminary](http://www.sjs.edu) * [The Light Is On For You](http://www.thelightisonforyou.org) * [St. James Society](http://www.socstjames.com/) **A summary of today's show:** Bishop Robert Hennessey reflects on the beauty of the Sacrament of Confession and the message of God's forgiveness it contains. He also notes the wonderful success of The Light Is On For You, a confession initiative during Lent and Advent. Seminarian Sinisa Ubiparipovic talked of his journey to seminary and his recent travels to South America with the St. James Society, while Bishop Hennessey recalled his years with the Society, the important work they do, and the important fruit it continues to bear for the Archdiocese. **1st segment:** Fr. Chris O'Connor joined Scot on the show for the first time. He shared some of his background that brought him to the seminary. He grew up in Dorchester and Quincy, went to BC High, attended St. John's Seminary College, went to Rome for a year, returned to finish his studies, spent some time in St. Mary, Chelmsford, received a doctorate in Philosophy from Catholic U in DC.  St. John's has had a renewal in recent years. It has almost reached capacity with seminarians and continues to grow. Many of the men entering were inspired by the example of Pope John Paul II. Bishop Arthur Kennedy, the rector, has provided great leadership and expanded their mission to become a regional seminary. It also offers a series of lay leadership and ministry formation courses. There is a master of arts in ministry program to form parish ministers. They also offer catechetical certificates. On Thursday at 11am, Cardinal Seán and Bishop Kennedy will announce a new lay formation program during a press conference at the cathedral, followed by the St. Patrick's Day Mass. **2nd segment:** Bishop Robert Hennessey joined the program. He was ordained a bishop on December 12, 2006. Prior to that, he served the Church in various ways, including the St. James Society. He grew up in South Boston at St. Augustine's parish. He attended St. John Seminary and then served in several parishes and then went to Bolivia for several years with the St. James Society. He then served Most Holy Redeemer in East Boston, the largest Spanish-speaking parish in the archdiocese, as pastor for 12 years. Then he was appointed as bishop. Two years ago he was appointed to lead The Light Is On For You, a Confession initiative for Lent and Advent. Confession is not just for Lent, Bishop Hennessey said, but frequent confession is good for us. It is a great place to find out, not that we're bad, but that we're loved by God. Even if we disappoint God or anger Him through our sins, we are still beloved of Him. Fr. Chris asked the bishop which Scripture passage he would say is the best to talk about Confession. The bishop loves the Prodigal Son, mainly because the young man was able to admit his faults, but also before he could tell his father that he was no longer worthy to be his son, the father cut him off with his loving forgiveness. We cannot say we are not worthy to be loved by the Father, because His love is a free gift of His grace and His very nature. Scot said that it is not just the story of the Prodigal Son, but also the story of the Loving Father. Bishop Hennessey said that the father was keeping watch for his son, because we know he saw the son coming back from a distance. In Pope Benedict's book, "Jesus of Nazareth", he says it's not just the Prodigal Son, but the Prodigal Son*s*, because it is both sons who disappoint their father and who need forgiveness. * [Jesus of Nazareth](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1586171984/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1586171984) Bishop Hennessey said that the adage is true: Confession is good for the soul. He is always amazed in hearing confessions that people are willing to share with him those intense moments of their lives and feels great being an instrument of that forgiveness of God. Scot observed that the Sacrament of Penance is not used as frequently as it used to be, citing a recent study: 14% of Catholics go several times a year or more, 12% once per year, 30% less than once per year and 45% can't remember their last confession. * [Sacraments Today: Belief and Practice among US Catholics, CARA study](http://cara.georgetown.edu/sacraments.html) Bishop Hennessey said he thinks people just got out of the habit. In his childhood, he remembers that everyone went to confession on Saturdays. That was the only thing going on in the Church on Saturdays. But now, the vigil Mass puts a limit on how long the priest can be in the confessional. A part of the reason is we're not providing as many opportunities for confession. This is why they chose Wednesday for The Light Is On For You because Saturday from 3-4pm is so busy in our modern lives. Fr. Chris agreed that part of the lack of use of the sacrament is because so many people no longer have a sense of sin. But there is something very powerful about hearing the words of absolution. Oscar Wilde once said, "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." Scot recalls a powerful analogy by the author and speaker Matthew Kelly in his book "Rediscovering Catholicism" comparing confession to getting your car washed and detailed. * [Rediscovering Catholicism: Journeying Toward Our Spiritual North Star](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1929266081/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1929266081) Kelly's analogy is that after a car wash and detailing, you avoid every mud puddle and try to keep the interior spotless, but over time, the dirt inevitably comes and trash accumulates and you stop trying as hard to keep it clean. Likewise after confession, we are careful to avoid sin, but then we begin to allow venial sin into our life and as those venial sins pile up, we become desensitized even to mortal sin. So frequent confession keeps us sensitized to sin. Bishop Hennessey likes the analogy because the spiritual cleansing of confession is for our interior life, like the detailing of the car. Fr. Chris noted that Cardinal O'Connor had said that no sin can be more powerful than the power of the Cross. **3rd segment:** Discussing now The Light Is On For You. It began in some other dioceses, and Cardinal Seán brought it up in a meeting of Boston's bishops several years ago, asking Bishop Hennessey to lead it. TLIOFY started in Lent 2010 and it has been received well by priests and parishioners. He had assured them that this was not something that would require meetings. They just had to be in their churches on Wednesdays. A key is that it is every parish at the same time so that the people know they can go anywhere, wherever they are, Wednesdays 6:30-8pm. The best estimates (because the seal of confession forbids taking counts) is that more than 30,000 people went during the Wednesdays in Lent last year. Fr. Chris said that having a regular scheduled time of confession is helpful because of our very busy scheduled lives.  Bishop Hennessey said some worried whether priests would support this, because it would not work without their support, but his experience is of almost universal support. He got two complaints from priests last year, and one of them called him back after Easter to apologize because of how wonderful it was. The other turned out not the be angry at all, but reported that he was in the confessional until after 10pm hearing confessions. Scot noted that there was a concern that we were asking priests to add yet another duty to their already stretched lives. They were also concerned whether anyone would show. Fr. Chris said he was meeting a priest for dinner at a Wednesday last year, but while the priest was waiting outside the chapel for Fr. Chris to finish, he started to hear even more confessions from so many people who were waiting. Scot said some people call it the forgotten sacrament, which may indicate that as a Church we don't embrace it as frequently as we should. Bishop Hennessey said that in his 12 years as a pastor, he learned firsthand the difficult schedules that pastors have, but also that administering the sacrament of confession was a beautiful part of his vocation appreciated by all priests. For people who think their sins are just too big or too complex for some young priest to hear them, Bishop Hennessey said it's not about the priest's experience, but it's about receiving God's mercy and encountering His infinite loving forgiveness, which is medicine for the soul. Scot said we wouldn't be reluctant to tell our doctor what our symptoms are if we really want to be healed of whatever ails us. Plus, a priest of almost any experience will have heard just about everything. Bishop Hennessey said it was a joy to hear people bare their souls so he could offer them the words of forgiveness they were seeking and the penitent often thanked him for lifting their burden. Fr. Chris noted that the sacraments offers both forgiveness and grace and the grace gives assistance to avoid that sin again in life. If someone has not been to confession in a long time and feels unsure of what to do or say, that's okay because the priest is there to help them and wants to help them. Scot said that in the story of the Prodigal Son the father throws a celebration for his son who has returned, and God rejoices whenever we return to Him in the sacrament of confession. The website of The Light Is On For You has tremendous resources for examination of conscience and to learn more about the sacrament of confession and God's loving forgiveness. All the prayers are there, print them out from the website and bring them with you to the confessional. * [The Light Is On For You](http://www.thelightisonforyou.org) * [Pilot Parish Finder](http://www.pilotparishfinder.com) * [Pilot Parish Finder (iPhone app)](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pilot-parish-finder/id406816873?mt=8) * [Confession (iPhone app)](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/confession-a-roman-catholic/id416019676?mt=8) **4th segment:** Sinisa Ubiparipovic was born in Yugoslavia, in Bosnia in 1987, his family moved to Germany temporarily, and in 1999 came to the United States. They lived in Lynn, which was a culture shock because he grew up in a small village. He worked at St. Joseph's church as a youth and the pastor there encouraged him to become a priest, but he refused to consider it. He studied accounting at Bentley College, lived a typical college lifestyle, and traveled throughout Europe encountering all kinds of people. But no matter who he talked to, he noticed that everyone was looking for happiness, which led him to wonder where that desire comes from. He concluded that there must be an answer to the desire for true and eternal happiness. When he went to see Pope Benedict in New York City, he saw all around him the incredible diversity of the Church, like the incredibly rich diversity of peoples he had encountered in his travels. That's when he applied to the seminary. As part of his studies last year for spring break, he went with a group from St. John's to Peru to work with the St. James Society. Sinisa had never been to South America. The first day they arrived, they were sent to parishes and he ended up at the parish furthest from the mother house for the society. This parish had 40,000-50,000 parishioners and all were extremely poor in a dirty, dusty shantytown. Nevertheless, the people had a sense of faith and a sense of hope for life beyond this life. Fr. Chris said the experience made him aware of how blessed we are as Americans, even to have clean water from a tap. The sheer poverty you encounter, yet also people filled with life and joy. People had very little, but were extremely happy because they had the Lord. It made him aware of where our focus should truly be. Bishop Hennessey was pastor of a parish in Bolivia for many years as a member of the St. James Society. He recalled that when the people prayed, "Give us this day our daily bread," they meant it in a literal way. The people wanted more out of life, but there was also a contentment in daily life. He was led to the missions because as a young priest he was blessed with a great pastor in Plymouth, Fr. Dan Lynch, who had served in the society. Fr. Lynch spoke about the fraternity among the St. James priests, who become closer in their bond of priesthood because they are serving in an alien culture with a different language, even though they may be physically distant from one another. When Bishop Hennessey was in Bolivia, the nearest priest was sometimes stationed several hours away. The St. James Society was founded by Cardinal Richard Cushing in the 1960s responding to a call by the Pope for dioceses to be generous with their priests to the missions. And now as we struggle to have enough priests for our people, we are receiving many priests from the places to which we had sent our priests in those years past. Fr. Chris asked Bishop Hennessey what sort of Lenten practices he saw in South America that we could adopt here. He saw an emphasis on confessions. There are also penitential groups that get together regularly for corporal works of mercy, but also literally to carry the image of Our Crucified Lord through the streets of the city for hours at a time. Bishop Hennessey said the Archdiocese of Boston is stronger for all the immigrants that have come to us in recent years and we are reaping the rewards as a Church. Fasting and almsgiving are disciplines for Lent that help us to remember the needs of others. What should we be doing to support the missions through our Lenten disciplines? The Lenten almsgiving boxes ("rice bowls") are still quite effective. Even little bits of money, gathered together, go a long way. As a young man studying for the priesthood, Sinisa takes to heart the admonition that every priest is called to be a missionary, whether at home or abroad. He hopes that as a priest he can be a bridge to salvation through the sacrament of confession, even if he can be that conduit just once for one dying penitent soul. Cardinal Seán is asking every Catholic to be a missionary by praying for and inviting home Catholics who are away from the Church. Bishop Hennessey sees that The Light Is On For You as the best way for Catholics to come home, by getting a complete fresh start.  

Robert H. Hopcke is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Berkeley,California. Along with his numerous articles and reviews published throughout the world, he is the author of the national best-seller, "There Are No Accidents: Synchronicity and the Stories of Our Lives," which has been translated into over two dozen languages. Currently Adjunct Faculty at the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology, in Palo Alto, California, where he teaches in the areas of Jungian psychology and human sexuality, Rob is also an active practicing Roman Catholic and parishioner at Most Holy Redeemer, dedicated to finding—and living out—that elusive intersection of sexuality, spirituality and psychological awareness. Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter