Minnesota Catholic Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota
Minnesota Catholic Podcasts is a series of conversations which covers three areas of interest. The “Heart of Mercy” minute, is a series of podcasts with St. Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler. “Hands of Justice” is a series of podcasts featuring local speakers discussing social issues impacting Catholic culture today. And “Voices of Hope” features guests from across the globe to our own backyard, who bring with them stories of hope, inspiration and wisdom. This show is made possible through the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota.
As World Day of the Poor is celebrated around the country, two members of the Service in Christ committee from the Mary Mother of the Church ACC, Marilou Heltemes, interim chairperson, and Bruce Uselman, Good Samaritan Fund liason, join Luke Preussler, rural life coordinator for the office of social concerns at the Diocese of St. Cloud, to discuss how they work locally to encounter and serve those in their communities who are in need and encourage others to do the same. Their conversation is moderated by Amber Walling.
Barb Simon-Johnson talks with Brenda Kresky, director of planning for the Diocese of St. Cloud and Mike Laughery from Emmaus Partners about some of the current realities the diocese is dealing with.
Barb Simon-Johnson talks with Brenda Kresky, director of planning for the Diocese of St. Cloud and Mike Laughery from Emmaus Partners about the history behind the planning process and some of the challenges facing the diocese now and in the future.
Amber Walling of the diocesan communications office talks with Dr. Antonio Ramirez, associate professor of Theology and Pastoral Ministry at the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio, Texas and Donelle Poling, Director of Conversatio: Creating a Culture of Encounter at Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary about the upcoming program, "Attune Your Soul: The Sacred Art of Listening for Ministry," being presented Sept. 26 at SJU.
“Together in Solidarity: How CCHD helps fund the work of Fei y Justicia and the Greater Minnesota Worker Center.”
Program participants Camille Piper from San Antonio, Texas, and Luke Waltman from Little Falls, share what they learned from the Rural Immersion Program and how this will impact their ministry going forward.
Christine Luna-Munger, director of the Episcopal House of Prayer and new farmer, and Deacon Leo Wehseler, who both presented to the students, discuss life in small towns and on the farm, what it means to know your neighbor and how life in rural community yields more than sellable goods.
Ben Durheim, assistant professor of theology, and Daniella Zupan-Jerome, assistant professor of pastoral theology and director of the Sustained Encuentro program, both from Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary, discuss the origins of the Rural Immersion Program, the school's partnership with the Mexican American Catholic College, the process of inviting speakers to the program and why curriculum of this type is vital for ministry today.
Bill Vos, a priest of the Diocese of St. Cloud, moderates a discussion about how mission work is changing and how we can encourage young people to choose to go into mission. Guests are Father Rodrigo Ulloa-Chavarry and Greg Darr, both from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, a Catholic foreign mission society based in New York.
Amber Walling from the Central Minnesota Catholic staff and Kevin LaNave, peace and justice coordinator at Christ church Newman Center in St. Cloud talk with Father Ed Foley. Father Foley is the Duns Scotus Professor Emeritus of Spirituality and Retired Professor of Liturgy and Music at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Father Foley is currently directing a $1.25 million dollar grant from the Lilly Endowment on preaching and neuroscience. He also serves his Capushin community as the Vice-Postulator for the Canonization cause for Blessed Solanus Casey.
Dianne Towalski, digital media manager for the Diocese of St. Cloud talks with Molly Weyrens. Molly is a pastoral associate at Christ Our Light Parish in Princeton/Zimmerman and is passionate about working with people on the margins, especially those experiencing poverty. She also works with Central Minnesota Catholic Worker.
Fathers Casey Cole and Roberto “Tito” Serrano, both Franciscan friars, have set out on an 11-week pilgrimage. Between May 19 and Aug. 3, they plan to visit all 30 Major League Baseball ballparks, traveling more than 17,000 miles to meet people where they are and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Our Impact on the Synod: Why does it matter locally? After hearing about the heart of the synod in the first session, Philip Shefveland and Barbara Sutton, both members of the diocesan synod team, talk with Joe Towalski about how the information we share through the synod process will have a lasting effect right here in our diocese.
The Heart of the Synod: What is a synod and why are we having one now? Local professor and theologian Kristin Colberg, the sole U.S. member of the synod’s international theological commission, talks with Joe Towalski about her experience in working with the global synod team and helps us understand the long-term value of the synodal process.
Joe Towalski, director of communications and development for the Diocese of St. Cloud talks with Kristin Colberg, associate professor of theology at St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville and David Fremo, director of Catholic Education Ministries and coordinator of the local synod consultation process here in the Diocese of St. Cloud.
As part of Respect Life Month, we feature a conversation with Dr. Merryn Jolkovsky, palliative care specialist at CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital. Jolkovsky explains how palliative care provides patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of serious illness and improves their quality of life.
Father Bill Vos visits with Father Fred Timp SVD, who is currently serving in Ghana. They talk about his work and reflect on this year’s World Mission Sunday Theme: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)
Kristi Bivens, associate director of lay leadership formation for the Diocese of St. Cloud and one of two co-chairs for Diocesan Ministry Day visits with the day's keynote speaker, Cindy Liliana Gonzalez.
In this episode, Dianne Towalski, multimedia journalist for The Central Minnesota Catholic magazine, talks with Father Jeff Ethen and Father Peter Kirchner as they reflect on their experience being in New York on Sept. 11, 2001.
Barb Simon-Johnson talks with Father Doug Liebsch, diocesan director of vocations, and seminarian Kevin Soenneker.
Dianne Towalski visited with Grace McCallum at her gym shortly before she left for Tokyo to compete in the Olympics.
Deacon Terry Jancik, Deacon Phil Henneman and Bob Walquist host a weekly show, which began last May.
Guest: Deb Dingmann, funeral director, mortician and owner of Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Homes Dingmann talks with Joe Towalski about her work with grieving families in need of healing and how serving as a funeral director has influenced her own perspective on life and death.
Last in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers have changed during Advent and now Christmas season. This episode features Poor Clare Sister Mary Matthew Tomsyck.
Fourth in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers change during Advent/Christmas. This episode features Sister Rose Mae Rausch from the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls.
Third in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers change during Advent/Christmas. This episode features Father Kermit Holl from the Crosier Fathers and Brothers in Onamia.
Second in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers change during Advent/Christmas. This episode features Sister Katherine Howard of the Sisters of St. Benedict in St. Joseph.
First in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers change during Advent/Christmas. This episode features Father John Meoska from St. John's Abbey.
Guest: Mark Hart, executive vice president for Life Teen International and co-host of “The Catholic Guy Show” on SiriusXM radio Mark addresses everything a novice Bible reader needs to know, including tips for purchasing one, reading it properly and making the Bible an integral part of your daily prayer life.
Take a walk with Fr. Greg. He will be leading us, not on the road to Emmaus, but through a Stewardship Way of Life. Is hospitality more than having greeters? How can we measure prayer? Who should be the focus of our stewardship formation? Is service really that important? Listen to learn some ways to incorporate the four pillars of stewardship in parish life. Fr. Greg Paffel is the pastor of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Sauk Centre, St. Paul Parish in Sauk Centre, St. Alexius Parish in West Union, St. Francis de Sales Parish in Belgrade, St. Donatus Parish in Brooten and Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Elrosa.
Father Tom Knoblach, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sauk Rapids and Annunciation Parish in Mayhew Lake, talks about the spirituality of stewardship in his presentation Aug. 25 during the diocese's online Stewardship Week conference Aug. 25-27.
Guest: Father James Kurzynski, pastor of St. Olaf in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is an amateur astronomer who contributes to the Vatican Observatory Foundation’s “Sacred Space Astronomy” blog Father Kurzynski discusses his priesthood vocation, how he became interested in astronomy and his views on the relationship between faith and science.
Patrick Flynn and Janet Dusek from the Office of Marriage and Family discuss how to keep God, your faith and love at the center of your big day.
Topic: Secrets of the fish fry Guests: Vicki Sanborn and Beth Schroden, co-coordinators of the Lenten fish fries at St. Katharine Drexel School in St. Cloud. Sanborn and Schroden discuss the behind- the-scenes secrets to having a successful fish fry — one that draws a faith community together for delicious food and fellowship.
Topic: The power of mercy Guest: Bishop Donald Kettler Bishop Kettler discusses his favorite Scripture passages focusing on mercy and suggests practical ways to be a bringer of mercy to those we encounter every day
Guest: David Fremo, director of Catholic Education Ministries for the Diocese of St. Cloud Fremo, drawing on two decades as a Catholic school teacher and administrator, offers families his top five tips for ensuring their children have a positive school experience.
Guest: Linda Kaiser, former director of Catholic Education Ministries for the Diocese of St. Cloud Kaiser talks about what makes a Catholic school Catholic, the biggest challenges to schools in living out their Catholic identity and what parents and people in the pews can do to help.
Topic: Hands Across the World Cediel talks about the organization’s efforts to promote human dignity by assisting newly-arrived immigrants and refugees to obtain the skills they need to flourish in their new homes
Guest: Judy Haag, leader of 40 Days for Life in the St. Cloud area Haag discusses the origin and mission of the 40 Days for Life campaign, the impact it is having and how people can get involved.
Guest: Father Tom Knoblach, consultant for health care ethics for the Diocese of St. Cloud Father Knoblach talks about Catholic teaching regarding end-of-life care and how Catholics can best respond if efforts to legalize physician-assisted suicide surface during this year’s state legislative session.
Bishop Donald Kettler talks about reaching retirement age and his upcoming ad limina visit to the Vatican.
Bailey Ziegler, human resources director for the Diocese of St. Cloud, and Kristi Bivens, associate director of lay leadership for the diocese talk with Sebastian Gomes. Gomes previously worked with Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation to create the movie, the Francis Impact. Gomes is an alum of St. John's University and the School of Theology and Seminary and is currently executive editor of audio and video at America Media.
Laura Kelly Fanucci addresses Diocesan Ministry Day participants at St. John's Abbey Church Sept. 30. Serve, Speak, Lead: Our Baptismal Call to Be Priest, Prophet, and King At our baptism, we were anointed to follow Christ as “priest, prophet, and king.” But what does this call mean for us in our ordinary lives and work? While some of us are priests, few would claim to be prophets or kings! Yet in this challenging time in our Church’s history, how does our baptismal call unite us, support us, encourage us, and send us out in the world to serve, speak, and lead? How might our shared calling hold the joy, hope, and strength we need to light our faith on fire today?
In this episode of Voices of Hope, diocesan director of communications, Joe Towalski, talks with astronaut Mark Vande Hei. Vande Hei, a graduate of St. John's University in Collegeville, spent five-and-a-half months on the International Space Station.
In this episode, Laura Kelly Fanucci speaks with Kristi Bivens, the Diocese of St. Cloud's associate director of lay leadership formation, about our baptismal call to ministry, service and leadership in the Church. Fanucci will be the keynote speaker at Diocesan Ministry Day Sept. 30 at St. John's University in Collegeville. She is an author and director of the Communities of Calling Initiative at the Collegeville Institute at St. John's.
Writer Nikki Rajala talks with Franciscan Sister Elise Saggau, author of “A Journey to New Frontiers, 1950-2018,” a new history of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls.
Father Bill Vos, local director of Catholic Relief Services and former director of the St. Cloud Mission Office, talks with Dr. Donald McCrabb, executive director of the United States Catholic Mission Association.
Molly Powers, a local wife and mom who also has experience in education and campus ministry, talks about her experiences guiding a group of pilgrims to World Youth Day in Panama.
Father Leo Patalinghug, also known as the cooking priest, sat down between presentations for a conversation with Dianne Towalski from The Central Minnesota Catholic. Father Patalinghug was in Sauk Centre for three talks about how to become a saint.
Kelly and Shannon Haws from the St. Cloud Area Farmers’ Market talk with Elizabeth Neville and Katy Lentz from The St. Cloud Mission Office about the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program and how local Rice Bowl grants help the market.
Deacon Ralph Poyo, founder of the Ohio-based New Evangelization Ministries, talks about Safe Haven Sunday, an event to raise awareness of the negative impacts of pornography on individuals, marriages, families and society.
Bishop Donald Kettler talks about Safe Haven Sunday, which will be observed in the St. Cloud Diocese March 2 and 3.
Diocesan communications director Joe Towalski hosts the conversation with St. Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler and Natalie Ringsmuth, founder and director of Unitecloud, a local non-profit that works to build community and foster respect for every person's human dignity.
Elizabeth Neville and Katy Lentz from the The mission Office of the Diocese of St. Cloud talk with local resident and Venezuela native Jonathan Walz, about the current political and humanitarian crisis in his home country.
Joe Towalski talks with Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia about faith in the public square.
Diocesan human resources director Bailey Ziegler hosts a conversation about the diocesan pastoral planning process with planning director Brenda Kresky and planning council member Father Matthew Luft.
A two-part interview with Pathways 4 Youth's community engagement manager and a group of youth who are helping with their mission.
Diocesan vocation director Father Scott Pogatchnik talks with assistant director Father Doug Liebsch, seminarian Brady Keller and local student and Marmion House resident Jonas Duncan about vocations.
Bishop Donald Kettler reacts to the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh Oct. 27.
Catholic musician and speaker Jesse Manibusan is visiting the Diocese of St. Cloud from Oct. 26 to 29 to speak to youth, faith formation directors and youth ministers.
This episode of Voices of Hope features Cathedral High School alum Sister Mary Jo Sobieck talking with classmate Molly Weyrens. Sister Mary Jo became famous after throwing out the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game this summer. Molly is currently the pastoral associate at Christ our Light Parish in Princeton / Zimmerman.
Diocesan delegates talk about their experience at the V National Encuentro gathering in Grapevine, Texas.
Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota and Mayuli Bales, coordinator of multicultural ministries for the diocese, talk about their experiences at the V National Encuentro in Texas.
The “Heart of Mercy” minute, is a series of podcasts with Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Erin Hatlestad, principal of St. Katharine Drexel School in St. Cloud hosts Sister Mary Angela Shaugnessy, a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, who holds two doctoral degrees in law and in education. The two discuss Catholic schools and the law.
Kateri Mancini, director of social Concerns at Catholic Charities for the Diocese of St. Cloud hosts Father Bill Vos, a priest of the Diocese of St. Cloud and director of Catholic Relief Services for the diocese. They discuss the topic of peace.
The “Heart of Mercy” minute, is a series of podcasts with Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota.