Candid Catholic Convos: Recent Episodes
Rachel Troche
Candid Catholic Convos is the newest weekly program brought to you by the Diocese of Harrisburg. Our mission is to humanize the Church, and to help our listeners grow in their faith, love and understanding. Candid Catholic Convos is hosted by Rachel Troche: a mom, army wife, and cradle catholic who’s struggled with faith on multiple occasions. Each week, listeners can expect to hear honest and engaging interviews mixed with actionable strategies for easy implantation into their lives to help them grow closer to God.
Join us as Lisa Lickona shares her journey through faith, her favorite saints, and practical insights on living a holy life in everyday moments. Discover how to embrace your unique call to holiness and deepen your spiritual life.
SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:12-14
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo
Save the date! The 2026 Women’s Conference will be on Saturday, October 17 where Lisa will be speaking! This year’s theme is “Look to the Lord.” The day will feature speakers, Adoration, lunch, the Holy Mass, and more! For details, visit https://www.hbgdiocese.org/event/womens-conference/
In this episode, Rob Kaczmark, founder and CEO of Spirit Juice Studios, shares his journey from faith to filmmaking, exploring how film can be a powerful tool for evangelization and cultural influence. We discuss the impact of movies, maintaining faith in the industry, and advice for aspiring Catholic filmmakers.
SCRIPTURE: Wisdom 13:1-5
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Fra Angelico
RESOURCES:
Catholic Video Production | Spirit Juice Studios
Spirit Juice Studios - YouTube
Heart of a Servant
In this episode, Desiree Sifuentes, aka @UncatechizedCatholic, shares her journey from being poorly catechized to becoming a passionate advocate for authentic faith formation online. We explore the importance of genuine catechesis, how social media can serve as a mission field, and practical tips for deepening your faith.
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:14-16
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Philip Neri
RESOURCES:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/uncatechizedcatholic/
Formed Streaming Platform - https://formed.org/
Word on Fire Gospels - https://wordonfire.org/products/gospel-reflections
Ignatius Catholic Study Bible - https://ignatius.com/products/ignatius-catholic-study-bible
Catholic Answers - https://www.catholic.com/
In this episode, Eve Rosemary shares her journey with prayer, the importance of vulnerability in building a relationship with Christ, and practical tips for deepening your prayer life through daily Mass, silence, and reading scripture.
SCRIPTURE: PS 27:8
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
RESOURCES:
The Everyday Saint Podcast - https://www.theeverydaysaint.com/theeverydaysaintpodcast
Eve Rosemary on Instagram - https://instagram.com/theeverosemary
TheEverydaySaint.com - https://www.theeverydaysaint.com
Musician and missionary summary Nicholas A. Higgins shares his journey of integrating music and faith, the importance of doing creative work for God, and practical advice for Catholic artists.
SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:6
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Hildegard of Bingen
Nicholas Higgins - Official Website - https://nicholashiggins.com
Tour Schedule- https://nicholasahiggins.wordpress.com/music/
Social - Instagram
In this episode, Bishop Timothy Senior discusses the significance of religious freedom, patriotism, and the role of faith in shaping our nation. He emphasizes the importance of practicing the faith during summer and highlights his pastoral letter, Stir Into Flame, with his vision for the future of the Diocese of Harrisburg.
Chase Lear shares his inspiring journey from skepticism to faith, highlighting the importance of the sacraments, the ongoing process of conversion, and the beauty of the Catholic Church. Discover how personal experiences and authentic searching can lead to a profound spiritual transformation.
SCRIPTURE: John 4:13-14
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Deacon John Rogers, vice president at Prenger Solutions group and ordained permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, joins us to discuss how Catholics can integrate their faith with their professional lives and leverage social media for evangelization.
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 3:5-6
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin
Resources
Catholic Social Media - https://catholicsocialmedia.com/
St. Paul, Minnesota Diocese - https://www.archspm.org/
Part Two of our discussion with Dr. John Bishop, founder of FORGE, as we continue to discuss the crisis of masculinity in the Catholic Church, the importance of authentic Catholic masculinity, and practical ways men can lead their families in faith.
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:13-15
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Thomas More
RESOURCES:
New Adam: God's Plan for Men - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XYZ1234
Website - https://forge.org/johnbishop
Dr. John Bishop, founder and executive director of FORGE, discusses the crisis of masculinity in the Catholic Church, the importance of authentic Catholic masculinity, and practical ways men can lead their families in faith.
Resources
New Adam: God's Plan for Men by Dr. John Bishop - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XYZ1234
Website - https://forge.org/johnbishop
We live in a time of constant noise. Constant consumption. Constant comparison. Most people are overwhelmed by information, pressured to perform, and stretched thin by busyness. Even spiritually, it can be easy to approach faith as just another thing to manage or optimize. And yet Saint Francis offers us something strikingly different. Today we’re chatting with Father Michael Heine, the minister provincial of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of Our Lady of Angels in Maryland, to talk about how the spirit of St. Francis continues to shape the Church, challenge modern believers in deeply practical ways and why he continues to resonate with people who are searching for something deeper during this year of Saint Francis.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:23
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Clare of Assisi
Fr. Chiedozie Ononuju (Fr. Dozy), parochial vicar of St. Patrick Parish in Carlisle, joins us today to chat about the quiet ways God directs our lives and how we can work on our relationship with Him.
SCRIPTURE: John 15:4
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Francis de Sales
Easter Sunday may be over but the Easter Season is only just now coming to an end. While the Church calls this Ordinary time, there's nothing 'ordinary' about living as Resurrection people in a world driven by science, technology, questions and uncertainty. Today we're diving into this beautiful tension - and harmony - with Monsignor Frank Karwacki, pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and former science teacher.
SCRIPTURE: John 10:10
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Albert the Great
Today we're exploring the idea of Mary not just as our mother, but as our friend who's walked this path with us, sharing her wisdom, her faith, and pointing us to our ultimate goal, her Son. Amanda Snyder - convert, mom and co-facilitator of the An Investment in Motherhood group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish - joins us today to explore how our blessed mother might advise us as we navigate our modern motherhood.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:38-45
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Louis de Montfort
Today we're exploring what many nowadays would consider a radical act: the sacrament of Confession. Donna Giberti joins us to unpack how reconciliation can be a radical act for us Catholics, and indeed, very punk rock.
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:23-24
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Josephine Bahkita
To anyone who’s unfamiliar, the Catholic observance of relics might seem a bit creepy. And if Jesus conquered death at Easter, why do we do it at all? Today we’re joined by Father Matt Cannon, pastor at St Paul the Apostle church in Annville, to share with us how the saints provide an example for us of a faith that shows up in real life, and why venerating their relics can be an integral part of our faith.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:36-48
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Maria Goretti
How do we reconcile our Catholic Faith and Current events? Today we're joined by Father John Bateman, Pastor at St. Joe's Parish in Mechanicsburg and chaplain in the PA Air National Guard with a degree in Canon Law who's uniquely qualified to help us comprehend current events from all sides: as a civilian, as a soldier, and as a Catholic.
SCRIPTURE: John 15:13
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Venerable Emil Kapaun
The disciples couldn't recognize Jesus walking with them on the road to Emmaus - what hope is there for us to recognize Him when we are so distracted by modern day living? Donna Giberti, spiritual director for the Diocese of Harrisburg, joins us to share some ways we can practice recognizing Christ in our every day.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:28:35
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Ignatius of Loyola
Part 2 of our conversation with Bishop Senior and WHP 580’s Michael Parks where they will discuss upcoming events in the Diocese of Harrisburg.
SCRIPTURE: John 20:1-9
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Mary Magdalene
Music is the universal language - it can reflect all the aspects of how we’re feeling throughout life, in particular when it comes to our faith and the powerful moments of Holy Week. Today we're excited to welcome Father Maximilian Mary Dean, a hermit priest of our Diocese and award-winning Catholic musician who uses his gift to give Glory to God in unique and powerful ways.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 19:38
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Saint Cecelia
SONG: "I Will Lead You into Solitude" by Fr. Maximilian Mary Dean
www.fathermaxmusic.com
Sometimes the most meaningful parts of the Christian life don’t happen in grand gestures or dramatic moments. They show up in the quiet decisions we make each day — how we respond to challenges, how we treat the people around us, and how we choose to walk with Christ in the middle of ordinary life. What does that look like for those of us in the 21st century. What does it mean to be a modern-day disciple of Christ? Father Matt Canon, pastor at Saint Paul the Apostle Church in Annville, joins us to chat about some tactile ways we can grow in our discipleship, really take up our cross, and follow Christ.
Scripture: Luke 9:23
Saint Spotlight: St. Matthew
Prayer. Fasting. Almsgiving. These three practices define Lent—but what happens when they become a way of life? Renee and James from the St. Martin de Porres house in Harrisburg join us today from our local Catholic Worker movement, to discuss how it’s message and each Lenten Season continue to challenge us in the Church today.
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Servant of God Dorothy Day
What if we're in a period of our lives where just surviving feels hard enough? How can we do Lent properly if we're struggling with our own woundedness? Father Dan Powell, Pastor of Saint John Neumann Parish in Lancaster, joins us for a Lenten Reframe for those of us who are grieving, hurting or emotionally exhuasted during this season.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 34:18
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Saint John of the Cross
The beginning of Lent is the perfect time to create the space God needs to speak to us. Today we're joined by Tanya Janoski, mother, relationship educator at A Woman's Concern, volunteer at St. Jame Parish and spiritual director for the Diocese of Harrisburg to talk about how Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season are a great opportunity to lean into surrender and begin again.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51:17
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Ignatius of Loyola
Its inevitable that we will experience seasons of disappointment or disillusionmnet throughout our faith journey, but how we handle it determines everything. Father Ted Keating, pastor at Mary Mother of the Church Parish in Mount Joy joins us to unpack what to do when we find ourselves in a fog.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:32
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Augustine of Hippo
To create more space to sit at Jesus' feet and do ordinary things with extraordinary love, what do we need to do at the most basic level? Today we welcome back Deacon Scott Root, Senior Theology teacher at Trinity High School, who serves at St. Katherine Drexel Parish in Mechanicsburg where he's also the director of religious education, to chat with us about our prayer life, and what that can look like in our very busy, everyday lives.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:38-42
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Therese of Liseux
Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High school who serves at St. Katherine Drexel Parish in Mechanicsburg where he’s also the director of religious education, is back to help us build better Bible reading habits to meet all our mental and spiritual goals this year and beyond.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119:105
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Anthony of the Desert
Have you ever felt the weight of your life and thought 'I want a break - I need a break.' Did you know rest and renewal are both necessary for our faith to evolve? Kevin Cicak, CYO Director for the Diocese of Harrisburg and frequent retreat facilitator, joins us today to talk about how retreats are the perfect opportunity to engage in both.
SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:35
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Mary Magdalene
It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by the suffering in the world. War, illness, loneliness, and injustice —it can start to feel like too much. And sometimes the temptation isn’t to stop caring, but to stop hoping. But just because we experience or witness suffering doesn’t mean it’s random or without purpose, as it so often feels, so to help us out, we’ve invited Renee and James from the St Martin de Porres Catholic Worker House in Harrisburg, to help us reframe and respond to suffering as Catholics.
SCRIPTURE: John 16:33
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Josephine Bahkita
Learn more about the St. Martin de Porres House: https://stmartindeporrescw.org/Learn more about the Catholic Worker Movement: https://catholicworker.org/
With Christmas just around the corner, Bishop Senior joins WHP580's Michael Parks for our annual holiday episode.
Today we're joined by Father Bill Forrey of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Harrisburg, Father Kevin Key of Saint Joan of Arc Parish in Hershey and Father Stephen Logue of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Lancaster to discuss the themes of Advent: Hope, Peace and Joy.
SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 5:6
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Saint Joseph
Today we're chatting with Amanda Snyder, parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and one of the leaders of their An Investment in Motherhood (AIM) group about how her journey through motherhood has led her closer to Mary, and in turn, Jesus.
An Investment in Motherhood Group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish: Aim@steas.net
SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Gianna Molla
While the holidays are a joyous time for the church, for many it can be a stark reminder of grief and loss. Dr. Kirsten Tollefson, psychiatrist and program director for Catholic Charities' Labre Mental Health Clinic, joins us to talk about some tangible ways we can lean into hope this season, even if it feels out of reach.
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 64:1
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Jude Thaddeus
Pathways to Purpose is our brand-new video series launching on YouTube in January, and today we're privileged to hear from several of the nuns and sisters who will be featured in this series about their journey, the apostolates they've served, and their advice for young women discerning a call to religious life.
SCRIPTURE: John 15:16
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Therese of Liseux
Have you ever had your life all mapped out only for God to completely reroute your plans? Today we're chatting with Joseph Gonzales, Youth Minister and Development Director for St. John the Baptist Parish in New Freedom, about his big plot twist moment in life that led him to follow God's call much differently than he imagined.
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 16:9
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Francis of Assisi
Deacon Drew Heidelbaugh sits down with us to discuss how he discerned his vocation and the mental gymnastics that went along with it.
Scripture: John 21:15-17
Saint Spotlight: St. John Vianney
Open any social media app and you’ll find Catholics and non catholics alike arguing over whether or not to celebrate this holiday because, unfortunately, it has been long associated with spirituality and the occult. So many people are convinced of Halloween’s pagan origins, and with the abundance of violence, gore, sensuality, occultism, and demonic aspects now associated with Halloween, it’s hard not to. But is Halloween a pagan holiday or is it a hijacked holy day? How does the Catholic church feel about it? And since we’re talking about ghosts, are they even real and is believing in them in accordance with our Catholic faith?
Today we're excited to welcome back to the program Father Jonathan Sawicki, pastor at Saint Theresa’s Parish in New Cumberland to talk through the history of this fascinating holiday and find out if it’s all, in fact, just a bunch of hocus pocus.
Scripture: John 1:5
Saint Spotlight: St. Lucy
Our art and our faith actually can work in concert with one another. Today we're excited to introduce you to James from Saint Joseph Catholic School in Danville and his teacher, Kurt Eck, together known and the duo behind the podcast, Fun Fact Times with James D. What started as a little experiment has grown into two full seasons of episodes with guests ranging from students and teachers to priests and even Bishop Senior.
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 35:31-32
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Catherine of Bologna
Listen to James' interview with Rachel on Fun Fact Times: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QGTEIlgGtGSDDg17KqfgM?si=OfnRUzyNQuuuwQVE_heUXA
Today we're chatting with Sean Domencic about how our faith calls us to be stewards of creation and some tactile ways we can incorporate change in our daily lives.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 24:1
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Servant of God Dorothy Day
Today we’re chatting with the incomparable Eric Failing. Eric is the executive director of the PA Catholic Conference, the public affairs arm of the Catholic church that advocates and lobbies for Catholic Education, faith & politics, health care, life and dignity, marriage and family, religious liberty and social justice.
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 31:8-9
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Oscar Romero
We talk a lot about “meeting people where they’re at” – isolation and loneliness is now considered to be an epidemic in this country, especially for those who are elderly, injured or homebound – so how to we remind them they are still part of the body of Christ? Today we’ll be chatting with Sharon Fisher,one of our extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Holy Infant Parish in Manchester, about the gift of spiritual communion and why she continues to participate in this ministry.
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 11:26
SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Tarsicius
Today we’re joined by the newly ordained Father Andrew St. Denis. Father St. Denis attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia for his formation, graduated from Lancaster Catholic High school and later Bloomsburg University with a degree in business administration and finance. He currently serves as the pastoral vicar at St. Joseph Parish in York and Chaplain at York Catholic middle and high school and was blessed to attend the Eucharistic congress in person shortly before his ordination.
Scripture Reading: John 6:35
Saint Spotlight: St. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia
Today on our show, we’re chatting with Dr. John Rossi about his reversion experience, what second chances mean in the eyes of God, and why we shouldn’t be afraid to come home even if we’ve spent a long time away.
Scripture Verse: 1 John 1:9
Saint Spotlight: St. Thomas Aquinas
Today we’re joined by Deacon Scott Root. Deacon Root is a permanent deacon in our Diocese who holds a masters in Pastoral Studies in the Diaconate Formation Program from Pontifical College Josephium, a Catechist certification from Franciscan university of Steubenville, a master Catechist Certification from our Diocese, and he’s the senior theology teacher at Trinity High School. He’s also a husband, father and regular guest on our podcast over the last several months helping us get Back-to-Basics with our faith.
Scripture Verse: Luke 22:19
Saint Spotlight: Carlo Acutis
In the spirit of the upcoming school year that will be here before we know it, today Father Matt Cannon, pastor at St. Paul the Apostle church in Annville, joins us to discuss the unique and sacrificial opportunity presented to us in Catholic Education, how to be adaptable in our faith throughout the changing seasons, and how we can strengthen the domestic church at home all year long.
Visiting the imprisoned is one of the seven Corporal Works of Mercy, given to us by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-37. In this teaching, Jesus calls us to consider how we would treat others if they were Him in disguise. “I was in prison and you visited me.”
Today, we're chatting with Father Matthew Morelli, pastor at St. Anthony of Padua Parish and chaplain at Lancaster County prison to talk about this unique form of evangelization and the shared humanity we have as sinners.
Mary Magdalene is the most famous woman in Christianity, second only to Jesus' mother; she's also the most hotly contested figure in the New Testament. Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of outcasts, embodies uncertainty and has captivated Christians for centuries.
But why?
Today, we sit down with Sr. Geralyn Schmidt of the Sisters of Christian Charity to unpack some of the misconceptions of this mysterious saint, her theological importance and her impact on the role of women in the Catholic Church.
Our service members are asked to do and see things that many of us civilians can't even fathom. I will never know the full extent of what my husband saw or did overseas, but I do know that it rocked his faith. So how can we minister to those who are called to sacrifice for the rest of us, who come home with injuries that are sometimes invisible, who no longer see the intersection of faith and patriotism?
Today I have the honor of speaking with Father William Barbee, pastor at both St. Joseph and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Berwick as well as a former army chaplain who served in Germany, Korea, Texas, South Carolina and eventually the Carlisle Barracks. His vast experiences and incredible journey has led him to creating a rich community steeped in the Catholic Faith and military service devotion.
Nature has always been a tool for healing, but we can also use it as a tool to get closer to God.
Avid hiker, outdoor aficionado and spiritual director Chris Wood joins me today to chat about all they ways we can experience and appreciate God’s presence in nature with just a few simple shifts.
Whether you've sat through hundreds, haven't been in a while or have never been at all, as part of our Back to Basics series, today we're diving deep into the heart of Catholic Worship with a full exploration of the Mass. Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, is sitting down with us to unpack what's really happening at the altar, why every part of the Mass is important, and how to truly engage with this celebration so we can feel more deeply connected to Christ.
We’re picking up right where we left off last week with our deep dive into the Mass as Deacon Scott Root is back to unpack what’s happening from the sign of peace to the end of the service, why it’s all important, and how to truly engage with this celebration so we can feel more connected to Christ whether this is your first time or your hundredth time attending.
Sometimes, God isn’t subtle – you just have to be paying attention and willing to pivot. Today I’m excited to introduce you to one of our transitional deacons soon to be ordained a priest in just a few weeks, Deacon Clark Stiteler, about his frying pan moment that led him to the priesthood.
A "vocation" and a "job" are sometimes used interchangeably, but it turns out, a vocation carries a much deeper significance: "who you are" vs. "what you do." Or rather "who has God called you to be." Today we're chatting with Deacon Andrew St. Denis, one of our transitional deacons soon to be ordained a priest in a few weeks, about how he knew he was called to the priesthood.
Today we have the very special privilege of introducing you to Deacon Cole Mase, one of our three transitional deacons preparing to enter the priesthood in the next few weeks, and we're chatting about how he knew he was ready to take the first step into seminary.
Happy Mother's Day! Today we're bringing you a very special crossover episode with Mel Rossi and Jess Wolf of the podcast Simple Yes to help us dive deeper into our relationship with Mary as a human and as a mother.
Homelessness in Pennsylvania alone rose 12.2 percent over the last year according to the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, and on any given day, over 12,000 Pennsylvanians are known to be homeless across the commonwealth. 20-25% of the homeless population across the U.S. also struggle with mental health or substance abuse issues.
This week, we’re shining a light on a powerful new ministry in the Diocese of Harrisburg — one that blends compassion, mental health care, and the Catholic call to serve the most vulnerable among us.
Named after St. Benedict Joseph Labre, the patron saint of the homeless, Catholic Charities new Labre Mental Health clinic offers essential mental health services and a place of dignity for those in our area experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. I’m honored to welcome program and medical director of the Labre Mental Health Clinic, Dr. Kirsten Tollefson. Dr. Tollefson shares the inspiration behind this mission, the challenges of launching a clinic rooted in both clinical excellence and Gospel values, and how this work is already making a difference right here in Harrisburg.
Learn more at https://www.cchbg.org/services/labre-clinic/
Happy Easter!
Even though we're at the end of Holy Week, how can we really lean in to this special season, this pinnacle of our faith, and truly experience it rather than just trudge through it?
Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher for Trinity High School, joins me again today for our Back-to-Basics series, and today we’re exploring the holiest week of the year that we just celebrated, most specifically the three day leading up to today and why they are vital to our faith.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9tLRiCb2CW8
Follow us on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/hbgdiocese/
https://www.facebook.com/DioceseofHarrisburg
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Michael Parks of WHP 580 sits down with Bishop Timothy Senior for our annual Easter episode.
For more event info, visit hbgdiocese.org
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kuFY92hTKBM
In just a few short months, our diocese will be hosting a young adult jubilee pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi to celebrate the jubilee with Pope Francis and young people around the world while also visiting some of the world’s most incredible holy sites. We're super excited to welcome back Zack Haney, director of youth and young adult ministries and this year’s pilgrimage leader, to talk about how we can truly experience God as pilgrims, not tourists.
What if we told you that the Diocese is partnering with a unique organization that not only raises funds and awareness for crisis pregnancies, but also embraces a holistic pro-life approach using a combination of cycling and evangelization?
Today, we're excited to welcome back Zack Haney, our director of Youth and Young adult Ministry, and Marianne Weltmer, our director of Life and Dignity, to chat about our Biking for Babies even on April 26th, a unique opportunity for advocacy and action.
www.bikingforbabies.com
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-IvRmAgDCrw
Follow us on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/hbgdiocese/
https://www.facebook.com/DioceseofHarrisburg
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If you're a fan of the 1989 animated classic 'All Dogs Go To Heaven,' you're probably a firm believer that our furry friends will be waiting for us on the other side.
But what does the church actually say about this? Some doctors of the church say no, while some saints and even the pope say yes. To offer us another perspective, Father Kenneth Roth, pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Mechanicsburg and fellow animal lover, joins us today as we unpack this idea of heaven and the awesome responsibility that God has gifted to us in animals.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7v-9iZc2fik?feature=shared
Being Catholic isn't something we 'have' to do - it's something we 'get' to do. We get to experience God's grace through His gift of the Sacraments.
Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, joins us again today for our back-to-basics series and today we're covering the last two sacraments, the sacraments of service which are matrimony and holy orders.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rjQJAXHyrso
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Did you know anointing of the sick isn't just for those who are dying?
Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher for Trinity High School, joins us again for our next installment of the Back-to-Basics series. Today we’re exploring the Sacraments of Healing: Confession and Anointing of the sick and why they’re both necessary for a healthy, fulfilling life.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eHWbpdCnS2U
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https://www.facebook.com/DioceseofHarrisburg
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We've talked a lot about taking ownership of our Catholic Faith, and today we're going to do just that, starting with the sacraments.
Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, joins us for the next installment of our back to basics series and today, we're doing a deep dive into the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.
It’s hard to have faith that things will get better or truly believe that this suffering is there for a reason. Instead of drawing closer to God, it often feels like we’ve been abandoned.
Pope Francis wrote, "God does not abandon us and often amazes us by granting us a strength that we never expected and would never have found on our own." He likened the journey of the ill to that of the disciples on the road to Emmaus who recognized Jesus travelling with them only after sharing their anxieties and disappointments with him.
So how can we keep the faith during times of illness and uncertainty? How can we reinvigorate our hope and draw closer to God instead of feeling abandoned?
Today we're chatting with Doctor Greg Burke, a physician and president of the local Catholic Medical Association, to talk about the intersection of faith and medicine, how we can maintain our faith in sickness and in health, and how faith informs our choices.
We're always looking for ways to honor and improve our relationships with our spouses, our kids or our friends, but when was the last time we worked on our relationship with God? Sure you say your prayers and go to church, but when was the last time you actually put any effort into THAT relationship?
God doesn’t want to be acquaintances with us. He wants ALL of us. So how can we deepen our relationship with Him during this season of love?
Today we're excited to welcome back Chris Wood, youth minister and spiritual director for the Diocese, to give us some tangible tips about creating an intimate relationship with God.
Book Chris recommends: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Silence-Against-Dictatorship-Noise/dp/1621641910
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nN38zsunuoc
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Bishop Senior recently announced that schools in the Diocese of Harrisburg would be incorporating age-appropriate teachings of Theology of the Body into their curriculum starting with the 2025 school year. Today, we're joined by Mr. Courtney Brown, father of eight and executive director of Rua Woods Institute. Rua Woods is one of the many curriculum choices our schools and parents alike have to educate our children in Christian Anthropology and what that means for us as humans.
Rua Woods: https://www.ruahwoodsinstitute.org/
Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/YfeHTyrCqP8
Follow us on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/DioceseofHarrisburg
https://www.instagram.com/hbgdiocese/
https://x.com/HBGDiocese
Father Ben Dunkelberger, pastor at Our Lady of the Visitation and campus minister at Shippensburg University joins us today to walk through all the vibrant opportunities to available in our Diocese for Youth and Young Adults and hopefully, you’ll learn about one that interests you!
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Deacon Scott Root, Senior Theology Teacher at Trinity High School, joins us for the start of our new series, Back to Basics. This week, we begin our deep dive into the Catholic faith, starting with the Church itself - its origins, its mission, its structure, and what we mean when we say, "a mystery of faith."
If you have any questions you'd like to ask Deacon Root, drop a comment below and we'll do our best to ask him in upcoming episodes!
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In the spirit of the new year, let’s make a resolution together to get back to basics on all things Catholic. Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, will be sitting down with us today and throughout 2025 to dive deep into the foundations of Catholicism, helping us get back to basics and revitalize our commitment to our faith, starting with an introduction to Catholicism, how it’s different from other Christian denominations, and how why someone should consider becoming Catholic or coming back to the faith after stepping away.
Michael Parks of WHP 580 joins Bishop Senior for our annual Christmas episode to discuss all the recent happenings in the Diocese as well as looking into what we can expect in the new year.
Today is the third Sunday of Advent, next week is Christmas already. Society tells us “its the most wonderful time of year,” that we’re just expected to be happy and smiling and joyful because its Christmas. But for many people, this is a very hard time of year. So how can we experience true joy, not just temporary holiday happiness?
Father Stephen Logue, campus minister at Millersville University and Franklin & Marshall College, and Chaplain at Lancaster Catholic high school, joins us today to define what joy really is and how we can tap into it throughout the year.
We tend to place a lot of pressure on ourselves this time of year to do all the things in the name of preparing for Christmas. And by its definition, Advent is a season of preparation, but are we preparing the right way or are we being distracted? Making the cookies and sending the cards and putting the tree up in November isn’t really helping us prepare for Jesus’ first or second coming. It’s just stressing us out, and Jesus didn’t come to stress us out. He came to bring peace to the whole world.
So how do we find that peace, practically speaking? How can we reframe our Advent so the rest of the season is filled with this peace He promised us?
Today we're chatting with Father Key from St. Joan of Arc Parish in Hershey to unpack the meaning of peace, how to embrace it throughout the rest of Advent and we can hold on to it into the new year.
Advent is a season of waiting, and God does some of His best work in our waiting seasons, but we have to have hope, and we have to trust in Him that the wait is worth it. To kick off this season of joyful anticipation, we're excited to welcome Father Bill Forrey, pastor at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, to dive deeper into the meanings of Hope and the first week of Advent.
Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it, all those reminders to be grateful. But what is gratitude, and how can we practice it throughout the year? Sister Geralyn Schmidt joins us today to unpack this virtue with tangible tips to practice it.
We will never have all the information. We aren’t meant to. That’s why we have faith. Martin Luther King Jr. is famously quoted as saying “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
To wrap up Vocations Awareness week, we have the honor of speaking with Fr Josh Weaver, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Harrisburg to help us fill in the gaps of what a vocation is, how to know if we’re called to one, and most importantly, how to actually take that first step.
Vocations - Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org)
Father Weaver's book recommendations:
“To Save a Thousand Souls” by Fr. Brett Brannen
“Discerning your Vocation” by the Community of the Beatitudes
www.DiocesanPriest.com and www.VocationNetwork.org
The end of this election won’t come with sunshine and rainbows and everyone skipping hand and hand into the sunset. What matters isn’t what’s on the news today—it’s what we choose to do about it, and the effect that choice has on our eternal souls.
Today’s episode is a repeat with Executive Director of the PA Catholic Conference and regular guest on our show, Eric Failing. Normally we don’t air repeat episodes so close to their original air date, but Eric brings a terrific sense of humor, heart and humble faith to the often-overwhelming topic of politics and it is absolutely vital that we exercise our right and our responsibility as Catholics, show up to the polls and vote.
It’s no secret we Catholics can be a little macabre – we pray in front of bones and send them on little tours, we dig people up to check out their body sometimes before canonizing them, we believe in the reality of demons, angels and the dearly departed, we also really love reminding people they will die one day.
So why do we do it?
Father Jonathan Sawicki, pastor at Saint Theresa’s Parish in New Cumberland to continues his conversation with us from Sunday as we dive into the details of each of these uniquely Catholic traditions to get you in the spooky spirit for today’s Halloween festivities.
Halloween, unfortunately has been long associated with spirituality and the occult. Christians and non-Christians alike are convinced of Halloween’s pagan origins, and with the abundance of violence, gore, sensuality, occultism, and demonic aspects now associated with Halloween, it’s hard not to. But is Halloween a pagan holiday or is it a hijacked holy day? How does the Catholic church feel about it? And since we’re talking about ghosts, are they even real and is believing in them in accordance with our Catholic faith?
Today we're excited to welcome back to the program Father Jonathan Sawicki, pastor at Saint Theresa’s Parish in New Cumberland to talk through the history of this fascinating holiday and find out if it’s all, in fact, just a bunch of "hocus pocus."
On previous episodes we’ve talked about our wellness, our whole selves, as being spiritual, physical and mental. If you forsake one for another, inevitably, you will still suffer. How we nurture or nourish each of these areas directly impacts the other, which in turn impacts our whole self and how we show up in the world, how we make the real presence of Christ visible through us.
So how can we show up as God calls us to if it feels like we’re missing something? Where do we find that missing piece of the puzzle?
Over the last several months, we’ve talked to experts in wellness, specifically nutrition and movement, as to how we address our whole selves, to truly care for the gift God has given us. Today, I’m excited to tackle the topic of spiritual nourishment with spiritual director, Chris Wood, on how we can grow in our faith and effectively manage our time for spiritual wellness, just like we would with physical wellness.
For more info on spiritual director formation or finding a spiritual director for yourself, contact Melissa Maleski at MMaleski@hbgdiocese.org.
Well friends, love it or hate it, election season is here. If you’re anything like me, you may already be confused, concerned and maybe even a bit frustrated right now, and there’s only a few weeks left to make a decision at the polls.
Today, we're very excited to welcome back Executive Director of the PA Catholic Conference and regular guest on our show, Eric Failing. Eric brings a terrific sense of humor, heart and humble faith to the often overwhelming topic of politics and today is no different as we discuss whether or not our votes actually count, educating ourselves as Catholics on how we are called to participate in politics, and tactful ways to navigate differences of opinion during these divided times.
Voting Resources: https://www.hbgdiocese.org/voter-resources/
That saying old habits die hard is a saying because it’s true.
But why is that?
Is it that we lack willpower or conviction? Are we waiting for all the conditions are perfect before getting started, like waiting until Monday or waiting until the new year? What hope is there when we’re surrounded by triggers and temptations to slip back into our old ways? Does God expect us to be perfect?
Today we're honored to welcome back Erin McCole Cupp, an author and certified trauma recovery coach, to talk about this idea of willpower from a Catholic perspective and discover what we might be missing in this journey to freedom.
September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness month, and today I’m honored to welcome back Irma Do, a former therapist who specialized in crisis intervention and recently presented on this topic to Catholic Leadership.
** If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, please talk with someone you trust or dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Being an adult is hard. It’s just hard. There is no path. There’s no map, and we’re all just flying by the seat of our pants, which makes it easy for us to get stuck on this hamster wheel of going through the motions not knowing where we belong - we all battle this pressure to have it all: the house with the white picket fence, the dream job, the perfect family, a real Leave it to Beaver type of image we try to hold on to.
But is it where we’re called to be? Are we meant to sacrifice our dreams and aspirations in pursuit of this “perfect life?” Can we, in fact, have it all or does something have to give?
Today I’m chatting with Samantha Povlock, founder, CEO and Editor in Chief of FemCatholic, as we explore this idea that we actually CAN have it all, it just may look different and how to live in that.
FemCatholic • For Women. For the Church.
Comedian | Jen Fulwiler (jenniferfulwiler.com)
I know I’m still considered young-ish, but I’ve thought about death a lot lately, and how if I were to drop dead tomorrow, would my family be taken care of? Would I want to be kept alive on life support? What options are available to maintain any form of quality of life? What about our faith?
Dying doesn't have to be scary, and talking about it won't make it happen any faster. In fact, it will save our loved ones a lot of heartache later.
Today I’m joined Christina Ring, a nurse practitioner with Hospice of Central PA, as we talk about the differences between palliative care and hospice care, how we can compassionately care for our loved ones in line with church teachings, and some things we can do to prepare ourselves for the inevitable.
Today we're chatting with Deacon Armando Torres, our director of Culture and Outreach here at the Diocese, about all the different apostolates we have in our vibrant Diocese, as well as a brand-new conference for our Hispanic population.
Register for our first ever Hispanic/Latino Diocesan Conference:
Hispanic | Latino Diocesan Conference - Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org)
If we’re not carving the Madonna out of stone, painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or painstakingly piecing together stained glass, is our creativity honoring God and what He’s called us to? Today we’re chatting with Carolyn Astfalk, a local author and member of the Catholic Writers Guild about balancing your creativity and your vocations, bridging your art with faith, and tapping into divine inspiration.
What chance do we stand, as Catholic parents, in a world where our children’s energy and attention is so divided, especially as they get older?
Today we’re continuing our conversation with Irma Do, a wife, a mother, a former therapist and current RCIA and Youth Ministry instructor with years of parenting under her belt about that fascinating stage of parenting known as the teenage years.
Because parenting is hard and we sometimes need that extra encouragement for the different stages of parenting, we’ve broken this episode into two parts: This week is all about being in the trenches as a new parent and playing the long game of raising your kids in the faith. Next week will be all about raising teenagers, helping them come to their own conclusions and teaching them about Catholic social justice. I’m thrilled to welcome Irma Do to the program today. Irma is a wife, a mother, a former therapist and current RCIA and Youth Ministry instructor with years of parenting under her belt and some great advice for how we can reframe our parenting journey in the Catholic faith.
Last week, we sat down with Tom and Patty Strunck, marriage prep and natural family planning instructors for the Diocese, and really dove into the sacrament of marriage – why the church requires marriage prep, what marriage looks like after the wedding, and how to fight fair. Today we’re continuing that conversation with what it means to be submissive to your spouse, practicing forgiveness, resources for when marriage is hard and some ways we can model healthy relationships for our children.
This year, my husband and I will be celebrating thirteen years of marriage. We are not the same people we were when we got married, and that’s okay. But I’d be lying if I said it was easy. So today I’m sitting down with Tom and Patty Strunck, marriage prep and natural family planning instructors for the Diocese, to really dive into the sacrament of marriage – what it means, how it’s influenced by our lived experiences, and how it’s affected by different seasons of life.
Last week, we chatted about why quality friendships are important and why it may feel like it was easier to make friends as a kid versus now as an adult. Today we’re continuing our conversation with Zack Haney, our director of youth and young adult ministries, focusing primarily on the deep vulnerability required in meaningful relationships, the effects of social media and isolation, and some tactful ways we can maintain or pursue new friendships.
Lately I've been thinking about all the friends I’ve had over the years – the ones that didn’t stand the test of time, the ones who walked away when it got hard, the ones I walked away from, the friendships I outgrew and the friends I left behind when I changed jobs or moved to another city. It also got me thinking about how challenging it is to make friends anymore, especially as a busy adult, how committing to and fostering a new relationship takes time and effort we may not have or be willing to give. And what about those lifelong friends? How do we maintain them in different seasons of life?
Today I’m sitting down with Zack Haney, the director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, to really dive into how we can cultivate and foster authentic friendships as busy adults.
Summer is primetime for picnics and festivals, and we have a lot of them happening in our Diocese this summer. We fling our church doors open and say, let’s take this outside. It’s a great way to reconnect with church friends or make some new ones, and it’s an even better way to invite someone to experience our Catholic Community.
Today, we’re sitting down with Makenzie Kelley and Georgiann Benkovic from Prince of Peace Parish in Steelton to talk about how they’re building community with their parish picnic and why you should consider attending one this summer.
**BONUS content in this episode - hear two previously un-aired episodes of Musings of a Catholic Evangelist with Sister Geralyn Schmidt, SCC
Parish Picnics and Festivals Near You
https://www.catholicwitness.org/festivals-picnics/
Prince of Peace Parish
https://popsteelton.org
Upcoming Events
https://www.hbgdiocese.org/events/category/featured-events/
The fact that June is already over has woken me up to the fact that yes, while I have more space in my days because our schedules are more relaxed – no more rushing to school or sports – that “space” has easily been filled with other things. With weekends full of fun plans, it’s easy to put off going to church. It’s easy to forget morning prayer when your morning schedule is more relaxed. It’s easy to fill our time with something else rather than building upon the foundation we worked on throughout the year.
So how can we use these months to actually grow and enrich our faith rather than neglecting it? How can we transition our time with God from something we “have to do” to something we “want to do?”
Today, we’re chatting with Margot Kimmick of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Mechanicsburg about some small, realistic and impactful ways we can use this season of relaxation and renewal to enrich our faith this season.
Ministries we mentioned:
Gather together (steas.net)
One year ago today, hundreds of people gathered both inside and outside St Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg to witness the installation of our Diocese’s twelfth Bishop, Bishop Timothy Senior.
Since then, Bishop Senior has jumped into his roll with both feet. He’s visited all the corners and counties of the Diocese, beginning with Masses in all ten of the Diocese’s deaneries last summer to introduce himself to the faithful and get to know them, as well as making visits to the Diocese’s six high schools and a number of its elementary schools.
Today, we have the honor and privilege of sitting down with Bishop Senior to reflect on his first year as Bishop of Harrisburg, and to look ahead at his vision for the future of our Diocese
As a society, we’ve viewed children as more dependent on the mother than the father, we’ve forgotten that men and fathers, hold an equally important place in the family as the mother, that there’s a lot of pressure put on fathers to both provide and be present.
More than a quarter of the children living in the United states are growing up without a father – that number jumps to over 70 percent in the inner city – even though it’s been shown statistically, sociologically, and psychologically, that fathers have a massive role in positively impacting their children.
They are an example of both masculinity and tenderness, a physical, earthly extension of God the Father.
So how can we encourage and remind fathers of the value in their vocation?
Today we’re chatting with Jon Leonetti,a nationally known Catholic speaker, best-selling author, and radio host about using Saint Joseph as a model for our livelihood, our love life, and our big V vocations.
In my mind, summer is the collective turning of a page, a time of endings, but also of new beginnings, a real season of change. And for some, change can be scary, but change is the only constant in life. So how do we engage with change when it happens to us to begin this new season, this new chapter, as seamlessly as we can? How do we transition well? If you ask Sister Geralyn Schmidt of the Sisters of Christian Charity, who’s about to embark on her own transition, she’ll tell you the key to transitioning well is listening to and following God’s plan for your life. It’s about letting him orchestrate your life – all we have to do is say yes.
In just a few short weeks, Bishop Senior will be leading a pilgrimage from our Diocese to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis and today, today we're excited to welcome back spiritual director Donna Gilberti who has led pilgrimages all over the world to talk about how God curates our journey towards Him just for us.
Bishop Senior in his letter launching this year’s Diocesan Annual Campaign said, “Strengthened by the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, we are challenged to respond with grateful hearts to advance the mission of the Church. By sharing our gifts with others, the real presence of Jesus is made visible through us.” In previous episodes we’ve talked about our wellness, our whole selves, as being spiritual, physical and mental. If you forsake one for another, inevitably, you will still suffer. How we nurture or nourish each of these areas directly impacts the other, which in turn impacts our whole self and how we show up in the world, how we make the real presence of Christ visible through us. Today, I’m excited to tackle the topic of movement with Dr. Rachel Ciliberti, a family chiropractor and Pietra Fitness instructor on a mission to help us glorify God with the movement of our bodies.
Learn More about Pietra Fitness:
Strengthen Your Body, Mind, and Soul • Pietra Fitness
Donate to the Diocesan Annual Campaign:
Nourished by Faith - 2024 Diocesan Annual Campaign - Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org)
I always thought vocation was synonymous with job, used interchangeably, but it turns out, a vocation carries a much deeper significance, more “who you are” not just “what you do.”
Or better still, not just what you want to be when you grow up, but who does God call you to be.
It’s fitting that we’re talking about this on Pentecost Sunday because, on the first Pentecost, the Apostles were no longer just fishermen or tax collectors – they were called to preach the word of God, just like the 11 seminarians in formation for the priesthood in our Diocese.
But how do we know if the path we’re on is the right one? How do we know if we’re being called?
Father Josh Weaver, director of vocations for the Diocese of Harrisburg, joins me today to walk through what it means to discern a vocation and how you can support someone in your life who feels called to this special service.
Donate to the Penecost Collection:
Pentecost Collection (hbgdiocese.org)
Contact the Vocations Office:
Vocations - Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org)
Happy Mother's Day! If you’re anything like me, you may be a mother who has a hard time seeing her own worth. Or maybe you’re not a mother, maybe you’re any human being, really, pursuing life or a career or school and wondering if you’re ever going to be good enough at whatever it is you’re doing. Personally, as a wife and a mother, I find myself constantly questioning what I’m doing and if I’m doing it well. So how can we remember to see ourselves the way God sees us, to recognize the goodness in ourselves as easily as we recognize it in others? Father Tim Sahd, pastor of Seven Sorrows Parish, joins us today to unpack this notion of being “good enough” and why God lets us figure out our path on our own.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and today I’m honored to welcome to the program Deacon Ed Shoener, who is a founding member of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and the Catholic Institute of Mental Health Ministry at the University of San Diego. He serves on the Council on Mental Illness of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and has authored several books on suicide. Along with his family and friends, Deacon Ed founded “The Katie Foundation” after his daughter, Kathleen, died by suicide in 2016. Her obituary went viral because it spoke to the needs and concerns of people who live with mental illness.
When I was a kid, being Catholic was just something I “did.” I went to church because my parents made me, same thing for Catholic school. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized what my parents were giving me was a foundation to stand on, a home to come home to no matter how far I travelled.
I want to lay the same foundation for my sons. How can we do our best, as parents and caregivers, as the hands and feet of Jesus, to teach the faith to others?
Becky Davis, the family ministries coordinator for St. Joseph’s Parish in Mechanicsburg sits down with me to unpack all the wonderful resources available to those wo want to learn and those who want to support others in their faith journeys.
In previous episodes we’ve talked about our wellness, our whole selves, as being spiritual, physical and mental. If you forsake one for another, inevitably, you will still suffer. How we nurture or nourish each of these areas directly impacts the other, which in turn impacts our whole self and how we show up in the world, how we make the real presence of Christ visible through us.
So how can we show up as God calls us to if it feels like we’re missing something? Where do we find that missing piece of the puzzle?
Over the next several weeks, we’ll be talking to experts in wellness, specifically nutrition, movement, mental health, and spiritual health to address our whole selves, to truly care for the gift God has given us. Today, I’m excited to tackle the topic of food and nutrition with Allison Salvitti-Nelson and Shannon Szeles, registered dietitian-nutritionists with PostGlo Nutrition and busy parents on a mission to help fellow busy parents prioritize their own physical health in order to show up effectively for their families.
PostGlo Nutrition & Wellness
5 Nights of Meltdown Meals — PostGlo Nutrition & Wellness
Dietitians for Busy Parents | Alli & Shan (@postglo_nutritionists) • Instagram photos and videos
Welcome to part two of our Candid Catholic Convos episode on what we want versus what God wants for us with spiritual director Donna Giberti. This week, we're continuing our conversation about attending to our desires, what happens when our plans don't work the way we want to, and how to live confidently in uncertainty.
Today we’re talking with Donna Giberti, a spiritual director with the Diocese who has lived several lifetimes before being formed – from unexpectedly becoming a single mother, to working in corporate America as well as the non-profit space, being an active participant in parish life, planning pilgrimages, and finally heeding God’s call of walking with others on their spiritual journey. Donna’s going to help us unpack what our desires mean and how we can discern the difference between what we want vs what God wants for us over two full episodes.
He Is Risen!
Bishop Senior is joined by Michael Parks of WHP580 for our annual Easter Special.
Bishop Senior is joined by Michael Parks of WHP580 this week to share with us his wishes during the holiest week of the year.
Few Catholic saints are as celebrated in the secular world as Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Everything turns green and those who may not be Irish in heritage become Irish at heart, celebrating the lore, leprechauns, and luck associated with the holiday.
Saint Patrick is truly the man, the myth and the legend – so much so that some even forget he’s a saint, and why that title was bestowed upon him.
So what makes him so memorable?
Father Brommer, pastor of the Cathedral Parish of Saint Patrick here in Harrisburg and director of our office of Divine Worship joins me today to unpack what’s truth, what’s fiction, and how this legendary Saint became the patron of our Diocese.
For better or worse, election season is around the corner, and to help us wade through the waters of indecision is Eric Failing, Executive Director of the PA Catholic Conference and host of the "Faith, Elections and Citizenship; Forming Consciences of Faithful Citizenship, a call to political responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States" event happening April 8th at the Diocesan Center. Today we're discussing whether or not our votes actually count, educating ourselves as Catholics on how we are called to participate in politics, and tactful ways to navigate differences of opinion during these divided times.
Register here:
www.hbgdiocese.org/citizenship
70% of Catholics are afraid to share their faith or to participate in evangelization. So what are we as Catholics called to do? How can we make the process of evangelization not weird and uncomfortable for both us and whomever we’re speaking to?
Deacon Gregory Amarante from our Catholic Life and Evangelization Team and Dr. Jim Gregory, director of religious education for St. Columba Parish and school are here to to walk us through the reality of what evangelization is and isn’t, what our responsibility is as Catholics, and how we can apply it to our every day lives.
Where are we supposed to look for a good example of what it means to live well? Where are we supposed to look for a model so we can in turn be an example for our children? What does that even look like, anyway?
Today we’re chatting with Jon Leonetti, a nationally known Catholic speaker, best-selling author, radio host and keynote speaker for this year’s Diocesan Men’s Conference, about using Saint Joseph as a model for our livelihood, our love life, and our big V vocations.
Jon's Website:
https://www.jonleonetti.com
Register for the Men's Conference:
https://www.hbgdiocese.org/event/mens-conference/
More than 1 million children a year experience their parents's divorce or separation, and those children eventually grow up to become adults who's chances of experiencing a divorce themselves increase by 40%. Today we’re chatting with Bethany Meola, a wife, mother, author and co-founder of Life Giving Wounds, about the long lasting impact divorce and separation can have on children, and where adult children of divorce can find healing.
Life Giving Wounds:
https://www.lifegivingwounds.org
Retreat April 12-`14
https://www.hbgdiocese.org/event/life-giving-wounds-retreat/
In just 10 short days, we will begin the season of Lent – honestly it feels like Christmas was yesterday – and with that, comes meatless Fridays. Enter the local parish fish fry. This generations old practice has been a staple in Catholic communities dating back to prohibition when they were used to disguise speakeasies to keep the bars from going under financially and even further overseas. Just like at Christmas or Thanksgiving or birthdays or any given Tuesday, food is celebratory, it’s traditional, it brings us together. Friday Fish Frys are no different. But why fish? Why Fridays? And why did it change from no meat on every Friday to just no meat on Fridays during Lent? Today we’re welcoming back Father Jonathan Sawicki, pastor at St. Theresa’s church in New Cumberland to share with us the rich history of this tradition, why fish is the main dish, and how strong this ministry of Friday Fish Frys still is today.
We’re each different, fearfully and wonderfully made, with a purpose that is specific to us. But sometimes, it’s difficult to recognize and appreciate our differences for what they are.
The reality is we’re all more alike than you think.
Today we're joined Deacon Armando Torres, our director of Cultural Identity and Outreach, to talk about the different apostolates as well as our new outreach programs to serve all the people of our diverse and vibrant Diocese.
We’ve talked about this topic a lot on Candid Catholic Convos, so today we dug deep into the archives and compiled a compendium – like a best of episode - all on the topic of pro-life just for you.
The first segment is from Episode 37 with Samantha Povlock, CEO and Editor in Chief of FemCatholic with what mainstream would call a radical reframe of the term feminism and how that incorporates with our Catholic beliefs. The next segments is from episode 11 with Dr Anne Marie Manning and Dr Naomi Whittaker about what an abortion is and isn’t, and it also features advice for those in a season of an unexpected pregnancy or uncertainty or who are questioning their decision to utilize the abortion pill. The third segment is from episode 33 and it’s all about pro-life policy making and the ways Eric Failing and the PA Catholic Conference are advocating not just for the unborn, but for a whole life which is especially important this election year.
This week’s episode was recorded in September 2023 with Brian Lynch and Dominic Biacchi from our newly formed Diocesan Young Catholic Professionals Networking Organization, and we’re bringing it back today because of some pretty amazing updates – If you’re an adult in your 20s or 30s, mark your calendars for January 26 from 7 to 9pm because Young Catholic Professionals South Central PA is hosting a FREE Launch party at the Capitol Building. Join us for a fun night of networking, filled with drinks, appetizers, and dessert, meet other young professionals who are excited about integrating their faith into the workplace, and a special greeting from Bishop Senior to kick-off of our YCP South Central PA Chapter! For more info and details on how to register, visit www.youngcatholicprofessionals.org/chapter/south-central-pa
If you have lofty goals for 2024, especially if they center around health and wellness like more than half the population, you're going to want to really lean into this episode, because today we're chatting with Erin McCole Cupp, an author and expert on Theology of the Body, about the theology of moving your body to honor God, managing disordered eating, and committing to true overall wellness of the mind, body and spirit.
Today we’re joined by Jen Reed, our managing editor for the Catholic Witness, as she interviews Bishop Senior about his recent visit to SCI Coal Township, his first such visit to a prison in the Diocese of Harrisburg, and the first time he’s ever celebrated a liturgy for inmates. You can read more about his visit and experience online at www.thecatholicwitness.org.
Merry Christmas from the Diocese of Harrisburg! Enjoy a special conversation this week featuring WHP580's Michael Parks and Bishop Timothy Senior discussing happenings in the Diocese and their favorite memories of Christmas.
Advent is a season brought to us by the message of an angel, so let's talk about the role of angels in our lives, our guardian angels to be specific, and how we often forget that they’re with us all the time. They’re the ones watching when we’re sleeping, and helping us get on the nice list if you think about it. Today Sister Geralyn Schmidt, of the Sisters of Christian Charity, sits down with us to chat about all things angels and how we can actually foster a relationship with ours.
If at this point in the year your family, like mine, is absolutely wiped – maybe you’re a little less patient with each other or you’re feeling guilty for not making enough time to do the interior work of parenting – this episode is for you.
Today we're chatting with Melissa Maleski, director of Laity and Family for the Diocese of Harrisburg, about our role as parents in what we call the Domestic Church, especially during this new liturgical season.
Dating has become a job in and of itself, and with the current state of our culture, what hope is there for single Catholics still looking for their happily ever after? Today I’m chatting with Julianne Bartlett, a Catholic writer and lawyer who experienced prolonged singleness to share with us how she maintained hope, survived the holidays with nosey family members, and eventually found her prince charming.
A few weeks ago, we started a conversation with spiritual director Chris Wood on stress, worry and overwhelm, but we didn’t get to finish. We had split into two episodes to fully do it justice, and its finally time to get to part two. Today we’re going to dive deeper and talk about what unhealthy levels of stress, worry and overwhelm look like, when we should consider seeking the assistance of medication, and tactile ways we can improve our stress levels naturally."
Merriam Webster dictionary defines a vocation as “a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action, most notable a divine call to the religious life or the work in which a person is employed, their occupation.” Today marks the beginning of National Vocations Awareness week, and we have the honor and privilege of speaking with Bishop Timothy Senior, twelfth bishop of Harrisburg and former rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary to help us fill in the gaps of what it means to be called to a vocation, how the journey can look different for everyone, and how we can support those discerning a call to religious life.
Infertility affects both men and women, physically and emotionally. The worst part though, was feeling isolated, like we were in a desert alone, searching for an oasis that others had been able to find, but we couldn’t. Today, I’m honored to share the microphone with Ann Koshute, co-founder of Springs in the Desert, to share with us her journey to this much-needed ministry and advice for couples currently in a season of infertility.
Tomorrow is the annual PA March for Life in downtown Harrisburg. So we're excited to have Al Gnoza, the Director of Communications for the Pa Catholic Conference, and Dan Bartkowaik, Director of Communications for the PA Family Institute to share with us how we can make our voices heard during tomorrow’s march and, as Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Life gets overwhelming fast. when life is at it’s most stressful, we may even feel paralyzed, like we’re just white knuckling ourselves from one thing to another and unintentionally missing out on actually living. So what can we do that won’t add to our never ending to do list?Today we're excited to welcome back spiritual director Chris Wood to dive into this heavy topic of combatting overwhelm, stress and worry. In order to fully do this topic justice, we’ve decided to split this episode into two parts, so stay tuned for part two in the coming weeks.
Our God goes by many names, but sometimes we forget He is also a Creator. He created a pretty big something from absolutely nothing, and made it beautiful, powerful. He entrusted us to take care of His creation, just like we take care to protect and preserve the works of Da Vinci and The Wright Brothers.Are we, in fact, actually doing that? How can we be doing better according to the church?Today we're joined by Marianne Weltmer, our director for Life and Dignity at the Diocese of Harrisburg, who recently spearheaded our brand new “In the Beginning: a Care for Creation” series wrapping up this week to talk about ways we can break through the noise and take tangible action in caring for the environment through a Catholic perspective.
Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DioceseofHar... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hbgdiocese/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HBGDiocese Visit our website! https://www.hbgdiocese.org
How often do we as Catholics go through Catholic school or RCIA, complete what we need to do and then just go through the motions? What have we learned about the Eucharist since making our first communion all those years ago? What would happen if we didn’t stop learning?Today I’m excited to have Sister Geralyn Schmidt and Father Ben Dunkelberger join me to talk about how we can continue to learn from others and thinking of Jesus as your personal trainer.
Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DioceseofHar... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hbgdiocese/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HBGDiocese Visit our website! https://www.hbgdiocese.org
The thing about seasons, in life and in weather, is that they are temporary. They pass, often before you know it. Sometimes it feels like I am drowning in tasks, busying myself with chores and things I “should” be doing because that’s what the internet said a good mom/wife/professional/woman does. But this season of busy will pass, and then what? I’m excited to be joined via zoom by Lindy Wynne, host of the Mamas in Spirit Podcast and this year’s keynote speaker for our annual women’s conference, to chat about how to maintain our focus on Christ and his Sacred Heart in all our seasons of life.Register for the Women's Conference here: https://www.hbgdiocese.org/womens-conference-online-registration/Mamas in Spirit Podcast: https://www.mamasinspirit.com
In the famous words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.”This weekend is Labor Day weekend, and while it’s a federal holiday, it’s a great reminder that God calls us to work like He does, but He also calls us to rest, just like He did. Today we're joined by Brian Lynch and Dominic Biacchi from our newly formed Diocesan Young Catholic Professionals Networking Organization to chew over how we can find the fulfillment and success God is calling us to while maintaining boundaries and resting well.
What do superheroes and Catholicism have in common? I'm so glad you asked, because this week, you’re going to get a special glimpse into our renewed mini-sode series "Musings of a Catholic Evangelist” with Sister Geralyn Schmidt of the Sisters of Christian Charity. And if DC superheroes are your thing, you’ll definitely want to keep listening to what Father Don Bender of Saint Patrick Parish in Carlisle has to say about his revert experience, his transformative encounters with the Eucharist, and his homily to first communicants.
I think about this when we’re able to travel, about living the experience vs just visiting, about being pilgrims. And as Catholics, our destination is ultimately Heaven, right? Our journey, our pilgrimage should be about finding the best path to holiness and eventually Heaven, so how can we do that? How can we explore our faith, physically journey through it and find ourselves on the path to our ultimate destination? Today we're joined via zoom by Zack Haney, our director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese, to walk us through the Diocese’s most recent pilgrimage to Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day.
Let’s say it’s been a while since you’ve been to church, or maybe you’ve never been but you feel a tug to go and have no idea where to start. Well, let’s start with the basics. Let’s start with prayer.What do we pray? How do we pray? When do we pray? Why should we pray?Today Sr. Geralyn of the Sisters of Christian Charity, who also developed our Diocesan Formation for the Ministry of Spiritual Direction, joins us to help simplify the act of praying.
This week is NFP or Natural Family Planning week. NFP, even though it has been in practice for several decades, is still largely misunderstood by traditional medicine, and even less so by the general population, but it is a scientifically based system with an effectiveness rate greater than the use of the pill when practiced consistently. It’s minimally invasive and empowers women with scientific data they can use to advocate for their health. In other words, it works.We're thrilled to welcome back Dr. Naomi Whittaker, a board certified OBGYN fertility surgeon focused on women's restorative reproductive medicine, compassionate healthcare, and education to talk to us about all the benefits associated with Natural Family Planning.
Is it possible that God created more than one intelligent species of being, such as extraterrestrials, and if so, how would this impact our faith? Or is this whole concept just an elaborate attempt to distract us from our ultimate goal? Today we're welcoming back Father John Szada, our Diocesan Exorcist, to talk about the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence in our universe and how the potential revelation of life on other planets could impact us as Catholics.
Superman stands for truth, justice, and the American way – what do we stand for? What do we, as Catholics, stand for, and are we willing to fight for it?Today I’m chatting with Linda Carroll, an attorney and president of the Saint Thomas More Society of Central Pennsylvania, about how ordinary Catholics can model St. Thomas More and fight for religious freedom in our daily 21st century lives.
This week, we officially welcomed Bishop Timothy Senior as the Twelfth Bishop of Harrisburg. Listen to his homilies from his Vespers Service and Installation.
Christian parenting is HARD - what hope is there for parents trying to raise little disciples, little saints, in today’s society?To help answer this, I’ve asked Fathers Tim and Kyle Sahd, brothers in a family with not one, not two, but THREE priestly vocations to give me some practical, 21st century tips on how to encourage Catholic families living in today’s society.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1Just as the seasons change, our Diocese is also experiencing a time of change and transition. We are excited to welcome Bishop Gainer back, for what will likely be his last interview with us as a Diocesan Bishop, to chat about his most memorable moments, the art of transitioning well, and what the next chapter of his life will look like.
A couple weeks ago, we had the opportunity to chat with a lot of our seminarians, many of which are about to be or have recently been ordained to the diaconate or the priesthood. We'd like to introduce you to Justin McClay, Michael Pray, Drew Tanguay, Kevin Key, Dozie Ononuju and Richard Groff, the seminarians our annual Pentecost Collection directly supports, as we chat about how your prayers and financial contributions are making a difference in their walk with Christ.
There’s a ton of jokes surrounding the guilt Catholics burden themselves with: we feel like we have to meet a certain set of standards, and be perfect at everything in order to gain admittance to heaven, to be considered good enough. Conversely, there’s a large push in the secular world to stop judging ourselves so harshly, that we are already enough. So which one is it? Father Johnathan Sawicki joins me to help us unpack these notions of guilt, how they specifically apply to our faith, and how comparison is the thief of joy.
This week Pope Francis announced the 12th Bishop of Harrisburg, Bishop Timothy Senior, the Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia. We're excited to share how the Bishop selection process works with Bishop Gainer as well as clips from the press conference announcing the transition.
If you've ever felt like you were too insignificant to enact any sort of meaningful change, this episode is for you. Eric Failing, Executive Director of PA Catholic Conference, joins us to unpack this concept and give us some tangible, actionable ideas."
If the phrase "pick up your cross" has ever stirred frustration in you, especially at a time when it feels like too much to carry, today's episode is for you. We're chatting with retired priest Father John McFadden, who ministers to prisoners at the Camp Hill State Correctional Facility about what we can do when we feel trapped by the heaviness of our personal crosses.
Life is about the journey, not the destination, right? But as Catholics, our destination is ultimately Heaven. Our journey should be about finding the best path to holiness and eventually Heaven, so how can we do that? How can we explore our faith, physically journey through it and find ourselves on the path to our ultimate destination? Today I’m joined via zoom by Father Luis Rodriguez of Saint Juan Bautista in Lancaster to talk about pilgrimages and how as followers of Christ, we are all pilgrims journeying to God.
Year over year, the Hispanic population in Central Pennsylvania grows, creating vibrant communities in York and Adams counties. And if you watch the news, they’ll tell you this is a bad thing, that the things that make us different are things to be feared. The reality is we’re more alike than you think. Today we're chatting with Father Michael Rothan, the Spanish Apostolate of Hanover, to talk about what makes his ministry unique and share with us all the ways the Catholic faith can be made beautiful in different cultures.
So often we as human beings operate under one of two assumptions - that we're perfect with no room for improvement, or we're so broken, so damaged, there's no hope for restoration. In reality, we are walking, talking construction sites. Today we're chatting with Father Dwight Schlaline from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hanover, who's 250 year old church is currently undergoing an enormous restoration project, a true labor of love, that both speaks to why we honor our history and the power of change.
Basilica Restoration Project:
https://sacredheartbasilica.com/interiorrestorationproject
Spring is here, and that means so is Lent! Father Paul Clark joins us to chat about some best practices to make these next forty days more fruitful and draw us closer to Christ.
Some people think divorce is the easy way out of a marriage and an annulment is just like a giant undo button. Some Catholics think if you get divorced, it means you’re excommunicated. With all the fog surrounding this topic in the church, it’s time we clear the air once and for all. This week Barb Bettwy, director of the Tribunal for the Diocese, joins us to talk about what an annulment is and isn’t and how the church feels about divorce.
Sports are, in so many ways, like a religion. Like religion, sports can convey important lessons about culture and values. But as much as you could compare sports to organized religion, practicing your actual faith on the field, at least on a national level, was strongly discouraged, until a few weeks ago. So it begs the question – are faith and athletics intrinsincly linked? To unpack this, Eric Kindler, the athletic director for Trinity High School, and Jordan Hill, Trinity’s head football coach and former NFL player in his own right, join me to talk about their journeys of faith and how in informs their leadership with the next generation of players.
If you’re like me and your kids are in Catholic School, or maybe your kids are older but they attended Catholic school in the past, or you yourself went to Catholic School, then you know this week is a big one – it’s Catholic Schools Week. Today we're joined by Daniel Breen, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Harrisburg, to explain to us why Catholic education is fundamental in building a strong foundation for our children and the amazing things happening with the future of Catholic Schools in our Diocese.
Today we’re continuing our conversation with Father Sawicki, picking up right where we left off last week. We’re finally going to answer the question why can’t women be priests, as well as dive into the infallibility of the Bible, apocryphal texts, and the difference between being good versus being saved.
For those who’ve never experienced it, who’ve maybe only heard that the Catholic church is strict or full of rules or elitist, why would someone WANT to become Catholic? And going a step further, why is it that the Catholic church is seen as having this overarching authority, a predominant presence, if it’s not respected as an institution?Today Father Jonathan Sawicki joins us to unpack these notions, diving deep into the history and tradition of the Catholic Church.
Why is it that 80% of New Year's Resolutions fail, especially those focused on body image? Is it that we have terrible willpower? Or could it be that the balance between bodily health and spiritual health is tipped further one way than the other? Bill Donaghy of the Theology of the Body Institute joins us today to chat about the theology of working out to honor God, and just because New Years Day is a great benchmark for new beginnings, doesn’t mean your new beginning can’t start today.
A new year is here! That means new goals, fresh perspectives, and a feeling of hope. Whether you are married or dating, a fresh perspective in your relationship is probably in order. Regina Boyd, licensed mental health counselor specializing in marriage and relationships, joins us via zoom to talk about ways we can grow in our relationships, dismantling myths around marriage counseling, and how our faith plays a crucial role in our relationships.
Joy to the World! Bishop Gainer and WHP 580's Michael Parks join us for our annual Christmas episode. Merry Christmas and many blessings to all!
Part four of our series on the Eucharist! Father Joshua Brommer of The Cathedral Parish at St Patrick in Harrisburg shares his experiences of 40 hours devotions.
How can we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas this Advent season? By taking care of our spirit - wiping away our sins at Mass and confession. Today, Father Tim Sahd of Seven Sorrows Parish in Middletown is sharing with us why and how we should go to confession, as well as how it’s helped him on his faith journey.
Advent is suddenly upon us, and with it comes all the Christmas planning. If you find yourself overwhelmed by your to-do list, take a moment to consider the pregnant Blessed Mother, and focus instead on "nesting" in your faith - featuring a special message on the history of advent with Bishop Ronald Gainer.
Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it, all those reminders to be grateful. But what is gratitude, and how can we practice it throughout the year? Sister Geralyn Schmidt joins us today to unpack this virtue with tangible tips to practice it.
For decades there has been a sort of unwritten reverence for the ability to keep your work life and your emotional state separate, but in a world increasingly obsessed with productivity, it's getting harder to not let one affect the other. Spiritual director Chris Wood joins us to continue our conversation on grief and societal expectations in this week's episode.
Did you know roughly 1.4 million serving in the U.S. armed forces are Catholic, and there are more than 10 million Catholic Veterans nationwide? This Veteran's Day, we're chatting with Mike Rang, Deputy Vice Commander of Catholic War Veterans, to bring awareness to the nation's only Congressionally Chartered Catholic Veteran's organization.
Today we're continuing our conversation with Father Szada around Halloween, exploring additional topics like the difference between praying to a saint versus talking to the dead, poltergeists, superstitions and Santeria.
Have you ever wondered what the origin of Trick or Treat was? Or why we use the colors black and orange for Halloween? Can Catholics even participate in a holiday so closely associated with the occult? Father John Szada, our Diocesan Exorcist, joins us to unravel the history and traditions of Halloween and how it actually began as a Catholic holiday.
Growing up is hard. Sometimes growing up Catholic can make life harder, especially in a society that values instant gratification. Today we're joined by Zach Haney, the new director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries with the Diocese of Harrisburg to chat about the challenges our youth and young adult population faces and the community of faith we’re striving to create for them.
Part three of our series on the Eucharist! Father Richard Lyons of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in McSherrystown shares his experiences of feeling at home in the church and his parish's recent Eucharistic Procession.
Catholics come in all shapes, sizes and walks of life, each of us with our own calling. Today we're chatting with this year's Diocesan Women's Conference capstone speaker, Meg Hunter-Kilmer, about hearing God's call and answering without hesitation.
Link to register - https://www.hbgdiocese.org/event/womens-conference/
Monday, September 19, 2022, is the first ever post-Roe March for life, and it's being held right here in Central Pennsylvania! Joining us today to talk about this historic moment and important issues facing our political decision makers are Eric Failing of PA Catholic Conference and Alexis Sneller of PA Family Institute.
Resources:
PA Catholic Conference - https://www.pacatholic.org
PA Family Institute - https://pafamily.org
PA March for Life - https://marchforlife.org/pennsylvania-march-for-life/
- What do you think of when you hear the numbers 9-11?
For years those numbers meant simply a call for help. But for the last twenty years, they’ve also signified the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on the United States of America, and one of the deadliest days ever on American soil. Today Father Bateman joins us to talk about his experiences as a priest during 9/11 and his time serving overseas as a chaplain for the Air Force Reserve during wartime.
Raising Catholic kids now is harder than it's ever been with all the things vying for their attention, but take comfort - even the Virgin Mother's Son ran off without telling her when He was barely a teenager. Adam Arehart, director of Family Life and Ministries, joins us today to share some real-world tips and tricks to help us play the long game when it comes to parenting.
If you've ever wondered how some of the processes of the church work, this episode is one you'll really want to lean into. Bishop Ronald Gainer joins us to pull back the curtain on some of these church secrets as well as make a special announcement.
If you find yourself comparing your faith to that of the Saints or even other people in your parish or on the internet, and wondering if you're worthy of heaven, this episode is for you. Sister Geralyn joins us to unpack perfection and use the examples of the saints as inspiration, not intimidation.
Secular feminism has had an often negative connotation throughout the decades of the women's movement. But feminism doesn’t have to mean Butler, Sanger or de Beauvoir. It can mean the Teresas (of Avila, Lisieux, Calcutta and the cross), it can mean Gianna and Gemma and Joan. It can mean the teachings of the church and of JPII on the inherent dignity of women, the right of women to pursue their callings and the end of violence against women. Today, Samantha Povlock of FemCatholic joins us to help unravel and embrace this new integrated version of being a woman.
Part Two of our series on the Eucharist! Father Ben Dunkelberger of Our Lady of the Visitation in Shippensburg shares how his faith came alive through campus ministry and how Eucharistic miracles aren't always what we expect them to be.
This week begins our BRAND NEW SERIES on the Eucharistic Revival! If DC superheroes are your thing, you definitely want to listen to what Father Don Bender of Saint Patrick Parish in Carlisle has to say about his revert experience, his transformative encounters with the Eucharist, and his homily to first communicants.
There isn't a soul on earth who hasn't struggled with grief or loss in one way or another. Today, spiritual director Chris Wood shares with us how we can witness God's love in the midst of our pain and learn to embrace our suffering as an opportunity.
If you've ever heard of Theology of the Body and thought "oh, that's that one about sex," you're not alone. Today, we're unpacking St. Pope John Paul II's teachings on Theology of the Body with senior lecturer at the TOB Institute, Bill Donaghy, and discovering it's not just about sex, it's about what it means to be human.
The pending ruling in the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization case with the Supreme Court has fired up a lot of passion, fear, and continued to fuel an on-going debate surrounding abortion. To help shed some light on the political "man-behind-the-curtain," we're sitting down with PA Catholic Conference Executive Director, Eric Failing, to talk about what this potentially monumental decision means for us and what pro-life policies are currently in the works in Harrisburg.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! This week, we're chatting with the Diocese new director of family life ministries, Adam Arehart, about the important role of the father in the family and where men can find encouragement in their vocation within the church.
Forgiveness is essential in our faith and in our everyday relationships, but sometimes, it is extremely difficult. Today we're discussing practicing forgiveness like Jesus did with Deacon Gregory Amarante and his wife Ellen, and how we can effectively forgive others and ourselves over time.
Today we celebrate Pentecost as both the end of the Easter Season and the birthday of the Church. Much like the apostles who were touched by the Holy Spirit, we're called to spread the good news too, but how can we do it without feeling weird? Father Sawicki, director of vocations, shares with us some practical tips and tricks for modern day evangelization.
When you think of possession and making yourself vulnerable to evil spirits, you're probably thinking playing with tarot cards or Ouija boards, not personal development, right? New trends in the realm of personal growth sound great in theory, but may actually be opening us up to attack, not blessings. Father John Szada, exorcist for the Diocese, explains how growth without God could be very dangerous.
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month! Gwen Pfeifer, program director of Adoption Services and Specialized Foster Care at Catholic Charities, joins me today to talk about these programs and how we can get involved.
Mental illness affects 1 in 4 adults, and in 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death, many of whom were stricken with some form of mental illness. Donna Nebistinsky and Tim Danko of St Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish decided to take action and establish a safe-haven for those afflicted to reduce the stigma around mental illness, especially in the church.
Happy Mother's Day! Today we celebrate all mothers, and grieve with those who may be struggling with the loss of their earthly mothers or mourning a strained relationship. Sister Geralyn reminds us Mary is our mother, too, and explains how we can grow in a relationship with her to know her son Jesus better.
This week, we are continuing our conversation with Matthew Kenenitz, a Diocese of Harrisburg native who's spent the last three years teaching overseas at Ukrainian Catholic University before evacuating in February. He shares some of the harrowing experiences his students, friends and colleagues face on a daily basis as the crisis in their country continues.
It's been eight long and terrifying weeks for the people of Ukraine during the ongoing invasion from Russia. In part 1 of this two-part episode, we're speaking with Matthew Kenenitz, a Diocese of Harrisburg native who's spent the last three years teaching overseas at Ukrainian Catholic University before evacuating in February, and continues to stay in touch with those he cares about during this crisis.
Happy Easter from the Diocese of Harrisburg! This week, join Bishop Gainer and Michael Parks of WHP 580 for conversation and inspiration during this most blessed time of year.
If you're struggling with prayer this Lenten Season, this episode is for you. Father John Bateman has some practical tips this week to share with us on how to cultivate a fruitful prayer life, not just in this season, but throughout the rest of the year.
Easter season is upon us! So today we're breaking down some myths, legends and histories behind Easter traditions, as well as some ideas for faith filled baskets and some spring cleaning tips!
This week, we’re chatting via zoom with Adam Janke, COO of St Paul Street Evangelization, about how we as Catholics can evangelize today without feeling weird or defensive, and what you can expect when you attend this year’s men's conference.
The tragedy of what’s currently unfolding in Ukraine may have you feeling helpless or unsure of what you can do. In an effort to extend our hands any way we can, we’ll be speaking with Kelly Gollick, Executive Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Harrisburg about tangible ways we can contribute to our brothers and sisters in Christ in need of humanitarian aid both at home and abroad.
In this episode:
Catholic Charities Harrisburg
http://www.cchbg.org
Catholic Relief Services - Ukraine
https://support.crs.org/donate/donate-ukraine?ms=agigoo0922ukr00gen00&gclid=CjwKCAiA4KaRBhBdEiwAZi1zztcHXwRAm43ljCJNO5DuvvPXUcw1eRrJS8MAK1ZyjhxidUL-bghoCo8EQAvDBwE
Caritas
https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/europe/ukraine/
Carrying the invisible cross of infertility can feel like you’re isolated in the desert. But you are not alone – one in eight couples struggle with getting or staying pregnant. Join us as we speak with Ann Koshute, co-founder of Springs in the Desert, and Caroline Gindhart, nurse practitioner at Divine Mercy Women’s Health, about the loneliness of infertility and advice for those supporting loved ones on this journey.
Hope in a Season of Infertility - Springs in the Desert
Lent is fast approaching, so we're chatting with Fr. Paul Clark about some best practices for a fruitful lenten season
If you've ever thought you must be praying "wrong" or if you're not even sure where to start, this episode is for you. Father John Bateman has some practical tips this week to share with us on how to cultivate a fruitful prayer life
We hear it all the time: Love is more than a feeling, love is a choice. But what do you do when that choice becomes tiresome and the romance has faded? Today Mike and Meghan Lorenz share some practical tips for finding beautiful moments in the mundane and for preparing to take the sacrament of marriage.
Resources from this episode:
Marriage and Family Ministries - Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org)
God's Plan for Love
2022_GP_Brochure.pdf (hbgdiocese.org)
Ah, the ever-evolving question: what do you want to be when you grow up? How do you know you're being called to priesthood or consecrated life? Where can you go to find more information? Today, we're speaking with Fr. Jonathan Sawicki, Director of Vocations for the Diocese, and Sr Geralyn Schmidt, a sister with the Sisters of Christian Charity who both had very different paths yet ultimately chose to serve God and how you can listen for this call too.
Links we mentioned:
Office of Vocations
https://www.hbgdiocese.org/vocations/
Vocations and Prayer Magazine
https://vocationsandprayer.org
This week we're excited to have Jamie Bufton and her son, Cooper, join us to share why their family decided a Catholic education was a good fit for them and how they arrived at their decision.
Today we're continuing our pro-life conversation with Father Stephen Kelley, pastor at Holy Trinity Church in Columbia and active participant in the pro-life moment, specifically working with post-abortive women in Rachel's Vineyard to help them find healing.
Below are links to the resources we mentioned:
Project Rachel
Project Rachel - HopeAfterAbortion.org
Rachel's Vineyard
Welcome to Rachel's Vineyard: a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. (rachelsvineyard.org)
Undefeated Courage
UNDEFEATED COURAGE - Home for Undefeated Courage
Forbidden Grief by Theresa Burke
Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion: Theresa Burke with David C. Reardon: 9780964895799: Amazon.com: Books
Today we have the honor of speaking with Dr. Anne Marie Manning and Dr. Naomi Whittaker, two pro-life OBGYNs based in Central Pennsylvania. They are sharing their stories about what led them to this line of medicine, why general medicine overlooks the power of Na Pro Technology, and resources for women facing difficult decisions.
American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs
https://aaplog.org
Abortion Pill Reversal Network
https://www.abortionpillreversal.com
UPMC Divine Mercy Women's Health with offices in Carlisle and Enola
https://www.upmc.com/services/south-central-pa/faith-based-care/enola
Dr. Whittaker on Instagram
@napro_fertility_surgeon
How are you doing with your New Year's Resolutions? Need some guidance or inspiration? We've got you covered!
Start your 2022 by quite literally wiping the slate clean with confession! Today we're talking with Father Tim Sahd, pastor at Seven Sorrows, about what it is, the importance and power of confession, and why you should go back.
Join Bishop Gainer and WHP 580's Michael Parks for a year-in-review and special prayer message!
Good news - You don't have to re-invent the wheel if you want to make Christmas less commercial and more Christ centered! In this week's episode, we're talking about al the ways you can re-center your kids (and yourself), and most of it you may already be doing!
Today we're exploring one of the most misunderstood dogmas of the Catholic Church: the Immaculate Conception. Join me as I chat with Fr. Jonathan Sawicki, director of vocations, about the definition of the Immaculate Conception, where it actually came from, and the importance of this feast day in our faith.
Links to mentions in this episode:
Faith Alive - 2021 Diocesan Annual Campaign - Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org)
If the holiday season traditionally stresses you out, then this episode is for you. Learn how to do less to lean in more to Jesus with some practical tips and a special message from Bishop Ronald Gainer.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Faith Alive - 2021 Diocesan Annual Campaign - Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org)
Happy Thanksgiving from the Diocese of Harrisburg! Today we're discussing a story you may or may not know about the first Thanksgiving, along with a special message from Bishop Ronald Gainer.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Faith Alive - 2021 Diocesan Annual Campaign - Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org)
We're chatting with Dan Breen, the superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese and Jodi Reagan, principal of Saint Catherine Laboure on the importance of a Catholic Education and how it's continued to grow, even during the pandemic!
Links mentioned in this episode:
Find Catholic Schools (hbgdiocese.org)
Our first episode of Candid Catholic Convos is now available! This week's episode features Fr. John Bateman of St. Patrick Parish in York who's also a chaplain with the Air National Guard back from a recent deployment.