Thinking Faith: The Catholic Podcast: Recent Episodes
with Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld
A Catholic podcast brought to you by the Archdiocese of Regina where we attempt to navigate this winding road of faith in Jesus Christ so that we might know him more intimately, love him more profoundly and together serve him more deeply in our daily lives.
This week on Thinking Faith, we are pleased to share a portion of our recent diocesan gathering with Fr. Raymond Lafontaine. Fr. Raymond, a priest from the Archdiocese of Montreal, spent six months with the Archdiocese of Regina starting in May 2024. During his study leave, he visited countless parishes and groups, connecting with priests, pastoral staff, and lay leaders while observing and learning how we “walk together” as a synodal church on mission. Most recently, he participated as a table facilitator at the 2nd Synodal Assembly in Rome in October. In this series of talks, he shares some of the background leading up to the final gathering in Rome and examines "What did the Spirit speak to the Church through the Synod?" "How far did we progress on the synodal path, and how can we deepen our commitment to walking together in communion, participation, and mission?"
This week, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett field another randomly drawn question courtesy of the Conquest Boys Club of St. Anne's parish in Regina. They'll be talking about the Ecumenical movement and unity among Christians.
Just in time for All Hallows Eve, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett reach into their dwindling basket of questions from the St. Anne's Parish Conquest Boys Club to untomb the details about witch burnings, torture, and the Inquisition.
This week on Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric Gurash welcomes Marrick Reeve of Christ the King parish in Regina and Michelle Braden of the Archdiocese of Regina's Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry to discuss a new youth ministry pilot project. They'll share the ways that moving youth ministry from the parish and into a unique partnership with local Catholic schools has created exciting opportunities for conversation, relationship building, and conversion.
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week they discuss women and the priesthood.
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week, they discuss Adam and Eve and racial diversity.
This week, Deacon Eric Gurash visits with Pierre O'Reilly, Executive Director of NET Ministries Canada, to discuss their 30th anniversary. They explore how the ministry challenges young Catholics to love Christ, embrace the life of the Church, and equips them for evangelization through personal witness, faith formation, and leadership training.
Learn more about this amazing ministry, book a retreat team, or get information on how to become a missionary at https://www.netcanada.ca/.
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week they discuss the infalibility of the bible and why Catholic do things that aren't in the bible.
Deacon Eric Gurash sits down with Director of Pastoral Services and Operations Lisa Polk to discuss the upcoming ArchRegina Congress, "Pilgrims of Hope," taking place Saturday, September 21, at Resurrection Parish in Regina. They'll discuss the changing dynamics and demographics of the Church in the Archdiocese of Regina and the ways that this year's Congress will explore the future vision of our Catholic churches in Southern Saskatchewan.
Learn more about this important opportunity to be part of a dynamic and spirit-driven process of change and transformation, and find out how you can take part at the following link: https://archregina.sk.ca/event/archregina-congress-pilgrims-of-hope/
In this part two of two episodes in honour of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day on September 10, Deacon Eric Gurash and wife Melissa discuss their work in mental health ministry and the ways parishes can get involved.
Essential Mental Health Resources: 9-8-8 National 24/7 Suicide Assistance Hotline: 9-8-8 is the new three-digit helpline that provides urgent, live support by phone and text to people in every province and territory across the country.
World Suicide Prevention Day: https://suicideprevention.ca/media/world-suicide-prevention-day-banners-toolkit/
Emmaus Support Mental Health Ministries: https://emmaussupport.ca/
In this part of one of two episodes in honour of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day on September 10, Deacon Eric Gurash and their wife Melissa discuss their work in mental health ministry and the ways parishes can get involved.
Essential Mental Health Resources: 9-8-8 National 24/7 Suicide Assistance Hotline: 9-8-8 is the new three-digit helpline that provides urgent, live support by phone and text to people in every province and territory across the country.
World Suicide Prevention Day: https://suicideprevention.ca/media/world-suicide-prevention-day-banners-toolkit/
Emmaus Support Mental Health Ministries: https://emmaussupport.ca/
Deacon Eric Gurash is joined by his wife, Melissa, for this final installment of their summer retreat based on the fourth week of St. Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises. Often referred to as Contemplations on Divine Love. This week, they wrap up their reflections on Jesus' Resurrection appearances, encountering God in all things, and living a spirit-filled life.
This retreat, a part of the Archdiocese of Regina's Lay Formation Program annual Spring retreat, was held at St. Peter's Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan.
Join a vibrant community of intentional disciples who are passionate about living a spirit-filled life in service to Christ, His Church, and the larger community. We are now accepting applications for our Fall intake. If you are interested, please reach out to our Program Coordinator, Deacon Eric Gurash at 306-721-6724 or email him at egurash@archregina.sk.ca.
Download the Retreat Materials Here: https://archregina.sk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Meeting-Jesus-Retreat.pdf
Deacon Eric Gurash is joined by his wife, Melissa, as they lead you through a series of summer functions based on the fourth week of St. Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises. Often referred to as Contemplations on Divine Love, over the next five weeks, they will offer a variety of reflections on Jesus' Resurrection appearances, encountering God in all things, and living a spirit-filled life.
This retreat, a part of the Archdiocese of Regina's Lay Formation Program annual Spring retreat, was held at St. Peter's Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan.
Join a vibrant community of intentional disciples who are passionate about living a spirit-filled life in service to Christ, His Church, and the larger community. We are now accepting applications for our Fall intake. If you are interested, please reach out to our Program Coordinator, Deacon Eric Gurash at 306-721-6724 or email him at egurash@archregina.sk.ca.
Download the Retreat Materials Here: https://archregina.sk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Meeting-Jesus-Retreat.pdf
Deacon Eric Gurash is joined by his wife, Melissa, as they lead you through a series of summer functions based on the fourth week of St. Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises. Often referred to as Contemplations on Divine Love, over the next five weeks, they will offer a variety of reflections on Jesus' Resurrection appearances, encountering God in all things, and living a spirit-filled life.
This retreat, a part of the Archdiocese of Regina's Lay Formation Program annual Spring retreat, was held at St. Peter's Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan.
Join a vibrant community of intentional disciples who are passionate about living a spirit-filled life in service to Christ, His Church, and the larger community. We are now accepting applications for our Fall intake. If you are interested, please reach out to our Program Coordinator, Deacon Eric Gurash at 306-721-6724 or email him at egurash@archregina.sk.ca.
Download the Retreat Materials Here: https://archregina.sk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Meeting-Jesus-Retreat.pdf
In another first for the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast, Deacon Eric Gurash is joined by his wife, Melissa, as they lead you through a series of summer functions based on the fourth week of St. Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises. Often referred to as Contemplations on Divine Love, over the next five weeks, they will offer a variety of reflections on Jesus' Resurrection appearances, encountering God in all things, and living a spirit-filled life.
Join a vibrant community of intentional disciples who are passionate about living a spirit-filled life in service to Christ, His Church, and the larger community. This retreat, a part of the Archdiocese of Regina's Lay Formation Program annual Spring retreat, was held at St. Peter's Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan. We are now accepting applications for our Fall intake. If you are interested, please reach out to our Program Coordinator, Deacon Eric Gurash at 306-721-6724 or email him at egurash@archregina.sk.ca.
Download the Retreat Materials Here: https://archregina.sk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Meeting-Jesus-Retreat.pdf
In another first for the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast, Deacon Eric Gurash is joined by his wife, Melissa, as they lead you through a series of summer functions based on the fourth week of St. Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises. Often referred to as Contemplations on Divine Love, over the next five weeks, they will offer a variety of reflections on Jesus' Resurrection appearances, encountering God in all things, and living a spirit-filled life.
Join a vibrant community of intentional disciples who are passionate about living a spirit-filled life in service to Christ, His Church, and the larger community. This retreat, a part of the Archdiocese of Regina's Lay Formation Program annual Spring retreat, was held at St. Peter's Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan. We are now accepting applications for our Fall intake. If you are interested, please reach out to our Program Coordinator, Deacon Eric Gurash at 306-721-6724 or email him at egurash@archregina.sk.ca.
Download the Retreat Materials Here: https://archregina.sk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Meeting-Jesus-Retreat.pdf
In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with Stuart Squires about his new book from New City Press, "You Will Be Changed into Me: The Fruits of the Eucharist."
In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with Stuart Squires about his new book from New City Press, "You will be Changed into Me: The Fruits of the Eucharist."
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week: Drawn to darkness, Martin Luther, and...posession?
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week: Defeating protestants and knowing a silent Jesus.
Deacon Eric Gurash sits down with recent Lay Formation program graduates Gail Reles of Holy Trinity Parish in Regina and Dr. David Kopriva of St. Anne's Parish, Regina, to discuss their recent Commissioning celebration and their experiences of growth, transformation and spiritual renewal as program participants.
We are currently accepting applications for our fall intake. For more information on how to register, please contact our Program Coordinator, Deacon Eric Gurash at 306-721-6724 or email him at egurash@archregina.sk.ca.
In this part two of two episodes, Megan Bridgwater and Chris Valdez of Marin Catholic High School in San Francisco, California, discuss the ways they have worked to integrate a new curriculum permeation paradigm into their English program.
In this part one of two episodes, Megan Bridgwater and Chris Valdez of Marin Catholic High School in San Francisco, California, discuss the ways they have worked to integrate a new curriculum permeation paradigm into their English program.
Deacon Eric Gurash discusses the role of core values in spiritual peer support as they are encountered in Emmaus Support Mental Health Ministry and zeros in on the value of acknowledgment. He examines the root of this value in compassionate listening and how it can be more deeply informed by the model of Christ in the Gospels and the Ignatian Spiritual practice of spiritual conversation.
Show Snippet: "In Spiritual Peer Support, acknowledgment is transformative, fostering empathy and understanding through active listening and non-judgmental attitudes. Participants validate each other’s experiences, reducing stigma and creating trust and connection."
To learn more about Emmaus Support Mental Health Ministries, visit:
https://emmaussupport.ca/
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week they discuss how a person can know about their vocation.
During this Mental Health Awareness Month, Deacon Eric Gurash discusses the challenges of navigating a relationship with God amid acute mental health struggles and chronic mental illness and points to the Awareness Examen as a particularly powerful tool for building resiliency and discovering God's presence even in our hardest trials.
For more about the Examen Prayer visit: https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/the-ignatian-examen/
For Mental Health Spiritual Peer Support and other resources, visit: https://emmaussupport.ca/
In this part two of two episodes stemming from Archbishop Don Bolen's experiences of the Eccumencial Summit of Anglican and Catholic Bishops, Bishop Don engages with the question of Anglican and Catholic Holy Orders and how this complex relationship has grown and developed over the years.
We welcome Archbishop Donald Bolen into the studio this week to celebrate our 400th episode! We'll examine the history of Ecumenical relations with a focus on the ground-breaking work that has been done globally between Anglicans and Catholics. Bishop Don will also share his most recent experiences gathering with other Anglican and Catholic Bishops from around the world in Rome and Canterbury during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
In this two-part series, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with Thomas Wurtz, founder of FOCUS Ministries' Varsity Catholic program, to discuss his four pillars of Catholic coaching. They examine the natural goods of sports, their connection to deeper truths, and how participation in sports can offer insights into the human desire for God and the pursuit of excellence.
In this two-part series, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with Thomas Wurtz, founder of FOCUS Ministries' Varsity Catholic program, to discuss his four pillars of Catholic coaching. They examine the natural goods of sports, their connection to deeper truths, and how participation in sports can offer insights into the human desire for God and the pursuit of excellence.
In this podcast crossover, recorded during a visit to the diocese of Columbus, Ohio, and first aired on the "Becoming Saints" podcast, Dr. Brett Salkeld sits down with Dr. Adam Dufault, Superintendent of Schools with the Diocese of Columbus to discuss his latest book, "Making Every Class Catholic."
In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld vists with Dr. Holly Taylor Coolman on her most recent book "Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children." Discussing her theologically and biblically rich approach to rasing children in the modern world.
Discover more in Dr. Coolman's book "Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children" available at Amazon or, even better, through your friendly local bookstore.
https://www.amazon.ca/Parenting-Complex-Beautiful-Vocation-Children/dp/1540961494
In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld vists with Dr. Holly Taylor Coolman on her most recent book "Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children." Discussing her theologically and biblically rich approach to rasing children in the modern world.
Discover more in Dr. Coolman's book "Parenting: The Complex and Beautiful Vocation of Raising Children" available at Amazon or, even better, through your friendly local bookstore.
https://www.amazon.ca/Parenting-Complex-Beautiful-Vocation-Children/dp/1540961494
In this three-part series, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. John Jalsevac, headmaster of Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School in Peterborough, Ontario discuss the growing popularity of Classical education and its distinct approach to student formation and education.
Show Snippet: "There needs to be a space where they can read a difficult book and allow themselves to be shaped and formed by it. And that's Skolay. Activism is go out and do, Skolay is rest and be. Learn how to be in a deeper way. None of this is to say that activism is a negative thing; however, if you become an activist and you go out and you try to change the world without being rooted in a strong sense of identity and meaning, what will often happen is the activist world will, will take hold of you and you will lose sense of the higher goods and you will be consumed by the anxiety and the fear and the anger."
In this three-part series, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. John Jalsevac, headmaster of Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School in Peterborough, Ontario discuss the growing popularity of Classical education and its distinct approach to student formation and education.
Show Snippet: "One of the things about the Socratic method that I think is so important is that when you're using it well, it indicates to the student that you think they're important, that you think their views matter and that you think that you're not just there to pound stuff into their head. You are there to elicit, to draw them into a process where they begin to see and experience the pleasure of the chase after truth. William Butler Yeats famously said that education is not the filling of a bucket, it's the lighting of a fire, and so I think that that's the animating idea in many classical schools."
In this three-part series, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. John Jalsevac, headmaster of Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School in Peterborough, Ontario, discuss the growing popularity of Classical education and its distinct approach to student formation and education.
Show Snippet: "One of the characteristics that unites many classical schools is a focus on wonder in the face of all forms of knowledge. And so we need to be feeding that thirst in our schools...they're going to get the full run that you would get in a normal school on the maths and sciences. They're going to get their algebra and their calculus and their physics and their chemistry...And then the classical approach is that we're going to see that there's actually a harmony between what we're studying in philosophy and theology or literature and what we're studying in chemistry and physics."
In this part two of two episodes, Indigenous ally, Javed Sommers and Micheal Leblanc of Development and Peace Caritas Canada join the podcast to discuss treaty and natural resource rights through an Indigenous lens.
Show Snippet: "Free prior and informed consent. It's all about free consent. So there's no bullying, there's no harassment, there's not even bribes. The communities get together and decide freely if they want a new project. "Prior" means before anything gets done. There's no construction, no surveying nothing until the communities give their consent. And "Informed", means they have to be educated, they have to know exactly what's going to happen. They have to know what it means."
In this part one of two episodes, Indigenous ally, Javed Sommers and Micheal Leblanc of Development and Peace Caritas Canada join the podcast to discuss treaty and natural resource rights through an Indigenous lens.
Show Snippet: "Canada, through the treaties, is trying to gain control in terms of how it understands humans owning land. This would not have even made sense to First Nations, just as First Nations understanding of land would have made sense to Canadian negotiators. First Nations are thinking we're welcoming settlers here to share this land, just as they've been sharing land with other First Nations for generations and generations and generations. For First Nations, treaty is understood to be an agreement to share the land, not to give Canada exclusive jurisdiction."
This week on Thinking Faith, we hear from Cassandra Ursu and Angela Montano with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechetical ministry at Holy Rosary Cathedral. They discuss what CGS is and how its unique, Montesouri-based approach helps children discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Show Snippet: "So my five year old just had a birthday and he was very excited and he got all these presents, but then it's done and over with. And there's often a crash at the end of that. Whereas in the Atrium, they have this deep joy and deep peace and once they've encountered that, they're less likely to be touching all of the things in the environment. And so that's kind of our job as the catechist, or the guide, is to kind of watch for their needs, meet them developmentally, where they're at."
Find out more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at: https://www.cgsac.ca/
In this part two of two episodes, Deacon Eric sits down with Dr. Brett Salkeld to discuss three non-fiction, non-theological books that changed his life. This week; You Are Not Your Pain by by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penman and a surpise book that changed Brett's life without him ever reading it!
Show Snippet: "It's freedom. It's the same thing. Freedom again. It's the same idea as the last two books, right? I was not free in this relationship. My pain was leading to a kind of compulsive behavior and it gives me just a little critical distance, just like from the anger or from the avoidant or attached needs. It gives me a little critical distance to say, 'what's really going on here?'"
You Are Not Your Pain by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penman
The Empowered Wife by Laura Doyle
In this part one of two episodes, Deacon Eric sits down with Dr. Brett Salkeld to discuss three non-fiction, non-theological books that changed his life. This week; Good and Angry by David Powlison and Hold me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson.
Show Snippet: "The big feelers among us who express those things. People can't handle them and they need to know that, it's okay to be that kind of person. They still need to figure out how to manage themselves in different situations, but you're actually more equipped to manage yourself well if you're not just ashamed of being the kind of person you are."
Good and Angry by David Powlison
Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnson
In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with Catherine Pakaluk about shifting demographics, falling birthrates, and her new book "Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth"
Show Snippet: "I certainly believe that when we're talking about things that are deeply part of the human condition and the types of things that adults ought to be spending their lives doing; having children pursuing meaningful work, trying to serve each other in the community. I don't think the government and the church are locked in a zero-sum. I think that the government can structure things in a way to make it easier and more favorable for people to do the right thing."
Find Catherine's book at Barnes and Noble or your favorite bookseller; https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hannahs-children-catherine-pakaluk/1143671820
In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with Catherine Pakaluk about shifting demographics, falling birthrates, and her new book "Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth"
Show Snippet: "I saw that the president of France, Emmanuel Macron had given some remarks at a UN conference...he flamboyantly says, "Show me the woman who is perfectly well educated and still has seven or eight children"...I followed up with a tweet with just a photo of me in my graduation cap and gown...lined up with my six children. And I just hashtag postcards for Macron. And I said, Follow suit ladies!" I woke up in the morning and went, Oh no, it caught on! So millions of people all over the world posted beautiful photos."
Find Catherine's book at Barnes and Noble or your favorite book seller; https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hannahs-children-catherine-pakaluk/1143671820
This week on Thinking Faith Deacon Eric Gurash discusses the ways that spiritual peer support can help navigate mental health challenges and the role our parishes and Catholic social teaching can play in building caring, supportive communities.
Show Snippet: "Our parish communities are uniquely positioned to walk with others, offering prayer-filled support that can rebuild self-esteem and confidence often undermined by experiences of mental illness through a focus on mutuality, self-determination, respect, dignity, equity, and belonging."
Find out more about the Archdiocese of Regina's Emmaus Family Support mental health ministry at www.emmaussupport.ca.
In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld continues his visit with high school theology teacher, Tommy Kostielney of South Bend, Indiana to discuss ways that Tommy has introduced the idea of curriculum permeation to fellow teachers.
In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits with high school theology teacher, Tommy Kostielney of South Bend, Indiana to discuss ways that Tommy has introduced the idea of curriculum permeation to fellow teachers.
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week we discuss the cross, baseball bats, and creationism.
Show Snippet: "The Church does not pronounce on these matters. The Church does not say, "You must think the world is 4 billion years old, or you must think it's 6, 000 years old." It doesn't. Now, some creationists think it should say that the earth is 6, 000 years old because they think that's what the Bible says, or something like that, and they think that the Church is caving to modernity by not saying that."
Archbishop Don Bolen joins the podcast for a special pre-Christmas episode of Thinking Faith. We'll discuss Pope Francis' new book on the Nativity, Bishop Don's nativity collection, and the impact of the Incarnation on our broken world.
Show Snippet: "The incarnation is ultimately not a book and it's not a word spoken in writing, it's spoken in flesh. And so, incarnational faithfulness, in the first instance, is not a verbal witness, but a presence, a walking with, and that's probably what people will value and appreciate, because I think people in grief, people in time of loss and time of deep suffering, often find words that used to be meaningful crashing against the hard waves or wall of suffering and of brokenness and the words lie flat on the ground whereas your presence, you're showing up, matters."
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week we discuss Jesus' mistakes in the woodshop and altar serving.
Show Snippet: "Think of a carpenter shop. How do you learn to make some furniture with Dad in the shop without making mistakes? What do you do when you're teaching your kids about the family business? You hand them a chisel and a mallet and a saw, right?"
In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits Dr. Joseph Vukov of Loyola University in Chicago to discuss the transhumanism movement and promise and the perils of utilizing science and technology to improve human life.
"I think a great little pushback to the Luddite who would say, these new technologies are necessarily going to undermine human relationships, are necessarily going to undermine, our capacity to give praise to God appropriately. And I would say the Exsultet and the Mass pushback on that just a little bit in saying, no, no, no, we can actually use technology in cooperation with nature, as long as we have the right views of ourselves and right views of nature to give glory back to God."
Learn more in Joseph Vukov's latest book "The Perils of Perfection"
In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld visits Dr. Joseph Vukov of Loyola University in Chicago to discuss the transhumanism movement and promise and the perils of utilizing science and technology to improve human life.
"Roughly what transhumanism is is the idea that human existence as we experience it is Messy, it involves a lot of suffering, it is not all that it could be, and that what our goal should be is to transcend, hence the transhumanism, our own humanity. So how do we do this? We do this by life extension. We do this by making our memories better. We do this by making our IQs higher. We do this by becoming more efficient. We do this by incorporating technology into our lives."
Learn more in Joseph Vukov's latest book "The Perils of Perfection"
In this part two of two, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. Brett Fawcett discuss interdisciplinary collaboration and the role of theology teachers in curriculum permeation.
In this part one of two, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. Brett Fawcett discuss interdisciplinary collaboration and the role of theology teachers in curriculum permeation.
This week, Deacon Eric examines four more biblical figures as models for navigating mental health challenges. He discusses Leah, Hannah, Jeremiah, and Naomi and how their experiences can provide guidance and support for our own challenges today.
Show Snippet: "Naomi’s story underscores the importance of social support and of opening ourselves to being a support for others. In spite of her grieving, she recognizes God’s hand in sending the right people into her life at the right time and encourages her daughter-in-law, Ruth to do the same..."
In this part two of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld and returning guest, Brett Fawcett sit down to discuss the implications Bonavanture's examination of the arts and theology might have on Catholic education.
Show Snippet: "The third day is the exterior light. And that's the light of mechanical art. The production of artifacts. So the liberal arts are the arts of a free man, as they call them. These are the servile arts which Bonaventure does not seem to look down on. I mean, he puts them lower than maybe internal philosophy or internal light, but he still sees them as reducing to theology."
In this part one of two episodes, Dr. Brett Salkeld and returning guest, Brett Fawcett sit down to discuss the implications Bonavanture's examination of the arts and theology might have on Catholic education.
Show Snippet: "So the first day is, for him, he calls it the superior light. He points out, okay, you think about the days of creation, all the days would need light to work. So in one sense, when God creates light on the first day, the first day is therefore informing all the other days that come after it. So therefore, analogously, the superior light, the first light, is theology. It's sacred scripture. It also informs all the other arts that come after it. All the other sciences that come after it. In some sense, they're, they're, again, they're autonomous, but the light that they have comes from theology from scripture."
This week on Thinking Faith we are pleased to feature Lisa Canning,"The Possibility Mom," recent keynote speaker at our 2023 ArchRegina Congress and Bishop's Appeal kickoff. Lisa shares her personal journey of trusting God in challenging times, drawing from her own experiences to offer six key tools for remaining hopeful and trusting God when life gets tough. Tune in as Lisa Canning, a mom of 11, mindset coach, and President of the Guiding Star Project, guides us on a path towards abundant trust in God's generosity.
Show Snippet: "Scripture can be like a lifeline. Scripture can be like a phone a friend. Scripture can be something that sustains us and gives us hope. And so I want to invite you to commit to memory scripture that helps you remember the truth of God's character, that reminds you why and, and yes, that you can trust him, that reminds you that no matter how bad something may seem, the Lord loves you and you can trust him."
Connect with Lisa;
Instagram: @lisacanning
https://lisacanning.ca/
https://guidingstarproject.com/
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week includes The Second Vatican Council and moral decline, and Hitler.
Show Snippet: "So this is a great example because we often hear this story of decline; that everything was going great, Vatican II happens, and then things go into decline. Why does the Pope call a council? Because things aren't going great. The modern world is presenting real questions and problems and pretending that they don't need addressing and that if you just kept doing what you were doing, everything would have gone well, is actually historically demonstrably false."
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue to delve into the pile of questions sent to them from the Conquest Boys Club at St. Anne's parish in Regina, Saskatchewan. This week includes Harry Potter, satanism, and The Lord of the Rings plus Feminism and women's rights.
Show Snippet: "When the books began just at the turn of the 21st century; the rise of the internet, the rise of the smartphone, the rise of on-demand viewing. Access to media and technology is becoming ubiquitous. And it's within this context then that J. K. Rowling starts writing these stories where she's playing off technology and magic, wondering about the moral implications of it all and writing to an audience of children that are being raised in this new world."
This week Dr. Brett welcomes Father Cristino Bouvette from the Diocese of Calgary for a conversation about truth and reconciliation, and the intersection of personal experiences with public expectations. Father Cristino shares his unique journey as an Indigenous Catholic priest and the complex blend of heritage that shapes his perspective. Join them as they explore the challenges and insights that come with navigating preconceived notions, the residential school legacy, and the power of building bridges between communities. Discover the richness of reconciliation and the potential to transcend labels in the pursuit of genuine understanding.
Show Snippet: "She (my kokum) was the Executive Director of the Friendship Centre in Rocky Mountain House, nearby where our farm was. And she spent most of her adult life, after raising children, working on building stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in one small community in rural Alberta and to me, that's reconciliation. And that's what I grew up with."
Listen to more from Fr. Cristino on Spotify; https://open.spotify.com/episode/6cxJWGZ3o2pNe2rbcQOIKs?si=46147849c96641dc https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xCRAMqfnie8il3UZS1DbO?si=70b445f891464d14
As our 2023 Archbishop's Appeal "Abundant Trust: Embracing God’s Generosity" kicks off, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett sit down with Development Director, James Lipoth to discuss the Gospel call to generosity and how it becomes enfleshed in our daily lives inside and outside the Church.
Show Snippet: "Second Corinthians chapter nine St. Paul says, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver." And, I've been reflecting on that scripture for months and it's stuck out to me in many ways...When I look at spreadsheets, that doesn't lead me to a spot of becoming a cheerful giver. So what I've started to do myself is to pray and ask, ask God to help me and guide me in what he wants for me and where is he calling me to give?"
Earlier this spring the local Conquest Boy's Club sent the podcast a literal basket full of questions. Join Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett as they dig in and answer whichever questions they happen to pull.
Show Snippet: "Something like culpability is something that we never know from the outside in an individual case, but we do know from the church's way of thinking about this that the church doesn't stand in judgment on those kinds of things and instead offers God's mercy to anyone who's like, 'Yeah, this thing is hard for me and I want to live as close to following Christ as I can and I'm going to screw up.' That's actually all of us who are going to face different temptations."
Earlier this spring the local Conquest Boy's Club sent the podcast a literal basket full of questions. Join Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett as they dig in and answer whichever questions they happen to pull.
Show Snippet: "It strikes me that the questions that we would ask or ought to ask from a Catholic perspective would be some of those core foundations of Catholic moral teaching like, 'How is this affecting the dignity of the human person? How much participation does this system or that system allow at the most basic level? How is this taking into account the needs of the most vulnerable as well as the common good?'"
A Demonology of the Internet with Dr. Thomas P. Harmon - Part 2
In this part two of two Dr. Thomas Harmon, professor and Scanlan Foundation Chair in Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas examines the powerful concepts of the Incarnation and bodily sacraments as potential remedies against the subtle manipulations of digital media. Together we'll dive into how embracing our earthbound bodies and material realities can serve as a counterbalance to the discarnate influences prevalent in today's digital landscape.
Read - Spirits of the Cloud: A demonology of the Internet at The American Mind
A Demonology of the Internet with Dr. Thomas P. Harmon - Part 1
In this part one of two, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett visit with Dr. Thomas Harmon, professor and Scanlan Foundation Chair in Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas to discuss his recent article for The American Mind "Spirits of the Cloud: A deomonology of the Internet." They'll examine the intricate web of influence woven by both human vices and technological algorithms and explore the intersections between age-old beliefs, the church Fathers, and the evolving relationships between humanity, spirituality, and technology.
Read - Spirits of the Cloud: A demonology of the Internet at The American Mind
In this part 2 of 2 Dr. Brett visits with Karen Peterson Finch about her latest book "Grassroots Ecumenism: The Way of Local Christian Reunion" as they examine the promise and the challenges in addressing Christian unity at the local level.
Show Snippet: "Be reasonable. So we've said your mind naturally experiences. Now do it attentively. Your mind naturally has insight. Do it intelligently. In other words, be open to new possibilities or to a real understanding of what's happening now. The third one is when you test whether your insight is accurately representing the world. In other words, have you come to a reasonable insight? Lonergan said insights are a dime a dozen, and most of them are wrong."
Find a copy of Grassroots Ecumenism here: https://amzn.to/3NvAK2i
In this part 1 of 2 Dr. Brett visits with Karen Peterson Finch about her latest book "Grassroots Ecumenism: The Way of Local Christian Reunion" as they examine the promise and the challenges in addressing Christian unity at the local level.
Show Snippet: "Could it be that the doctrine of your church and your neighbor's church can actually give new fuel to what you are trying to do and can refresh things for you? And it'll bring it to life again, and you can have fun again, encountering the otherness of your neighbor. And you can go back to some of the joy that brought you into this work in the same, in the first place."
Find a copy of Grassroots Ecumenism here: https://amzn.to/3NvAK2i
Join Deacon Eric for this special summer retreat with Mary through the lens of the Caryll Houselander spiritual classic, "The Reed of God." Journey with Mary as a spiritual companion and guide through the nativity, ministry, death, and resurrection of her Son Jesus Christ and discover new avenues to faith, discipleship, and mission.
Show Snippet: "Just as we cannot depend on feelings to know that Christ is in ourselves, we cannot depend on appearances to know that he is in others...That which is true of the Blessed Sacrament is true of people..."
Retreat Materials: https://bit.ly/ReedOfGodRetreat
Find the Reed of God here; https://amzn.to/3Pzky2P
Join Deacon Eric for this special summer retreat with Mary through the lens of the Caryll Houselander spiritual classic, "The Reed of God." Journey with Mary as a spiritual companion and guide through the nativity, ministry, death, and resurrection of her Son Jesus Christ and discover new avenues to faith, discipleship, and mission.
Show Snippet:"Here, then, is the answer for why seeking the Lost Child is such a universal human experience, so much so that Mary herself was drawn into experiencing a similar loss; if we did not feel this painful loss, we would not realize that our idols are not God, are not Christ. "
Retreat Materials: https://bit.ly/ReedOfGodRetreat
Find the Reed of God here; https://amzn.to/3Pzky2P
Join Deacon Eric for this special summer retreat with Mary through the lens of the Caryll Houselander spiritual classic, "The Reed of God." Journey with Mary as a spiritual companion and guide through the nativity, ministry, death, and resurrection of her Son Jesus Christ and discover new avenues to faith, discipleship, and mission.
Show Snippet:"God had taken His little reed into His hands and the breath of His love sang through it, and this utterance would go on for all generations. In giving her humanity to God, Mary gave all humanity to Him, to be used for His own will. In wedding her littleness to the Spirit of Love, she wed all lowliness to the Spirit of Love."
Retreat Materials: https://bit.ly/ReedOfGodRetreat
Find the Reed of God here; https://amzn.to/3Pzky2P
Join Deacon Eric for this special summer retreat with Mary through the lens of the Caryll Houselander spiritual classic, "The Reed of God." Journey with Mary as a spiritual companion and guide through the nativity, ministry, death, and resurrection of her Son Jesus Christ and discover new avenues to faith, discipleship, and mission.
Show Snippet: "Sometimes it may seem to us that there is no purpose in our lives, that going day after day for years to this office or that school or factory is nothing else but waste and weariness. But it may be that God has sent us there because but for us, Christ would not be there. If our being there means that Christ is there, that alone makes it worthwhile."
Retreat Materials: https://bit.ly/ReedOfGodRetreat
Find the Reed of God here; https://amzn.to/3Pzky2P
This week Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett discuss an evangelization event at Holy Rosary Cathedral for the Regina Cathedral Village Arts Festival whose overwhelming success not only revealed the deep hunger in the human soul for something more but also showed that evangelization doesn't have to be hard.
Show Snippet: "So when we were preparing for this event, we were trying to imagine what kind of, I mean, logistically how many candles do you get for something like this? We thought 300 candles would be generous. A hundred candles an hour. It's almost two a minute. We went through 300 candles in about 25 minutes. All told, we used more than 1200 candles."
In this part 2 of 2 episodes, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett are joined by Glenmary Home Missioners vice president Fr. Aaron Wessman, author of the book "The Church's Mission in a Polarized World." We'll discuss the modern struggle with polarization within the Church and wider society and look at how best to respond from a Catholic perspective.
Show Snippet: "The son of God is sent and crosses over and he unites himself more intimately now with the world, right through the incarnation and it is that movement that is God's movement to come close to us, even in our weakness and our sin in the messiness of the world around us, to unite himself in order to bring about salvation. And it is that movement that is at the heart of any missionary discipleship. It is always a willingness to cross over to the other."
You can find Fr. Wessman's book "The Church's Mission in a Polarized World" in your local Catholic bookstore or online at; https://www.newcitypress.com/the-church-s-mission-in-a-polarized-world.html
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett get together this week to discuss one of life-s trickiest topics; talking to our kids about sex. When do you start? How do you broach the subject? What do you say? It could be an example to follow, or a cautionary tale but its sure to be interesting!
Show Snippet: "If you talk about how cigarette companies are trying to get you hooked early and exploit you and make money off of you. Kids are like, "Hell no." And so something similar with porn too; te performers are being exploited, but so are you. There are people on the internet who are trying to catch you early and make you a customer for life to serve their ends and make you a slave."
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett get together this week to discuss one of life's trickiest topics; talking to our kids about sex. When do you start? How do you broach the subject? What do you say? It could be an example to follow or a cautionary tale, but it's sure to be interesting!
Show Snippet: So one of the things that we do in our family, and this especially because we have a range of ages and we're having conversations where there's people who are five are in the room, and people who are in the room. We've developed a set of coded language. It works really well because it's ambiguous enough that it says something true that a five-year-old can understand, but a fifteen-year-old who knows a little more about the mechanics of things can also get what it is that you're saying.
This week Dr. Bret Salkeld sits down with author and poet Dan Sherven in this part two of two, to discuss the differences between Roman and Orthodox Catholic approaches to the problem of sin.
Show Snippet: "Kane kills Abel and goes on to found cities just like Romulus. But the difference isn't that you have two brothers killing each other, which happens by the way, in mythology all over the world. But the Bible's unique in actually siding with the victim. And this shows up throughout the Old Testament, the suffering servant in Isaiah, for example."
This week Dr. Bret Salkeld sits down with author and poet Dan Sherven in this part one of two, to discuss the differences between Roman and Orthodox Catholic approaches to the problem of sin.
Show Snippet: "You can actually be like, "You know, Western Christians can learn from Eastern Christians that, this way of talking is a good counterbalance to this other way of talking that has these potential misunderstandings associated and vice versa." Right? And so people who are really good at that kind of dialogue actually generally end up with a really deep and rich kind of theology."
Mental Health in the Bible: David, Elijah, Job, and Paul This week, Deacon Eric breaks open sacred scripture seeking biblical models for navigating mental health challenges. He discusses David, Elijah, Job, and Paul and how their experiences can provide guidance and support for our own challenges today.
Show Snippet: "How often depression, especially in the face of feeling as though we have done all the “right” things, leaves us to self-isolation and that desire to “sleep it all away.” God enters into Elijah’s depression as a friend, offering some words of comfort (though not a solution), a bit of food, and an invitation to rest for a bit. God’s angelic messenger gave him strength and renewed his purpose, showing Elijah he was not alone."
Dr. Brett Salkeld is joined this week by Mark Hornbacher and Adam Jenke of St. Paul Street Evangelization ministries. In this part 2 of 2, they continue discussing their unique ministry work and sharing stories of their experiences in street evangelization.
Show Snippet: "It's that universal call to holiness through the Second Vatican Council that rightly pointed out where we can't give what we don't have. And so if we are growing in holiness, and what do we mean by that, being set apart, uh, praying, going to mass, going to confession...spending time with God, going to adoration, If we're living out our vocations in our own life in such a way that we're continually growing in grace and God provides, in his wisdom through the Holy Spirit, charisms and wisdom to know what to say and when to say it."
Learn more about St. Paul Street Evangelization at https://streetevangelization.com/
Dr. Brett Salkeld is joined this week by Mark Hornbacher and Adam Jenke of St. Paul Street Evangelization ministries. In this part 1 of 2, they'll discuss their unique ministry work and stories of their experiences in street evangelization.
Show Snippet: "A primary thing was listening to people, hearing their stories, telling your story, sharing the gospel, encouraging people to, to pray, praying with them, inviting them to check out the local parish, listening to their thoughts, their concerns about Christianity, and just having a real down to earth conversation."
Learn more about St. Paul Street Evangelization at https://streetevangelization.com/
In light of the Vatican's recent repudiation of the "Doctrine of Discovery", we are very pleased to share the following conversation between Archbishop Donald Bolen and Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith on Archbishop Smith's "Up Front" podcast discussing this latest statement from the Vatican and the true history and context of the Church’s relationship with this so-called doctrine.
Show Snippet: "Those definitions going hand in hand speak to any concept, argumentation, and justification for European colonizing powers to come and take indigenous lands. And what the Vatican was repudiating was, in a broad sense, any of those argumentations or justifications used to do so, saying it was never right; indigenous people always had rights."
Discover more great conversations on the Archdiocese of Edmonton's Up Front with the Archbishop podcast; https://caedm.ca/upfront/
In this episode, Brett is joined once again by Michael Rainey, a convert from Seventh-Day Adventism and the music director at St. Paul's Co-Cathedral in Saskatoon. Last week, they talked about Michael's conversion and his thoughts on church music. This week, they delve deeper into the topic of liturgical music, discussing its history and controversies.
Show Snippet: "Musicians have long been known as a contentious and irrational sort. So it shouldn't be surprising to anyone that this has been a struggle. When you think about the music ministry at mass, there is something, different about it as compared to some of the other ministries that happen."
This week on Thinking Faith, Dr. Brett talks with Michael Raney, a convert from Seventh Day Adventism and director of music at St. Paul's Co. Cathedral in Saskatoon. They discuss Michael's journey to Catholicism and his experiences with church music.
Show Snippet: "I grew up in a Catholic family, but I never really felt like I had a personal relationship with God. It wasn't until my early 20s that I started exploring different religions and spiritual practices. I was searching for something that would fill the void I felt inside."
In this part 2 of 2, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett visit with John Jalsevac about the explosion of interest in Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT the newest large language model AI to be opened to the general public that demonstrates remarkable capabilities and is poised to have profound effects on arts, culture and the way humans think about themselves and others.
Show Snippet: "So if you want to train one of these models how to recognize a cat, for instance, what these programmers will do is they create this neural network using many computers. Then they show it images of, millions of cats, and at the end of it, it can predict that it's a cat with a high degree of accuracy. But a human being can actually detect a cat based upon a very small number. We have this capacity to see things as what they are with almost no effort."
In this part 1 of 2, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett visit with John Jalsevac about the explosion of interest in Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT the newest large language model AI to be opened to the general public that demonstrates remarkable capabilities and is poised to have profound effects on arts, culture and the way humans think about themselves and others.
Show Snippet: "So you can think of certain novels or short stories where someone is trying to woo another person and, hires their poetic friend to write their love letters. And, at the end of the day, that's problematic because you're expressing a kind of sentiment and feeling that goes so deep that it needs to come from the heart...and now someone who wants to impress a girl could actually go on to ChatGPT and say, write me a love letter..."
Deacon Eric leads a two-part Lenten retreat with a series of reflections on Pope Benedict XVI's 2007 Encyclical Spe Salvi - "On Christian Hope." This week, we reflect on the ways we are called to put our hope into action and incarnate hope in the world.
Show Snippet: "Living in hope and working for justice and peace, is precisely how we bear witness to the power of Christ's resurrection and bring his light to the world."
Deacon Eric leads a two-part Lenten retreat with a series of reflections on Pope Benedict XVI's 2007 Encyclical Spe Salvi - "On Christian Hope." We'll reflect on the biblical roots of hope, the model of fostering hope found in Israel's approach to salvation history, the fullness of hope revealed in Jesus Christ, and prayer as one of the first and essential schools of hope in our lives.
Show Snippet: "We can try to limit suffering, to fight against it, but we cannot eliminate it. It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt when we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness, that we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater." Spe Salvi 37
Archdiocese Of Regina RENEW Lent: https://archregina.flocknote.com/ArchdioceseofRe3
Spe Salvi: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi.html
Salvifici Doloris: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris.html
What does the Church teach about the use of CRISPR gene editing technology and other advances in biotechnology? In this part 2 of 2, Dr. Brett Salkeld opens a conversation with Sr. Zoe Bernatsky, professor of Moral, Spiritual, and Pastoral Theology at Newman Theological College in Edmonton, Alberta.
What does the Church teach about the use of CRISPR gene editing technology and other advances in biotechnology? In this part 1 of 2, Dr. Brett Salkeld opens a conversation with Sr. Zoe Bernatsky, professor of Moral, Spiritual, and Pastoral Theology at Newman Theological College in Edmonton, Alberta.
Show Snippet: "It's relatively straightforward to change a single gene, and if you've ever watched someone suffer with Huntington's, you would say, "I can, I can stop that by changing a single gene? I will take it. Thank you." It's a good example because it's a straightforward one (but) There's lots of other potential things that might be done that are much more complex when there's more than one gene, and then the question of unintended consequences starts to compound."
After overcoming some technical difficulties, we are pleased to offer part 2 of a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity lecture series offered through the sponsorship of St. Thomas More College, the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, the Archdiocese of Regina, and Campion College featuring Bishop Bruce Myers at Campion College in Regina.
Drawing on decades of reflection on ecumenical reception and formation, Bishop Myers presents an approach to teaching the practical and theological aspects of ecumenism in a way that is both holistic and pragmatic and offers the potential to raise up a new generation of church leaders who are also agents of reconciliation and Christian unity.
Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaxTcC9qeoE
This week Deacon Eric discusses how Catholic spiritual practice and positive psychology can work together to create a healthy and sustainable approach to well-being while cultivating a deeper connection to our God and others.
Show Snippet: "Without stating it expressly, Positive psychology recognizes a fundamental Christian truth; that human beings are indeed “fearfully and wonderfully made” and that the human person is a beautiful mystery with an inherent purpose, meaning, and dignity."
Links: The Gospel of Happiness by Christopher Kaczor - https://amzn.to/3RFJF2O
Finding Joy in the Gospel; Positive Psychology and the Spiritual Life - http://bit.ly/3ln86X2
This week Deacon Eric discusses a recent trip to the Yorkton area where he spoke about Evangelization and parish renewal with a focus on evangelization as the core mission of the Church and how the Word of God provides a key starting point.
Show Snippet: "In 2019 Pope Francis gave us a key starting point by declaring the third Sunday in Ordinary Time "Word of God Sunday". As the new Liturgical season begins, and at the start of every year moving forward, Pope Francis issues this clear encouragement to the whole People of God, to get to know the Word. I offer three reasons for this wisdom..."
During this Week of Christian Unity Thinking Faith, through the sponsorship of St. Thomas More College, the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, the Archdiocese of Regina, and Campion College presents the following lecture featuring Bishop Bruce Myers at Campion College in Regina.
Drawing on decades of reflection on ecumenical reception and formation, Bishop Myers presents an approach to teaching the practical and theological aspects of ecumenism in a way that is both holistic and pragmatic and offers the potential to raise up a new generation of church leaders who are also agents of reconciliation and Christian unity.
Watch here; https://youtu.be/g_c_cm1RHc0
This week Brett continues his conversation with Mark Hornbacher of the St. Paul Street Evangelization Apostolate to discuss Hornbacher's critiques of Brett's Church Life Journal article "Hell is Good News."
Show Snippet: "It's at least possible that we've bought into a kind of even more subtle log-in-the-eye kind of thing. And so we, we just always have to be on the lookout for that, that we never think we finally got it (and) now we're not in danger of the log in our eye, because we're now the tolerant, open-minded, non-judgmental ones. And look at those terrible judgmental closed-minded people..."
Articles discussed in this podcast: https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/is-hell-good-news/
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/12/01/is-the-doctrine-of-hell-a-legitimate-motivation-for-evangelization/
https://theologyforevangelists.com/2022/02/11/how-many-will-be-saved-luke-1323-25/
This week Brett sits down with Mark Hornbacher of the St. Paul Street Evangelization Apostolate to discuss Hornbacher's critiques of Brett's Church Life Journal article "Hell is Good News."
Show Snippet: "This is, in response to, some debates in popular Catholicism around the efforts of people like Bishop Baron and the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, and at least some people say this idea that hell is relatively empty, or even potentially completely empty needs to be gotten rid of, not primarily because it's not true, which we can't actually know whether it's true or not. But because it will diminish our motivation for evangelization."
Articles discussed in this podcast: https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/is-hell-good-news/
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/12/01/is-the-doctrine-of-hell-a-legitimate-motivation-for-evangelization/
https://theologyforevangelists.com/2022/02/11/how-many-will-be-saved-luke-1323-25/
With the Christmas season continuing in full swing, we invite you to take a few minutes to reflect on Bishop Donald Bolen's Christmas Message to the faithful of the archdiocese of Regina. From all of us at the Archdiocese of Regina and the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast, we pray that your Christmas has been filled with grace and that 2023 brings a richness of blessings to you and those you love.
Watch Bishop Don's Christmas Message at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynICqg9Tl20
In this part two of two, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett discuss pastoral accompaniment; what it is, what it is not, and what it looks like in the messy reality of real life.
Show Snippet: "If you lead with winning an argument, you'll lose them...the first thing they need to do is talk it out for themselves, and you are a listener."
In this part one of two, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett discuss pastoral accompaniment; what it is, what it is not, and what it looks like in the messy reality of real life.
Show Snippet: "It seems to me that good accompaniment isn't necessarily even looking for an alleviation of that tension...the simplest way for us to erase whatever tension there might be."
As the Advent season moves quickly into Christmas, we invite you to take a few moments to step out of the frantic pace of the holidays and discover the hidden gifts and graces that only a contemplative attitude can reveal.
Keep awake and stay alert. These advent themes invite us to foster and develop what is known as a Contemplative Attitude - a particular way of being within the world that is 'highly tuned' to the presence of Christ in our midst. In this part one of a two-part Advent retreat, Deacon Eric reflects on this call to keep watch and how we might foster a contemplative attitude this Advent this week on Thinking Faith!
We continue our conversation with returning guest Brett Fawcett as we discuss what has been called the "Crowning Glory of the liturgical year"; the Feast of Christ the King.
Show Snippet "Christ is both present and coming...so there's that eschatological aspect to it that (Pope Paul VI) was drawing our attention to. And I also think it's because it leads into Advent, which is where we recapitulate that; we remember what it was like to wait for the first coming of Christ."
This podcast is made possible by your generous donations to our Archbishop's Annual Appeal. Thank you for your support!
https://archregina.sk.ca/giving-how-to-donate-2/donate-archbishops-appeal/
Thinking Faith welcomes returning guest Brett Fawcett to discuss what has been called the "Crowning Glory of the liturgical year"; the Feast of Christ the King.
Show Snippet "When he (Pope Pius XI) talks about nations and societies and peoples recognizing the Kingship of Christ, it's really important to know what he meant by that and what he didn't mean by that, and one of the things we can see he meant by it is some of the things he recommends for the economy..."
This podcast is made possible by your generous donations to our Archbishop's Annual Appeal. Thank you for your support!
https://archregina.sk.ca/giving-how-to-donate-2/donate-archbishops-appeal/
TF322: Reading For Consolation with Dr. Susan Johnston - Part 2
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett visit with University of Regina English Department head Dr. Susan Johnston as we discuss reading for consolation in difficult times.
Show Snippet: "Our faith is a faith for grownups, and we do ourselves, and we do the Church, and we do the faithful a disservice when we want to stay with; and we began talking about that comfort and the restoration of the social order, but we really do betray things if that's where we stay because that is not the way grownups encounter the world."
This podcast is made possible by your generous donations to our Archbishop's Annual Appeal. Thank you for your support!
https://archregina.sk.ca/giving-how-to-donate-2/donate-archbishops-appeal/
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett visit with University of Regina English Department head, Dr. Susan Johnston, as we discuss reading for consolation in difficult times.
Show Snippet: "There is the genuine need for comfort that we all do experience; and what we find comforting should be teaching us something if we are ready to learn it."
This podcast is made possible by your generous donations to our Archbishop's Annual Appeal. Thank you for your support!
https://archregina.sk.ca/giving-how-to-donate-2/donate-archbishops-appeal/
November is traditionally a month dedicated to remembering and praying for our dearly departed loved ones and friends. It can also be a time when we experience a deepening or resurgence of grief over losses, whether they have been recent or some time ago. Deacon Eric takes time this week to examine ways we might approach the experience of grief from a faith perspective.
"The Church Fathers, many of them, really picked up on this idea of St. Paul's and really discouraged lamenting and grieving publically in Christians as a sign of a lack of faith in the Resurrection...BUT I did find one notable and quite profound exception that really hits on healthy ways to grieve..."
This podcast is made possible through generous donations to our Archbishop's Appeal. Donations can be made at https://archregina.sk.ca/giving.
Deacon Eric reflects on October as Mental Health Awareness Month and how Moses' habits, when faced with daunting burdens, can provide a lesson for all of us.
Show Snippet: "In Exodus 17, Moses begins with the assumption that he alone will stand at the top of the hill with God’s staff to pray for success in battle; it is those around him, Aaron and Hur, who insist on helping him when the burden becomes too great."
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue their discussion on a Catholic approach to horror movies and the role of discernment in engaging in any kind of entertainment.
Show Snippet: "If we're starting off asking, "How do Catholics approach horror films?"; I think that's a great summary of what we've been talking about...with discernment; good, interior discernment."
This podcast is made possible through generous donations to our Archbishop's Appeal. Donations can be made at https://archregina.sk.ca/giving.
October is not only a time for pumpkin spiced lattes and crunch leaves. It is also the time we see Halloween decore fill store aisles and horror flicks in the theaters. How should Catholics approach horror movies? Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett talk memento mori, the reality of evil, the Conjuring, the Book of Revelation, and more.
Show Snippet: "You know, a lot of the same people who would say "I would never watch a horror movie," are the same people who would say, "I would never read the Book of Revelation," or "I read it once and, no thanks, it's not for me..."
This podcast is made possible through generous donations to our Archbishop's Appeal. Donations can be made at https://archregina.sk.ca/giving.
Our Archbishop's Annual Appeal kicked off in September with our 2022 Congress featuring a Keynote address by Bishop Jim Weisgerber on "Growing in Hope". This week on Thinking Faith, we invite you to enjoy Bishop Jim's address and to prayerfully consider how you might contribute to this year's Archbishop's Appeal.
For more information and to donate, visit https://archregina.sk.ca/archbishops-appeal
Show Snippet: "In English, hope means 'wishing'. "I hope the Roughriders will get a playoff spot..." and, I mean, that's nice, that's part of hope. But not by far the strength, the core, the heart of what hope means...in Latin 'expectare', in French 'esperance', same word. And it means, expectare, it means 'to wait for, and expect...'"
Deacon Eric continues the discussion about what it was like to preside at the marriage of his daughter over the summer and how the vocation of marriage impacts not just married couples, but the world.
Show Snippet: "That's one of the reasons I chose to speak not just to my daughter and my new son-in-law about this vocational calling, this missionary nature of marriage, but I specifically addressed all couples that were gathered there to remember that there's a mission, there's a purpose for you being together..."
This week on Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric discusses the profound summer experience of presiding not only at his first wedding as a Deacon but at the marriage of his daughter.
Show Snippet: "A lot of the questions, and I think legitimately, were from my daughter to me saying "Dad, do you actually think you can do that; officiate at my wedding without bursting into tears?" Because I can tend to get a little emotional..."
We continue our Summer Masterclass on the Eucharist featuring a series of talks previously delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This week's episode completes our masterclass and concludes last week's examination of liturgy in culture, life, and the Mass.
"If you want to make citizens for a consumer culture, you need people with low inhibitions because consumer culture doesn't like people who are self-possessed and self-controlled because they don't need to buy a bunch of garbage. What you need is people who have bad impulse control. Those are good consumers."
We continue our Summer Masterclass on the Eucharist featuring a series of talks previously delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This week's episode examines liturgy in culture, life, and the Mass.
"The culture isn't just feeding us evil, it's feeding us good in the wrong proportions or in the wrong perspective, and that throws us off. All the things we're addicted to, what are you addicted to? Work? Sex? Those are good! What are you looking for in your addiction? You're looking for something that that thing, it promises, but it can't deliver."
We continue our Summer Masterclass on the Eucharist featuring a series of talks previously delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This week's episode will conclude the topic of Real Presence and Ecumenical dialogue.
Show Snippet: "There's a misunderstanding that Catholics sometimes have that the reason protestants can't normally receive the Eucharist in a Catholic celebration of the Mass, is because they don't believe in Real Presence...that's not actually the reason."
We continue our Summer Masterclass on the Eucharist featuring a series of talks previously delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This week's episode will take a deep dive into the topic of Real Presence and Ecumenical dialogue.
Show Snippet: "Part of the story is that Transubstantiation stopped functioning, in the way it was designed to function, within a couple generations of Thomas (Aquinas)..."
We continue our Summer Masterclass on the Eucharist featuring a series of talks previously delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This week's episode will take a deep dive into the topic of Transubstantiation.
Show Snippet: "Berengarius was right, theologians agree, to push back on this language - this ultra-realistic language - but he drew a hard line between real on the one hand and symbol on the other and opted for a more symbolic reading, and the theologians of his day said that's not gonna work..."
We continue our Summer Masterclass on the Eucharist featuring a series of talks previously delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This week's episode will continues last week's examination of the Eucharist as Real Presence.
Show Snippet: "Calling it real is to say God is acting. Is the human meaning-making and symbol nothing? No, it's the whole context in which God is acting; it's where God comes to meet us. It's not nothing, but it's not sufficient to account for the whole story. It's the context in which God meets us."
We continue our Summer Masterclass on the Eucharist featuring a series of talks previously delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This week's episode will examine the Eucharist as Real Presence.
Show Snippet: "The New Atheists who think that Christianity is the worst thing that's ever happened in the history of the world will come out against various contemporary ideologies that are very subjective, and the New Atheists will agree with the Catholic position. Now that seems odd at first because you expect them to just disagree with us about everything, but they're so materialistic that they reject this sense that you can just make up reality for yourself."
We continue our Summer Masterclass on the Eucharist featuring a series of talks previously delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This week's episode will examine the Eucharist as sacrifice.
Show Snippet: "The Old Testament is aware of all this. When people are offering all their bulls and goats and lambs at the Temple, but their hearts aren't changed, the prophets call them out for that. Jesus even quotes them at one point, "Go learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'"
This week we begin a special Summer Masterclass on the Eucharist featuring a series of talks previously delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. This week's episode will examine the Eucharist as a meal.
Show Snippet: "It tells us a lot about why the Bible is so obsessed with food. I mean the people who were writing the Bible were people who were often living on the edge of not being able to eat. They were often poor people...and so, if you want to tell a story about Paradise, there's food you can grab off every tree. If you want to tell a story about God's Reign, its choice meats and well-aged wines."
This week Deacon Eric gathers with three recent graduates of the Archdiocese of Regina's Lay Formation program to discuss what drew them to take part, what the experience has been like, and how things have changed in their relationship with Jesus Christ, His Church, and their relationships in the world.
To learn more or to register for Fall classes, contact Deacon Eric at egurash@archregina.sk.ca.
Show snippet: "I had been fairly active in the parish; I'd been teaching Sacramental prep, and working with kids forever, and I want to know what I'm talking about when I'm working with the kids, and that's one of the things that attracted me to the program."
Host Dr. Brett Salkeld, ethicist, Dr. Charlie Camosy, and Jonathon Van Maren of the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform continue their discussion on the overturning of Roe vs Wade by the US Supreme Court and the public discourse around the issue of abortion in Canada and the US.
"I think if the pro-life movements can get together and get this data and then use that to make an informed argument for changes in public policy or shifts in public policy...I think that would be almost the starting point, to try to get as much data as we can so we're doing it in as informed a way as possible..."
Host Dr. Brett Salkeld is joined by ethicist, Dr. Charlie Camosy and Jonathon Van Maren of the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform to discuss the recent overturning of Roe vs Wade by the US Supreme Court and the public discourse around the issue of abortion in Canada and the US.
Show Snippet: "80% of Canadians don't know that it is not restricted at all. We go door-to-door having discussions on this...half the people you talk to will Google it and check it on their phone because they don't actually believe you that this is the case..."
We continue our discussion with Dr. Mario Sacasa from the Always Hope Podcast looking at his new online course 'Dating Well'. We'll look at fostering a healthy approach to dating and relationships and the particular challenges faced by discerning couples in our modern world.
Show Snippet: "If you have this expectation that a wife is supposed to do 'x' or a husband is supposed to be 'y', and you go into it with that expectation, well then...the reality of the person who is in front of you, is never going to meet that expectation."
Find out more and level up your love life at www.faithandmarriage.org
Join the discussion with Dr. Mario Sacasa from the Always Hope Podcast as we discuss his new online course 'Dating Well'. We'll look at fostering a healthy approach to dating and relationships and the particular challenges faced by discerning couples in our modern world.
Show Snippet: If we fall into an overly pious way of dating or concept of dating, then we can think, "Well, as long as we agree that Jesus Christ is the Lord, that the Catholic Church is the one true Church, that we pray together, and that's all we need"...but you know your relationship is going to be built on so much more than just going to Mass together."
Dr. Sacasa's Always Hope Podcast: https://faithandmarriage.org/alwayshope/
Level up your love life in a Catholic context; https://faithandmarriage.thinkific.com/courses/datingwell
Thinking Faith has officially reached our 300th Episode! In celebration, Eric and Brett have dug into the vault and dusted off their very first recording. Crack open your favorite bubbly brew, sit back and enjoy the episode that started it all as we ask pointed questions like "What is Theology?" and "Why haven't these guys been canceled yet?"
Our monthly series on the Saints and Mental health continues as Deacon Eric Gurash reflects on Archangel, St. Raphael, and his role not just as a healer of physical ailments, but as a powerful intercessor and companion in times of serious grief and emotional distress.
Show Snippet: "The story of Tobit and his family reminds us that these answered prayers often come in surprising, disguised ways. A coworker or friend, a bit of scripture or song heard at a time of great need, or, as with Raphael, a lonely traveler, a stranger...all may be secret encounters with the divine reaching out to give answer to the deep need of our hearts."
In this three-part series, Dr. Brett Salked sits down with John Jalsevac to discuss their experiences of unhealthy approaches to faith and truth-seeking and work out healthier ways forward.
Show Snippet: "We talk a lot about truth, we say, "All I care about is truth, and Christ is the Truth; I believe in Christ, therefore, I have the Truth," and then we use that to close our minds to truth."
In this three-part series, Dr. Brett Salked sits down with John Jalsevac to discuss their experiences of unhealthy approaches to faith and truth-seeking and work out healthier ways forward.
Show Snippet: "When you see such conviction and such certitude you say "Well, I must be missing something." You say, "Maybe I lack the spirit in some way..."
In this three-part series, Dr. Brett Salked sits down with John Jalsevac to discuss their experiences of unhealthy approaches to faith and truth-seeking and work out healthier ways forward.
Show Snippet: "There's something broken in the way we're pursuing truth and fact, and I've been trying to sort out what that is."
As Mental Health Awareness week begins and in honour of May as Mental Health Month, we continue our examination of the saints and mental health with a look at Sts. Louis Martin and Therese of Lisieux.
Show Snippet: "St. Therese understood that her mental health challenges did not define her deepest self. Clinging to her identification as a child of God, created in God’s own divine image, helped to increase her capacity for resiliency, even as she lived with often serious mental health challenges..."
Returning guest, Brett Fawcett discusses the development of Just War Theory and universal human rights as developed through the middle ages into modernity through the work of Jacques Maritain.
"So Maritain, he's writing this during World War Two, he's very influential, and he writes this book on the Rights of Man and natural law and says 'once this war is over we've got to really establish these rights for everyone to know about and his appendix is like a bill of international human rights..."
Returning Guest, Brett Fawcett discusses the development of Just War Theory and universal human rights as developed through the middle ages into modernity through the work of Jacques Maritain.
Show Snippet: "Let's start in, say, the middle ages...there's this idea that there's a unity of the human family, we're all descended in some sense from Adam, and we're certainly all created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore we all have dignity..."
As Holy Week begins, we share with you Archbishop Donald Bolen's homily from the Archdiocese of Regina's recent Chrism Mass celebration at Holy Rosary Cathedral. We pray that your Holy Week may be a time of conversion and grace for you and those you love.
Show Snippet: "We don't belong on pedestals. We belong in those places of need, in those places where we are servants, humbly asking how we can help. The Church is most alive, most itself, most living in the real world when we don't allow ourselves to be isolated, or protected in places shut off from the wounds and hurts of others, but when we are found in the midst of them."
In this part 2 of 2, guest Brett Fawcett joins the podcast from his balcony in China to discuss the theology of Galileo and the scientific philosophy of his compatriot, St. Robert Bellarmine.
Show Snippet: "Galileo makes a really interesting point in his letter where he talks about how, in the Book of Job there's a line that says...'God hangs the Earth on nothing'...and he quotes theologians like Thomas Aquinas who say 'Yeah it's true that the bible in Job says that the earth is hanging on nothing, but that's not literal. The Bible's not trying to teach us about science..."
Guest Brett Fawcett joins the podcast from his balcony in China to discuss the theology of Galileo and the scientific philosophy of his compatriot, St. Robert Bellarmine.
Show Snippet: "Galileo is writing in the midst of the response to the reformation. And one of the big debates over the reformation is 'who has the authority to interpret scripture?' And Galileo is deigning to tell a priest 'here's how we should interpret some bible passages...'"
We continue our discussion with Josh Reeves, author of Redeeming Expertise: Scientific Trust and the Future of the Church to discuss the phenomena of extreme skepticism, its effects on polarization culturally and in the Church, and imagine healthier ways forward.
Show Snippet: "I was talking to someone who was doing a survey (on) whether people were satisfied in their churches, and if someone was on social media they often tended to be dissatisfied because of some national issue, but if someone was not on social media they tended to be very happy with their local church..."
Find out more about Redeeming Expertise: Scientific Trust and the Future of the Church by Josh Reeves at: https://amzn.to/3tajEhJ
In an atmosphere of hyper-skepticism, Dr. Brett Salkeld and Deacon Eric visit with Josh Reeves, author of Redeeming Expertise: Scientific Trust and the Future of the Church to discuss the phenomena of extreme skepticism, its effects on polarization culturally and in the Church, and imagine healthier ways forward.
"I understand the impulse in "follow the science" in that you need to take science seriously but also you have to be wary that oftentimes "follow the science" has a lot of values built into it that you can disagree with..."
Find out more about Redeeming Expertise: Scientific Trust and the Future of the Church by Josh Reeves at: https://amzn.to/3tajEhJ
Thinking Faith begins a new faith and mental health series featuring the Saints. Over the next few months, Deacon Eric highlights various saints whose intercessions can be particularly helpful for those struggling with mental health challenges and those who accompany them.
Show Snippet: "St. Dymphna’s intercessions can move us to deepen our own compassion, to seek an end to the negative stigmas surrounding mental health struggles, and to the realization that lasting change in our cultural approaches to mental health care requires the support of the whole community."
For more information on Faith and Mental Health visit www.emmaussuport.ca
In this part 2 of 2, Deacon Eric Gurash rejoins the podcast as he and Dr. Brett Salkeld discuss the 2021-2023 Synod on Synodality.
Show Snippet: "The potential is there to transform a parish from being concerned about how they're going to pay for the roof...to how do we care for our neighbours that are experiencing hardship of any kind? How do we bring the gospel to people, not just preaching the words of the gospel, but bring the heart of the Gospel into the places in our community that aren't showing up in our church?"
Follow the link for more information and Synod resources to use in your parish or group: https://archregina.sk.ca/synod-2021-2023
In this part 1 of 2, Deacon Eric Gurash rejoins the podcast as he and Dr. Brett Salkeld discuss the 2021-2023 Synod on Synodality.
Show Snippet: "Actually spending time with people and learning from the experiences of people who are different from you, is actually one of the best antidotes to ideology there is."
Follow the link for more information and Synod resources to use in your parish or group: https://archregina.sk.ca/synod-2021-2023
In this crossover episode, Catholic convert, K. Albert Little invites Dr. Brett Salkeld to join his Cordial Catholic podcast to discuss The Eucharist, Real Presence, and Transubstantiation.
Show Snippet: "Think of Jesus spitting in the mud and rubbing stuff on people's eyes. That is SO sacramental...that the material order which God created as good and that was ordered to our good, is the place where he approaches us."
We are excited to present a special cross-over episode of Thinking Faith featuring Theological Arsonist host, Jonah Saller discussing Brett's book Transubstantiation: Theology, History, and Christian Unity.
Show Snippet: "I can't tell you how long I believed that what was physically changing was the physical elements were becoming the physical body and blood of Christ under this disguise..."
Listen to more from the Theological Arsonist at: http://jonahsaller.com/index.php/theological-arsonist-podcast/
Dr. Brett Salkeld and guest John Jalsevac discuss how, though they have different initial instincts with respect to vaccination, reasoned engagement with the sources makes it possible to sift fact from fiction and find common ground.
Show Snippet: "If we have these conversations, real conversations based upon an openness to the other you often realize that you have more in common than you realize, you can have a more productive conversation than you realize, and you avoid getting pulled to these extremes that just in many cases aren't true."
Dr. Brett Salkeld and guest John Jalsevac discuss how, though they have different initial instincts with respect to vaccination, reasoned engagement with the sources makes it possible to sift fact from fiction and find common ground.
Show Snippet: "I haven't come to some moment of clarity in which the heavens have opened and I realized all the anti-vaxxers or all the pro-vaxxers are right. Where I've come to is a point where I realize that intense, mutually beneficial conversations by people who disagree on matters is desperately needed."
Dr. Brett continues his conversation with local writer and newest contributor to Archregina News, Dan Shervan discussing his unique perspectives on faith, spirituality, and religion as part of his personal journey of faith.
Show Snippet: "It reminds me of Nietzsche saying 'God is dead', and people never know the end of that quote where it's like 'and we'll never wash the blood off our hands'. As soon as you eliminate that transcendent value system, then something else has to try to replace it..."
Dr. Brett sits down with local writer and newest contributor to ArchRegina News, Dan Shervan discussing his unique perspectives on faith, spirituality, and religion as part of his personal journey of faith.
Show Snippet: "People will often talk about 'Catholic guilt' and how that's so bad, but to me, it's not 'Catholic guilt', humans just have that, and I think it increases as you get older and you start to notice your failings more and more and more..."
Dr. Brett Salkeld and guest, Brendan Steven begin a four-part series of discussions on the idea of a Universal Basic Income.
Show Snippet: "As much as I just said you can't have private property without universal destination of goods, and that's true, private property nonetheless is an important principle, and you do have to discern when are we unjustly taking away from the producer of the goods, goods that are rightfully theirs..."
Dr. Brett Salkeld and guest, Brendan Steven begin a four-part series of discussions on the idea of a Universal Basic Income.
Show Snippet: "An interesting argument against (UBI)...is that UBI is a bandaid for a broken system. What we actually need is a living wage and workers' rights and these other kinds of things, and UBI might help a lot of the people who don't have those things, but in fact, it's just covering for injustice..."
Dr. Brett Salkeld and guest, Brendan Steven begin a four-part series of discussions on the idea of a Universal Basic Income.
Show Snippet: "Because money is not just an amount, but it's how often it's spent and what it's used for, it actually keeps generating value as it cycles...one of the arguments for how UBI pays for itself is rooted in this idea of the 'velocity' of money..."
With a timely Christmas theme, Dr. Brett Salkeld and guest Peter Van Kampen continue their discussion on the impact simplifying our own living expenses can have on the lives of others.
Peter's Book:
Live Simply: So That Others Might Simply Live
https://amzn.to/3DgGOod
The Bicycle Project:
https://worldbicyclerelief.org/
As we head into Christmas we've pre-empted the remainder of our series on Universal Basic Income to accommodate a very timely 2-part discussion with Youth Minister and Catholic speaker, Peter Van Kampen. Author of Living Simply: So That Others May Simply Live.
Peter's Books:
Live Simply: So That Others Might Simply Live
https://amzn.to/3DgGOod
The Fullness of Time
https://amzn.to/3EqOvcY
Dr. Brett Salkeld and guest, Brendan Steven begin a four-part series of discussions on the idea of a Universal Basic Income.
Show Snippet: "A good stance, I think, for a Catholic going into a policy debate is to know that a) there will be no silver bullets, and b) there will be unintended consequences of almost any policy."
Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. Kevin Cormier, continue their discussion on the science behind COVID-19 and the vaccines that have been developed to fight it.
Show Snippet: "...from a common good perspective...even if I'm a very healthy person and I don't think I'm going to succumb to a grave disease state, my contribution to getting vaccinated is really for other people as well in that, not everybody is going to mount that same immune response."
Dr. Brett Salkeld is joined by Dr. Kevin Cormier, Medical Researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto with a background in theology and philosophy discussing the science behind COVID-19 and the vaccines that have been developed to fight it.
Show Snippet: "There's some very primal emotions that, be it anti-vaxxers, be it people who are hesitant, or even worse, those who are conspiracy theorists tap into...and they know that very well and so, to push misinformation relies on that..."
We wrap up our three=part conversation with Dr. Brett Salkeld and Dr. Melissa Moschella, moral philosopher at the Catholic University of America discussing vaccine mandates and exemptions from a Catholic perspective.
Show Snippet: "If my conscience is telling me that somebody else needs to pay a price, that might actually even be a good indication that I need to think again about forming my conscience."
This week Dr. Brett Salkeld sits down with Dr. Melissa Moschella, moral philosopher at the Catholic University of America for a three-part series discussing vaccine mandates and exemptions from a Catholic perspective.
Show Snippet: "Europe has gone this direction in terms of vaccine passports for certain activities...where, no we're not going to put you in jail, we're not going to fine you...but you're not going to be able to do all this stuff that you would otherwise would probably want to do."
Dr. Brett Salkeld sits down with Dr. Melissa Moschella, moral philosopher at the Catholic University of America for a three-part series discussing vaccine mandates and exemptions from a Catholic perspective.
Show Snippet: "It doesn't really make sense for an authority of the Catholic Church to be able to sign off on an exemption that says 'the Catholic Church forbids me to do X...when, in fact, the Catholic Church does not forbid you."
We conclude our four-part series of talks given by Dr. Brett Salkeld to the teachers of the Huron Perth School Division.
Show Snippet: "English teachers especially, you know how deeply shaped human reality is by our use of language; the way that words can change our lives, the way that they can impact us..."
We continue our four-part series of talks given by Dr. Brett Salkeld to the teachers of the Huron Perth School Division.
Show Snippet: "The practice of being present to God and hearing Him is not magic and it's not easy. And so if you pray and you're not picking up anything...pick up a Bible."
We continue our four-part series of talks given by Dr. Brett Salkeld to the teachers of the Huron Perth School Division.
Show Snippet: "...if you need any proof at all of the wisdom that's embedded in this teaching, that is that children are best off when they are educated by their own parents, in the values and traditions of their own communities, then you don't need to look any further than the chaos that followed from Indigenous children forcibly taken from their families and communities."
This week on Thinking Faith, we begin a series of talks delivered by Dr. Brett Salkeld to the teachers of the Huron-Perth Catholic School Division. This four-part series will touch on areas of Truth and Reconciliation as well as Curriculum permeation in various subjects.
Show Snippet: "We're not used to silence very much these days. We don't have much of a practice of silence, we're connected 24/7, and maybe if silence is awkward, maybe that's good, maybe that's something to practice in your own life and develop a capacity to sit in silence and listen..."
This week, Thinking Faith presents a replay of our Fall Congress keynote address by Cande de Leon from the diocese of Pheonix Arizona speaking to us about his holistic approach to stewardship and its connection to our 2021 Archbishop's Appeal theme "Unbinding Love."
Show Snippet: "We forget that it's the championship game. Every Mass is the championship game. So when we go, we have to go completely prepared, and ready to give; ourselves, our sacrifice, our prayers so that we can receive Jesus."
Check out Cande's Book "The Heart of the Mission: Simple Ways to Bring People to Jesus"
In this part two of two, returning guest, Brendan Steven of CatholicConscience.org joins Eric and Brett to discuss the role of Catholic voters and the need for deep discernment in the upcoming Canadian federal election.
Show Snippet: "I want more Catholics to learn more about Catholic Social Teaching, and...how blown away you will be about the consequences of Christ's love for all his people, and the way that manifests in how the Church teaches how we live in community with one another."
Returning guest, Brendan Steven of CatholicConscience.org joins Eric and Brett to discuss the role of Catholic voters and the need for deep discernment in the upcoming Canadian federal election.
Show Snippet: "We have in front of us a pretty wide range of policy options that have been placed on the table by the different party leaders. And so I think this places a lot of focus on us as voters to do our research and to prayerfully discern and to think deeply..."
In light of the upcoming Canadian Federal Election on September 20th, this re-release of our two-part series introduces Catholics to important tools for discerning how to participate in the electoral process without leaving your faith at the door.
Show Snippet: "Many people have the impression that Church teaching would expect any two well-formed Catholic consciences to come to the same conclusion on election day. It. Does. Not..."
Deacon Eric Gurash discusses the intersection of faith and mental health in this examination of St. Ignatius of Loyola's Rules for Discernment of Spirits and new research into Religious Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Read more and find links: https://bit.ly/3z4CfMx
Show Snippet: "It recognizes that, in the midst of a spiritual or a mental health crisis, both emotion and reason may be hindered in ways we are not immediately aware. Taking time to foster awareness allows us to recognize our current emotional and/or spiritual state before taking action."
In this part two of two, Eric and Brett discuss the theological problems with how Residential Schools were implemented and the Church's participation in them.
Show Snippet: "We see within the Residential Schoool system the effects of trying to not inculturate the Gospel...discovering the Incarnation within the language and the culture of another nation...but we see the imposition of a culture seeking to override what is already there."
In this two-part series, Eric and Brett discuss the theological problems with how Residential Schools were implemented and the Church's participation in them.
Show Snippet: "In order for there to be a healing and moving forward...it's so essential for us to identify the unjust systems that we have been participating in and...recognizing there's still unjust systems that we're participating in..."
Continuing our Summer Bible Study with Deacon Eric Gurash. In this three-part series, we break open the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, looking at its relation to the Gospel of Luke, who wrote it, and why, and taking a deep dive into a few major themes.
Show Snippet: "By the end of his work, Luke wants there to be no doubt that when we see the people of the Church acting with love in the world, we are seeing the risen Jesus acting with love in the world."
Continuing our Summer Bible Study with Deacon Eric Gurash. In this three-part series, we break open the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, looking at its relation to the Gospel of Luke, who wrote it, and why, and taking a deep dive into a few major themes.
Show Snippet: "While the other gospel writers show this fulfillment (of Salvation History) in terms of the Resurrection experiences alone, for Luke something more must occur..."
Summer's here and it's time for another Summer Bible Study with Deacon Eric Gurash. In this three-part series, we break open the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, looking at its relation to the Gospel of Luke, who wrote it, and why, and taking a deep dive into a few major themes.
Show Snippet: "And so we have the author we have come to know as Luke, most certainly a Gentile convert...whose most profound experience of Christ, we will see as we look to this Acts of the Apostles, was within the context of coming to faith within His Spirit-filled Church."
Our Catholic faith has much to say regarding maintaining our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. This week Deacon Eric spends some time examining the role of Rote and Intercessory prayer in building mental health resiliency.
Show Snippet: "...rote prayers, like the Jesus Prayer, the Sucipe, or the Lord’s Prayer, can steep us in a world view that is centered outside of ourselves, outside of the pain we are carrying, and focused on trusting a God whose love for us and those whom we love far exceeds our own."
Learn more at www.emmaussupport.ca
We continue our conversation this week with Dr. André Polaniecki from Holy Cross Colledge at the University of Notre Dame discussing the Catholic Faith, athletics, health, and building virtue through sports.
Show Snippet: "I could go on and on about the sporting connections you can make with different virtues...and like you say, of the Christian mystery; redemption and suffering..."
We sit down this week with Dr. André Polaniecki from Holy Cross Colledge at the University of Notre Dame discussing the Catholic Faith, athletics, health, and building virtue through sports.
Show Snippet: "John Paul II was hugely instrumental in my own faith formation...and athletes are that for a lot of people...they have the capacity to be these giant, out-sized figures in our life and its really, really great when we get someone who's really good at encouraging people to be good."
Brett continues his conversation with Paul D'Hondt and Dr. Christopher Baglow on teaching science in a Catholic school this week on Thinking Faith.
Show Snippet: "It ceased being a good thing that I could be helpful with, to something I got excited about, once I began to realize that taking science seriously was transforming and deepening my own understanding of the faith..."
This week Thinking Faith welcomes Dr. Christopher Baglow of the University of Notre Dame, and Paul D'Hondt from the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board in Ontario, Canada to discuss teaching science in a Catholic School.
Show Snippet: "The mind or the reason of the Universe through whom the Universe was made is the one who became flesh in Jesus Christ. So you're already taking a step towards faith when you begin to appreciate something greater than yourself in the process of doing science."
We continue our Catholic Education series with a visit from Dr. Andrew Seeley and Thomas Quackenbush both from the Catholic Institute for Liberal Education discussing teaching mathematics from a Catholic perspective.
Show Snippet: "The project has to do with the formation of persons. It's not about producing theologians or philosophers or scientists or mathematicians. You're forming souls so what is the formative impact of studying mathematics?"
Find out more about ICLE: https://catholicliberaleducation.org/
This week we discuss teaching English in a Catholic school with Dr. Dan Guernsy K-12 School principal in Ave Maria Florida and senior fellow at the Cardinal Newman Society promoting faithful Catholic Education.
Show Snippet: "Especially with children's literature...surrounding them with literature that is more ennobling...but if all you're doing day after day is teaching kids this darkness and despair, that's problematic."
Find out more about the Cardinal Newman Society:
https://newmansociety.org/
As Catholic education month wraps up, we take some time to visit with Robert Mixa, Education Fellow with Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire Institute, chatting about introducing students to the scapegoating philosophy of Rene Girard in the classroom.
Show Snippet: "Whenever I go to Mass, I always think of Girard when I start with acknowledging myself as a sinner...that's like the first step then to actually hear the gospel well and then to commune with Christ."
Read more from Robert Mixa:
RENÉ GIRARD, UNLIKELY APOLOGIST
https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/rene-girard-unlikely-apologist/30555/
Catholic Education Month continues on Thinking Faith with part two of our conversation with Brett Fawcett, graduate from Newman Theological Colledge in Alberta and an educator currently teaching Social Studies in Guangzhou, China discussing how to teach Social Studies as a Catholic.
Show Snippet: "I think Christianity actually allows us to teach...an appreciative understanding of Canadian history that can instill a kind of legitimate patriotism that is also very self-critical."
We continue Catholic Education Month on the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast with a visit from Brett Fawcett, graduate from Newman Theological Colledge in Alberta and an educator currently teaching Social Studies in Guangzhou, China discussing how to teach Social Studies as a Catholic.
Show Snippet: "There's lots of good examples of saints in our history, actually, who I would encourage Catholic listeners to study. There's Elizabeth Ann Seaton...a great American Saint who has a really interesting story who actually was canonized with just one miracle..."
This week on the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett begin a multi-part series for Catholic Education Month starting with Dr. Denise Donohue of the Cardinal Newman Society and a look at ways to infuse our Catholic Faith throughout the curriculum.
Show Snippet: "David Clayton wrote this book, it's called "The Way of Beauty" and he does two or three chapters just on proportion, and symmetry, and harmony...that's a very Catholic perspective."
Find out more about the Cardinal Newman Society Curriculum Standards:
https://newmansociety.org/educator-resources/resources/academics/catholic-curriculum-standards/
Deacon Eric Gurash discusses the healing grace in speaking our pain out loud and the role the Psalms can play in helping us to do this.
Show Snippet: "God understands what the UCLA study and others like it indicate; speaking our feelings of abandonment, powerlessness, fear, and even anger out loud can be the exact antidote we need."
What does it mean that Christians proclaim belief in the resurrection of the body and what connection does this have to the end of human history. Join the discussion in this part 2 of 2, this week on the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast!
Show Snippet: "John takes all these things which we imagine in the indefinite future; judgment, exaltation, whatever, and he makes them happen right now...and its the same thing when Jesus says 'I'm the Resurrection' - yeah we know our brother will be raised somewhere down the line and he's like, 'No, you're lookin at it.'"
In this part 1 of a two-part conversation on the Resurrection, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett discuss the intricacies of that most unusual of Christian claims, belief in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and of our own lives.
Show Snippet: "If your eternity doesn't transcend this reality if it's just an extension of this reality, then even 'heaven' becomes hell..."
Guest Fredric Heidemann discusses his written work with Word on Fire ministries on modernity, secular humanism, and the pitfalls inherent in breaking with a Judeo-Christian worldview.
Show Snippet: "You're assuming all sorts of things about the moral life. You're assuming that morals can be properly grounded, which of course, as we discussed earlier, you can't really do from an atheistic perspective. You're assuming that there's free will, which pop-atheists deny...all these things and it's like, this is what makes us fundamentally human but they're just utterly ungrounded in that 'detached from religion' universe."
Read more from Fredric at: https://www.wordonfire.org/author/fredric-heidemann/
In this part 2 of 3, We continue our visit with Fredric Heidemann of Word on Fire discussing his conversion from staunch atheist to Catholic writer for Bishop Robert Barron's global evangelization apostolate.
Show Snippet: "The Catholic Church was the patron of all these arts, the Catholic Church was doing all this...and the Universities, and sponsoring all this education; and I think "man, I can't seem to get away from the Catholic Church!"...and I was reading through my history course, I took AP History, and I thought "if you were going to be Christian, why wouldn't you be Catholic?""
Read more from Fredric at: https://www.wordonfire.org/author/fredric-heidemann/
This week we welcome Fredric Heidemann, writer for Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire blog for a three-part series of discussions on his conversion from atheism to Catholicism.
Show Snippet: "It's not like I read the Lord of the Rings and became Catholic overnight...but it made me recognize, and it was a kind of re-cognition, a re-understanding of something buried deep in the depth of every human soul, that the world is just fundamentally more enchanted than this sort of materialistic, reductionistic, atheistic world view..."
Read more at: https://www.wordonfire.org/author/fredric-heidemann/
This week we reflect on the invitation to allow our hearts to be pierced by the crosses of the world through the lens of another of Flannery O'Connor's characters, Mrs. Greenleaf, as encountered in the story named after her - "Greenleaf". Show Snippet: "We are called to be open to God's own heart, and God's own vision of the world...to be Mrs. Greenleafs by vocation; to roll in the dirt of all of the horror, injustice, sadness, and absurdity of the world and cry out with God that our hearts might be stabbed in the heart by Jesus."
This week we begin a two-part Lenten retreat on Flannery O'Connor and the suffering Gospel. We'll reflect on this call to take up our cross and the essential role of grace in shaking up our world-view and stripping away those things which hamper our journey into sainthood.
Show Snippet: "O'Connor...recognizes that this desire and calling to a life of sainthood is both the only calling that matters, that indeed contains all other callings in life, but is also unattainable save by grace."
In this part 2 of 2, we continue our conversation around faith and mental health, discussing what is helpful, what is not, and some practical ideas for building more mental health-related resiliency into our daily lives.
Show Snippet: "It's extremely dangerous when we imagine that what's going on with mental health is simply a matter of someone's spiritual life not being in order, and so what they need to do is just pray more, offer it up and do all of the pius Catholic things you're supposed to do..."
Learn more about Emmaus Family Support:
https://emmaussupport.wordpress.com/
Wherein Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett chat about the intersection of faith and mental health. Sharing personal stories, new mental health-based ministries, and the consolations and support our Catholic faith can bring.
Show Snippet: "The ministry that Melissa and I are involved in outside of the parish is called Emmaus Family Support. It's primarily a peer-led support group for people who are caregivers...they are the primary caregivers for someone who is close to them, who suffers from mental health challenges. "
To learn more about the Emmaus Family Support ministry mentioned in today's podcast, please visit:
https://emmaussupport.wordpress.com/
This week Eric and Brett discuss the highs and lows of writing as they look at what is involved in taking the ideas of your head and heart, putting them to paper, and convincing someone to publish them.
Show Snippet: "My email inbox is a lot more up to date when I'm trying to write a book...you know how you get the house really clean when you don't want to be doing something? I get my email up to date."
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett Salkeld continue to wrestle with the morality of vaccinations in this part 2 of 2, digging deeper into the categories and arguments prevalent in recent weeks. Warning: These episodes may cause irritation and inflammation at the injection site, and a closer alignment with the consistent moral teachings of the Pope and teaching office of the Church.
Show Snippet: "The same people who say that it's extremely unlikely...to die from COVID, also are pulling out single incidences of adverse reactions to vaccines..."
As vaccines begin to roll out promising protection from COVID-19 and a slow return to normal life, there remain some questions regarding the morality of some vaccines which may have connections with ethically questionable cell-lines. Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett navigate the waters in this two-part look at the morality of vaccination. Warning: These episodes may cause irritation and inflammation at the injection site, and a closer alignment with the consistent moral teachings of the Pope and teaching office of the Church.
Show Snippet: "The one kind of cooperation with evil which is permissible, in part because it's often unavoidable, but even if it is avoidable, sometimes it can be justified if avoiding it will cause other problem...this is called proportionate reasons..."
In this part 2 of 2, we continue our conversation with Brendan Steven of www.catholicconscience.org regarding his journey from young atheist to leading a lay apostolate discussing false idols and the deepest desires of our souls this week on Thinking Faith!
Show Snippet: "I look back on my life on how obsessed I was with 'the cause' when politics was my idol. To me, it was a perversion of the desire to give of self, like irrevocable, committed, total self-giving..."
Who doesn't like a great conversion story? Brendan Steven of catholicconscience.org shares his journey from young atheist to leading a lay apostolate and God's relentless, loving pursuit of his soul this week on Thinking Faith!
Show Snippet: "A lot of normal human beings would have given up on me, would not have waited ten years, and would not have spent that relentless kind of nudging, and pushing and gentle cajoling towards the outcome that they desired, but God di that for me."
Brendan Steven of catholicconscience.org discusses how his former work in Canadian politics led him to assist Catholics in discerning the relationship between Catholic social teaching and the role of our faith in deciding how our votes might be cast.
Show Snippet: "We often like to use this phrase, and I love this phrase, "God meets us where we are." We have to meet our politicians where they are. Even with folks that, from our perspective, are supporting really unsupportable policies, we have to treat them like children of God."
Catholicconscience.org founder Matthew Marquardt discusses what led an American police officer to create a Canadian Catholic lay apostolate whose mission is to assist Catholic voters in forming their voting consciences based on the social teachings of the Catholic Church.
Show Snippet: "The whole problem here is that Catholics aren't involved the way we should be...we should be trying to bring the whole political and civic conversation closer to the Gospel and the social teachings of the Church."
This week we begin a three-part visit with Matthew Marquardt and Brendan Steven of catholicconscinece.org to discuss the origins of this organization whose mission is to assist Catholics in discerning their own conscience as voters and build the Kingdom of God through Catholic social teaching.
Show snippet: "Out of love of neighbour we have an enormous responsibility as Catholics to form ourselves and discern how we vote and the ways we think about our vote in ways that are intentional and reflective of our faith."
Join us for a special Advent retreat episode of Thinking Faith. This week Deacon Eric reflects on the Annunciation from the Fourth Sunday's Gospel and the invitation of the angel Gabriel to see our gifts and others, through God's own eyes.
Show Snippet: "This is the God who sees within the world as it is, a space where he might come to dwell among us, a space sacred and holy enough to make his home among us. He sees a life filled with promise; he sees our lives filled with possibility; He sees our lives filled with grace..."
The discussion on faith and politics continues as guests Brendan Hodge and Charles Camosy examine the potential that exists in both left and right political ideologies for a radical coming together on a variety of important issues.
Show Snippet: "Why do we have to choose between protecting pre-natal children from being dismembered in the womb, or people with massive brain injuries from being starved and dehydrated to death, and actually supporting nursing homes and long-term care facilities...with adequate resources?"
With the election cycle in Saskatchewan complete and our neighbours to the south wrapping up their own contentious presidential vote, we thought it would be great fun to invite two faithful US Catholics to the show to discuss the fallout. Charlie Camosy, a former member of Democrats for Life, and Brendan Hodge, card-carrying Republican, go head to head talking faith and politics this week on Thinking Faith!
Show Snippet: "There's sort of a line you can't cross over and we understand as Catholics that we do owe support to the vulnerable and that the right to property is not absolute..."
Wherein a dialogue between St. Ignatius of Loyola and Rene Descartes provides a moral to our cautionary tale, and an old friend from NET Ministries Canada 'podcast bombs' the show.
Show Snippet: "Ignatius knows to have a healthy suspicion of his own capacity for self-deception at the expense of his neighbour...and this is the key, Ignatius is thinking of the other, whereas Descartes' focus is on the self..."
Wherein we discuss the interesting exchanges that can take place in email inboxes and the need for charity in our virtual conversations.
Show Snippet: "I got a little assertive at this point, I don't think unjustly, but I got a little assertive, I said, If you decline to show me the error, I need to stop responding to your email...not everyone who attacks you on the internet deserves your time."
We wrap up our five-part series with Catholic author, speaker, and apologist, Mark Shea on his newest book "The Church's Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching."
Show Snippet: "Faith without works is dead, says James, and so this aspect of Catholic teaching, more than any other, has to be lived. It must be practiced or...it's like looking in a mirror and then walking away and forgetting what you look like, says James."
Get a signed copy of "The Church's Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching." Buy direct from Mark at https://markpshea.com/mark-shea-shop/.
Continuing our discussion with Catholic author, speaker, and apologist, Mark Shea on his newest book "The Church's Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching" examining, among other topics, structures of sin.
Show Snippet: "We make stuff all the time. We don't just make little tchotchkes, we also make giant, world-spanning, socio-economic, and political systems. These are what are known as 'structures of sin' and what structures of sin do is that they make it hard to be good and make it easy to be bad..."
Get a signed copy of "The Church's Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching." Buy direct from Mark at https://markpshea.com/mark-shea-shop/.
In this multipart series, we sit down with Catholic writer, speaker, and apologist, Mark Shea to discuss his newest book "The Church's Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching".
Show Snippet: "This is part of our heavily libertarian way of looking at things; that I can be personally generous, but why do I need the state to put a gun to my head and tell me that I have to give to pay for somebody else's healthcare?"
Get a signed copy of "The Church's Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching." Buy direct from Mark at https://markpshea.com/mark-shea-shop/.
We continue our multi-part discussion with Catholic author, blogger, and speaker Mark Shea on his latest book The Church's Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching. We dig into the various pillars of Catholic social teaching, and their connections to the Gospel and our lives.
Show Snippet: "It's really important to understand; the Gospels are underground literature written to the Church...they are not literature written to Christians in order to give them the right to say "I thank you O God that I am not like other men."
Get a signed copy of "The Church's Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching." Buy direct from Mark at https://markpshea.com/mark-shea-shop/.
There are some podcasts you just can't wait to release! This special "2-for-Tuesday" release begins a new multi-part interview with Catholic writer and speaker Mark Shea. We'll discuss his new book "The Church's Best Kept Secret" and dig into the essential pillars of Catholic Social Teaching.
Show Snippet: "Catholic social teaching does not begin with the proposition that human beings are fallen...what Catholic social teaching begins with is, unsurprisingly, Catholic Anthropology...(and) what Catholic Anthropology begins with is people are fundamentally made in the image and likeness of God..."
Get a signed copy of "The Church's Best Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching"! Buy direct from Mark at https://markpshea.com/mark-shea-shop/.
Wrapping up a two-part set on voting like a Catholic, Dr. Brett fields questions from those gathered for a recent virtual discussion sponsored by the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids Michigan.
Show Snippet: "Because something is intrinsically evil doesn't mean you can [simply] vote for or against it, it means that you can [find yourself voting] for policies that...mitigate it, eliminate it, or make it worse..."
This week on the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast, Dr. Brett Salkeld is invited to speak on the topic of Catholics and voting by the Paulist Fathers and the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Show Snippet: "Many people have the impression that Church teaching would expect any two well-formed Catholic consciences to come to the same conclusion on election day. It. Does. Not...This is the kind of logic that leads us to excommunicate one another and to cheer on those figures dedicating themselves to setting other Catholics straight on the internet - to the great glee of the parties..."
Read the full text of this talk at Church Life Journal
This week on the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast, we are proud to feature former Archdiocese of Regina speaker, retreat leader, and writer, Dr. Matt Nelson now Assitant Director of Bishop Robert Barron's Word On Fire Institute, and his keynote address for our 2020 Virtual Congress on "The Significance of Hope."
Show Snippet: "There are three things I've thought of that I think most of us have done that will appear foolish in the eyes of the world; we trade worldly goods, for heavenly goods; we rejoice in suffering; we believe in that which is unprovable..."
In this part three of three, we wrap up our visit with Brendan Hodge, Catholic writer, blogger, and author of the new book "If you Can Get It" discussing the unique perspective Catholic writing can bring to the world of fiction.
Show Snippet: "I feel like what I at least try to do is deal honestly with how other human beings deal with those kinds of questions, and with knowing other people who are dealing with the place of faith in their lives..."
Find his book:
https://www.ignatius.com/If-You-Can-Get-It-P3662.aspx
https://www.amazon.ca/You-Can-Get-Brendan-Hodge-ebook/dp/B08CPZC9RL/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1597257567&sr=8-2
Read More from Brendan at his Darwin Catholic blog:
http://darwincatholic.blogspot.com/
Continuing our conversation with Catholic writer and blogger Brendan Hodge on his new book "If you Can Get It" from Ignatius Press and what it means to be a 'Catholic' writer.
Show Snippet: "I mean I think we find ourselves at a time right now where a lot of people are struggling with their daily routines being upended...and I think it does cause people to pause and ask really why is it we do the things that we do?"
Find his book:
https://www.ignatius.com/If-You-Can-Get-It-P3662.aspx
https://www.amazon.ca/You-Can-Get-Brendan-Hodge-ebook/dp/B08CPZC9RL/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1597257567&sr=8-2
Read More from Brendan at his Darwin Catholic blog:
http://darwincatholic.blogspot.com/
We begin a three-part series with Catholic writer and blogger Brendan Hodge author of the new book "If you Can Get It" through Ignatius Press. We'll be discussing the book itself, what it's like publishing his first novel, and what it means to be a 'Catholic' writer.
Show Snippet: "The title is "If you can get it" it's based on the title of a George and Ira Gershwin song "Nice work if you can get it"...but the song is about love and it's about relationships and how love and relationships are what makes life worth living. And I kind of liked it as a play on words."
Find his book:
https://www.ignatius.com/If-You-Can-Get-It-P3662.aspx
https://www.amazon.ca/You-Can-Get-Brendan-Hodge-ebook/dp/B08CPZC9RL/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1597257567&sr=8-2
Read More from Brendan at his Darwin Catholic blog:
http://darwincatholic.blogspot.com/
As we wrap up our four-part series on conspiracy theory thinking we discuss a pastoral approach that places emphasis upon spiritual discernment and guidance as an essential first step.
Show Snippet: "So if conspiracy theories are troubling you or troubling someone you know, the first question is "How's your prayer life?" If your prayer life has taken a hit because of a certain level of anxiety around this, then that's ground zero..."
In this part three of four, we take a look at some of the psychological and sociological foundations within conspiracy theory thinking that allow false narratives and misleading information to take root in others and in ourselves.
Show Snippet: "When there are things that are hard for us, we want to be able to make sense out of that...this is such a core aspect of our humanity that we will latch on to things even when the effects of that lead to greater anxiety and greater fear."
Continuing our four-part series on conspiracy theory type thinking we deep dive into what this kind of thinking is, and how to identify content that may be engaged in this style of thought.
Show Snippet: "So conspiracy theories will often give you the illusion of leaving you to your own conclusions so you feel like you've done the research, you're doing the thinking, but it's actually a bit of a set-up..."
This week Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett Salkeld begin a four-part series to discuss conspiracy theory thinking. In this part one, we'll ask what conspiracy theory thinking is and is not, and discuss the difference between this kind of thinking and healthy skepticism.
Show Snippet: "This is not just like a social problem, but it's also a Pastoral problem because it's happening in the Church, it's happening to Church people, it's breaking down our capacity as a Church to have health discussions around controversial issues..."
Join Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett as they interview Dr. Stephen Little, Acquisitions Editor of Notre Dame Press, at the University of Notre Dame as we discuss his shift in world view from Catholic Creationism to Theistic Evolution.
Show Snippet - "When I was in high school I had to write a research paper and I basically had to synthesize all of the evidence, from a scientific perspective, that I felt presented an obstacle or a challenge to evolution. And I had that reviewed by an English teacher and a science teacher...and one of them even said this almost persuades me..."
As Christian Churches around the world prepare for the "Season of Creation" which begins on September first, we present our Thinking Faith family with a sneak peek at a special YouTube series on Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudate Si hosted by our own Tashia Toupin.
Show Snippet: "The rate of consumption that our human society is operating at...it very clearly and very evidently it outpaces rhythms...Pope Francis calls for us to think critically about that..."
In this part two of two, guest Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson joins the show to discuss truth, goodness, and beauty in literature and examines Flannery O'Connor's approach as found in her "Mystery and Manners" collection of essays and talks.
Show Snippet: "This is a modern problem where I have students come in, and you look at a college student's calendar, and it's as though their identity is wrapped up in their to-do list. And so I always bring up the problem of the...baby who has this intrinsic beauty and value and worth without a to-do list, that person doesn't need a to-do list to be meaningful. And literature trains us to be that way towards people by training us to be that way towards literature itself. We let the literature be what it is."
This week we are pleased to have Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson, Louise Cowan Scholar in Residence at the University of Dallas, share her insights on a Catholic approach to literature.
Show Snippet: "I can't quote C.S. Lewis enough, "In reading great literature I become a thousand people and yet remain myself..." when we delve into these perspectives in literature we actually take on other people's vision but you get to know your own better through that participation. You're not losing yourself in the book but gaining another way of seeing."
For the last four years, we have been blessed to be able to offer a new forum for conversation, dialogue, and sharing the Good News of our Catholic Faith to the Archdiocese of Regina and beyond. Join Deacon Eric, Dr. Brett, and very special guest, Archbishop Donald Bolen as we celebrate our 200th Episode and discuss our shared dreams for the future of our Church and culture.
Show Snippet: "You know, in society as a whole and in the Church there's been an erosion of spaces for honest, respectful, public discourse where people can raise difficult issues and raise them in a context where there's a respectful engagement because we're so quick to move towards polarized positions, and I think I have to gain a new appreciation for the way that podcasts are a contemporary, current way where respectful discourse can happen..."
This past June saw the premiere of the very first episode of a new Youtube series produced by the Archdiocese called "The Diocese Tonight" featuring stories, voices, and prayers from all over the Archdiocese of Regina. With a new episode set to release on YouTube on August second, here's just a taste of our premier's keynote talk on Unity by Gabe Dipple.
Show Snippet: "We need the breadth of experiences and voices that the Body of Christ is comprised of because, with any crisis, epidemic or blockade on the road, the Body of Christ contains within it every necessary voice required for the Holy Spirit to speak through and guide us..."
In an exciting podcast crossover event, Thinking Faith happily premiers popular guest, Fr. Parker Love's new podcast "Cold Drinks, Questions, and Christ" as he examines Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Moses, Man of the Mountain.
Show Snipette: "I could see how, for other people, it might be interesting to hear about things that they might not necessarily think about; its relationship with faith and..to look at all this content I consume and say "How does this impact my faith story?""
Weeks before his ordination to the Transitional Diaconate, Deacon Eric Gurash had a chance to talk with Seminarian Chris Lindenbach about his life, his vocation, and this thing we call 'discernment'...
Show Snippet: "They talk about any time you make any sort of commitment you make this big 'yes' and then that's sustained by all these little yeses. And so the big yes for me was to go to the seminary and say okay God, if this is where you are calling me to go, as St. Ignatius said, you discern it to the end whatever that end may be and so for me that big yes was to go down the road not knowing where it will end but trusting that God will lead me and be with me."
Plagues, Murder Hornets, Rivers running blood-red in Russia. Do you get the feeling that 2020 is trying to tell us something? Could this be the end of it all?
Show Snippet: "You have these two groups that are contrasted and you see that going on throughout Revelation. It's asking which group are you? Are you the ones despairing because life isn't going the way that you thought it would go? Or are you the ones praising Christ who able to save us even when it seems like the world is coming to an end?"
Wrapping up our multi-part series on Creationism and our Catholic faith we apply faith and reason, those invaluable gifts from God, to what the scriptures actually say about death, original sin, and human destiny.
Show Snippet: "Original sin...at the heart of it is, you need grace. No amount of do-gooding and good works is going to save you. Yes you have to act, but ultimately when Paul teaches this...connecting Jesus as the new Adam, it's to make the point, if Adam brought death, how much more did Jesus bring life?"
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue their multi-part series on Creationism with special guest, Dr. Matthew Ramage of Benedictine College, Kansas, and author of "The Experiment of Faith: Pope Benedict XVI on Living the Theological Virtues in a Secular Age".
Show Snippet: "Eden is a temple so you understand that it's not giving the scientific account, it's about Israel and therefore about all of us and it's about who God is, who we are, and what we're called to do."
This week Deacon Eric, Dr. Brett, and special guest, Fr. Parker Love sit down to answer your questions for another Facebook Live event.
Show Snippet: "That's what we're called to do, to do our best, to be the best version of ourself which is the most good version of ourself...the most virtuous person we are called to be, and the most just person we can be, and the most loving, and kind, and happy, and joyful person we can be..."
TF192 - Creationism and the Catholic Church - Part 3 with Dr. Matthew Ramage
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue their multi-part series on Creationism with special guest, Dr. Matthew Ramage author of "Dark Passages of the Bible: Engaging Scripture with Benedict XVI and St. Thomas Aquinas".
Show Snippet: "I've seen so many young people confused and struggling with their faith for no reason and part of it is because they may have been catechized, even but they either don't know the science, or they don't know their theology, and I'm trying to help people bridge that."
Talking the speed of light, what the first amoeba ate, and the conspiracy of Creationism in this part two of a multi-part series on Creationism and the Catholic Church.
Show Snippet: "This is a constant argument that all Creationists use about Christian scientists who believe in evolution - they are seeking the approval of the world. So John Paul and Benedict, who are willing to stand up to the world on a whole host of questions...suddenly on the question of evolution are caving to look wise in the eyes of the world?"
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett begin a multipart series on Creationism and the Catholic Church. Young earth, old earth, 6 days, billions of years. What does the Church say?
Show Snippet: "Both the fundamentalist and the atheist think that Christians who read and believe the Bible, need to be Creationists...and there's a deep irony there, that the two groups that agree on that, are the groups that despise each other the most..."
Thinking Faith - Q&A
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett talk fortune cookies, dinosaurs, and suspension of Masses due to COVID-19 in this previously recorded episode of their first-ever live podcast. (Original recording date: April 27, 2020)
Show Snippet: "Let's acknowledge at the front end, from a Catholic point of view, that the Eucharist is more essential than actual food that will keep you alive...people assume that if you'll close the church but keep the grocery store open what you're saying is that natural food is more important that spiritual food, but there's layers of consideration in here..."
Finishing up a topic begun well before Easter, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett discuss the final "Ecclesial Dream" of Pope Francis from his Post-Synodal Exhortation "Querida Amazonia".
Show Snippet: "We have to get away from the tunnel vision that fails to see God having been at work in other cultures, in other places and at other times...recognize that God has preceded you in the culture."
Join the discussion this first week of Easter in this part two of two, as we continue wondering how Jesus' suffering and death redeemed humanity.
Snippet from the Show: "That's all of us: death is coming, but you do get a choice of how to approach it...and the more practice you get, the better you get at it. It doesn't get easier, but you get better at walking into it."
Was the cross really necessary for our salvation and how is it that one man's death obtained salvation for humanity? As Holy Week begins, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett discuss these questions and more.
Show snip: "...also the things he said in the resurrection appearances, especially Luke 24 and the road to Emmaus when he's explaining, we're told, the law and prophets...then what he said at the Last supper starts to register. So much so that when they get to Emmaus...something is starting to click."
Church is not suspended, faith, hope, and love are not suspended, and your weekly Thinking Faith fix is not suspended. This week, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett talk coronavirus, judgment, and bad theology. From six-feet apart of course!
Show Snippet: "God brings good out of evil and the Cross is the ultimate picture of that but not the only one. All of us can look at our own lives and see God bringing good out of evil, some of us can already look at the situation of coronavirus and see some good coming out of evil: that does not mean that the evil is not evil...this is not a papering over evil."
In this part three of four, Dr. Brett and Deacon Eric discuss the "Ecological Dream" of Querida Amazonia including the biblical roots of a redeemed creation and the spiritual effects of a lack of environmental concern.
Show Snip: "The environmental question is a spiritual question. Your attitude towards all kinds of things in your life will shape your attitude towards the environment and the practices in your life that are destructive towards the environment are probably not good for your soul either."
Deacon Eric brushes up on his Spanish while he and Dr. Brett dig into the first two chapters of Pope Francis' latest Apostolic Exhortation "Querida Amazonia".
Snippet from the show:
"This is a call for us, right at the front end of the document, to look into the faces of real persons...to see the real social needs...to hear the cry of the poor."
Discussing the furor surrounding what did not make it into Querida Amazonia and setting things up for a multi-part examination of what Pope Francis actually has to say about the Church and the needs of the Amazon and the world.
Snippet from the show:
"Here's a test question for you...if you were surprised by the document, if you were shocked by what it didn't say, you need to check your media consumption."
This week the Thinking Faith Catholic podcast features an interview with Dr. Brett Salkeld on Redeemer Radio's Kyle Heiman Show. Topic of the day: Why Transubstantiation?
Snippet from the show:
"We need to think more about what it is to be Catholics who believe in God as the transcendent ground of everything in a world that doesn't think that way anymore."
This week on the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett finish up their three-part series on faith and reason with a look at Mary as the model of the Christian approach, look at the role authority plays in belief and get pretty excited about the great mystery that is faith in Jesus Christ.
Snippet from the show:
"The real gift is that we not only get to spend our whole lives here engaged in this exciting process...but we get to spend eternity delving into the mysteries of God, the mystery of the life of the Trinity, the mystery of the Incarnation knowing that we will never exhaust it!"
Picking up where we left off in this episode two of three, we'll be touching on a Catholic approach to natural faith, faith in authority, how reason works with faith and the relationship between skepticism and faith. Believing to understand, this week on Thinking Faith!
In this episode of the Thinking Faith Catholic podcast, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett dip into the mailbag for some listener feedback before the start of a three-part series on faith and reason from our Catholic perspective. In this part one, they'll be discussing the importance of getting this relationship right both to aid in our own understanding of the Catholic faith as well as in communicating our Catholic faith to the world. And there's lasagna.
In this part two of two, deacon Eric and Dr. Brett Salkeld continue the discussion on social media and polarization from a Catholic perspective. They'll discuss the ways polarization can cloud perceptions regardless of which side we might fall on, and share some additional tools for navigating today's complex media waters. Checking our bias and our sources this week on Thinking Faith!
It seems that most any topic leads quickly to polarized positions, angst and a confluence of conspiracy theories. In this part one of two, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett wade into these murky waters and examine the roles human nature and social media might play and offer some discernment tools to help this week on Thinking Faith!
On Monday, January 13 Canadians were asked to provide input into an expansion of the country's medically assisted suicide laws. Canadians have until January 27 to express concerns in an online survey. On this week's show, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett break down the questions and discuss ways in which we, as Catholics could approach this important survey.
The survey can be found at the link:
Medical Assistance In Dying - Share Your Views
As Dr. Brett's #populationisnottheproblem revolution continues, we discuss the issue of waste in the production industry, its ramifications for the care of persons in need and the kinds of changes in attitudes and behaviors that could ensure access to material needs for all, this week on Thinking Faith!
Perhaps you heard of that letter from 11000 scientists that was released as 2019 drew to a close? Among the points made, did you notice the one about the need for population control? Dr. Brett Salkeld and Deacon Eric Gurash take the population question head-on and create a new hashtag with the bold claim that #populationisnottheproblem in part one of two, this week on Thinking Faith!
On this eve of the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God or "Theotokos", Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett conclude their examination of Enculturation and syncretism using the Amazon Synod's Pachamama controversy as a case study in asking the right questions. Coming to terms with what we know and what we don't this week on Thinking Faith!
Into this quiet place, before the Christ child...we hear God say: I am with you. To stay. It is your world I have come to dwell in. Your broken heart and wounded soul I have taken for my home. My love will light the darkness. So, friends, light the candles, and open your hearts. It is Christmas.
Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! Merry Christmas, everyone!
Donald Bolen
Archbishop of Regina
As this fourth and final (and very short!) week of Advent moves quickly into Christmas we invite you to take a few moments to step out of the frantic pace of the holidays and discover hidden gifts and graces that only a contemplative attitude can reveal. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Year's this week on Thinking Faith!
Keep awake and stay alert. These advent themes invite us to foster and develop what is known as a Contemplative Attitude - a particular way of being within the world that is 'highly tuned' to the presence of Christ in our midst. In this part one of a two-part Advent retreat, Deacon Eric reflects on this call to keep watch and how we might foster a contemplative attitude this Advent this week on Thinking Faith!
The National Day of Prayer In Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples which coincides with the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) and the concerns around Indigenous statues at the Vatican is a perfect time to revisit a past show topic. In this part one of two, we'll discuss Our Lady's role in enculturating the Gospel through dress, language, and symbol and try to put to rest the concerns about wooden statues once and for all. This week on Thinking Faith!
Who is St. Ignatius of Loyola and why does the story of this former soldier, and founder of the Jesuits continue to inspire the Church today? In response to a listener question, we discuss the history and the spiritual gifts of this Spanish saint as we carry on this pilgrim's journey, this week on Thinking Faith!
Find out more about Ignatian Spirituality and Discernment at the following links;
https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/
https://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/fr-timothy-gallagher-discernment-of-spirits/
As one liturgical year comes to an end and another one is set to begin, we reflect on the great Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe who rules not through political savvy and raw, authoritarian power, but from the Cross. On the cusp of Advent, we take time to reflect on what it means to follow a crucified King, in this Bonus Episode of Thinking Faith!
You ask, we answer! Listener Elaine asks for a bit of information on Sts. Thomas Aquinas and Ignatius of Loyola - two of Brett and Eric's favs. This week we discuss St. Thomas. We'll look at how Brett and "The Angelic Saint" became best buddies, a bit of history and why the Church is a better place because of this medieval Dominican saint this week on Thinking Faith!
If you'd like to know more about St. Thomas, the Dominicans, and his philosophy, check out the links;
https://thomisticinstitute.org/
https://aquinas101.thomisticinstitute.org/
In part two of our time with guest, Patrick Malone, we delve deeper into our conversation on film, literature, and faith with a look at Christ figures in popular movies. We'll take a look at James Bond in "Skyfall", Batman in the "Dark Knight" and the "Dark Knight Rises" and discuss the personification of evil as portrayed in the recent film "Joker". Looking down the barrel of the good, the bad, and the ugly this week on Thinking Faith!
With nearly $180 Billion spent on film and literature around the world in the past year, it's easy to see how deeply ingrained the desire for story and narrative is in the human heart. In the midst of all the conversation around the favorite films of friends and family, what might our Catholic faith have to contribute? We're talking film, literature, and faith this week on Thinking Faith!
Election day saw every one of us cooperating with evil in one way or another. What exactly do the Church and moral theology have to say about such a situation and how does this apply in our daily lives beyond election years? Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett spend some time defining terms, discussing options, and asking that all-important question "How can that be a thing?" This week on Thinking Faith!
With Halloween fast approaching what better time than to delve into the question of spells and magic and all things Potter? Does the Catholic Church teach that magic is real? What about other works of fiction and fantasy? What role to do parents have in making decisions about what kids read and what kinds of conversations are possible around the Potter books and others in your family. A not-too-spooky episode of Potter Hocus Pocus this week on Thinking Faith!
In our fourth and final chat with Dr. Charles Camosy of Fordham University, we examine issues of ecology, ethical farming, poverty, and government-sanctioned violence. How does our #throwawayculture infect each of these areas and can a consistent life ethic provide a holistic antidote? The doctor is in, this week on Thinking Faith!
In this part three of four Dr. Brett Salkeld and Deacon Eric Gurash sit down with Dr. Charlie Camosy of Fordham University to discuss issues of sex and sexuality, reproductive biotechnologies and abortion. They'll examine the ways our throwaway culture affects our approaches to these issues and examine how the principles of a consistent life ethic can lead us to healthier approaches and discussions. Resistance may not always be futile, this week on Thinking Faith!
In this part two of four, Eric and Brett continue their conversation with Dr. Charlie Camosy, professor of Ethics at Fordham University, NY regarding his recent book "Resisting Throwaway Culture: How a consistent life ethic can unite a fractured people". What do we mean by a consistent ethic of life? Are there any basic principles to base such an ethic upon? They'll answer these questions and more this week on Thinking Faith!
You can meet Dr. Camosy at Campion College’s first annual Jesuit Lecture Series on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at the Campion Auditorium. Click here for details.
Dr. Charlie Camosy, professor of Ethics at Fordham University in New York, joins Eric and Brett during this Reverence for Life month in the Archdiocese of Regina. In this first of a four-part series on his latest book "Resisting Throwaway Culture" they'll look at the broad and problematic cultural and political context we find ourselves in and begin an examination of the potential for a consistent life ethic to break down the barriers of polarization and create an ethos centered on care for the vulnerable in all facets of society.
You can meet Dr. Camosy in person as Campion College in Regina inaugurates its first annual Jesuit Lecture Series with Dr. Camosy on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at the Campion Auditorium. Check out the link for more information: https://campioncollege.ca/events/jesuit-lecture/
In this final episode of three stemming from this summer's PEW study finding that 70% of Catholic do not believe what the church teaches about Christ's presence in the Eucharist, Eric and Brett take a look at how the idea of Real Presence and Transubstantiation developed in the Church and ways we can help Catholic encounter and experience Christ more profoundly in the Eucharist. We're entering into Mystery with Awe and Wonder this week on Thinking Faith!
Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett continue the discussion on the latest PEW study suggesting that 70% of Catholics do not believe what the Church teaches about Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist. This week they will look at two popular responses to the issue made soon after the study's release. We're walking the line between liturgies and education this week on Thinking Faith!
Wherein Deacon Eric and Brett wade into the recent PEW Study on the Eucharist which claimed nearly 2/3rds of Catholics do not believe in Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist. In this part 1 of 3 they'll discuss what this most recent study asked, didn't ask, could have asked. Trying to get to the bottom of a Eucharistic Hullabaloo this week on Thinking Faith!
In this part two of two, Deacon Eric and guest host Ryan Leblanc (www.thinkcatholic.ca) wrap up the discussion of Catholics and rest. They'll look at the examples of rest and Sabbath that Jesus gives in the Gospels, talk possible patron Saints of rest...and try to catch a few, restful Zzz's, this week on Thinking Faith!
As these final weeks of summer draw out, Deacon Eric Gurash and guest host Ryan Leblanc (www.thinkcatholic.ca) sit back and relax in this two-part set to discuss, well, sitting back and relaxing. Is there a Catholic approach to taking it easy? Does God ever take a day off for himself? Are there any saints of rest and leisure? We're taking it easy, Catholic style this week, and next, on Thinking Faith!
A jump in listeners over the summer has Deacon Eric and Brett asking "Who are you?" and wondering what led you to the podcast. We'll read some listener mail, toss around potential show ideas and talk about some of our most popular episodes. Casting our nets far and wide this week on Thinking Faith!
This week we continue our summer bible study introduction to the Gospel of Matthew. We'll wrap up our look at some of those background pieces like who Matthew was writing to and talk about that 'Synoptic Problem' you might have heard of. Finally, we'll dive into a few of the key themes Matthew works with throughout the gospel. Dust off those bibles and let's study Matthew this week ono Thinking Faith!
These dogs days of summer are made for reading so why not pick up the greatest story ever told and find a shady spot under your favorite tree, in the back yard or at the beach. In this two-part series, Deacon Eric will lead you through an introduction to the Gospel of Matthew that will set you up to encounter this amazing Gospel in ways you have never seen before! Who wrote this famous gospel? What's this about a 'synoptic problem', and what is Matthew trying to say about Jesus, the Kingdom, and the Church? Find out this week - and next - on Thinking Faith!
Deacon Eric and Brett sit down to examine relations between Catholics and Islam. Do we believe in the same God? Is Islam inherently violent? What does the Church actually say about the relationship between our two faiths? We're thinking about Islam this week on Thinking Faith!
Bonus Content:
NOSTRA AETATE - DECLARATION ON
THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS
Islam and Violence: Actually, It’s Complicated
Sickness and death. Tornadoes and Asteroids. The frustrating and often tragic imperfections of life this side of eternity. At times these are explained as the result of living in a 'Fallen World' - but what does that mean? Did the Fall break the world? And if so, How? Deacon Eric and Brett tackle a challenging listener question this week on Thinking Faith!
Father Parker Love enjoyed his time in studio so much that he thought he'd come back with a topic sure to raise some eyebrows. Deacon Eric and Brett get together with Fr. Parker to discuss the Vatican's latest document on Gender Theory for Educators looking at the guidelines it offers, and some of its critiques. Is Fr. Parker trying to break the podcast on his second visit? Find out this week on Thinking Faith!
Since Friday, June 14 we've had three brand new priests hanging around looking for things to do, people to bless, Masses to say. In the midst of this flurry of activity, Deacon Eric and Brett managed to snag newly minted Father Parker Love to speak about his journey to the priesthood and his hopes and dreams as a priest for the Archdiocese of Regina. Still reveling in the new priest smell, this week on Thinking Faith!
In a surprise, bonus episode of Teaching Catholicism to Protestants, Dr. Brett, and Deacon Eric dig into final exams. What kinds of questions and answers would a group of Protestant Pastors and theology students give, what kinds of questions would get asked, and how would you answer them? This week on thinking Faith!
After a brief pause for a special Ordination episode, Deacon Eric and Brett continue to dig into teaching Roman Catholicism to Protestants. This week they'll discuss the kinds of assignments one might engage in and avenues taken with one particular group of pastors and theology students this spring. It's an object lesson on Purgatory, this week on Thinking Faith!
Friday, June 14 saw the priestly ordinations of three amazing young men in the Archdiocese of Regina. We are happy to share with you the Homily of Archbishop Donald Bolen on the occasion of the ordinations of Fathers Parker Love, Anthony Tran, and Chinh Vu this week on Thinking Faith!
In this part two of three, Brett and Eric continue their discussion of Catholicism for Protestants. They'll take a more in-depth look at the content Brett covered with his class at Ambrose University in Calgary, and dig in a bit deeper to those areas his protestant class questioned, and the surprising areas of agreement they discovered this week on Thinking Faith!
In this part one of three, Eric and Brett discuss a course Brett was recently asked to teach at Ambrose University in Calgary, AB on Roman Catholicism for Protestant. What exactly do you teach a room full of protestant pastors and theology students about the Catholic faith? Find out these next few weeks on Thinking Faith!
It's no secret that our Church is in great need of well-formed, evangelizing disciples. Join Deacon Eric with special guest Beckey Franke, alumni of our Lay Formation program as they discuss the relentless pursuit of God as He calls men and women into deeper love and evangelizing service and the gift that the Lay Formation program has been to the families and parishes of the Archdiocese of Regina.
The Lay Formation program is now accepting applications for the fall intake. Contact Deacon Eric Gurash at egurash@archregina.sk.ca or 306-352-1651 ext 211
More wonderful and inspiring relic weirdness is coming to our fair city with the visit of FIVE relics of Pio of Pietrelcina – better known as Padre Pio. With two stops; Holy Rosary Cathedral on Saturday, June 1 and Miller Catholic Highschool on Sunday, June 2, there'll be no reason to miss this one in a lifetime event! Director of Pastoral Services Lisa Polk and Deacon Eric Gurash talk about the wonderful weirdness that are Catholic relics, trade some cool stories about St. Pio and discuss how you and those you love can share the graces of this amazing saint this week on Thinking Faith!
Eric and Brett continue their discussion on religion and violence. We attempt to pull back our presuppositions and take an honest look at how our current cultural perspective, which promises a lasting peace among all persons divorced from any religious influence, and ask if this is the solution or just a hidden part of the problem, this week on Thinking Faith!
Is religion inherently violent? From shootings in New Zealand to explosions in Sri Lanka, this perennial topic has made its way into the public eye yet again - if it has ever been far in the first place. In this part one of two, Brett and Eric discuss the potential behind the argument. Is this a problem with religion as a whole or might there be a more subtle ideological mechanism at work? Walking a winding road seeking lasting peace, this week on Thinking Faith!
Easter provides us with an annual, missionary rallying cry. Deacon Eric reflects on our Easter reminders of baptism and the vital job description that comes along with it all. We're following in the footsteps of the Apostles and carrying on with the divine rescue mission of Jesus Christ this week on Thinking Faith!
Why would two rookie preachers decide to sit down and talk homily prep and dos and don'ts? Because someone gave them microphones and a mixer. Eric and Brett give you a behind the scenes look at homily preparation and what they've learned in their short time of teaching and preaching - for what it's worth this week on Thinking Faith!
As Winter has given way to Spring, may we find hope in the paschal joy which rises from the tomb, and in the many ways that this joy is echoed in the bursting forth of new life in the natural world. By God’s grace, may we ever more witness to and participate in God’s ongoing transformation of all in need, of ourselves and our world.
Christ is Risen! Happy Easter! - Archbishop Donald Bolen
The gloves are off! Using readings from the Third Sunday of Lent, Eric and Brett face off in our first ever preaching challenge. It's master versus student, theologian versus deacon. Who will rise? Who will fall? Who will be left picking up the pieces of their lives and their pride in shame? You be the judge this week on Thinking Faith!
How far can one go when proclaiming the Good News in different cultures? What place do cultural traditions have in the Mass? Is a 'culture free' Mass even a thing? Eric and Brett engage in a delicate balancing act between syncretism and inculturation without a net this week on Thinking Faith!
We wrap up our two-part lenten retreat by reflecting on the deep compassion, love, and mercy of our heavenly Father. Using Henri Nouwen's Spiritual classic, The Return of the Prodigal Son as a guide, we'll encounter the reality of a Heavenly Father who deeply desires a life with us, accepts the pain and suffering of letting us freely wander far from Him, and waits with ever-patient open arms to welcome us home, this week on Thinking Faith!
As we enter into the third week of Lent, we invite you to join our two-part Lenten retreat. We'll spend a bit of th=ime reflecting on Luke's parable of the prodigal son through the eyes of Henri Nouwen and the classic Rembrandt painting of the same name. This week we pray that our eyes might be opened just a little that we might come back to ourselves. We're wandering far and discovering grace this week on Thinking Faith!
Eric and Brett discuss how not to do marriage prep/enrichment as well as discuss some positive approaches that may provide opportunities to engage the unaffiliated, who often show up in these contexts. What happens when Brett gets steamed about a Marriage Enrichment class? Podcasts and Cheesies, that's what! This week on Thinking Faith!
In this part two of two, Eric and Brett continue their discussion on the promise and the challenges of evangelizing a post-modern culture. They'll discuss New Atheists, a balanced approach to faith and reason, and how to foster a healthy dialogue that both respects objectivity and honours the created, subjective goodness of the human person. Making it up as they go, a second time around, this week on Thinking Faith!
Modernism, post-modernism, relativism, objective truth, subjective truth. In this part one of two, Eric and Brett sort through it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and discuss the realities and necessary strategies of evangelizing in a post-modern culture. Are they just making it up as they go along? You decide, this week on Thinking Faith!
You've probably heard that the planet is grossly overpopulated. Or is it? A recent WIRED magazine article examined a very different perspective presented in a new book by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson called Empty Planet. The same week, Hungary announced that it is waving income tax requirements for ALL mothers in an attempt to turn their own declining numbers around. That's prompted Eric and Brett to ask "Is overpopulation still a thing?" This week on Thinking Faith!
In just four years our Archdiocese has gone from 3 Permanent Deacons to a full dozen! The question is, what do you do with them all? From hammers and saws to work with our indigenous partners, we dig into what all our new Deacons have been up to these past few months this week on Thinking Faith!
It's been seven months, do you know where your deacons are? We look at what our nine new deacons are up to focussing this week on a few of the guys and their involvement in spiritual care of the sick and dying. What happens when you release nine shiny new deacons into the frigid wilds of Southern Saskatchewan? Find out this week (and next) on Thinking Faith!
Fourth of Four in our "Theology of Rock and Roll" series wherein we school Braden on Dylan's mastery of rock theology, dive into Stabilo, U2, and Creed and the particularly edifying experience of having found what may well be the most epic Christmas sweater in the universe. Finding what we're looking for, struggling with our own flawed designs and finding shelter from the storm this week on Thinking Faith!
In Part 3 of our Rock and Roll podcast, we talk Sweet Child of Mine and Chesterton, Bohemian Rhapsody's anti-rock heart, the vicious game of April Wine and the crucial work of the artist to make reality present and force us to contend with life. Lookin for satisfaction this week on Thinking Faith!
Rockin' and rollin' into our second week of a four-part series on, faith and rock. We talk Chesterton, Guns and Roses, AD/DC and life on the road, the Eurythmics and how rock tries to figure out what stirs the human heart. Oh, and Deacon Eric backs himself into a musical corner in the first ten minutes, this week on Thinking Faith!
Over and above all the interesting and inspiring conversations that are had in the hallowed halls of the Pastoral Centre - one topic dominates among our show hosts and anyone they can get to listen. Rock and Roll. Is it possible to make a 'Theology of Rock and Roll' a thing? What kind of thing might that be? And where might this fit in an evangelization strategy? We begin a 4-part series where we might even answer these questions and more while we jam some mad air guitar riffs this week on Thinking Faith!
The adventure continues with Michelle Braden and she continues to regale and inspire us with yet more stories of the unusual, the inexplicable, the inspirational 'God-incidences' she's encountered in life and ministry. Can there be a better start to the New Year than with signs, miracles, wonders...and Thinking Faith!?
There's no better start to the New Year than when friend and co-worker Michelle Braden graces our humble studio. In this episode, Michelle shares a few out of this world miracle moments that are sure to blow your mind and lift your heart. Breaking out the air recorders for the first of two tent-revival episodes of Thinking Faith!
From all of us at "Thinking Faith!" and everyone at the offices of the Archdiocese of Regina, we wish you and your family and loved ones a very Merry Christmas and every blessing of Christ in the New Year!
The exciting conclusion to our three-part Advent Mission wherein, having identified the root of our struggles, and the deepest need of our hearts, we turn to Christ, the great carpenter King to join in his grand rebuilding plan. Knocking out walls and putting in a pool - it's renovation time this week on Thinking Faith!
In this continuation of our three-part Advent Mission, Deacon Eric invites us to examine those areas of our lives in need of Christ's healing and mercy. As we walk with Christ through all the 'rooms' of our souls, we'll ask "Which need the most work?" This week on Thinking Faith!
In this first of a three-part Advent Parish Mission, Deacon Eric invites reflection on "the vast, unfathomable love of a God whose generosity and mercy never cease to outpace our own". In our fast-paced world its easy to forget that even as God acts to sustain the whole of creation from moment to moment, he has you always in His heart and in His mind. Take time out of your day to learn to walk more closely with the God who comes to draw you near to Himself this week, and for the next three weeks, on Thinking Faith!
What happens when you leave a Deacon alone in the recording studio? Deacon Eric explores while musing on the Liturgical Year, Solemnities and Kings. What's the connection between all of this and St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises? Find out this week on Thinking Faith!
"Religion - You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
As we put the finishing touches on our discussion about Catholics and other religions we find ourselves wondering "What the heck is a religion anyway?" We'll discuss religion vs World View, how we make choices in everyday life and whether or not atheists believe things the same way Christians or other people of faith believe. We're questioning everything and finding answers if we're lucky this week on Thinking Faith!
Bonus Content! The Article we reference in today's episode:
Why atheists are not as rational as some like to think - https://bit.ly/2PggpCS
It happened again. We started talking about something and just couldn't make ourselves stop. On offer today, the unexpected second part of our discussion on Catholics and other religions. Our focus today...what do we do when we disagree? In a space and time when the culture has forgotten how to disagree, we're throwing down the gloves this week on Thinking Faith!
Aren't all Religions true? Is it ever ok to disagree? What's our relationship with the Jewish community and what about other religions of the world? We'll search for answers to these and all your questions about Catholics, Truth and other religions this week on Thinking Faith!
Just in time for All Hallow's Eve, a long-anticipated (by us at least), episode on Catholics, the supernatural and the occult. Can/should Catholic's dress up for Halloween? What do Catholics need to know about the supernatural and the occult and what about Ouija boards and other kinds of 'fortune telling'? We'll be haunting your dreams this week on Thinking Faith!
Social Justice Coordinator, Tashia Toupin is in studio one more time as we complete our Reverence for Life Month series. We'll discuss those particular life issues surrounding care for the elderly, the sick and the dying with a focus on our common call to create a culture of encounter, in the midst of a culture that seeks to avoid or end suffering at all costs. We're choosing a life of care, compassion, and accompaniment this week on Thinking Faith!
Show Notes:
We promised to share some information regarding our poverty discussion a few weeks ago. Here's a couple of links to the sites we mentioned;
www.kiva.org
www.reginahomelessness.ca
As Reverence For Life month continues in the Archdiocese of Regina we invite Social Justice Coordinator Tashia Toupin into the studio once again. This week we discuss victims of violence. We discuss St. Mother Theresa's solution for peace, examine the effects of generational violence on individuals, families and our world, take a look at the scriptural call to care for refugees and share practical ways we can all be part of the solution this week on Thinking Faith!
As Reverence For Life Month Continues in the Archdiocese of Regina we sit down with Social Justice Coordinator Tashia Toupin once again. This time we'll take a look at the life issues surrounding poverty, discuss what a "Preferential Option for the Poor" really means, and share some more practical ideas on integrating habits of care for the poor into our daily lives. Praying for compassionate hearts and generous souls on this week's Thinking Faith!
As Reverence For Life month begins in the Archdiocese of Regina, Tashia Toupin and Deacon Eric Gurash sit down to discuss the wide scope of life issues surrounding Abortion. From the vulnerability of the unborn to the systemic pressures that hamper a woman's freedom to choose life, they invite a deeper look and share practical actions we can all take to support a true reverence for life on this week's Thinking Faith!
Wherein we discuss alternate show names, get confused by knock-knock jokes and meet our new Social Justice Coordinator Tashia Toupin as we prepare to kick off Reverence for Life Month this coming October 1st! Asking "Who's there?" and "What's the relationship between freedom, conscience and life issues?" this week on Thinking Faith!
If you've ever been in a classroom with younger kids talking about church stuff you figure out pretty quick that their answer to every question is going to be Jesus. Brett and Eric head back to school on this one where the Incarnation suddenly seems to be the answer to everything this week on Thinking Faith!
Continuing our 4-part series on Jesus, Eric and Brett take a closer look at the Fathers of the Church and how a whole mess of heresies actually helped us all get to know Christ a little better. We're walking through heresies and hoping we don't get any on us this week on Thinking Faith!
Wherein we discuss the fact that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is kind of a big deal. The difference between Confucius and Christ and why any of this should matter. Dying and rising, it's kind of how we do things this week, and every week on Thinking Faith!
Wherein we discuss the merits of lowering expectations, the gift of 80%, and Brett calls Eric a what!? Oh and Jesus, we're talking about Jesus in this part one of a new four-part series. So that's kind of a big deal this week on Thinking Faith!
Having guests in the studio is one of our favorite things and this week we have two! Gregg and Chelo Ravasco of our local Couples for Christ Apostolate stop by to talk with us about their annual ANCOP (ANswering the Cry Of the Poor) walk in Wascana Park. The Walk raises awareness about the educational and humanitarian work that ANCOP does globally and funds for their various projects. Find out how and why there's now a Saskatchewan Community in the Philippines and how you can become a part of changing people's lives forever this week on Thinking Faith!
Find out more about ANCOP and register to walk this Sunday, August 26 starting at 8:30 am in Wascana Park: https://bit.ly/2w80j1Z
They said it couldn't be done. They said we didn't have the stamina. They said we didn't have the attention spans. But here we are at episode 100! And to celebrate we've called in our brand new boss, Director of Pastoral Services Lisa Polk. We'll find out her thoughts on the Church, her relationship with Jesus Christ, how central evangelization and supporting parishes is to her mission --- and what superpower she'd like to have. It's a celebration this week on Thinking Faith!
Do I follow my head, my heart, or my conscience? Do I choose one, do I choose none? Do I have to choose at all? And what's this stuff about forming conscience? Is there a pottery class or something that can help? We've got the questions and maybe even some of the answers as we tackle the sticky question of conscience in this part 2 of 2 this week on Thinking Faith!
We may have images of do-gooder crickets and fun-sucking angels chastizing us from shoulder perches, but is that what we really mean when we talk about our conscience? Is it a battle of wills, a head vs heart "go with your gut" kind of thing? The Church seems to think it's pretty important but what is a conscience and why do we need one? The question of the ages in two parts starting this week on Thinking Faith!
It's the exciting conclusion to our four-part "summer class" in Christian Hospitality! In these final two episodes, we dig in deeper taking a look at how our work and ministry culture behind the scenes can hamper or help in creating an abiding atmosphere of Christian hospitality in our parishes. Are you ready to take the hospitality challenge on this week's Thinking Faith?
Our four-part "summer class" in Christian Hospitality continues. In these final two episodes, we dig in deeper taking a look at how our work and ministry culture behind the scenes can hamper or help in creating an abiding atmosphere of Christian hospitality in our parishes. It's survive or thrive time this week on Thinking Faith!
Continuing our four-part summer series on Creating a Culture of Christian Hospitality. In these excerpts from a workshop Deacon Eric Gurash delivered at Holy Trinity parish here in Regina, we'll look at hospitality through the lens of the Master of Christian Hospitality himself, St. Benedict and his foundational monastic Rule. We'll also discuss examples of hospitality from the secular world and what we might incorporate into our own parish practice. Be our guest this week on Thinking Faith!
We begin a four-part summer series on Creating a Culture of Christian Hospitality. In these excerpts from a workshop Deacon Eric Gurash delivered at Holy Trinity parish here in Regina, we'll look at hospitality through the lens of the Master of Christian Hospitality himself, St. Benedict and his foundational monastic Rule. We'll also discuss examples of hospitality from the secular world and what we might incorporate into our own parish practice. We're rolling out the red carpet and throwing wide the doors this week on Thinking Faith!
What do you do when you find a 'lost recording' in the middle of a very busy few weeks? Praise God, dust it off, and share it of course! Deacon Eric is still in recovery after all the ordination festivities and so we're giving both him and Dr. Brett a break while simultaneously treating you, faithful listener, to the final episode of our three-part "Faith and Reason in the Classroom" series. Enjoy this week's Thinking Faith!
Apparently, it takes awhile to get used to being a newly appointed Permanent Deacon. While we check the instruction manual and search the area for missing parts, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett have dusted off a mysterious, unaired episode for your listening enjoyment. Here's part 2 of Faith and Reason in the Classroom on this week's Thinking Faith!
With deacon ordinations happening this week and a bunch of other stuff we don't need to bore you with, Eric and Brett went digging into their episode bag to dust off a series that's been lying around waiting to air. Over the next three weeks, they'll be looking at the great potential for clearing up serious faith and reason misconceptions by including some really cool discussions in the classroom. With any luck, we'll all learn some valuable lessons about life!
Wherein Brett is taken to task about his language, we discuss sandwiches and this little Deacon ordination thing happening June 15th and 29th. The Archdiocese of Regina makes history and Brett may be making you a sandwich this week on Thinking Faith!
In part two of our "How NOT to Change the Church" cast we talk Brett down, and look at how some of the most influential men and women managed to have significant impacts without creating division in the Body of Christ. We're feeling much better now. Honest. This week on Thinking Faith!
Nothing makes our podcast more entertaining than when Brett is steamed about something. Listen as we unleash his inner Yosemite Sam on right ways and wrong ways to use the "Sensus Fidelium" to change the church this week on Thinking Faith! (PS: How steamed is he? We're gonna need two episodes for this one!)
Wherein Eric reflects on the weird, unexpected and bold claims of Jesus Christ regarding the Kingdom of God and it's connection with our mission to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth. What is this Kingdom? Who or what reigns in our hearts? And whose job is this anyway? This week on Thinking Faith!
We kick off Catholic Education Week with our favorite thing - STUDIO GUESTS! This week we found Miles Meyers, Coordinator of Catholic Education for the Regina Catholic School Board and Honni Lizee, a grade two teacher at École St. Angela Merici Catholic School lurking around the parking lot and decided to invite them in. We'll be talking about the new "Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ" religious education program currently being rolled out in our Catholic Schools, try to keep things down due to Brett's sensitive ears, and test out our singing chops on this week's Thinking Faith!
As promised on the show, if you'd like more information about this great new program, contact Miles at; m.meyers@rcsd.ca
What's the role of praise and worship in our lives? What should it be? What do we mean by praise and worship anyway? All great questions that deserve a great answer. Instead, you get Eric and Brett and whatever they can come up with - oh and Foghorn Leghorn. You get Foghorn Leghorn this week on Thinking Faith!
Trapped in a conversation that may never actually end, Brett, Eric, and friend and guest Ryan Leblanc try to work out how this faith and spirituality thing can and should work in the midst of family life. We'll be dragging you down the yellow brick road of intentions, rosaries, and Examens, Oh my! This week on Thinking Faith!
Wherein we haul this guy in off the street and make him talk about church stuff, see just how far we can get on a cup of coffee, and figure out how faith and belief impact life and family in the wonderous cathedrals that are our homes.
Does Brett have a clue how to pronounce Latin? What the heck is a CDF and what is its natural habitat? How do you get neo-Pelagianism out of your drapes? What is an acceptable substitute for neo-Gnosticism when baking? And what does any of this have to do with our eternal salvation?
You really don't want to miss this week's Thinking Faith!
As promised, here’s a link to the CDF’s new ‘Placuit Deo’ letter.
Christ is Risen! Alleluiah! Alleluiah! And we just can't wait to celebrate with a special Easter Edition of Thinking Faith!
This week we reflect on the readings of Easter Sunday and their call to a new, resurrected hope. Hope is one of those funny words which gets tossed around, more often than not, as a sort of wishing or dreaming. But, as one of our theological virtues, hope takes on a very different connotation. What exactly is Christian hope, and how can we live this out in our daily lives? Find out this Easter Week on Thinking Faith!
A brief Easter message from Archbishop Donald Bolen providing a reflection on the Easter experience of rising from the ashes to a new life of hope and joy. From Archbishop Donald, and everyone at the Archdiocese of Regina, we wish you and those you love a happy and grace-filled Easter. Christ is Risen! Alleluiah!
Wherein we pull ourselves out of zaniness and begin the difficult process of looney tunes decompression, indulge in a bit of blatant and thoroughly shameful self-promotion, and shine a light on the depths of modern culture hoping to discover a place for truth and freedom in education.
Wherein we discuss stealing pens and pinching faces, collectively confront our innate 'John Wayne-ness', and realize our call to greatness with guest Kevin Philip. Somewhere in the midst of all of this, we'll even take some time to talk about the new "Made for Greatness" men's ministry Kevin is involved with and tell you when and where you can check it out.
If we've piqued your interest you can join the next event on Friday, April 6. For details on time and location, head over to their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/rcmadeforgreatness
Wherein Eric and Brett's ability to pull off these podcast things is brought into question, they ponder what episode 100 might look like, and face the challenge of the Church's credibility in the 21st Century head-on. Do they actually know what they're doing? You be the judge on this week's Thinking Faith!
This week on Thinking Faith, we wrap up our Lenten retreat on Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving with a look at Prayer and it's role in off-setting our tendency towards an unhealthy personal pride that displaces our trust and reliance on God. As we bring things to a close you will once again have the opportunity to create a concrete prayer plan that will not only carry you through the Lenten season but, as with all of these practices, serve you well throughout the year!
Our Lenten Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving retreat continues! This week we'll examine almsgiving as an antidote to our propensity to grasp at and possess those things of this world which are intended to be gifts freely given and freely received. As with last week, near the end, we'll take some time to fashion a concrete plan for incorporating this spiritual antidote into our daily lives.
Last week we realized that, just as our bodies immune systems are locked into a daily physical battle to keep us well, so too are our Spiritual Lives caught up in a daily struggle to keep us well. This week we look at how fasting provides an essential balance to our propensity to 'overconsume' the things of this world. As todays segment comes to a close we'll even take some time to put together a concrete fasting plan that can carry us through Lent.
With Lent beginning February 14 - which in relation to this podcast's release is tomorrow, we thought we'd invite you to join in a little 'At home Retreat' series for Lent. Over the next few weeks, we'll share segments of this retreat where we take a closer look at the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving through the lens of their ability to serve as spiritual 'antidotes' to particular, spiritual ills.
Once upon a time, a group of CWL women asked Brett to come speak about women being inspired by the Holy Spirit. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Brett gritted his teeth, said his prayer and set out into the deep. This is his story...
He came, we saw, we were completely overwhelmed by the unexpected graces! Of course, we're talking about the once-in-a-lifetime visit of the First Class Relic of one of our Church's greatest evangelists, St. Francis Xavier. Eric and Brett, along with guests Mary Polk and Anastasia Symchych take some time this week to sit down and discuss their experiences and the surprising graces experienced during and after their visit. St. FX returns and we need some group therapy on this week's Thinking Faith!
If you missed the event itself we've even got some video links for you;
St. Francis Xavier Relic Mass - Resurrection Parish
St. Francis Xavier Relic Evening Event - Resurrection Parish
Eric and Brett conclude their series on teaching the Eucharist to parents and children with a look at Remembrance and Anticipation. They'll discuss practical ways to engage families in these very human, almost daily activities of recalling, re-living, and looking forward to current and future life events and how the mass itself invites us to actively participate in these kinds of activities on a practical and a spiritual level. We know you've been eagerly awaiting this conclusion as much as we have this week on Thinking Faith!
They've talked about the theology and deep, spiritual insights surrounding meals and sacrifice in the Eucharist. Now Eric and Brett discuss how to actually teach these things to parents and kids in your sacrament's or religion class. They'll discuss the importance of family meals and how to draw those intimate connections between meals and sacrifices in our daily lives to the sacrament itself. Hope you're hungry this week on Thinking Faith!
Brett and Eric pick up their Sacraments series for parents and Catechists right where they left off looking now at how we might practically teach the key features of this central sacrament of our faith 'on the ground'. This week they discuss practical approaches to transformation and presence - teaching parents and kids about the Real Presence of Christ and the kind of transformations we are talking about in the Eucharist.
We're extremely excited by the visit of the relic of St. Francis Xavier (known as the 'Madman' Evangelist) coming to the city of Regina, Saskatchewan on January 19 and 20, 2018. As this New Year kicks off, we've asked our good friends Pierre and Laura O'Reilly, who are heading up the local relic event organizing team to stop by and talk a bit about St. Francis Xavier, the relic event itself, and how the weirdness, the intrigue of our Catholic Faith, and the model given by St. Francis can be a source of evangelization for our Church today! It's all Madmen, mummies, and evangelization on this week's Thinking Faith!
Links to Stuff We Talk About;
CCO's St. Francis Xavier Relic Page - https://cco.ca/relic/
CBC "As It Happens" Interview with Angèle Regnier
Bishop Barron on Catholic Relics - https://youtu.be/9aHqa43Piik
From Archbishop Donald Bolen, Eric, Brett and all of the Archdiocese of Regina staff and our families we'd like to wish all of our faithful listeners a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Eric and Brett continue the Christmas table-talk around the topic of being "spiritual but not religious". Part one looked at the spiritual part of that statement and asking what is really meant by the term 'spiritual'. This week they take it to the next level, looking at whether it is possible to live as a spiritual person without being in any way religious. Who says you can't talk about religion over Christmas dinner? That's what we're doing this week on Thinking Faith!
So you're sitting around the table at your up-coming Christmas Family Feast and right after grace, in between "pass the turkey" and "where's the cranberries?" your cousin Rene comments on how spiritual you are closing with "I'm spiritual, but not religious". How do you respond? Don't let fear and trepidation seal your lips. On this part 1 of 2 episodes of Thinking Faith, Eric and Brett will begin discussing what those words mean, and what they don't. We'll see just how much common ground you share with your beloved cousin (or uncle, or sibling), and the opportunity for some interesting conversation around the plum pudding!
Mailbag episodes are one of our favorites to do. There's something really engaging and relational about engaging topics that an active listener has sent in. This week Eric and Brett take a look at a few of the emails they've received, answer a couple of quick ones, plan for future shows and then jump into one listener's questions about the last days and what the heck is up with Final Judgement?
There's something unique and mysterious that happens whenever we remember anything. Our brains and our bodies have been gifted with this remarkable ability to radically return to the past and make it present to us right here and now. This week Eric and Brett conclude their three-part look at the theology of the Eucharist for Catechists and parents by discussing this very phenomenon and how God uses it as the centerpiece of this ultimate encounter with Jesus Christ. Everything old is new again on this week's Thinking Faith!
This week Eric and Brett continue the discussion of the theology of the sacrament of the Eucharist for Catechists and parents. They'll look that the Eucharist as a meal and as a sacrifice and talk about why it's important not to emphasize one over the other and how each can actually help us understand the Eucharist in new ways. Hope you're hungry because we've got a feast for you on this week's Thinking Faith!
Continuing their series on Sacramental Preparation, Eric and Brett begin taking a look at the 'Source and Sumit of the whole Christian life' - the Eucharist. They examine the theme of Presence and Transformation discussing what we mean when we're speaking about the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the kinds of changes that do and do not happen. get your climbing gear on 'cuz we're headed right to the top of this one this week on Thinking Faith!
Continuing their Sacramental preparation series Eric and Brett discuss some practical approaches to Baptism preparation with parents. They'll look at ways to introduce parents to the core story of our faith, and connect it to their daily lives and discuss the importance of fostering on-going, transformative encounters with Jesus Christ. Take the plunge and join the discussion on this week's Thinking Faith!
Links we promised to give you this week;
90-Day Bible Reading Plan
The Action Bible
On this 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, Eric and Brett welcome Archdiocese of Regina Ecumenical officer Nick Jessen into the studio to talk about how his office works towards Christian unity within the Archdiocese of Regina. We'll also discuss the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, global efforts among Christian Churches working towards unity and offer some tips on how Catholics can best commemorate the anniversary of an event that has had a major impact on Christians for the past 500 years. You'll want to make sure to nail this one to the wall so you don't miss it!
In the show, we mention our good friend Catholic Apologist Matt Nelson of Shaunovan, SK and his blog. You can find the article we reference at reasonablecatholic.com.
Continuing their series on sacramental preparations, Eric and Bret take time this week to discuss some of the basic theology underlying the sacrament of baptism. Specifically, they'll discuss the theme of death and resurrection - what we call the 'Pascal Mystery'. We'll discuss how Christ's dying and rising serves to 'unlock' themes of death and resurrection in the Old Testament and can help us to understand just what we are entering into when we are baptized and when we prepare to baptize our children. A great episode for Catechists and to share with parents...you'll be dying (and rising!) to hear this all plays out on this week's Thinking Faith!
Eric and Brett sit down with Donor Services Coordinator Denise Walsh to take a peek behind the scenes of this year's 2017 "Hope, Born of Mercy" Archbishop's Annual Appeal. We'll discuss the purpose and goal of the Appeal, what you'll find in your Fall mailing (and why we do them), talk about the kinds of accountability and transparency that are built into Archbishop Appeal communications, and different ways to give. Best of all, we'll meet perhaps the most responsible and organized person in the entire building - the amazing woman who helps to make sure the ministry of Jesus Christ in our Archdiocese can actually happen. We're peeling back the curtain and visiting with the wizard on this week's Thinking Faith!
It's fine to speak about coaching families and adults, about accompanying and apprenticing others in the faith, but how does one actually do this? What does Catechesis - teaching the faith - look like for adults, for kids, for intergenerational families and parish groups? Eric and Brett discuss the challenges and share some practical tips this week on Thinking Faith!
This week Eric and Brett invite you to join them for the Archdiocese of Regina's 2017 Archbishop's Annual Appeal "Hope, Born of Mercy" kick-off event hosted by Our Lady of Peace Parish in Regina.
They'll introduce you to some of our new seminarians, our newest priest, and some very special musical guests! Here's your chance to pop in your earbuds, turn up the volume and join men and women from across the diocese for an exciting evening of entertainment, fun and above all hope!
And yes, this episode was indeed recorded before a live, studio audience!
Last week Eric and Brett set the stage for faith formation in general, the great need to understand the internal faith-narrative of parents who show up to our sacramental preparations and the centrality of whole-family and parent faith formation in preparing children for receiving the sacraments. This week we continue the discussion looking at some of the practicalities around the whole family and especially parent formation and how to introduce adults to the basic stories of our faith. We'll also take a look at how to create prayer experiences in your sessions with both parents and the whole family that can be easily integrated at home. Helping you cast the nets without becoming castaways on this week's Thinking Faith!
This week Eric and Brett begin an extended series on the intricacies of sacramental preparations for Kids and families. Over the coming weeks, we'll cover some sacramental basics, and zero in on the theory, theology and practical applications of each Sacrament from baptism through to Confirmation and First Eucharist.
In this weeks episode, we'll examine the role of sacramental preparations in the evangelizing mission of a parish, we'll discuss Whole Family Catechesis and the need for parental formation in the basics of the faith.
This series should prove to be fun, informative and useful for parents, pastors and all of those brave men and women who coordinate Sacramental Preparations in the parish.
Happy Anniversary - To Us! Today marks the 1-year anniversary of Thinking Faith! The very first thing we want to do is shout out a Holy Spirit-sized THANK YOU to everyone who has been listening, sharing and telling friends, family, and coworkers about the show over the past year. We also want to extend a very special thank you to all of the parishes who so graciously give up valuable bulletin real estate to promoting the show each week.
For our 52nd episode, we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than to invite Archdiocese of Regina Youth Coordinator, Michelle Braden back into the studio to talk about the amazing things she and Braden Kuntz have been doing with youth over the summer. Chock-full of tips on how to encounter Jesus Christ with and through ministry to youth all through the lens of their amazing Summer Leadership Camps!
Ok...Eric and Brett don't ACTUALLY know what you did this summer (they've agreed that stalking listeners is a very un-Catholic thing to do!). But a few people have been approaching and asking how they spent the summer months, so here it is. From getting ready for new deacons to writing books and playing super-spy at VBS camps they'll share all the terrifying details this week on Thinking Faith!
This week on Thinking Faith! We're talking about Evangelization! It's an exciting and new 'catch word' right now in Christian circles and for Catholics, it might seem as though this is kind of a new thing. We can be tempted to see it as just another one of those religious fads that may sound exciting for a bit but then just fade into the background when something a bit shinier and new comes along. Hopefully today we come to a deeper appreciation for the place of Evangelization within the church, not just today...but from its very inception.
This week on Thinking Faith! Brett and I are very happy to welcome a couple of guests into the studio with us today - Jerome Marcello and Chris Masaoay Of Couples For Christ's ANCOP organization. Couples for Christ is a Vatican-recognized Lay Apostolate group whose primary focus is providing families with small group-driven faith formation "From the womb to the grave". Part of this mission involves engaging families in missionary outreach which is accomplished through their Charitable organization ANCOP "Answering the Cry of the Poor". Jerome and Chris popped by to tell us a bit about Couples for Christ and the work they do for the Church in the Archdiocese of Regina and to tell us about their upcoming ANCOP Awareness Walk being held at Wascana Park on Sunday, August 27. They're here to tell us a bit about the charitable works of mercy they help facilitate around the world and an exciting way that you, our listeners can get involved. Jerome and Chris popped by to tell us a bit about Couples for Christ and the work they do for the Church in the Archdiocese of Regina and to tell us about their upcoming ANCOP Awareness Walk being held at Wascana Park starting at 8 am Sunday, August 27 You can find out more about the walk and register at http://ancopcanada.org/ancopwalk/
Welcome to another episode of Thinking Faith. This week we bring you another excerpt from a series of presentations Brett delivered awhile ago to the new seminarians of the Archdiocese of Edmonton. In this episode, Brett discusses the role and place of theology in the lives of all of the faithful, what might be called a 'universal call to theology'. This is a recognition that every human being who has ever wondered about their reason for being, their place in the universe, if there is a God and, like Mary 'pondered these things in our hearts' we are entering into the spiritual space of theology.
This week Eric and Brett take a look at the relationship between science, evolution and 'creationism'. The relationships between these three can often be a source of confusion for the average 'Catholic on the street', the average non-Catholic and atheists too. We'll try to clear things up while remaining as awesome as always. How awesome? Jesus and the disciples riding through Jerusalem on velociraptors awesome!
This week Eric and Brett discuss the relationship between Hospitality and the Transforming Truth of the Gospel. Are name tag Sundays, handshakes at the door and coffee after Mass the 'magic bullets' of evangelization? Do we need to be wary of sharing the truth of the gospel for fear of scaring off potential seekers? We'll look at the place of an authentic Christian Hospitality in the Church's evangelizing mission and share a couple of our own transforming encounters with Jesus Christ. We're fired up and set to Testify! This week on Thinking Faith!
This week we have a special treat for your summer enjoyment - a homily by our Archbishop Donald Bolen delivered on June 10th at the 34th graduation Mass for our Archdiocese of Regina Lay Formation Program! As you may or may not recall, host Eric Gurash has been coordinating this program for the past two years. It's a program that seeks to give an answer to a great need, expressed by Pope Francis for "well-trained lay people animated by a sincere faith...whose life has been touched by the personal and merciful love of Jesus Christ." In this episode, Archbishop Donald speaks to us about the great, evangelizing mission of Christ that has been courageously taken up by this year's program graduates. And if Archbishop Donald's homily has inspired you to find out how you might be a part of this movement of transformation change within our Church, don't hesitate to contact show host and program coordinator Eric Gurash about registering for our Fall intake at 306.352.1651 ext 211 or by emailing him at egurash@archregina.sk.ca. Want to know more? Check out our Program page at; https://archregina.sk.ca/LFE
This week on 'Thinking Faith!', Eric and Brett continue their discussion of Natural Family Planning looking more closely at what NFP actually involves, the kinds of healthy conversations that it encourages couples to have in their relationship and we'll look at the potential NFP has for providing a surprising avenue of spiritual growth for couples and individuals. Due to the program content, you may not want to share this with your kids so find a quiet place or put your headphones on and enjoy the exciting conclusion to our discussion!
This week Eric and Brett begin a two-part series on Natural Family Planning. It's a topic that can result in interesting and animated conversations with family and friends and in parish groups. In the next two episodes, we'll make some distinctions and clarifications around what NFP is and isn't as well as our general attitudes towards family, relationships, and sexuality. Due to the program content, you may not want to share this with your kids so find a quiet place or put your headphones on and let's see what all the fuss is about.
This week Eric and Brett welcome Joan Myers from the Archdiocese of Regina's Marriage Tribunal office to discuss the marriage annulment process. We'll examine some of the most common misconceptions about annulments, and look at some of the nitty-gritty details about the process itself. We'll also be looking at the kinds of things couples can do even before the wedding day itself, to lay a solid foundation on which to build a lasting marriage. What to do before you say "I Do", and how to navigate the often messy labyrinth of a broken relationship through this surprisingly healing ministry of the Church on Thinking Faith!
Looking for More Info on Annulments? https://archregina.sk.ca/marriage-tribunal
Is the Trinity really an unfathomable mystery? Did we exhaust all our material last week? Does any of this have any real application to our daily lives? And what the heck is a Filioque...and if you've got one, is there a cure? These questions and more get answered in part two of our series on the Trinity - wherein we also quite intentionally ignore the fact that we've done only two episodes on...the Trinity. Also this week - your last chance to enter our book giveaway contest. Simply like, share and comment on our podcast Facebook post over at https://www.facebook.com/Archdiocese-of-Regina-174067602644767/ for a chance to win copies of Brett's books "How Far Can We Go: A Catholic Guide to Dating" (written with our friend Leah Perrault!) and "Can Catholics and Evangelicals Agree about Purgatory and the Last Judgment?". Contest ends June 30th! Winner will be announced July 4th.
We begin a two-part series on the Trinity this week on Thinking Faith! It's one of the most central doctrines of our Christian faith and can be found etched in our prayer, sacramental and liturgical lives and yet, it can be one of the most challenging doctrines for Christiane to speak about with others. This week we'll delve into the mystery that is the Trinity. We discuss what it actually means to call the Trinity a Mystery, we'll ask hard hitting questions like "Is God really a shamrock, or is He more like an apple?" and try to figure out if there is anything we can say at all about...the Trinity. And don't forget to like, share and comment on our podcast Facebook post over at https://www.facebook.com/Archdiocese-of-Regina-174067602644767/ for a chance to win copies of Brett's books "How Far Can We Go: A Catholic Guide to Dating" (written with our friend Leah Perrault!) and "Can Catholics and Evangelicals Agree about Purgatory and the Last Judgment?". Contest ends June 30th!
The movie the Shack hit theaters mid-Lent and with it arose much discussion surrounding some of the feminine imagery - for God and the Holy Spirit - used in both the film and the book. Following on the tails of last week's 'Heresy' episode, this week Eric and Brett take a look at the kinds of language and images that can be used in reference to God. We regularly call God 'Father', can God be 'Mother' too? And what can we say about the Holy Spirit? We're playing the "Is it heresy?" game once again on Thinking Faith! And don't forget to like, share and comment on our podcast Facebook post over at https://www.facebook.com/Archdiocese-of-Regina-174067602644767/ for a chance to win copies of Brett's books "How Far Can We Go: A Catholic Guide to Dating" (written with our friend Leah Perrault!) and "Can Catholics and Evangelicals Agree about Purgatory and the Last Judgment?". Contest ends June 30th!
This week on Thinking Faith! Eric and Brett are trying their darndest to NOT be heretics. We'll look at what heresy is (and isn't) we'll talk about some common examples and share some tips on what to do if you think you've encountered a heretic in your midst! From Dominican video games to St. Nicholas punching Arius in the face, we'll see if our hapless hosts can avoid getting fired over this one!
Eric and Brett return to the Mailbag to answer a listener question surrounding our February podcast on Transubstantiation. This week Sam wonders about our relationship with our Lutheran and Anglican brothers and sisters in faith who often also express similar beliefs about their Eucharist celebrations as being more than merely symbolic. We'll talk about what kinds of things we hold in common, what still separates us and dig a bit deeper into our own understanding of this mystery that is for Catholic "The Source and Summit of the whole Christian life". It's one of our most shared topics so far - we just can't get enough of Transubstantiation!
This week on Thinking Faith we're honoring Catholic Education week with our special guest Miles Meyers Coordinator Catholic Education Services for the Regina Catholic School Division. We'll be talking about Catholic Identity in our Catholic Schools and specifically about what is known as Curriculum Permeation which has the potential of being a complete 'game-changer' in faith-based education. Join us as we ponder the plethora of prolific potential in permeation!
AND if you're a Catholic teacher looking for resources check these out;
Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association - Faith Permeation
Saskatchewan Bishops Letter For Catholic Education Week
Welcome to another week of Thinking Faith! Brett and Eric are continuing with last week's Marian theme (In keeping with this Marian month of May) and ripping into the mailbag to answer some listener questions about Marian Apparitions. This week we address questions from James and Elaine who find themselves wondering about the propensity of Mary to appear from time, the tradition of the Church to mark some of these places as special pilgrimage sites, and just how we, as Catholics, ought to approach the testimonies and experiences of the witnesses, seers, and pilgrims associated with them. As we prepare to honor the 100th Anniversary of the Fatima Apparitions which began on May 13, 1917, we invite you to join us as we ask "What's A Catholic To Believe About Marian Apparitions?"
This week on Thinking Faith, in keeping with the Marian theme of this Month of May Eric and Brett discuss our Church's Marian Dogmas. We'll look at what the Church has to say about Mary's role as Theotokos (God Bearer), her Immaculate Conception, perpetual virginity and Assumption into heaven all through the lens of a very exciting dialog document produced by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) seeking common ground on Mary between Anglican's and Catholics. AND if this piques your interest, you can even read ARCIC's "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ" document for free right here; http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/angl-comm-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20050516_mary-grace-hope-christ_en.html - and really, what could be better than free things and Mary?
In preparation for World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Sunday, May 7th, we've got a very special treat for this week's Thinking Faith! Chris Juchacz is a seminarian studying to be a priest for the Archdiocese of Regina. In this interview, featuring guest host William Sinclair of “The Real Truth About You Podcast”, Chris speaks openly and candidly about his own journey to the priesthood.
This week on Thinking Faith Eric and Brett step out onto shaky ground as they approach Paul's Letter to the Ephesians chapter 5 and try to get to the bottom of just what Paul means when he says "Wives, submit to your husbands". We're jumping in with both feet and eyes closed. Pray for us!
This week the Christian world rejoices in our Risen Lord! What better time to sit down and do some serious thinking about the fact of the Resurrection. All four Gospels assert it, our Creeds profess it, and Saint Paul boldly declares that “if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.” (1 Cor 15:14). This week on Thinking Faith Brett and Eric discuss what happened in the tomb on that Easter Sunday 2000 years ago and what the Resurrection means for us today.
This week on a special Holy Week Edition of Thinking Faith! We'd like to invite you to join us in a few moments of retreat. In preparation for the Triduum celebrations to come this Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday we're going to take some time to reflect on Christ's call to be the face of mercy that this world so desperately needs. Now, this is a few segments of a Lenten Retreat on the theme of Mercy that I delivered just a few weeks ago for the folks at St. Aloysius parish in Filmore Saskatchewan. We'll take some time to deepen our understanding of the merciful love of God and discover the importance of experiencing the merciful love of God ourselves before we can be the face of Christ's mercy for others.
Over the past several months and years Pope Francis has often been heard speaking about the devil and the reality of the spiritual battle we find ourselves in. This week on Thinking Faith, Eric and Brett discuss the reality of the devil. Do we really still believe in some creature called Satan? Is this just a symbol of evil and sin? And what would his place be in the spiritual life and in our Catholic tradition? Throw some salt over your shoulder and join us in this episode we're calling "Speaking of Satan..."
This week on Thinking Faith! We are continuing our two-part series on Euthanasia and Physician-assisted dying begun last week. This is part two of a talk Brett gave to the Unitarian Fellowship here in Regina. As mentioned last week, if you find the prospect of speaking to friends, neighbors and family members who may not agree with you about these issues intimidating, these episodes will be a great help! This one starts off with a great tip...when in doubt, look for an appropriate Star Trek reference!
This week on 'Thinking Faith!' we present part 1 of a two-part series on Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Dying. You might recall that we had our friend Leah Perrault in studio as Lent began discussing the recently released documents from the Saskatchewan Bishops on Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted dying. Today we begin a two part series based off of a talk Brett gave on this very subject back in February to the Regina Unitarian Community. If you find the prospect of speaking to friends, neighbors and family members who may not agree with you about these issues intimidating, these next two episodes will be a great help!
This week on Thinking Faith we have Michelle Braden and Braden Kuntz joining us once again fro our Youth Ministry Office. These two have SO MUCH going on that it was hard to pin them down for an episode but we finally did it! They'll be telling us all about the amazing things they have planned in the diocese this Spring from the My Gen Rally to Youth Ministry workshops...and a party bus? Tune in and find out what's going on and how you can get involved.
This week on 'Thinking Faith!' both Brett and Eric are down for the count with nasty colds! Not to be discouraged, and in keeping with this week's theme, they've called their good friend Leah Perrault to join in discussing the latest documents released by our Saskatchewan Bishops on physician-assisted suicide. We'll look at the challenges we face today in speaking about the issues sounding illness, dying and death and the invitation our bishops place before us to not be willing to enter into those difficult conversations, but to live now with our own deaths in mind. Are you ready to take up the challenge this Lent?
You can find these very important documents at the link below;
Sask. Bishops Respond to Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
Have you heard the Good News? We've all been baptized as priests! But wait you say, don't we already have ordained priests? If your head is spinning with all this priest-y stuff tune in and Eric and Brett will try to clear up the connection between the Sacrament of Holy Orders and what is sometimes called the "Priesthood of the Baptized". The world is our altar and we're filling it with sanctifying grace!
Transubstantiation - as fun to say as it is to talk about! This week, Eric and Brett try to get to the bottom of this mystery that is central to our understanding of the Eucharist - how it is that through the prayers of the Mass and the actions of our priests, bread, and wine can become for us the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. If you've ever wondered about how this all works, or how to talk about what happens at the Mass with non-Catholic friends, you'll love this one!
This week we're talking scripture once again as Eric and Brett discuss some valuable tools for reading and understanding God's sacred Word. We'll look at how knowing what genre of writing we're reading can make all the difference. We'll also talk about the difference between a literal (as in literary) reading of scripture and a literalistic one and we'll take all these ideas for a test drive with one of Eric's all-time favorite books - the book of Revelation. The four horsemen are saddled and ready, so let's roll!
Recent exhortations from Pope Francis against proselytizing persons and cultures have resulted in what Brett terms 'calumny and slander!' as media outlets make the mistake of coupling this with the Church's evangelizing mission.
The good news for our listeners? We get to have another 'Smackdown' episode where we pit proselytism and evangelization in a toe-to-toe cage match and see who comes out on top. It's the Eye of the Tiger baby, and it's right here on Thinking Faith!
It seems as though every other newscast about the Church speaks about how Church teaching has been changed, is changing or ought to be changed. This week Eric and Brett discuss this phenomenon and whether making changes is possible and if so, in what areas and how. This is sure to fuel more interesting and animated discussion than your last family Monopoly night!
We've been getting a number of really cool questions coming in via email so this week we're dedicating an entire episode to you, our faithful listeners. We're gonna dump it all on the floor and see what stands out in this, our first Mail Bag episode of Thinking Faith!
This week on Thinking Faith we continue a discussion that Brett and I began a couple of weeks ago on how we got the Bible. We'll be looking at the New Testament in particular, and talk about how it was formed, it's connection to the Hebrew Scriptures and how we got to the New Testament we have today. We're totally geeking out on God's Word and would love for you to join the ride!
This week Eric and Brett are very blessed to have newly appointed Archbishop Donald Bolen in studio! We'll take some time to get to know our new Archbishop a little better, discuss a couple of interesting anecdotes from his installation Homily and get a better sense of his particular vision for the Church in the Archdiocese of Regina.
This week we're pleased to offer you a special, bonus, Christmas episode of Thinking Faith! We know you're all getting back to work and trying to find your way into some sort of routine in these first dark, cold days of January and with the Christmas liturgical season wrapping up soon, we thought we would offer you one, final Christmas present in the form of our Archbishop's Don Bolen's Christmas Homily delivered at Midnight Mass on December 24, 2016, at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Regina. We hope you enjoy this special broadcast and would like to take this time to wish you a final, blessed and Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from every at the Archdiocese of Regina!
This week on Thinking Faith! Eric and Brett break open that dusty tome on the coffee table and discuss how we ended up with this collection of stories and chronologies we call the Bible. In this first of two episodes, we'll look at the development of the Hebrew Scriptures, what we commonly term the 'Old Testament'. If you've ever wondered where these stories came from, who decided which books would be in the Bible, and why we'd invite you to listen in and find out!
This week on "Thinking Faith!" Brett and Eric discuss the counter-cultural character of Catholic Liturgy. They'll discuss how the liturgy stands as both a critique of the cultural status quo and how it can help to uphold all that is true, beautiful and good about the cultures in which we live. They're rebels with a cause and you're invited to hop on and enjoy the ride!
With Christmas fast approaching Eric and Brett take some time to discuss the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. They'll talk about what exactly the Incarnation is and how this one aspect of our Christian faith provides an invaluable lens that helps us to see and understand nearly everything else about our Church and our faith. Pour a glass of eggnog, cozy up by the fire and enjoy!
This week on "Thinking Faith!" Eric and Brett discuss praying boldly. This is something which we can be very nervous to do and yet it is a challenge placed directly at our feet by Jesus Christ who assures us that "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:13). But how bold should we really be in prayer and how do we find that balance between boldness in prayer, and accepting God's will?
Bert Pitzel has been coordinating things for the Office of Social Justice in the Archdiocese of Regina for more than 20 years. With the 17th Annual Archbishop's Appeal campaign drawing to a close, Eric and Brett thought it would be great to sit down with Bert and discuss what brought him to the Office of Social Justice and some of the key initiatives his office and your support of the Annual Appeal are making happen in our Archdiocese.
Let the smack-down begin! This week Eric and Brett place pastoral care and Orthodoxy in a head-to-head fight to the finish cage match as they examine how Catholics are to hold together these two seemingly opposite responses to faith. Do we really have to choose between staying true to the faith and being compassionate?
This week on Thinking Faith! Eric and Brett discuss the particular challenges we encounter as parents when taking our children to Mass and share some tips and tricks to help make it a positive, faith-filled experience for everyone. Is this even possible or is this meant to be mom and dad's experience of purgatory in the here and now?
This week Eric and Brett respond to a question asked through Brett's 'Sask-a-Theologian' blog (https://archregina.sk.ca/blogs/31427). Tara writes to ask how best to respond to people who say that Christ’s presence in the Eucharist isn’t real, it’s just symbolic. As a response, we share the famous Hebrew phrase Ba-lo-ney! Ok, that's not exactly Hebrew, nor is it a helpful response with friends and family. You'll have to tune in to find out what we really said about Real Presence!
Brett was nowhere to be found so Eric dragged his boss, Bob Kowalchuck into the studio to discuss the Office of Pastoral Services. With the Archdiocese of Regina's 17th Annual Bishop's Appeal underway, this is a great time to find out the amazing ministries, services and evangelization efforts your support makes possible!
Just in time for the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls, Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld discuss the concept of Purgatory. Is it still a thing? Why would we need teaching on such a thing? Why do Catholics think praying for the dead is so important? If the question about what happens when we die has ever entered your brain, you won't want to miss this!
Brett coordinates the Permanent Diaconate Program for the Archdiocese of Regina and Eric is currently in formation for the Permanent Diaconate. This topic was a 'no brainer' for both of us! We'll look at the history of the Permanent Diaconate and the role of Permanent Deacons in the Church and in the world. We'll also hear about Eric's experiences in discerning his own call to the Permanent Diaconate and what the formation process has been like so far. Next time your friend asks what a Deacon is, you'll know just what to say!
US elections are in full swing dominating the media throughout North America. Locally, we've got a civic election just weeks away. What better time to do a mash-up between two topics one should never bring up at dinner parties - Religion and Politics! This week Brett and Eric discuss what voting with one's conscience means and what Catholics can do when no candidate seems ideal.
This week Brett and Eric introduce you to Michelle Braden and Braden Kuntz (we know...the names confuse us too!) who coordinate the Youth Office for the Archdiocese of Regina. Over the summer, thanks in large part to funding from the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, they had the opportunity to lead several young adults from our Archdiocese on a pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow Poland and they've graciously agreed to tell us al about it!
We have the Bible, as Catholics, we also have the Catechism and the teaching office of the Church, why do we even need theology at all? If you've ever asked or been asked, "Shouldn't our faith be enough?" You'll love this episode!
You're sitting on a plane and you turn to the woman or the gentleman beside you and, being the polite Christian person you are, ask what they do for a living. Then they tell you they're a theologian and you're left wondering "What kind of job is THAT?" Today Brett and I discuss his own job description and what gifts theologians bring to the Catholic Church and to our Archdiocese. You won't want to miss it!
For our very first episode of Thinking Faith, We thought we would look into the language that the Church uses for speaking and thinking about the faith which is 'Theology'. Theology is "Faith seeking understanding" and so, for our debut podcast, in addition to introducing ourselves, we thought we would dispel some of the myths and misconceptions that crop up in our minds even just hearing the word 'theology'. We'll discuss what theology is, how we do it and where theology fits in the life of the Church.