Podcasts about on mission

For the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed or All Souls, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on our faithfulness to Christ on this side of life and how it determines our eternal life. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed or All Souls, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on our faithfulness to Christ on this side of life and how it determines our eternal life. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Here's a notable episode with guest Mr. John McGarry, who spoke on campus for an informative general assembly. He is the Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in the Milwaukee District Office. A deployment with the U.S. Marine Corps to Columbia, South America, aroused his desire to become a DEA agent and facilitated his goal of joining something bigger than himself to give back to this country what his immigrant parents received. He and host Dr. Matt Davis discuss 9/11 from John's perspective at Quantico. They talk about leadership as epitomized in the Marine motto (lead by example) and the need for compassion. Then the subject turns to the threats spawned by synthetics drugs, particularly fentanyl. He explains the history, the complexity of the “war on drugs,” and its permeation of all societal levels. John describes the seemingly unachievable mission of using law enforcement to reduce demand in the illegal drug trade when we are the prime consumers. He compares the staggering numbers of drug-related deaths to Al-Qaeda-associated murders. Finally, he articulates that emulating Jesus Christ motivates his perseverance.

St. Jude offers us an example of how we are to become dwelling places of the Lord Jesus. When we follow his commands, Jesus resides in us and our love overflows and we must share his love with those who do not yet know him, like St. Jude. This blogcast explores “A Dwelling Place" from the Ad Infinitum blog, written by Victor David and read by Sarah Scalfaro.I have always had a special admiration for St. Jude. Growing up, my home parish was the Church of St. Jude. I can still remember my mom telling me to pray to the saint whenever I felt that I was facing an impossible task. Legend says that since his name was so close to that of Judas, many people did not pray to him, for fear of confusing the two. To show his thanks to people who did remember him, St. Jude was willing to be extra fervent in bringing the faithful's requests to the Lord. In John's Gospel, towards the end of the Last Supper, Christ observes that soon he will no longer be with his disciples, but that he will soon reveal himself. Jude asks Jesus, “Master, [then] what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” (John 14:22) Our Lord responded, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23). He is telling his disciple, and us, that whoever holds God's teachings in his or her heart and acts accordingly is filled with the Spirit of the Lord.The Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude remind us all to be God's dwelling place. While we do not know much about the lives of either saint, tradition tells us that Simon was called the Zealot in the gospels and Acts (Lk 6:15; Acts 1:13). There is some debate to whether this means he was an ardent disciple of Jesus or that he was a former member of the Zealot sect that advocated for the violent overthrow of the Roman occupation. If the latter is to be believed, then Simon truly demonstrates that no one is beyond becoming a dwelling place of the Lord. The Zealots were known to use violence to advocate noncompliance with the Roman authorities. Nevertheless, tradition and legend hold that Simon helped to spread the Good News, peacefully, through much of the Middle East. It was that conversion of heart that truly made Simon a dwelling place of the Lord.Legend tells us that both saints suffered martyrdom while spreading the faith in Syria. Tradition holds that Simon was either crucified or sawed in half while Jude was clubbed to death or beheaded by an axe. Yet, in the face of adversity and hostility, they continued to profess the faith that had been revealed to them until the very end. So, the question remains: How do we become God's dwelling place? The answer is simple – follow what Jesus told St. Jude at the Last Supper: love the Lord and keep His Word. When we accept and follow the Word of God, He truly and fully enters into our lives. By keeping His word on our minds and in our hearts, we make ourselves His dwelling place. Sts. Simon and Jude truly became dwelling places of God. What happens when God resides with someone? He or she becomes so full of God's love that it must be spread. That is what happened to Sts. Simon and Jude and that is what is possible for all of us. By following their example, we, too, can be an outpouring of God's love to others and help build up His kingdom. *This post was originally posted October 27, 2015*--The St. Jude Shrine is located in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland, and has been operated and staffed by the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers for over 80 years. The Archbishop of Baltimore entrusted the Shrine to the Pallottines in 1917. Regular Novena Services were established around the outset of World War II, when devotion to St. Jude  reached remarkable proportions. Today, St. Jude Shrine is the Nationwide Center of St. Jude Devotions. Like the St. Jude Shrine on Facebook. The St. Jude Shrine is a ministry of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate - Immaculate Conception Province. Learn more by visiting http://www.sacapostles.org/our-ministries.html. Author:Victor David is a collaborator with the Catholic Apostolate Center and a staff member at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Resources:Listen to On Mission podcast The 12 ApostlesRead the Ad Infinitum blog Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

Join us for a special service led by our BCAG Youth for Speed the Light Sunday!Guest youth speaker: Abigail Dula brings the Word and a powerful challenge to be "On Mission!"----------------------Ways to Connect:Church App: https://tithely.app.link/bear-creek-assembly-of-godWebsite: www.bearcreekag.orgOnline Campus: www.facebook.com/groups/bearcreekagonline I'm New: https://bearcreekag.org/about/im-new

We've all been there: we are traveling and someone notices that we are Christian and/or Catholic and they start a conversation with us. What do we do when strangers ask us about our Catholic Faith when in public? Whenever we travel and embrace our Catholic faith, we may find ourselves publicly witnessing Christ and could turn into moments of evangelization with those whom we encounter. In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. are joined by William Tishuk, Production Coordinator at Catholic Apostolate Center, to discuss how we can live the Faith on vacation and be ready to answer questions about Catholicism while we travel.The Faith does not take a vacation, even if we are away from home traveling to Disney, the beach, or other countries. When we are intentional with practicing the Faith, we find ourselves attending Mass in new parishes or having faith-based conversations with people we may not know. We can embrace these seemingly random events as moments God has purposely put in our way to help other people to know him better. Never be shy to pray before eating at a restaurant, or reading a Christian book in the airport, or even showing explicit kindness to strangers because we never know how God will use our actions to bring about a greater world. Related On Mission episodes:Prayerful ParenthoodPrayer, Work, and Life BalanceMaintain Prayer Routines During Summer Vacation From the Ad Infinitum blog:Vacation and Faith RefreshersMaking the Most of Summer with Your ChurchMore posts about Summer and Vacation Check out the main Saints and Feast Days websiteDownload the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank's weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on our stance before God. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on our stance before God. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Peace is what we all desire, especially in the midst of great struggles and strife in the world today. Even more so, we must sow peace within our own lives. Since taking office, Pope Leo XIV has made living peace a priority among Christians. Listen to Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C share more in this segment of the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, about how we can live peace in our families, workplace, and schools as Pope Leo XIV encourages us.Pope Leo XIV emphasizes peace. In fact, his first words as pope were “Peace be with you all.” In our world where there is much unrest from war and strife, peace is needed. More personally, we must be sowers of peace in our daily lives. This means that we must sow peace in our family life, our workplaces, and, especially, on social media. Listen to this podcast to learn more about what Pope Leo XIV has to say about promoting peace in our world. Notes:Access the Pope Leo XIV PortalOn Mission: Papal HistorySpirituality and Prayer Through Religious CharismMore episodes about The Pope From the Ad Infinitum blog:In the One, We Are OneMore blogs about Pope Leo XIV Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

For the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on openness to the response of God to our prayers. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on openness to the response of God to our prayers. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

This episode's guest hails from Maranatha's inception. In fact, he met the Brothers of the Holy Cross who sold the campus to MBU. Dr. Bob Griffin reflects on the early days—transferring from Pillsbury, meeting his wife (plus how a bowl of melted ice cream landed in his lap), and the quandary of what to do after graduation. Bob defines his mission as willingness to be a servant, and host Dr. Matt Davis prompts him to explain how the Lord employs desires, preparation, and counsel to direct His will. Bob mentions his US Navy chaplaincy that ended before it began and how an inner-city boy pastored a rural church with 13 members, six of whom died within a year. They discuss unexpected opportunities to advance his education, how the Lord sustained when Bob's wife developed a terminal condition. Bob recounts poignant financial extremities and how the Lord surprised them, how his wife's illness triggered new pursuits, and now how the Lord allows continued opportunities to serve despite a stroke. A servant has no will, Bob states. Humility is key, which results in peace.

Eucharistic devotion can be spread through social media. Many people can come to a deeper relationship with Christ through the posts they encounter. Such an evangelization medium must be approached responsibly with genuine posts. This blogcast explores “Eucharistic Encounters Through Social Media" from the Ad Infinitum blog, written by Patrick Laorden and read by Monica Thom Konschnik.October 12th is the Feast of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Since he was beatified, I have learned more about him through various articles and videos. He is truly remarkable and an inspiration to young Catholics around the world! I was intrigued by his devotion to the Eucharist and his keen interest in computers and Eucharistic miracles. I recall one of his quotes: “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.”This reminds me of the adage, “you are what you consume.” I think about that when consuming social media today and the challenge of finding good and inspiring news. When we encounter that news, what do we do with it? Do we scroll away once we read the headline? Do we bookmark it, say we will get to it later and never end up reading it? Considering Blessed Carlo, I think we are called to do something more!Just as Blessed Carlo shared the power of Eucharistic miracles, we can foster Eucharistic encounters through social media. Eucharistic encounters are transformative, calling us back to Christ. Through this encounter, our faith is deepened and renewed, and we are brought into a relationship with Christ. Below are three helpful ways to foster Eucharistic encounters through media:1. Share something honestPosts are often tailored to show only the good sides of life, giving the illusion of a perfect life, when in reality life is not necessarily how it looks on social media. As a Catholic parent, the posts that I take to heart are those that are honest. I recall a friend who is a mother of two posting about her experience of raising two kids. She showed a picture of her cluttered home, commenting how it was late, the kids had yet to be put to bed, they were not following her directions, and she still had a laundry list of things to do. Despite that, she gave thanks to God for being able to raise a family with her husband and having two kids who genuinely care about their faith. These posts meet people where they are at, showing the mundaneness of human life where not everything has to be perfect or go to plan.2. Root it in Christ and your faithSacraments like the Eucharist have a visible and invisible reality. The visible reality is the outward expression, that is, the form they take and the way in which they are administered and received. The invisible reality is God's grace. Fostering a Eucharistic encounter through social media means rooting what we share in Christ and our faith. What we choose to share may be good or inspiring news, but what does the news point to? Going back to my friend, despite the chaotic moment she shared about her family life, she took the opportunity to give thanks to God for her family and children. Gratitude is a powerful expression that builds human connection. What we share on social media are moments of life. In giving thanks to God for that moment, what we are sharing points to the invisible reality that these moments are gifts from God.3. Consider a Call to ActionThe Roman Missal has various options for dismissal as part of the Mass: “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,” “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life” and “Go in peace.” In all options, the faithful are sent out to share the Gospel. Fostering a Eucharistic encounter throughsocial media can have a similar effect, calling people to action. Posts like my friend's that share a moment in their life that they are thankful to God for is a great opportunity to invite others to do the same. In this case, my friend invited others to think about one thing they were thankful for and share it with a family or friend. A call to action is a way for others to sow the seeds of the Gospel, a message which bears fruit over time as people continue to share it faithfully. Earlier this year in his message for the 58th World Day of Communication, Pope Francis focused on artificial intelligence, both its uses and challenges. He mentioned this regarding growing in humanity:“We are called to reflect carefully on the theoretical development and the practical use of these new instruments of communication and knowledge. Their great possibilities for good are accompanied by the risk of turning everything into abstract calculations that reduce individuals to data, thinking to a mechanical process, experience to isolated cases, goodness to profit, and, above all, a denial of the uniqueness of each individual and his or her story.”Despite advances in technology, human connection is something that should not be compromised nor forgotten. Social media is a tool which can be used for good such as evangelizing. Fostering Eucharistic encounters through social media is an opportunity to deepen realities to ultimately foster relationships with Christ. Like Blessed Carlo, let us share the Gospel through creative ways as we interact with others through social media. Author:Patrick Laorden serves as a Grants Associate for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving in Hartford, CT. Resources:Listen to On Mission: Eucharistic Revival: Year of MissionOn Mission: Social Media Practices for Catholic Ministries and ApostolatesBrowse Eucharistic Revival ResourcesRead the Ad Infinitum blog Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

Offering hospitality is a great way to show appreciation and be welcoming to the priests in your life. In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. are joined by William Tishuk, Production Coordinator at Catholic Apostolate Center, to discuss what are some methods people can use to help their priests feel more welcomed and a part of the larger community.Our priests do so much to take care of us and we can show our gratitude by inviting them over for dinner, remembering their ordination anniversaries, and collaborating in the ministries they are a part of. We as Christians are all journeying to Heaven together and our priests are part of our family of faith. Incorporating priests in our family life helps them feel a part of the larger community. If there are priests from other countries, then we can recognize that they may feel home sick at times. These moments are excellent opportunities to cook a meal for them to eat in the rectory during the busy times of the year. When we remember that priests and laity are all children of the Heavenly Father, we can collaborate with them more effectively and treat them as extended members of our family. Related On Mission episodes:Catholic HospitalityPriestly Ministry Beyond the ParishSpiritual Fatherhood From the Ad Infinitum blog:National Vocation Awareness Week: Vocational DiscernmentMore posts about Priesthood Check out the main Saints and Feast Days websiteDownload the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank's weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on being thankful to Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on being thankful to Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

As Christians, fraternity is how we treat all those whom we encounter, and we recognize that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Since taking office, Pope Leo XIV has made fraternity a priority among Christians, that we are to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Listen to Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C share more in this segment of the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, about how unity in Augustinian spirituality has informed Pope Leo's actions and words toward building a more unified Church.Pope Leo XIV's emphasis on fraternity and unity derives from his experiences in Augustinian spirituality, informed by St. Augustine. Even before St. Augustine, we recognize that the early Church, for example, and St. Peter and St. Paul had disagreements, but their unity in Christ and devotion to fraternity allowed them to work through their differences charitably. Notes:Access the Pope Leo XIV PortalOn Mission: Papal HistorySpirituality and Prayer Through Religious CharismMore episodes about The Pope From the Ad Infinitum blog:In the One, We Are OneMore blogs about Pope Leo XIV Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

For the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on the size of our faith. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on the size of our faith. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Pope Leo XIV has made unity a central aspect of his pontificate from his papal motto to gathering with leaders from the Orthodox Church. Listen to Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C share more in this segment of the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, about how unity in Augustinian spirituality has pervaded Pope Leo's actions and sayings to build a more unified Church.St. Augustine and the Augustinians emphasize unity in their spirituality and charism. Pope Leo XIV's experience in Augustinian spirituality has led to his emphasis on unity in his pontificate. Pope Leo stresses unity in his meetings with Augustinians, Orthodox Church leaders, and to all Christians in his actions and his speeches.Notes:Access the Pope Leo XIV PortalOn Mission: Papal HistorySpirituality and Prayer Through Religious CharismMore episodes about The Pope From the Ad Infinitum blog:In the One, We Are OneMore blogs about Pope Leo XIV Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Pope Leo XIV has made unity a central aspect of his pontificate from his papal motto to gathering with leaders from the Orthodox Church. Listen to Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C share more in this segment of the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, about how unity in Augustinian spirituality has pervaded Pope Leo's actions and sayings to build a more unified Church.St. Augustine and the Augustinians emphasize unity in their spirituality and charism. Pope Leo XIV's experience in Augustinian spirituality has led to his emphasis on unity in his pontificate. Pope Leo stresses unity in his meetings with Augustinians, Orthodox Church leaders, and to all Christians in his actions and his speeches.Notes:Access the Pope Leo XIV PortalOn Mission: Papal HistorySpirituality and Prayer Through Religious CharismMore episodes about The Pope From the Ad Infinitum blog:In the One, We Are OneMore blogs about Pope Leo XIV Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Pope Leo XIV has made unity a central aspect of his pontificate from his papal motto to gathering with leaders from the Orthodox Church. Listen to Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C share more in this segment of the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, about how unity in Augustinian spirituality has pervaded Pope Leo's actions and sayings to build a more unified Church.St. Augustine and the Augustinians emphasize unity in their spirituality and charism. Pope Leo XIV's experience in Augustinian spirituality has led to his emphasis on unity in his pontificate. Pope Leo stresses unity in his meetings with Augustinians, Orthodox Church leaders, and to all Christians in his actions and his speeches.Notes:Access the Pope Leo XIV PortalOn Mission: Papal HistorySpirituality and Prayer Through Religious CharismMore episodes about The Pope From the Ad Infinitum blog:In the One, We Are OneMore blogs about Pope Leo XIV Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

Delve into this episode as host Dr. Matt Davis and MBU graduate Jonathan Gilliam chat about a range of topics from cross-country running to marriage, from Jonathan's current camp staff responsibilities to God's calling. Tapping into his recent graduation, they address his college expectations and what aspects prepared him for life. Jonathan appreciates his extension involvement in a small church and highlights his internship, which challenged him to devote time daily in silent reflection. When Dr. Davis asks, “What would you tell your younger self as a student, if you had the chance,” Jonathan thoughtful responds, “How to interact with suffering.” Diagnosed with Chron's disease as a teen and having had potentially fatal complications from it, he judiciously comments that he would not mourn those difficulties or seek immediate release because, he concludes, trials are often the means of growth and sanctification.

Laughter and joy are typical characteristics of those who are close to Christ and experience the love of the Holy Spirit. We are called to witness Christ's joy and love in our lives. By being joyful and sowing laughter, we can help bring people closer to Christ and serve the Lord through that. This blogcast explores “Serve the Lord with Laughter" from the Ad Infinitum blog, written by Kate Fowler and read by Sarah Scalfaro.“Serve the Lord with laughter.”It's a quote from a favorite and incredibly popular saint that might surprise us, for the man who spoke these words was so deep, profound, and intentional that we might overlook the fact that he laughed. When we think of St. Padre Pio, we often instead focus on the deep wounds in his hands—the stigmata which he bore for 50 years—or his ability to levitate, speak with his guardian angel, read souls, or bilocate.Laughter seems too ordinary, perhaps, for sanctity.And yet, as a practical jokester and manager of mischief, I am drawn to this quote deeply—for I feel a personal apostolate of joy and am experiencing that call more starkly in a season in my life marked by exhaustion, stress, and transition.Some of my favorite saints and quotes from Scripture focus on the theme of joy. When asked to speak to a group at Theology on Tap several years ago, I chose “The Serious Call to Joy” as my topic. I love Psalm 34, which reads, “Look to him that you may be radiant with joy.” And I often meditate on Christ's words to his disciples: “I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11). Finally, a patron of our family is St. Philip Neri, who was lovingly nicknamed “Apostle of Joy.” My son John Philip was even born on his feast day and shares his name.When I think of what I want to be called after my death, I can't think of anything better than that title given to St. Philip Neri (apart from, perhaps, being known as the Patron Saint of Bacon). To me, joy just seems like the natural fruit of holiness—a sure sign of a deep and profound relationship with Christ.Pope Francis himself has noted this—dedicating an entire encyclical to the joy of the Gospel. He made waves when publishing the encyclical because he said there was no room in evangelization for “sourpusses”—the first time any such term has appeared in a papal document.He explains, “Proclaiming Christ means showing that to believe in and to follow him is not only something right and true, but also something beautiful, capable of filling life with new splendor and profound joy, even in the midst of difficulties.”I think now of joy perhaps because I'm seeing so little of it in general. The world seems bogged down by burdens greater than we think we can bear. And being 8 months pregnant, I find myself a bit bogged down physically and emotionally, too. But, Pope Francis reminds us that the joy of Christ is possible even in the midst of our suffering and hardship. This does not diminish our suffering, nor does it erase or ignore it, but points out that Christian joy can transcend and transfigure suffering.So, when I came across Padre Pio's quote on his feast day earlier this month, it was a powerful reminder of my call to laughter—or at least of my commitment to being an apostle of joy.Pope Francis continues, “Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved.” (EG, 6)The knowledge that I am infinitely loved despite my frailty and littleness, especially in this season of pregnancy, is what beckons me ever onward.If I think of my life right now, I don't know how else to keep going other than by laughing. I look down to find crumbs and stains dotting my bulging belly. My goal most days is not to waddle while walking. I find myself stopping mid-sentence because I forgot my train of thought or walking into a room to get something just to leave puzzled, muttering to myself. Turning over in bed practically requires the use of a crane. And I face my staircase each day with the determination of one climbing Mt. Everest.Humor aside, if we turn to Scripture, we find a love story saturated with calls and invitations to joy. From the Old Testament to the New, God speaks to us throughout salvation history because he wants to restore his creation to be “man fully alive.” For me, someone who is “fully alive” is a person of joy that radiates love wherever they go.​As our world and society continue to navigate times of hardship, transition, and injustice, and as you personally continue to navigate your own crosses (whether they be staircases or not), I invite you to ask St. Padre Pio and other holy men and women to help teach you the secret of joy that comes from “the certainty that Jesus is with us and with the Father.”May we all become apostles and ambassadors of joy to a world thirsting for Christ's love and may we find creative and nourishing ways to serve the Lord with laughter.As Pope Francis quotes Paul VI saying,“Let us recover and deepen our enthusiasm, that ‘delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing, even when it is in tears that we must sow… And may the world of our time, which is searching, sometimes with anguish, sometimes with hope, be enabled to receive the good news not from evangelizers who are dejected, discouraged, impatient or anxious, but from ministers of the Gospel whose lives glow with fervor, who have first received the joy of Christ.[6]'”  Author:Kate Fowler is a collaborator with the Catholic Apostolate Center. She received her Master's in Leadership for the New Evangelization from the Augustine Institute.  Resources:Listen to On Mission podcastRead the Ad Infinitum blog Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

Italian-American immigrants have shaped cultural Catholicism in the United States for generations. These families embraced their traditions and practices inherited from Italy to create a distinct home life that blends faith with family life and excellent cuisine as common touch stones. In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. to share how their families practice Catholicism and the particular traditions that Italian-American Catholics have in common.Italian-American Catholics are notable for their close-knit families where the Faith pervades all aspects of the family culture and the larger community's culture. Common practices include Sunday dinners, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, devotions to the Saints, and sacred art within and around the home. Chris, Sarah, and Fr. Frank share personal reflections on their upbringings in Italian-American Catholic households. Browse Saints from Italy on the Saints and Feast Day site Related On Mission episodes:Papal HistoryCatholic HospitalitySaint Vincent Pallotti From the Ad Infinitum blog:Summertime is a Time for Processions Check out the main Saints and Feast Days websiteDownload the App on the App Store or Google Play  Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank's weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on living our lives for Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on living our lives for Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Practical strategies for encountering, accompanying, and engaging young adults (or “young people”) are only effective if they are built on a strong theological foundation. Recently, the Catholic bishops of the United States sought to do just that with the release of a new national pastoral framework for the Church's ministries with youth and young adults entitled Listen, Teach, Send. This webinar will explore this new foundational document, how it complements past efforts, and how concrete measures can flow from this vision statement. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

This week we are joined by special guests Shane Austin and Hannah LaBolle to share with us how they are On Mission for Jesus at work. Connect with us online: Website LinkTree Facebook Instagram

For the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on what we owe God. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on what we owe God. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this engaging episode, host Dr. Matt Davis interviews fall meetings guest speaker Pastor Joel Mikkelson, asking why he chose to present messages on the attributes of God. Mentioning the apparent conflict between scarcity as the economic standard for determining value and God's infinity, Dr. Davis asks the intriguing question, “Then what is God's value?” They address God's holiness and how it suggests “boundaries of scarcity.” Then the conversation shifts to Joel's mission not only to serve faithfully, but also to enjoy serving. Dr. Davis notes that Pastor Mikkelson's ministry is complex, requiring him to lead, not serve. They talk about the balance of delegating work while continuing to actively participate in it. They evaluate perspectives of ministry in the diverse, “almost hostile environment” of California and Santa Maria's “de-churched, unchurched” culture and the faulty perception of size as a “benchmark” of faithfulness. About our guest Joel Mikkelson [‘01] is pastor of First Baptist Church of Santa Maria, California, and serves on Maranatha's Board of Resource. Raised in a pastor's family in Wisconsin, a home which engendered a desire for lifelong service, he attended Maranatha where he met his wife, Kelly. Upon graduation, they joined the staff of Kelly's home church in Santa Maria where Kelly assumed responsibilities as the finance director and Joel began his “dream job” as children's pastor. He served in that position for 14 years before becoming the lead pastor. The Mikkelsons have five children. One, a 2025 Maranatha graduate, works for the university, and another is currently a student.

St. Vincent Pallotti said, “Seek God and you will find God. Seek God in all things and youwill find God in all things. Seek God always and you will always find God.” When I was in highschool, this was used as a call and response to get the lunchroom or assembly to be quiet. Inhindsight, it is pretty sad that we took such beautiful words and reduced them to a bit of a Pavlovianresponse to get high schoolers to zip it, but I digress. At the heart of Pallotti's sentiment is this: Godis everywhere (this is the Jesuit side of Pallotti coming out) and all we have to do to find him is openour eyes and our hearts and look for him.I have been sitting with this strange scene that is a mix of a drama movie and spiritualwriting. I imagine two people talking after some form of suffering, maybe it is raining for cinematiceffect, with one looking at the other and saying, “how can you endure _____ and still see love?” Theother person, after a pause, responds, “how can I not? It is like opening your eyes on a clear day andtrying not to see the sunlight. All there is around me is love. Every color, shape, and composite thingradiates the love of God. It is inexplicable, but I can't really explain seeing the light either- it simplyis. And so too, in an even deeper way, is the infinite love of God.” I have not played out the rest ofthe script, but I do not think I will write the whole movie anyways.We live in, to say it in highly a-theological language, a pretty messed up world. War, violence,natural disasters, poverty, and so much more make it hard to watch the news and, somewhatunderstandably, hard for people to look at that seemingly endless void of evil and see a God, letalone the Christian God who is infinite love. And yet, as friends and followers of Jesus, we areinvited to open our eyes and to see love all around us. Yes, it is difficult, but it is necessary when ourcontext is the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.In the last few weeks, I have faced the loss of a friend, accompanied some of my studentsthrough their own loss, and more of the normal ups and downs of life. It has not been easy, and yetwhen I open my eyes, once the dust settles and I have a chance to remember who I am and where Iam, all I see is love. I am aware, though, that this is a conscious choice. The easiest thing is to see thesuffering and to sit in it. As I said in my last post, suffering is a guarantee in life. If that is all we see,life looks bleak and even meaningless. If we see love, we realize that suffering can have meaning inour lives and that death and sin do not have the final say. Today and every day, regardless of whereyou find yourself, what you endure, and how you are feeling, let us follow Pallotti's model and seekGod, because when we do, we will realize that he is all around us and the only thing we can see if wechoose to look for Him. Author:Brian Rhude is the Project Coordinator for the Catholic Apostolate Center where he works in developing Center programming, assists in updating and creating new resources on the Center's website, collaborates on the development of social media content, and provides other services and collaborates including participation at and facilitation of various events and conferences.   Resources:Listen to On Mission: Talking to Children About SufferingOn Mission: St. Vincent PallottiBrowse Self Care ResourcesRead the Ad Infinitum blog Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati are now canonized Saints and their simple, yet profound witness provides the Church, and in particular its younger members, inspiration to grow in holiness and draw others to Christ through their personal example. Brian Rhude, Project Coordinator at the Catholic Apostolate Center, joins this episode of On Mission with Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. to share what what the canonizations of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati mean for the Church.Pope Leo XIV canonized St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati in a ceremony on September 7, 2025. Carlo Acutis was 15 years old when he died of leukemia in a hospital in Monza, Italy in 2006. Carlo is remembered as a normal, joyful teenager who strived to be the best version of himself, living the ordinary in an extraordinary way. Carlo was generous to the poor of his community, many of whom came to pay their respects at his funeral. Carlo's passion for the Eucharist ultimately led to his mother's conversion. Living a life of similar joy and witness to the Gospel, Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in Italy in 1901. From an early age, Frassati was interested in helping others however he could. When he was 21, he became a professed member of the Third Order of St. Dominic and began to lead groups of people in works of mercy in the model of Rerum novarum. Frassati was also an avid outdoorsman, especially mountaineering. Frassati contracted polio in 1925 and died when he was just 24. Many of the poor of Turin who he had helped showed up to his funeral, shocking his parents who did not know of his charitable works. Visit the St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati feast day pages. Related On Mission episodes:Young SaintsCarlo AcutisFinding Faith in AdolescenceSaint Vincent Pallotti From the Ad Infinitum blog:Climbing to the Heights with Pier Giorgio FrassatiPier Giorgio Frassati: A Joyful Witness to the GospelEucharistic Encounters Through Social MediaLet Jesus Talk to You Check out the main Saints and Feast Days websiteDownload the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank's weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross for us. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross for us. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on giving ourselves fully as a disciple of Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on giving ourselves fully as a disciple of Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Young adult professionals oftentimes relocate to new communities as they start a career. As they seek to practice their faith in a new community, they can encounter stumbling blocks as they integrate into parish life after experiencing college campus ministry. Listen to Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C share more in this segment of the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, about how parishes can welcome and help young adult professionals integrate into the larger community of faith.College campus ministries offer young adults numerous faith-based events and catechesis that cater to the students' needs. After graduation, some young professionals may have a hard time finding a sense of community in a new parish, which may lead to them leaving the faith all together. To address the needs of young adults in parish communities, parishes need to prioritize welcoming and getting to know young adult community members. Parishes could offer mentorship opportunities to young adults and specifically inviting the young adults into service.Notes:Listen to On Mission: The Knights of ColumbusFriends Help You Stay Catholic in CollegeYoung SaintsSpiritual Growth During Collegiate YearsOther episodes about Young Adults From the Ad Infinitum blog:10 Ways to Remain Active in Your Faith Life During CollegeYoung Adults Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

If you want to experience deeper and more fulfilling love, and you want to simplify your life in the process, then join Chip as he wraps up this series by presenting 3 essential things you must do to love more and do less.How do you sustain spiritual simplicity?Get on board the Love Train! - The love train is the Church of Jesus ChristWhat's life like on the Love Train? -- 2 Corinthians 5:14-21Christ's love compels us (verse 14)Our life focus changes (verse 15)We get new eyes (verse 16)We get new hope (verse 17)We get a new responsibility (verses 18-19)We get a new role (verses 20-21)How It Really WorksJesus' Command: Love God and love people—the marks of a mature disciple.The Profile of a Disciple (Romans 12 Christian): Surrendered, Separate from the world, Sober self-assessment, Serving in love, Supernaturally responding to evilPractices to Become a Romans 12 Christian:BEFORE God (personal devotion)IN Community (fellowship and support)ON Mission 24/7 (living out faith daily)The Process that Ignites Life Change:"I'm all in!" (Overcoming fear of the future)"You accepted me." (Overcoming fear of rejection)"God used me." (Overcoming fear of failure)A Call to All: "Get on Board!" (James 1:19-27)Broadcast ResourceSpiritual Simplicity ResourcesMessage NotesAdditional Resource MentionsSmall Group ResourcesI Choose Joy BookI Choose Joy Small GroupConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

If internship offers experience for one's resume, what does internship lodging provide? In Ethan Rosen's case, it led to far more than anticipated, as he narrates on this podcast episode. Ethan could not afford lodging for his sports management internship, so his coach introduced him to a church whose members opened their homes one summer for several weeks each. Thus, Ethan met a seed producer, became enthralled with the business, lived in his home for several years, and eventually acquired the company. He and host Dr. Matt Davis laugh about former college escapades, tempering it now with a more mature perspective. They observe that the same leadership Ethan exercised with peers as football captain is the same energy needed in business. For now, Ethan asserts, until the Lord directs otherwise, he is gratified glorifying God by caring for employees and providing seed to feed the world.

Eucharist is the source a summit of our Catholic Faith. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. We who know this are called to spread devotion to the Eucharist in our daily lives. This blogcast explores “Being a Eucharistic Missionary" from the Ad Infinitum blog, written by Patrick Laorden and read by Meghan Abando.I did not have a chance to attend the Eucharistic Congress last month. However, I did have the pleasure of reading the book For the Life of the World: Invited to Eucharistic Mission by Bishop Andrew Cozzens and Tim Glemkowski. The book outlines four essential pillars to being a Eucharistic missionary: Eucharistic encounter, Eucharistic identity, Eucharistic life, and Eucharistic mission. On the feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta, a great example of a Eucharistic missionary, let us seek her intercession to bear a Eucharistic presence in the world!Eucharistic EncounterThe life of a Eucharistic missionary starts with an encounter. We are reminded of what Pope Benedict XVI said in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction,” (no. 1). Bishop Cozzens notes four essential elements to an encounter with Jesus: realizing that Jesus is God, experiencing one's own unworthiness, discovery that one is intimately loved, and being invited to follow him in a new life. We see these elements unfold in St. Teresa's own life when she encountered Jesus in the poor.Eucharistic IdentityOur identity is essential to our mission. Bishop Cozzens noted that Jesus never had an identity crisis. Before Jesus began his public ministry, he submitted himself to God to be baptized. Bishop Cozzens highlights three essential principles to Eucharisic identity: relationship, identity, and mission. He writes, “This is the basic point: We were created by God to be in relationship, and from our relationship we know who we are — our identity. When we know who we are, then we know how we should act and what we should do — our mission,” (pg. 50). When St. Teresa encountered Jesus in the poor, she experienced a call within a call: to assume a new identity by leaving the Sisters of Loretto and founding the Missionaries of Charity.Eucharistic LifeWe are called to a Eucharistic life, to be in communion with Christ. Bishop Cozzens notes that this communion with Christ is how we mark ourselves as the Church. Fr. Roger Landry in a 2022 article in the National Catholic Register entitled, “The Eucharistic Life of St. Teresa of Calcutta,” noted how St. Teresa compared the Missionaries of Charity's work to the Blessed Mother: ​“Every Holy Communion fills us with Jesus and we must, with our Lady, go in haste to give him to others. For her, it was on her first Holy Communion day that Jesus came into her life and so for all of us, also. He made himself the Bread of Life so that we too, like Mary, become full of Jesus. We too, like her, should be in haste to give him to others. We too, like her, serve others.”We receive Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass, and we are called to give him to others through a life of service. Bishop Cozzens explains that receiving Holy Communion is a covenantal act. “This is why we say ‘Amen,' which is a covenantal act. To receive Holy Communion is to say: ‘I want to live in this covenant with you. I want to live in communion with you, Lord.' This means I must also live in communion with the Church, Christ's Body,” (pg. 62).Eucharistic MissionThe Church, in her essence, is missionary. Bishop Cozzens notes that our mission was not invented or decided by us, rather given to us from Jesus. This mission is ad gentes or “to the nations”. The challenge today is that we no longer live in a Christian world. Pope Francis, in a 2019 address to the Roman Curia, said, “We are no longer living in a Christian world, because faith – especially in Europe, but also in a large part of the West – is no longer an evident presupposition of social life; indeed, faith is often rejected, derided, marginalized and ridiculed.”We, who have experienced an encounter with Christ, whose identity has been revealed through this encounter, and who have been called to share in this Eucharistic life, are to be a beacon of light to those who have fallen away from their faith or have never experienced Christ. St. Teresa once said, “We must know that we have been created for greater things, not just to be a number in the world, not just to go for diplomas and degrees, this work and that work. We have been created in order to love and to be loved.” This is what it means to be a Eucharistic missionary.St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us! Author:​Patrick Laorden serves as a Grants Associate for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving in Hartford, CT. Resources:Listen to On Mission: Eucharistic Revival: Year of MissionRead and learn about Eucharistic RevivalRead the Ad Infinitum blog Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

You are someone's answer to prayer. And the opposite of that is true as well. God has someone out there who is the answer to YOUR prayers. How do you sustain spiritual simplicity?Get on board the Love Train! - The love train is the Church of Jesus ChristWhat's life like on the Love Train? -- 2 Corinthians 5:14-21Christ's love compels us (verse 14)Our life focus changes (verse 15)We get new eyes (verse 16)We get new hope (verse 17)We get a new responsibility (verses 18-19)We get a new role (verses 20-21)How It Really WorksJesus' Command: Love God and love people—the marks of a mature disciple.The Profile of a Disciple (Romans 12 Christian): Surrendered, Separate from the world, Sober self-assessment, Serving in love, Supernaturally responding to evilPractices to Become a Romans 12 Christian:BEFORE God (personal devotion)IN Community (fellowship and support)ON Mission 24/7 (living out faith daily)The Process that Ignites Life Change:"I'm all in!" (Overcoming fear of the future)"You accepted me." (Overcoming fear of rejection)"God used me." (Overcoming fear of failure)A Call to All: "Get on Board!" (James 1:19-27)Broadcast ResourceSpiritual Simplicity ResourcesMessage NotesAdditional Resource MentionsSmall Group ResourcesI Choose Joy BookI Choose Joy Small GroupConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

St. Vincent Pallotti founded the Union of Catholic Apostolate and the later developed Pallottine Fathers and Brothers to encourage collaboration between clergy, religious, and lay people to evangelize in every day life. Connor Combs and Sebastian Fernandez, Summer Associates at the Catholic Apostolate Center, join this episode of On Mission with Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. to share what they've learned about St. Vincent Pallotti and the Pallottine charism.St. Vincent Pallotti founded the Union of Catholic Apostolate, an association of lay people, religious, and clergy to spread the call of the universal apostolate in society. Later, the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Fathers and Brothers), developed. During Vatican II, his ideas were affirmed in the documents of the Council and the call of all to missionary discipleship, as the late Pope Francis would speak about. If you would like to learn more about the Pallottines, the Union of Catholic Apostolate, and the charism of St. Vincent Pallotti, the Catholic Apostolate Center, as a ministry of the Immaculate Conception Province of the Priests and Brothers, has many resources and information about the life and ministry of Pallotti. Related On Mission episodes:Pallottine Fathers and BrothersSaint Vincent PallottiSpirituality and Prayer Through Religious Charism From the Ad Infinitum blog:PallottinesSt. Vincent Pallotti Check out the main Saints and Feast Days websiteDownload the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank's weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on selflessly serving Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on selflessly serving Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on striving for Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on striving for Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Podcast listeners may recognize the voice of this episode's guest—Jim Schneider, executive director of VCY America and host of Crosstalk, a nationwide live call-in program examining issues of concern for Christians. After a brief glimpse at the global scope of his organization, he and host Dr. Matt Davis share common experiences and the challenges of call-in programs. They examine how VCY's mission statement guides program choices, and Jim quotes a principle he once heard: What we won them with, we have won them to. Thus, the desired goal directs decisions. He candidly states that VCY is not entertainment, though it has elements of it, which naturally leads them to discuss VCY's music standards. Jim explains their parameters: music that is theologically correct with “no contradiction between words and rhythm; “music that moves the heart;” traditional, sacred music. Nonetheless, both men acknowledge that change is inevitable, that there must be a balance with change, and that it helps ministries “hold the line” when others do the same.

For the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on living our life of faith with zeal. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.