Ave Explores: Recent Episodes
Ave Maria Press
A project of Ave Maria Press, Ave Explores helps you discover and learn about aspects of the Catholic faith from a variety of different angles, looking at topics relevant to the spiritual life in a fresh, engaging, and practical way.
Theologian Timothy P. O'Malley provides an overview of the USCCB's Eucharistic Revival and discusses how the Mass should not only be integral to the life of the parish, but also in our everyday lives.
In this episode, theologian Susan M. Timoney discusses the history and structure of the Mass. She will help you understand why worship at the altar is the most essential form of prayer for believers.
Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, says the Mass is important because it is there that we stand at the foot of the Cross and are transformed. It's also the place where we meet in community with fellow Catholics.
Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, concludes her Restore reflections for Lent and offers practical ways to fully enter into the celebration of the Easter season.
The Very Reverend Mark Morozowich joins Katie Prejean McGrady and Chenele Shaw, in a special crossover episode of Ave Explores and Ave Spotlight, to discuss the war in Ukraine and provide historical and spiritual context to the conflict, tell the stories of resilient and holy Ukrainian Catholics, and offer insights into how to pray and fast for peace.
Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, explains that when we seek healing in Christ, the Holy Week liturgies of Palm Sunday, the Triduum, and Easter show us the transformation of suffering and the redemption of the Resurrection.
Heather and Jake Khym discuss the Week Five theme of Restore, the journey of forgiveness. The Khyms share their personal story of healing and practical insights on forgiveness, as well as what it means to be open to the miracle of God's restoration of our hearts and minds.
Michelle Benzinger, cohost of the popular Abiding Together podcast, talks about almsgiving as an opportunity to be generous and grateful. She also discusses how you can find restoration when you give your time, treasure, and presence.
Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, joins Katie this week to talk about sin. Sr. Josephine explains that while sin is the cause of much of our woundedness, we should remember that we weren't created to sin but to be sons and daughters of Christ. Rather than being hyper-focused on sin, we should look for God's healing through prayer and the sacraments.
Bob Schuchts, founder of the John Paul II Healing Center and author of the bestselling Be Healed, discusses the Week Two theme of Restore, freedom of heart. He explains why healing and the work of identifying wounds are both difficult and fruitful, leading to a joy that can only come from Jesus. Schuchts says when we explore our wounds, we are doing the work of restoration; when we're willing to do that work, the Lord heals us and gives us the freedom to live life to the fullest. Use AVE10 for a 10% discount at https://sockreligious.com/.
Fr. John Burns examines the Week One theme of Restore, the desert. He discusses how the wilderness of the desert is a place where healing can begin and where restoration is found. Use AVE10 for a 10% discount at https://sockreligious.com/.
Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, author of Restore, introduces the main themes of healing and forgiveness as you begin your Lenten journey with her. By following Sr. Miriam's guided journal for prayer and meditation, you will find a deeper awareness of God's healing presence in your life as you walk with Jesus for forty days. Use AVE10 for a 10% discount at https://sockreligious.com/.
Fr. John Burns wraps up our look at the Advent themes in Adore by explaining that his goal in writing the book was to help readers more deeply appreciate Christmas by getting to know the ways Emmanuel comes into our hearts and changes our lives.
Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, explains that drawing near to Jesus during Advent provides peace and comfort in times of sorrow and distress, and offers us a glimpse of the Lord's goodness which comes with the joy of Christmas day.
Heather Khym, cohost of the Abiding Together podcast, helps us understand what preparedness really means during Advent: creating a heart that accepts God's promises long after the season.
Sarah Swafford says it is important to slow down and embrace peacefulness and simplicity as we enter Advent. Reflecting on watchfulness—the first of the four weekly themes in Adore—Swafford said she has learned to do less so that she can watch for ways the Lord might surprise us during the season.
Paul Jarzembowski, assistant director of youth and young adult ministries at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, discusses {Evangelii Gaudium}, Pope Francis's Apostolic Exhortation on evangelization. Jarzembowski explains how accompaniment and encounter are the key elements of evangelization.
Jonathan Blevins, founder and CEO of Little Flower Media, discusses his switch from sharing the faith through parish ministry to evangelizing with gaming on the streaming platform Twitch. By embracing gamers and hosting conversations about faith online, Blevins has opened up a new area of evangelization for the Church.
Scott Boyle, associate director of recruitment and formation for the Notre Dame Echo and Notre Dame Vision programs, discusses how these week-long summer camps at the University of Notre Dame are life-changing experiences for thousands of young people who have learned to share their faith through authentic storytelling and witness.
Chris Padgett, internationally known Catholic speaker and author, discusses how evangelization begins and ends with an authentic witness to the ways Jesus has changed your life. He says stories and humor are especially important when trying to help people encounter the Lord.
Fr. Blake Britton, a priest in the diocese of Orlando, says that you can begin evangelization at home by immersing your family in the Church's sacramental and liturgical life. He recommends examples such as praying the Liturgy of the Hours or making daily Mass a priority.
Gloria Purvis, host of The Gloria Purvis Podcast from America Media, believes that evangelization must be rooted in your personal prayer life. With stories from her life and from her professional experiences as a radio host and internationally known Catholic speaker, Purvis uses examples from her own life and work to explain how tackling tough topics with others should be done with charity and conviction.
Mallory Smyth discusses how understanding our gifts and paying attention to how the Holy Spirit calls us to use them is the first step in sharing the faith. She also shares how her reversion to Catholicism and her work in various ministries has shown her that we are all called to uniquely give witness to Jesus.
Shannon Schmidt, a pastoral associate in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, discusses how working in parish ministry has taught her the value of listening and meeting people where they are in order to provide them with what they need.
Marcel LeJeune, founder of Catholic Missionary Disciples, says forming authentic and honest relationships is the key to sharing the faith with others. He explains that evangelization is not a program to fix people.
Alex Jones discusses the founding of Hallow--a Catholic prayer and meditation app--which came from his desire to read and meditate more on scripture. Scripture is a key component of the app, including audio recordings of books of the Bible, Gospel challenges, and scripture-based sleep stories. Jones said thousands of users have developed a habit of reading the Bible because of Hallow.
Jeff Cavins, biblical scholar and a contributor to _The Bible in a Year _podcast, says that the book of Revelation is often misinterpreted as predicting the future. Instead, Revelation reveals that Heaven is a Mass and we are all invited to it.
Sarah Christmyer, contributor of The Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible, discusses how she grew to love Scripture and explains how reading the New Testament, especially the Gospels, helps us to know Jesus fully.
Andrew Glicksman, chairman of the theology department at the University of Dallas, discusses his love of the Old Testament and explains how studying the sacred text brings about a greater appreciation for the New Testament and the story of Jesus.
Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, shares her vocation story and discusses how living in community and praying the Liturgy of the Hours have been sources of joy and consolation in her life as a religious sister. She challenges all of us to let scripture--especially the Psalms--become a regular part of our lives.
Fr. William L. Burton, OFM, says that many Catholics are hesitant to read Scripture because they assume they'll get it wrong, but even scholars sometimes make mistakes. Burton explains there are surprises on every page of the Bible and encourages every Catholic to keep God's Word as their constant companion.
Author and itinerant missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer says daily reading of Scripture inspires a greater appreciation of Church tradition and a more robust understanding of Christ. Hunter-Kilmer has shared her reflections on daily Scripture on Instagram for two years. She explains how her life of faith has been changed by using the Bible as an anchor of her daily prayer.
Andrew Glicksman, chairman of the theology department at the University of Dallas, discusses his love of the Old Testament and explains how studying the sacred text brings about a greater appreciation for the New Testament and the story of Jesus.
Mark Hart began sharing scripture reflections with teens in his youth group in the mid-1990s. Now "The Bible Geek" is executive vice president of Life Teen International and travels the world sharing his passion for God's Word. Hart offers encouragement for those who want to meet Jesus through the Bible and tips for becoming a better reader of scripture.
Leah Darrow, a speaker, author, Season 2 contestant on America’s Next Top Model, and founder of Lux U, shares about her struggles with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, “mom guilt,” balance, and explores ways one can find peace and strength through spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, regularly attending daily Mass, and “recalibrating” one’s routine.
Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, archbishop of Durban in South Africa, discusses the Church's global diversity, which is rooted in love of Jesus Christ. Napier, who went to seminary in Ireland, also talks about the early days of his priesthood during apartheid in South Africa and eventually voting in the conclaves that elected Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.
Christopher T. Baglow, director of the science and religion initiative at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, discusses how faith and science approach truth. He says that by exploring science with the eyes of faith and approaching faith with a desire to understand science, the Church can evangelize in new ways.
Katie Prejean McGrady visits with Leticia Ochoa Adams, a wife, mom, and speaker from Texas, who shares about grief, hope, and faith following the suicide of her son and how we can look to Mary as mother and comforter during the darkest days.
Roy Petitfils returns to join Katie Prejean McGrady to talk about crises teenagers face today and how to have honest conversations about mental health.
Fr. Joshua Johnson and Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, share their experiences as Black Catholics, discuss why racism is sinful, and explore how Catholics are called to advocate for change.
Meg Hunter-Kilmer, author of the forthcoming Pray for Us, loves to tell stories of the saints, especially those who are not as well known. She shares how growing close to holy men and women has helped her to love Christ more. Hunter-Kilmer says each saint she’s grown close to has been a unique match during particular challenges in her life.
Mike Aquilina, bestselling and award-winning author of A History of the Church in 100 Objects, relates how Catholics are a sacramental people, and objects such as the chains of St. Peter and the dome of the basilica named for him are significant to our understanding of faith. Aquilina also shares how ancient locations central to Christianity’s early development have helped him grow his love for the Lord.
Popular Catholic speakers and authors Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, and Fr. John Burns join Katie Prejean McGrady to talk about forgiveness and healing.
A pear-sized brain tumor helped director, producer, and comedy writer Jeannie Gaffigan draw closer to the Blessed Mother. In this first Ave Explores podcast, Gaffigan, wife of comedian Jim Gaffigan, talks about praying the Rosary alone and with her family and how her illness helped her grow in her faith. Gaffigan’s book, When Life Gives You Pears (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538751046/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1538751046&linkCode=as2&tag=katieprejean-20&linkId=f34f59ce60caa771b04c043f09ae34ec), was released in 2019.
Leah Libresco Sargeant discusses her conversion from atheism to Catholicism, highlighting how she used math and science to reconcile the ideas of objective moral truth and God's existence. She reflects on how we can help others to convert by answering questions, opening our homes, and being a witness to faith in everyday life.
Dr. Tod Worner, editor of the Word on Fire Institute's Evangelization and Culture journal, talks about how to tackle difficult topics of faith with skeptics and non-believers. He suggests starting from a place where each side can acknowledge their human dignity and a shared desire for truth and the ability to explain the natural world.
Bioethicist John Brehany addresses the debate about whether it is ethical for Catholics to receive the currently available COVID-19 vaccines. He also reflects on how answering questions concerning bioethical issues—ranging from end-of-life care to medical intervention and from contraception to vaccination—is a form of accompaniment and ministry, critical in the life of the Church today.
John Di Camillo, a staff ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, offers moral principles to guide decision-making in bioethics and discusses how to answer common bioethical questions about such issues as vaccinations, infertility, abortion, and end-of-life with charity and Church teaching.
Geologist Paul Giesting discusses how working as an environmental regulator has helped him to contemplate mankind's tiny place in the colossal universe. Giesting says studying the planet through its geology has expanded his faith and given him a deeper appreciation of God's power.
Chris Baglow, director of the science and religion Initiative at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, discusses how faith and science approach truth. He said that by exploring science with the eyes of faith and approaching faith with a desire to understand science, the Church can evangelize in new ways.
Kathleen Hoenke, a spatial ecologist and program director at the St. Kateri Conservation Center, discusses growing native plants and building rain gardens on church properties. She says her faith came to life when she realized the grandeur of God in the natural flowers that grew in her own backyard. As a result, how she manages her household, what she grows in her garden, and what she teaches her children have changed.
Elena Gaona discusses the mission of the Catholic Climate Covenant, highlighting how the organization works to bring solar power to parishes, create climate care teams for dioceses, and encourage the faithful to care for the earth and slow the effects of climate change.
Brandon Vogt, senior content director of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, explains that faith and science are not only compatible but also necessary to understand the mysteries of creation. He also offers strategies to best explain how faith and science work together to those who have serious doubts.
The Catholic Traveler Mountain Butorac discusses the vibrancy of parish communities in Rome and how pilgrimages help people grow deeper in their faith and understand the beauty of the universal Church.
James and Catherine McLoughlin have lived and worked in England, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland. They discuss Catholicism in each country, explain how faith comes alive on pilgrimages, in small groups, and through acts of service, and look ahead to the future of the Church in the United Kingdom.
Sean Forrest, founder of Haiti180, discusses his international mission that serves the impoverished of Port Au Prince. Forrest, who travels to Haiti frequently to work with missionaries and operate an orphanage, says Catholicism is an anchor in the Haitian culture.
Samuel Maina, a seminarian in the Diocese of Nyeri in Kenya, shares his vocation journey and how his love of the Church in Africa and the vibrancy of the African culture in worship, community, and study led him to discern the priesthood.
Percival Holt, former president of the Youth Council of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, discusses the vibrant Church in India, especially within youth and young adult ministry. Having traveled throughout India advancing the youth worker movement, Holt also explains the diversity within Indian Catholicism, where liturgical worship is an expression of local regions and communities.
Joe Moeno-Kolio, a climate change advocate in Samoa, discusses how the Catholic faith is thriving in the South Pacific, especially in small village communities that are grounded in family life. Moeno-Kolio also explains how working to fight climate change, and care for God's creation is critical work for every Christian.
Brenda Noriega reverted to Catholicism when she moved to the United States from Mexico. She discusses how to end division and create unity and build community within our local parishes and throughout the world.
J.D. Flynn, cofounder and editor-in-chief of Pillar Catholic, discusses how the Church in America is responding to divisions caused by the sex abuse crisis, opposition to Pope Francis, politics, and online forums.
Malcolm Hart, director of the Center for Evangelization for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, discusses how the Church in Australia is addressing increased secularization and rejection of the faith.
Cardinal Wilfred Fox Napier, O.F.M., archbishop of Durban in South Africa, discusses the Church's global diversity, which is rooted in love of Jesus Christ. Napier, who went to seminary in Ireland, also talks about the early days of his priesthood during apartheid in South Africa and eventually voting in the conclaves that elected Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.
Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran, authors of bestselling Messages series for Advent and Lent and the award-winning [ital] Rebuilt, discuss how to celebrate the entire Christmas season and stay connected as a parish community.
Heidemarie Petersen, owner of Reliquary Supply (https://www.reliquarysupply.co), says that charity means little if it isn't rooted in your heart. She practices charity personally and through her Catholic small business, giving to other organizations and hiring people from marginalized and oppressed communities.
Kelly Wahlquist, founder of WINE: Women in the New Evangelization, says that joy is ultimately rooted in peace. She offers encouragement on ways to maintain joy during Advent in the time of coronavirus.
Most Rev. William Wack, bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee, reflects on spending the Advent season anticipating the birth of Jesus with a joyful, hopeful, and generous heart.
Justina Kopp explains how she grew in faithfulness and hope while pregnant with her now-four-year-old quadruplets. Kopp says that although hope may feel different in light of the pandemic and the social unrest in the country this year, it is still valuable to look for the light that only Christ brings.
Author Lisa M. Hendey discusses writing children’s books about the lives of the saints and shares advice on how to talk with kids about becoming holy in their everyday lives.
Fr. David Marcham, the vice postulator of the Cause for Canonization of Fr. Patrick Peyton, C.S.C, tells the story of the Irish immigrant priest who was on a mission to encourage families to pray the Rosary and grow closer to Jesus through Mary. Marcham also explains how the canonization process works and why the Vatican is so thorough in its investigations.
Fr. Robert P. Boxie III, discusses the life, legacy, and Cause for Canonization of Sr. Thea Bowman, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration who lived and worked in the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi. Her cause was opened in November 2018. Boxie also shares his vocation story.
Gloria Purvis explains that learning the stories of black, indigenous, and other diverse saints helps to expand the understanding of holiness in the world. She also shares about the lives of several diverse men and women with open causes for canonization.
Karianna Frey, author of A Brief Overview of Diversity, discusses how patron saints can bring spiritual depth, personal healing, and comfort to a family. Frey shares which saints have been particularly inspiring to her own family and how she has chosen to entrust each of her four children to a saint.
Meg Hunter-Kilmer, author of the forthcoming Saints Around the World, loves to tell stories of the saints, especially those who are not as well known. She shares how growing close to holy men and women has helped her to love Christ more. Hunter-Kilmer says each saint she’s grown close to has been a unique match during particular challenges in her life.
Maria Morera Johnson discusses her family’s immigration to the United States from Cuba. Johnson, the author of Our Lady of Charity, shares the journey that led her to a relationship with the saints, especially St. Teresa of Avila, and a deeper prayer life.
Doug Tooke, vice president of mission at ODB Films and host of the Renovo podcast, explains canonization, the process the Church uses to declare a person a saint. He also shares how each of us can strive for holiness.
Mary and Jerry Lenaburg share the story of their daughter, Courtney, who died at the age of 22 after living her whole life with profound disabilities. The Lenaburgs explain how Courtney continues to be part of their life today, and explore how their faith carried them through the challenging years that were also marked with goodness and joy, sharing how in her time on earth, she was a witness to God’s goodness and is a remarkable gift to so many today through her prayers and intercession.
Sister Bethany Davis of the Daughters of St. Paul sits down with Katie Prejean McGrady to explore what it means to be holy and keep our eyes fixed to heaven, not just because that makes us “a good Catholic,” but because it’s what Jesus wants for our lives. Sister Bethany tells her vocation story, explores the charism and mission of her congregation, and also shares about the new book of saints from the Daughters of St. Paul, In Caelo et in Terra: 365 Saints, and how this project ten years in the making is finally coming to fruition.
Danielle Bean, author, speaker, podcaster, and the brand manager of CatholicMom.com, talks with host Katie Prejean McGrady about the challenges of parenting, and offers advice on how to stay grounded throughout the stages of family life. Bean also shares how cultivating a “God will give me the grace” attitude is the best way to form a healthy and holy family culture.
Emily Jaminet is a Catholic author, speaker, mother of seven, and the executive director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network. She talks with host Katie Prejean McGrady about how family prayer and welcoming Jesus into your home can transform your family dynamic. Jaminet also explains how the ability to pivot in the midst of life’s changes is a mother’s greatest strength, sharing how when a mother is centered in prayer, she’s able to change course with grace and patience.
Timothy P. O’Malley, director of McGrath Theology Online at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, talks with host Katie Prejean McGrady about he and his wife Kara’s struggle with infertility. A professor who also teaches a course on marriage, O’Malley offers insights into discernment and dating for young adults, and ways that we can encourage prayer as a family.
Marcia Lane McGee is a birth mother with an open adoption and a foster mom who lives with six teenage boys at the Mooseheart Home near Chicago. She tells host Katie Prejean McGrady that we are all called to creatively foster family life based on our unique state of life and vocation. Lane McGee also explains how we must invest in people, even when they are at their worst, to help them find joy and to lead them to a fullness of love in Christ.
Catholic speaker Brian Greenfield talks with host Katie Prejean McGrady about a father’s role as provider and protector, and as an affirming, empathetic, healing presence in the lives of his wife and children. A theology teacher at an all-boys high school, Greenfield also shares how walking with young people through their wounds and helping them to find peace and love is a key role that all men can play in helping to heal a broken and selfish culture.
Damon and Melanie Owens, founders of Joyful Ever After Ministries, talk with host Katie Prejean McGrady about finding healing within a marriage, especially when working through resentment and frustration. The couple also shares about raising their eight children in the faith, ultimately entrusting their hearts to the Lord and his will for their lives. The Owenses also offer insights into the ups and downs of married life, homeschooling, and finding balance at home.
Newlyweds Nick and Riley Sciarappa talk with host Katie Prejean McGrady about meeting online and about their lives while dating and discerning marriage and what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown in trust throughout their engagement. The Sciarappas also share what it was like to plan a wedding in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jackie Francois Angel and Bobby Angel, authors, speakers, and parents of four, explain to host Katie Prejean McGrady that marriage must be rooted in friendship, attentiveness to the other’s needs, communication, and a dedication to prayer. The Angels say that marriage is meant to be abundantly joyful, established in a love of Christ that flows into family life.
Jeannie Gaffigan, author of the bestselling When Life Gives You Pears, wife to comedian Jim Gaffigan, and mother of five, talks candidly with host Katie Prejean McGrady about balancing family life, her Catholic faith, and maintaining a sense of sanity and fun in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York City. Gaffigan shares practical tips on how Catholic family life can thrive by lowering your expectations and letting stressful things go so you can focus on your family’s health, happiness, and holiness.
Theologian Edward Sri and his wife Beth talk with host Katie Prejean McGrady about how marriage and parenting is meant to be centered in love of God and a couple’s call to mission— to generously love, serve, teach, and proclaim the Gospel. With stories of raising their eight kids (ranging in age from nineteen to four years old), the realities of balancing work, home, and travel, and how to find healing from past wounds, the Sris explain how generosity is the key to thriving within Catholic family life.
Katie Prejean McGrady's parents, Marie & Garland Prejean, introduce the upcoming Ave Explores series on Catholic Family Life
F. DeKarlos Blackmon, director of the Secretariat for Life, Justice, and Charity in the Diocese of Austin, Texas, explains why people of faith should be concerned with advocating for justice, especially in prison systems and in the ongoing fight against racial inequality.
Fr. Michael Thomas, C.S.C., a teacher and campus minister at St. George’s College in Santiago, Chile—a K-12 school apostolate of the U.S. Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross— explains what led him to mission work in Chile. Thomas says that much of our mission work will occur within our own families, workplaces, and parishes.
Steve Camilleri, executive director of the Center for the Homeless in South Bend, Indiana, explains how each of us are called to use our gifts to help those who need food, shelter, clothing, and financial assistance, not only tangibly, but also by loving and engaging them.
Sr. Mariae Agnus Dei., S.V., joined the Sisters of Life thirteen years ago, choosing the order because of its charism to protect and defend life. She shares how advocating life is not so much being “against” something, but being “for” the goodness of life.
Kris Frank, vice president of Vagabond Missions, shares how the Steubenville, Ohio, ministry expanded across the country by focusing on sharing the Gospel with at-risk, inner-city youth, helping them break the cycle of abandonment and hopelessness.
Fr. Joshua Johnson and Sr. Josephine Garrett, C.S.F.N., share their experiences as black Catholics, discuss why racism is sinful, and explore how Catholics are called to advocate for change.
Fr. Kevin Sandberg, C.S.C, former executive director of and current professor of Theology at the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame, shares how advocating for the common good helps to end social isolation and oppression.
Scott Hahn, a theologian and founder of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, explains how the virtue of hope can help us understand the glory of Christ’s Resurrection, and encourage us to love the poor, serve the marginalized, and preach the Gospel. In Hahn’s new book, Hope to Die, he explores how pain and suffering unite us with the Cross of Christ and help us to live out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Art and creativity are the driving forces behind Anthony D’Ambrosio’s writing and his consulting business. The poet and designer is the cofounder of Catholic Creatives, an international community of artists who want to bring about a new renaissance of beauty within the Church. D’Ambrosio believes even if they don’t realize it, all people are creative and pursue creative work.
Fabiola Garza, author of The Boy Who Would be Pope and an artist for Disney, shares how her Catholic faith influences her work. Garza shares how her identity as a Catholic gives life to all she does, both professionally and personally.
Christine Valters Paintner is a Catholic author and online abbess at the Abbey for the Arts, a virtual monastery offering classes and resources on contemplative practice and creative expression. She explains how we are called to see ourselves as artists in the world, not because we have marketable talents, but because the Lord is inviting us to create. Paintner explores how God surprises us with art in every form.
Elizabeth Lev, an art historian, author, tour guide, and college professor living in Rome, shares how art—especially the art of the Church—is the ultimate path to understanding what we believe and helps us see the continuity of the faith throughout history. Lev explains how art ultimately invites us to be drawn into its beauty and to contemplation of the divine.
Catholic counselor Tommy Tighe shares ways we can help our children cope with the current crisis and how couples and families can continue to thrive with routine, prayer, and facing their feelings of uncertainty together.
Mike Aquilina, bestselling and award-winning author of A History of the Church in 100 Objects, relates how Catholics are a sacramental people, and objects such as the chains of St. Peter and the dome of the basilica named for him are significant to our understanding of faith. Aquilina also shares how ancient locations central to Christianity’s early development have helped him grow his love for the Lord.
Scott Weeman, founder of Catholic in Recovery, talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about how to help those who struggle with addictions when they are unable to attend support-group meetings in person and are tempted to fall back into old habits as their routine and structure shift.
Leah Darrow, Catholic author, speaker, and founder of Lux U, invites you to look to the Cross for comfort, inspiration, and solace in the middle of COVID-19. She tells Katie Prejean McGrady that hope is the virtue we need most while facing this pandemic.
Andrew Petiprin, fellow of popular culture at the Word on Fire Institute (https://wordonfire.institute), explains how beauty and Catholic art and architecture can lead us to a deeper faith and understanding of the truth. A convert to Catholicism, Petiprin shares his conversion story, highlighting how the way of beauty ultimately led him to Catholicism and a life committed to evangelization through art, music, film, and pop culture.
How can we more fully enter into the celebration of Triduum and Easter, the holiest days of the Church year? Fr. John Burns, author of Lift Up Your Heart, explains the liturgies for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday and offers ways we can experience these sacred days at home, even with public masses suspended because of COVID-19. 6:47 - Holy Thursday 16:55 - Good Friday 28:13 - Holy Saturday 40:36 - Holy Week at Home
Catholic psychotherapist Roy Petitfils talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about how to help teens find structure and rhythm in the midst of anxiety and uncertainty. As schools shift to online learning, colleges close, and teens and young adults are at home, Petitfils will tell you how to help them process what's happening, live with their anxious feelings, and maintain a sense of normalcy.
Mary Lenaburg, author of Be Brave in the Scared: How I Learned to Trust God during the Most Difficult Days of My Life, talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about how suffering and joy go hand-in-hand, especially during Lent. With a heart for hospitality, Lenaburg shares how her family joyfully lives life while always celebrating the memory of her daughter Courtney.
Sr. Miriam James Heidland, S.O.L.T., Catholic speaker and author of Loved as I Am, explains that social distancing is an opportunity for us to see that God is inviting us to slow down and be grateful for all the things he has given us. She tells Katie Prejean McGrady that when faced with times of solitude and quiet, we’re called to honestly face our feelings and past hurts.
Let’s face it: We can all probably use a reboot right now. As the fight against COVID-19 continues around the world, more people are working at home, kids are attending classes online, we’re watching Mass on TV or the internet, and we could be suffering from the disease, quarantined, or sheltering in place. No doubt you’re mentally drained from the ever-changing crisis. Ave Maria Press wants to help with a new Ave Explores podcast mini-series that focuses on mental health. Host Katie Prejean McGrady revisits some of our panel of stress, anxiety, and mental health experts to help you cope. Leah Darrow, Roy Petitfils, Tommy Tighe, Scott Weeman, and Sr. Miriam James Heidland, S.O.L.T., will help you end up mentally and spiritually stronger on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic.
Joyce Rupp, author of Jesus: Friend of My Soul, shares how the season of Lent is an invitation to love other people in more intentional ways, just as Jesus loves us. Rupp also relates how the COVID-19 crisis is a chance to be more aware of our common humanity, seeing Christ in each person we encounter.
Tommy McGrady and Katie Prejean McGrady, coauthors of Lent: One Day at a Time for Catholic Teens, discuss how young people can fully invest in the season of Lent. McGrady shares how fasting, prayer, and almsgiving can be the foundation of a fruitful spiritual life for teenagers long after Lent is complete.
Joel Stepanek, author of Chasing Humility: 8 Ways to Shape a Christian Heart, joins Katie Prejean McGrady to discuss how Lent can be fruitful if we pay attention to what God wants us to do with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Humility is the golden thread that ties together these Lenten practices.
Emily DeArdo, author of Living Memento Mori: My Journey through the Stations of the Cross talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about her battle with cystic fibrosis and how it deeply affects her friendships, family life, and faith. Emily shares how carrying this cross helped her gain new insights into how to walk through any desert, especially the forty days of Lent.
Gary Zimak, “worry” expert and author of "Give Up Worry for Lent! 40 Days to Finding Peace in Christ" chats with Katie Prejean McGrady about how to avoid becoming over scrupulous and reassures us that we can’t really ruin the forty days of Lent if we keep our priorities straight.
Deacon Greg Kandra talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about how the practice up giving up something in Lent actually starts with giving. Kandra also shares insights into the Lenten devotional Daily Devotions for Lent 2020 and what he’s going to focus on doing during Lent this year.
Catholic authors and speakers Sr. Miriam James Heidland, S.O.L.T., and Fr. John Burns talk about the basic need everyone has to seek healing. Whether it’s from wounds, slights, or deep and long-lasting trauma, the need for healing is directly tied to living a mentally healthy life. Our conversation explores ways to rest in the healing power of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and love.
Tommy Tighe is a counselor, author, and podcast and TV host, but he would tell you his most important title is husband and father. In this episode, Tighe shares about the struggle of losing a child and how he, his wife, and their four other sons have lived with their grief, maintained their faith. and remained mentally healthy. Tommy also offers insight on how to help those who are struggling with grief, what it means to "feel your feelings," and how faith has been a foundation upon which healing has been found.
Roy Petitfils counsels teenagers struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, and stress. In this episode, he gives an overview of what teens are facing, how screens and social media are influencing teenagers and their mental health today, and how all of us can have open and fruitful conversations about mental health challenges.
Catholic speaker, author, and "worry expert” Gary Zimak discusses what it’s like to live with anxiety, and helps explain ways chronic worriers can find peace, comfort, and relinquish control to Jesus.
Leah Darrow, a speaker, author, Season 2 contestant on America’s Next Top Model, and founder of Lux U, shares about her struggles with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, “mom guilt,” balance, and explores ways one can find peace & strength through spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, regularly attending daily Mass, and “recalibrating” one’s routine.
Katie Prejean McGrady gives a snapshot of the topic for the upcoming season of Ave Explores, taking a look at stress, anxiety, and mental health. This season includes interviews with Leah Darrow, Roy Petitfils, Tommy Tighe, and more, along with articles from professional counselors, psychologists, and doctors. Subscribe to Ave Explores: Stress, Anxiety, and Mental Health here (https://www.avemariapress.com/aveexplores-mentalhealth/signup/):
Katie summarizes the Ave Explores Mary series, highlighting the key points made by all the guests on Season 1 of the podcast and insights gained about the role Mary plays in our lives.
Katie gets a master class in the 3 most well-known Marian apparitions from the Miracle Hunter himself, Michael O'Neill. With wisdom and insight, Michael unpacks Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, telling the stories fo these Marian apparitions, the miraculous healings and moments surrounding these profoundly beautiful moments in Marian history, and helps us understand why these apparitions occur.
Katie visits with Kristin Reilly, a working mom with 7 kids, a career in finance, and an online ministry that brings hundreds of people together on Instagram Live every morning to pray the rosary together.
Katie sits down with J.D. Flynn, Editor-in-Chief of Catholic News Agency and co-host of the popular Catholic podcast, The Editor's Desk from CNA, to talk about the Blessed Mother's importance to his family, how praying a rosary every evening has helped him be a better husband and father, and he puts on his "Canon Lawyer hat" to help give tips on how to explain Mary to non-Catholics.
Katie visits with Leticia Ochoa Adams, a wife, mom, and speaker from Texas, who shares about grief, hope, and faith following the suicide of her son and how we can look to Mary as mother and comforter during the darkest days.
Katie Prejean McGrady and “Pittsburgh’s Okayest Priest” Fr. Anthony Sciarappa, host of the popular Catholic podcast "Clerically Speaking," (http://www.clericallyspeaking.com)chat about how his devotion to the Blessed Mother grew while he was in seminary and how we can all welcome Mary into our prayer life.
Katie Prejean McGrady and Meg Hunter-Kilmer talk about what it’s like to travel all the time (especially when living out of your car), how to trust in God’s providence, and how Mary is an example of what radical trust in God can, and does, look like.
A pear-sized brain tumor helped director, producer, and comedy writer Jeannie Gaffigan draw closer to the Blessed Mother. In this first Ave Explores podcast, Gaffigan, wife of comedian Jim Gaffigan, talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about praying the Rosary alone and with her family and how her illness helped her grow in her faith. Gaffigan’s new book, When Life Gives You Pears (https://amzn.to/2OCP6kG), was just recently released.
Katie Prejean McGrady, author, speaker, and project manager of Ave Explores, gives an overview of this new initiative from Ave Maria Press and reflects on the role Mary has played in her own life.
Katie Prejean McGrady introduces Ave Explores, a new project from Ave Maria Press. This season, we explore Mary, our Blessed Mother, answering some big questions about her and the role she plays in our lives. Why does she matter, and how can we get to know her? What does it mean to pray with Mary, to emulate Mary, to trust like Mary? Who is she, really? You'll hear stories from a woman who travels around the country, as a "hobo for Christ" and insights from the Editor-In-Chief of Catholic News Agency. You'll learn about a mom of 7 who hosts a morning rosary on Instagram live, a priest who got to know Mary during his years in seminary, and hear the story of resilience and strength from a mom who lost her eldest son to suicide. All this, and more, on this first season of Ave Explores. Sign up for additional Ave Explores content at https://www.avemariapress.com/aveexplores-mary-signup/