Native Soil: Recent Episodes

Fr. Victor Ingalls

This is Native Soil, a podcast from Fr. Victor Ingalls and 4PM Media. Join us here to talk about our beloved state of Alabama, hear personal stories from Fr. Victor and other local guests, and discover how we can cultivate the soil of our own hearts.

Fr. Victor sits down with Keri & Beau Buhring to talk about Engaged Encounter.

DIG IN
1. How can you see your marriage more and more as a "gift" and a "sacrament?" How can you model Christ love more effectively for the world around you? What is the right balance in a marriage for the relationship between spouses, career, children, other family members, friends, recreation, and entertainment?

How can your parish better support married couples and those who are preparing for marriage? How can you pray for married couples more? Is there anything the Lord might want you to do to support this Sacrament?
What aspects of Catholic Christian Marriage are most countercultural today? How can these teachings be better explained to couples today? What resources do they need to have to be able to contend with the way the rest of the world goes about marriage?

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Fr. Victor talks about the Consecrated Single Life in episode 13 of Native Soil.

DIG IN

What would it look like for you, in your current state-in-life, to embrace more the evangelical counsels - Poverty, Chastity & Obedience? These are the three ancient hallmarks of a Christian more perfectly surrendering their life to Christ.
Have you ever considered that Christ may be asking you to make a Gift of all that you are to Him? As a religious brother or sister? As a consecrated single (lay) person?
What secular spaces of our Native Soil do you occupy? How might the Lord want to use you and your gifts to bring Light and Life to those places?

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Fr. Victor sits down with Fr. Stephen Vrazel to talk about Scouting.

DIG IN
1. How do you and your family and friends spend time in God's creation? How can you spend more time outdoors, enjoying God's creation and the people he has placed in your life?

What lessons can we learn from "scouting" for our everyday Christian life? How can we be more "service oriented" and even more ready to serve Christ and his kingdom with the gifts he has given us?
Who were the mentors in your life that taught you important life lessons - responsibility, service, ingenuity, adventure, safety, industriousness, etc? How can you be that mentor to somebody else?

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Fr. Victor sits down with Deborah Madonia to talk about the Daughters of Mary.

DIG IN
1. Might the Lord be calling you to participate in the Daughters of Mary? To start a chapter in your parish?

If not the Daughters of Mary, how is it that the women of your parish can gather to reflect upon the Word of God and let it penetrate their hearts and inform the way they live out their vocation?
Do you have a close relationship with the Blessed Mother? If not, how could you develop one? How could she help you to be more open and available to the Word of God in your life?

www.nativesoil.org

Charisms are gifts from God for the building up of his Kingdom.

DIG IN
1. Do you feel like you have surrendered to God and his Spirit is living in you? Have you given God permission to unlock all of the graces of your Baptism and Confirmation? If not, consider gathering with some members of the Body of Christ and asking them to pray with you and for you to do so.
2. What spiritual gifts has the Lord given to you? Do you feel like you are a good steward of them? Could you gain greater clarity about the gifts God has invested within you at the natural level? Supernatural level?
3. How do you think God is calling you to use the gifts he has given you for the building up of his Church? What are the needs of your Native Soil, community and parish? How can your gifts meet those needs?

www.nativesoil.org

Fr. Victor talks with Rafi Rodriguez about The Knights of Columbus

DIG IN
1. Do you have a Knight of Columbus chapter at your parish? Are you aware of the ministries they support? How might you be called to join the Knights or collaborate with their ministries?

Whether it is the KofC or another parish ministry you belong to, how can you be more attune to the actual needs of your neighbor - those who live on your Native Soil - i.e. within your parish boundaries? How can you and your ministry tailor your efforts more closely to meet the needs of the physically and spiritually poor?
How can your parish be more inviting to your neighbors? How can parish ministries be more open and built to welcome all demographics existing in the pews and beyond?

*We had technical difficulties with the sound on this episode and apologize that it does not meet our standards.

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Native Soil LIVE

Fr. Victor sits down in front of a live audience to talk to Dan Johnson, creative director at 4PM Media who has had many roles in the lay apostolate over the years.

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Fr. Victor talks with Nikki Burns about BLOOM Ministry.

DIG IN

Does your parish have a ministry to support the spiritual and social needs of the women in your parish? If not, how might BLOOM serve as a template for something to "bloom" in your parish?
Has the Lord ever put an inspiration in your heart to start something new? Have you paid attention to it? If so, how did you take the first steps? If not, how can you open yourself up with greater courage to the voice of God in your life?
How can the women in your life be better prayed for, appreciated and supported? What are the needs of the women in your parish? How can they be better attended to by the Body of Christ locally?

www.nativesoil.org

Fr. Victor and Jack McNichol talk about The Men of St. Joseph in episode 7.

DIG IN
1. How do you prepare for Sunday Mass? Do you pray with the readings beforehand? Do you reflect upon the readings with members of your family or with people in your parish?

How can you share your faith more with your spouse? Children? Family members? Friends?
Does your parish have a MOSJ chapter? If so, is God calling you to join? If not, may the Lord be calling you to start one? If not, how may the Lord want to use you to create spiritual fellowship and support among the men of your parish-both young and old?

www.nativesoil.org

Fr. Victor sits down with Ellen Taylor to talk about Archangel Radio.

DIG IN
1. Do you listen to Catholic radio? Catholic music? Catholic podcasts? If not, how can you fill your mind more and more with the Word of God so that you can be nourished with it and be able to share it with greater facility?

What is your relationship with your parents like? Your siblings? In the midst of the busyness of life, might God be calling you to create more space to appreciate and invest in these irreplaceable gifts?
Have you ever invited someone to listen to Archangel Radio? Or some other Catholic content? If no, why not? Ask the Lord who he might want you to share some resources of faith with.

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The Aim of the Christian Life - The Acquisition of the Holy Spirit

DIG IN
1. How can you create a deeper and regular awareness of the presence of God dwelling in you?
2. How can your life, your home, your school, your parish be more and more a place of "communion?" A place where everything in the environment is aimed at helping each person to grow in communion with the life of the Trinity dwelling in their soul by virtue of their baptism?
3. What is the biggest obstacle right now in your life preventing it from being further blended into/assimilated into the Life of Christ?

www.nativesoil.org

Fr. Victor sits down with Jack McAleer to discuss how The Cursillo Movement has impacted his life.

DIG IN
1. Have you ever been on a retreat before? If not, perhaps Cursillo could be your first experience? Consider the river of grace that has flowed in Jack's life since his first retreat. Imagine wha the Lord might want to do in your life!

Do you have a small group of men or women with whom you can share your faith? What the Lord is doing in your life? Your joys and struggles in trying to follow Christ and share his Life and Life with others? If not, how can you reach out for this? We all need folks to walk with. Perhaps there is a Cursillo "grouping" that you can join? Talk to your pastor about the options available to you.
Cursillo is Spanish for "short course." If someone were to ask you to give them a "cursillo" about Jesus Christ and his Church, what would you tell them? If someone would ask you to give them, a "cursillo" about how you have come to believe in Christ, what would you tell them?

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In Episode 3, Fr. Victor talks with Julianne Jackson about her journey with The Daughters of St. Francis DeSales.

Julianne prayed for years for the Lord to take her deeper in her faith—and the Lord responded in an amazing way. Have you ever asked the Lord consistently to take you deeper in your faith? Could you trust that the Lord would create a path for you, even where there appears to be no path ahead?
Have you ever read St. Frances de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life? If not, consider prayerfully reading through it. As you do, consider—Is God calling you to join the Daughters of St. Frances de Sales?
What would Holiness look like for someone in your “state of life?” What may be the first step God is calling you to take in that direction?

For more information on The Daughters of St. Francis DeSales, please visit https://www.sfdsassociation.org/

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Fr. Victor interviews Brandon Bender about SEARCH Retreats.

DIG IN

What are you SEARCHING for in your life? In what area of your life are you particularly searching for meaning and understanding? Consider taking some time to invite the Lord into that space. Invite God to speak into this area of your life.
How are you involved in Peer ministry? Who does the Lord want to bless in your immediate surroundings? Is the Lord calling you to attend SEARCH? To be a team leader? To serve your peers in some other way?
Have you had a moment when you encountered Christ in a personal way? If not, how might you open your heart to such an experience? Might the Lord be calling you to go on a retreat? If yes, how might the Lord be calling you to help create moments like that for others?

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Join Fr. Victor for Season 6 of Native Soil as he dives into the mission of the Lay Apostolate.

Dig In Further

How do you feel called to labor in the vineyard - to cultivate God's kingdom in your midst?
How do you feel you need to be grafted on the Vine that is Jesus Christ - I. E. to rely on Him more and not on yourself? In what ways do you feel fruitless and need Christ to come and fill you with his life?
What are the ordinary circumstances of your day-to-day life? How do you feel you are "standing idle?" How might the Lord want to carry Christ's presence into these circumstances?

www.nativesoil.org

To wrap up this season on Youth Ministry, Fr. Victor shows how “youth ministry” is not a modern reality but something that goes all the way back to the heart of Jesus Christ himself. Jesus saw how vulnerable and formative our youth are and was very serious about caring for them and protecting them from sin. Fr. Victor shows how Jesus’s heart for the youth has lived on in the lives of the saints over the years—St. Benedict, St. John Bosco, Servant of God Luigi Giussani & Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Dig In Further:

How can you and your parish take on the heart of Jesus in relation to our youth? To rally the whole village…the whole parish community to protect them, guide them and form them in the life of Jesus Christ?
How can disciple our young people in such a way that they are equipped to disciple their own friends and family? How can the youth be encouraged to use their creativity, energy and innovative spirit to bring the Gospel to the world in new and exciting ways (like Bl. Carlo Acutis)?
How can Christ be the CENTER of every environment we create for our young people—home, school, parish, neighborhood, etc. How can we plant Christ deep into their young hearts? How can we make fruitful the “soil of the hearts” of our youth “for the accomplishment of His work in the world, which is the victory over death and evil?”

Joy Lang is the Youth Minster at Little Flower Parish in Mobile, AL. She grew up at Heart of Mary Parish and attended McGill. She really encountered the Lord in a new and life changing way a couple years back when she took her youth group to ACYC. Learn how the Lord brought Joy to this moment and how it has affected her entire life moving forward.

Dig In Further:

Do the teens in your youth group have somebody to minister to them who “looks like them?” If not, might there be ways of inviting speakers, guests from other parishes, leaders of other ministries to come and visit your youth group from time to time? As Joy shared, listening to another Black Catholic preach at ACYC was a decisive moment in diving deeper into her Catholic faith, realizing her was capable of diving all the way in.
What is one of the more profound encounters with Christ that you have ever had? What was involved in that moment? What were the aspects of the environment and the setting that the Lord used to “lower your defenses” and allow him more clearly touch your heart?
How might your parish be able to collaborate with other parishes nearby to enhance your teens’ experience of faith formation? Are there ways you can have youth group together? Go on retreats together? Service projects? Mission trips? Adoration nights? Shared speakers? Shared fun activities?

Today you will meet a rather unique woman—a person who is half Hungarian and half Chilean who grew up in Puerto Rico, lived for a time in Chile and Hungary and left her Native Soil when a friend invited her to take a job in Mobile! Andrea offers a compelling testimony to God’s Providence and the blessings that come when we trust the Lord. She shares a unique perspective on ministering to youth in a diverse parish setting and reflects on the particular needs of Hispanic families in feeling comfortable with their children participating in youth ministry. Also, she talks about her role as “Youth Ministry Coordinator,” serving alongside the “Youth Minister,” Fr. Connor Plessala.

Dig In Further:

Do you live with a belief that God is guiding you through life? Are there any areas of your life where you worry too much about how things will work out? How might you be able to surrender these things more to God’s Providence and find greater peace in your life?
How can all the teens in your parish feel more welcome to participate in youth ministry? Are there any groups in your parish that are not represented well? How might you reach out to them? How might you invite some adults from that group to be part of your youth ministry team to help navigate these challenges?
Andrea helped us to realize how much coordination, communication, paperwork, etc. is involved in having a successful youth ministry program. Her taking care of much of the coordination allows Fr. Connor to focus on preparing the “teachings” for the youth and being as pastorally present and available to the youth as possible? How can you and your parish discern the gifts of the clergy and laity alike and help better connect them to the needs of the youth in your parish?

We recently had a live show at Well Red in Auburn with special guest Fr. Peyton Plessala. It was a grace-filled night with a great audience.

Meet Ann Palamara. Again, appreciate the lengths God has undertaken to bring just the right people to live out the faith here on our Native Soil. Originally from a dairy farm in upstate New York, marvel as Ann shares how the Lord brought her to Eufaula, AL because of its “soil!” Literally, its SOIL! The Lord would get Ann involved in Church ministry quickly upon arriving and would end up serving the youth at her parish for years. She now claims “Eufaula” as her “Native Soil” and her parish as her truest “family” on earth.

Dig In Further:

How can you see the hand of the Lord guiding you in your life? Can you see his guidance in where you live? Where you work? Certain friendships?
How can your parish community become more of your “family?” How can you share your gifts and talents and consider with your fellow parishioners how Christ wants to work through you as a family?
What obstacles might be present keeping the young people in your parish from engaging in youth ministry? The broader life of the parish? Might there be issues of money, transportation, schedule conflicts, lack of awareness, etc? How might you and your parish overcome those obstacles?

Today we meet a former member of Fr. Steve Williams’ youth group at St. Pius—Jami Graham. Jami servers as youth minister for several years at Christ the King in Daphne and, this past year, began to serve the youth at St. Dominic in Mobile. Jami shares how the Lord led her into this ministry—not something that she set out to do! Over all the years, she shares her philosophy of “youth ministry” and what important aspects are necessary to help nurture teens in the faith at this formative time in their life.

Dig In Further:

What does it mean to “Be Yourself?” What is this such an important thing for teens to be able to do?
How does “Being Yourself” lay the foundation for someone to then embark on the journey of “Becoming Your Truly Self in Christ?”
What experiences in your life really helped you to “Be Yourself?” Who were the people involved? How can we better create environments for our young people to find out “who they are” and then furthermore discover “Who they are In Christ?"

Today Fr. Victor shares about a Catholic Service Mission Trip he participated in for five summers straight growing up. He reflects upon the great impact it had on him and the elements of that experience that reveal what effective youth ministry looks like. He points at three components in particular that helped to make his faith come alive and be put into practice.

Dig In Further:

How can your teens better encounter Christ within your parish community? How can they experience a sense of belonging, fun, joy, being known and appreciated, etc in your parish?
How can your teens better encounter Christ through the Sacraments at your parish? What can help them to more personally be aware of, appreciate and open their hearts to being touched by Christ’s life, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven made available to them in the Sacraments?
How can your teens better encounter Christ in the poor through your parish? How can they regularly be brought into contact with the poor and be given concrete chances to get to know them and their circumstances while serving them in some real way?

Last week we met Todd Sylvester—former youth minister at St. Ignatius in Mobile and St. Lawrence in Fairhope. Today we meet one of Todd’s former youth group members from St. Ignatius—Fr. Connor Plessala. Fr. Connor shares how youth ministry made an impact not only on him but his entire family. He also relates how it led to him discovering his call to be a priest. He shares now what is like to be on the other end of youth ministry—being a youth minister himself now at St. Bede’s. Share in his passion to call our young people today to Holiness!

Dig In Further:

How can we make “Faith in Christ” the center of life for our teenagers? At home? At school? At youth group? In sports, band, other activities?
What does is look like to “demand holiness” from our young people? With an even greater fervor than we demand good grades, full egagement in athletics, and following rules…what would it look like to “demand holiness” first and foremost in the lives of our young people?
Is there any aspect of your family life, work culture, school structure, etc. that needs to change in order for Christ to be celebrated more centrally?

Today meet another “Godfather” of youth ministry here in the Archdiocese of Mobile—Todd Sylvester. He shares his story of conversion and how the Lord Providentially brought him down to Mobile to do youth ministry. Listen in to how the Lord gave him the grace to serve in that capacity for over 20 years and the lessons he learned along the way.

Dig In Further:

How can you help the teens in your life be “known”? How about your family members, peers and friends?
How can you show the teens in your life that you love them and are interested in their lives?
How can you share the Gospel with the teens in your life? How about your family members, peers, co-workers and friends?

You heard about him vicariously last week…time to meet the man face to face! Meet one of the “Godfathers” of youth ministry in the Archdiocese of Mobile. Youth ministry was a big part of his teenage experience, his discernment of the priesthood and has been a consistent thread in his priestly ministry for more than 25 years! A great well to draw from as we dig into this topic!

Dig In Further:

Who made the biggest impact on your faith during your teenage years?
How did the Lord exactly reveal himself to you through this person?
How does the Lord want to work through you to bring our youth into an encounter with our living Lord Jesus?

Today Fr. Victor reflects upon the great impact that two people, in particular, had on his faith throughout his teenage years. His youth minister was a Mom who simply responded to the need of the parish to provide a place for their youth to engage their faith. The priest only served in his parish for one summer but opened his horizons about the role of a priest in the lives of young people and connected him to the larger Catholic world in the Archdiocese outside of Montgomery. Both influences proved to be life-changing.

Dig In Further:

Like Joan Plumlee, how might the Lord be calling you to step forward more deeply into the life of the Church…especially were you might be inadequate or unprepared?
Has the Lord ever put a “Fr. Steve Williams” into your life? Someone that passes through your life just for a couple months, but really makes an impact on you? If not, maybe ask the Lord to bring someone like that into your life.
How you can help the young people in your parish realize they are part of something bigger than themselves? Bigger than your parish? Bigger than the world?

Meet Silvia Stroud. Wife. Mother. Disciple. Middle School Religion Teacher. Marvel at how the Lord brought her to Alabama and once here drew here deeper into her Catholic faith. Share in her enthusiasm as she shares her passion for transmitting the faith to her middle school students at Christ the King in Daphne. She shares a number of good practical tips for catechesis as well.

Meet Tex Phelps - our one year old Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Learn about his conversion to Catholicism, how the Lord reeled him into youth ministry, how his "yes" has taken him around the Southeast and finally brought him to our Native Soil. He offers a story of "trust" that challenges us to "walk by faith and not by sight."

Today Fr. Victor shares about seeing Pope St. Paul II in St. Louis as an eighth grader. The excitement, energy, enthusiasm and diversity of the experience was not something he was expecting. It blew the lid off what he understood to be “Catholic.” Hopefully, his story…along with the help of St. JPII…can do the same for you!

To kick off Season 5, join us in welcoming back our first-ever repeat guest - Archbishop Rode! Listen as he shares about his experience in youth ministry as a young priest and reflects upon how he has seen the nature of youth ministry evolve in his own lifetime. He also shares why "youth ministry" has been such a priority for him in his ministry as our Archbishop.

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/6BabitR79ss

As we close Season 4, we address, without debate, the greatest poverty present on our Native Soil—a need for Jesus Christ. How may he be better known, loved, worshipped and feasted upon here on our Native Soil?

Dig in Further:

How can we be closer to Jesus? How can we let him more and more be the Lord of our lives? When we come to Mass, how can we come with expectant faith—expecting not only to encounter Jesus in his Word and his Body and Blood but to be touched, changed, healed, inspired and empowered because of our encounter?

How can you deepen your prayer life so that you give Jesus a chance to address the greatest poverty in your life—a need for God? Can you visit Jesus in the Eucharist for an hour each week? Can you prayer the rosary or at least a decade each day? Can you prayerfully read scripture, reflect upon it and journal for 10-15 minutes a day? What can you do to make sure you are daily nourished by Jesus?

How can you get closer to Jesus hidden in the “least of these?” How can you incorporate service of the poor so that you make sure to bring yourself into closer proximity with Jesus on a regular basis? Who are the poor in your midst that God is calling you to have a “preferential love” for?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/N8K00XjcreE

Meet Fr. Jones. A Virginia native. A Convert. A Priest. And now pastor of historic St. Jude in Montgomery. We have looked at St. Jude’s history in past episodes. Now, along with their pastor, let’s take a look at where St. Jude is today and where they feel called to be moving forward.

Dig in Further:

“Talitha koum. Little Girl, get up and walk.” How might Jesus need to say this to you? To your parish? How does Jesus need to resuscitate, renew or resurrect the life of you and your parish?

What was the mission of your parish when it started? What is it now? How can you and your fellow parishioners clarify your mission as a parish and allow Christ to breath new life into you and those you serve?

How have the neighborhoods surrounding your parish changed since its founding? What new approaches might you and your parish have to employ to welcome those who now are your “neighbors” sharing our “Native Soil.” Recall a “parishioner” is technically anybody living within the parish boundaries of your parish.

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/MDHkFtG_Fqg

Meet Fr. Fred Boni. Daphne native. Grew up at Christ the King parish and school. Attended McGill-Toolen and then Spring Hill College. Was on the cusp of entering medical school and felt called to enter the seminary. Now pastor at St. Catherine of Sienna in mid-town Mobile. Listen in to Fr. Boni’s heart for the unchurched and the creative ways he is employing to try to bring renewal to his very diverse parish.

Dig In Further:

What is the mission of a parish? Are their ways your parish could be more focused on “making disciples”…of reaching the unchurched…on evangelization?

What is one idea you hear Fr. Boni talk about that resonated with you? Pray about it. See if it might be worth talking to you pastor about incorporating this idea into his vision for your parish.

Is there a ministry in your Church for the “unchurched?” If not, might it be worth looking into “Alpha,” the program mentioned by Fr. Boni? If not Alpha, what can you and your fellow parishioners do to help people not in the pews feel welcomed at your parish and challenged to consider the beauty of being Catholic?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/nLuWajtY_gE

Today we tackle perhaps the most pervasive types of poverty in our age—silence. Between our smartphones, TVs, Alexas and Siris, it is rare for us to left with a moment of silence. What is the importance of have silence in our lives? What can we do here on our Native Soil to preserve it for us and for others?

Dig in Further:

Do you have dedicated time each day to be silent and listen to the Lord? If not, why not? Could this be something to look at?

Are their boundaries in your life, your spouse’s life, children, friends regarding entertainment? Have you created any “media free” times or places in your day-to-day? If not, consider drawing some boundaries to create some freedom for you and your loved ones to enjoy one another.

What area of your life is the noisiest? How can you reduce the noise so that you can be more attentive to God’s voice in your day to day?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/m5-hY2JFxF4

Meet Phyllis Beam. Director of Catholic Social Services branch in Robertsdale. Hear how she got involved in this ministry and how she has seen the Lord work through it. Also hear how she helped Austin discern a first step in responding to his sense of call to serve the poor.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever visited your local Catholic Social Service branch? If not, take some time to drop by, tour their facility and learn about the ways you can support them in their ministries.

Is there a way you or your parish might be able to partner with the mission of Catholic Social Services in your area? Take this to prayer and study.

Have you ever been prompted to do something for the poor? What was the circumstance? How did you know the Lord was getting your attention? What can you learn from this experience about being more available to his promptings moving forward?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/jf3Xkn9Gxrc

“Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). See this verse lived out in a special way today in Austin Gontarski. Grew up in Loxley. Attends St. Patrick’s Parish in Robertsdale. Went to St. Patrick’s School all the way through and now attends St. Michael’s in Fairhope. Learning about the poor from Sr. Margaret, Fr. Jim Morrison and company at St. Patrick’s, Austin felt called to do something. Listen in and see where this call took him…

Dig in Further:

Have you ever felt called to serve the poor but thought to yourself, “What’s the use? I really won’t make that much of a difference!” How can you overcome that attitude and step forward nonetheless?

How might the Lord want you to use your creativity to serve the poor? Is there a local branch of Catholic Social Services, the Good Will, Salvation Army or other ministry were you could inquire about volunteering?

Do you feel like there is a void in your life? Like something is missing? Maybe the Lord is calling you to make a gift of yourself. Many times when we give ourselves away, it makes room for God to fill us with his peace and grace.

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/jb8KOyBnGT0

Today we look at the role of “fathers” in our lives. There is a real crisis today of fathers not being “present” and “engaged” in their children’s lives. With the help of spiritual writer Fr. Jaque Philippe, we seek to understand the effect of this poverty of “fatherhood” today. We consider, how can fatherhood be strengthened and renewed here on our Native Soil.

Dig In Further:

What is your relationship with your father like? How has his love blessed you, formed you and made a difference in your life? How have his shortcomings impacted, hurt or disappointed you?

How might God the Father need to come and bring healing, love and peace to the places where you feel neglected by the fathers in your life? How can you bravely invite God the Father to love you in those areas, memories and parts of your life?

How can we love and support our fathers better? Our dads? Our priests? Our grandfathers? Godfathers? Other “father figures” in our lives? How can we show them our appreciation and help them to understand the great impact they have in our lives? How can we encourage them in this important ministry in our lives?

How can we do this in our own families? Parishes? Communities?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/7fq8hZQxUMc

Meet Anthony Tobin. Originally from New York state. Hear how a compelling youth minister came into his life and changed the course of everything. Be amazed at how the Lord invited Anthony and his family to move to our Native Soil. Walk with him through his several years as a youth minister and into this new season of his life leading Vagabond Missions in Mobile. We met his counterpart in this minsitry Lauren Alley last season. See how the Lord brought these two together for this mission to the spiritually poor youth of Mobile.

Dig In Further:

Who had the biggest impact on you in your youth? Was it a teacher? Coach? Parent? Youth minister? What did they do exactly that made you feel loved, cared for or closer to God? How might you be called to be that person for someone else?

Have you ever felt a stirring in your heart when presented with an opportunity to serve in a new way? When you were presented with a new job, ministry, location or idea? If the stirring involved a cocktail of passion, love, zeal and an impulse to step in that direction against the odds, take some time and take it to prayer. See what the Lord might want to do.

How do you evangelize the unchurched in your area? How does your parish? How might you and your parish more effectively reach out the unchurched…especially the unchurched poor and youth…and invite them into the life of the Church?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/yzyvMW2t1Pw

Meet Jim Backes. A Mobile native. McGill grad. Notre Dame alum. And long time engineer with Hargrove. Listen to see how the Lord called him into prison ministry. It was a surprise to him and those involved with the ministry. Marvel at the mutual impact the Lord has wrought on both Jim and those he serves. See how this also has led him to be involved with Ransom Ministries—a non-profit in Mobile inspired very much by the example of Fr. Greg Boyle from our previous episode.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever really experienced the personal love that God has for you? If so, have you allowed it to become central in your life? If not, consider asking the Lord to reveal to you how much he loves and care for you in a direct and personal way. This experience really changed the course of Jim’s life.

Touched by the love of God, we can’t help but love our neighbor. How might the Lord be asking you to love your neighbor? Is there a ministry at your parish for which you could volunteer? Maybe a non-profit where you could volunteer?

Ask the Lord to show you were you are needed. For Jim, prison ministry was an assignment from the Lord that came to him as a surprise! What surprising task might the Lord have held out for you?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/r7FR6R_sWqc

Today, Fr. Victor introduces us to one of his favorite books—Tattoos on the Heart by Greg Boyle, SJ. In this memoir, Fr. Boyle shares the spiritual lessons the Lord has taught him in serving for 20+ years in LA, in the most densely gang-populated area in the world. A location in our Archdiocese gets a shout out in the book! The concrete examples of compassion from this book give us much to consider here on our Native Soil.

Dig In Further:

“How can we let people live like this?” This is what one of Fr. Boyle’s “homies” said in between sobs after visiting our Native Soil—Pritchard namely. It is a provocative question for us to take to prayer and consideration. How might the Lord want to convict us about the conditions of our neighbors’ lives? How might he convict us to make a change?

What are the broken systems in your home town? What are the cycles of violence? Poverty? Drug addiction? Neglect? What act of love would it take to break these systems? What systems built on love, compassion and commitment would need to replace them?

Are their non-profits in your town to help rehabilitate the poor, addicted, homeless, mentally-ill or gang-affiliated? How might you support these efforts? If there is not, how might you and your parish beginning praying and studying about what God is calling you to do?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/RsPa8bbEBUU

Meet Michelle Schultz. Wife. Mother of 6. Convert to the Catholic faith. Long time youth minister. Recently started a non-profit to serve pregnant students at Auburn University called Baby Steps. As someone who once had an abortion in a moment of fear and anxiety facing her future, marvel at how the Lord has brought her healing and inspired her to give other women facing the same fears the support they need to make a different decision.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever made a decision that your regretted? What were the pressures you were facing that affected you? How might you be able to give support and perspective to someone facing a similar dilemma.

Is there any way you need some extra support in your life so that you do not feel so overwhelmed?

How much you reach out for help—both before the Lord and to those he has put in your life? How can you support women in your local area to give them the support they need, so that they do not feel like abortion is their only choice? How can we surround young women with our prayers and resources so that they know that they matter…their baby matters…that they are surrounded by many neighbors that are “Pro-Life?”

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/AxzBbdG1JOw

We choose some saints. Other saints choose us. Listen how St. Damien of Molokai chose Fr. Victor. Be inspired by Fr. Damien’s heroic life—serving the lepers who were quarantined on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. Be challenged to consider who are the “lepers” in our midst today? How are we being called to love them?

Dig In Further:

Have you ever had a saint “choose” you? Keep inserting himself/herself in your path? If not, maybe ask the Lord to send you a Saint that you can relate to as a close friend and mentor.

What do you find most inspiring in the life of St. Damien? How does he challenge you to consider how you can “love your neighbor” more robustly?

Who are the “lepers” in your life? Those that nobody has time for, everyone is afraid of, or all feel repulsed by? How might you be called to reach out to them?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/wkx2_hR-Nnk

Meet Sr. Cecelia. A Little Sister of the Poor who serves Christ in our elderly poor in Mobile. Learn how she heard this calling. Understand about the founding of the Little Sisters in France so many years ago. Be challenged to consider where Christ is waiting to be served by you.

Dig In Further:

Do you have elderly people in your life that you are in regular contact with? If not, how you you reach out?

How about your relationship with the elderly in your own family? Could you be more be aware of Christ’s presence with them? How would that affect the amount of time or attention you invest in those relationships?

Why do you think a love for our elders is so important to the Lord? How does that Lord want to use them to help form, orient and ground us in our own walks of faith?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/GcSdJnjH1NU

“And who is my neighbor?” This question prompted Jesus to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan. Join us this season as we contemplate this parable and what it means to us here on our Native Soil. Why does the Lord have a preferential love for the poor—the orphan, the widow, the alien, the imprisoned? What would it look like if we did? What if we more fully let the poor determine the priorities of our family, our parish and our Archdiocese?

Dig In Further:

Who is your neighbor? Who are the poor most proximate to you? Physically poor? Spiritually poor?

What would it look like for you to have preferential love for these people? What changes in your lifestyle would need to happen? What sacrifices might you have to make?

St. Ambrose said, "You are not making a gift of what is yours to the poor man, but you are giving him back what is his. You have been appropriating things that are meant to be for the common use of everyone. The earth belongs to everyone, not to the rich." What might you need to give back to the poor?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/n4ougp0IIck

Synopsis: Meet Fr. Victor Ingalls. Host of Native Soil and going into his sixth year as Vocations Director. Hear how he felt God’s calling to become a priest. Despite being resistant to the call, marvel at how the Lord persisted with the call until Fr. Victor was able to trust.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever been afraid of what you knew God was asking you to do? Why? What bad did you fear would happen by following God?

How have you learned to trust God, even when things seem impossible or not suited for you?

Have you ever considered being a priest? If not, why? Might the Lord be calling you to become a pastor of souls and a shepherd of God’s people?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/bLzv181JIno

Synopsis: Meet Anna Lee Ingalls. Amongst many things, she is the mother of our host Fr. Victor Ingalls. Hear how she was raised Protestant in Maryland and how she came to the Catholic faith once married with children. Also, hear her perspective on her son’s calling to the priesthood—seems like she was clued in before him. Listen as she shares what the Priesthood means to her now.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever been aware that the Lord was doing something in someone’s life before they were? When? How did you know?

Why do you think the Lord gives us clarity about each other’s lives that he doesn’t always give directly to us? How might we be called to help form one another?

How is the Lord calling you to go deeper in your faith? To trust God more with the direction of your life?

WACTH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/OYYiqF_DUZo

Synopsis: Meet Ryan Dardard. A Mobile native (Bayou LaBatre really!). Former professional poker player and seminarian—a rare combo! Now recently married and finished law school. Hear how the Lord has led him through all these chapters and given him a conviction to start his married life back on our Native Soil.

Dig In Further:

What are the different chapters the Lord has led you through in life? How would you divide them? What would you title the chapter you are currently in?

Have you ever been led to an experience…a place that you thought would be permanent but you later realized their was something else for you in store? How did you realize that? Why did you think the Lord allowed such an experience in your life?

Have you ever prayerfully considered WHERE the Lord wants you to put down roots? Have you ever been quick to “write off” where you are from, as a possibility, because of your dreams of “something new” or “better” or just the adolescent angst of “get me out of here!”? What would it look like to bring the “Where” of your life before the Lord without any “conditions” or “strings attached”?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/S9VTmXlLA9k

Synopsis: Meet Srs. Elizabeth (formerly Olivia Barter) and Sr. Lucia. They are both nuns at the cloistered Carmel Convent in Covington, LA. Sr. Elizabeth grew up Christ the King Parish in Daphne where she attended grade school and was active in the youth group. She graduated from McGill Toolen. Sr. Lucia grew up in Lafayette and entered the Carmel a couple years after Sr. Elizabeth after teaching for a couple of years. Hear how God revealed himself to these young women and called them to belong entirely to Jesus.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever felt that God is calling you closer to him? Has that scared you in any way? What fears are holding you back?

Have you ever considered a call to the Religious Life? To belong entirely to Christ? If not, why not? If you don’t open you ears, how will you know if the Lord is calling?

Have you ever read St. Therese of Lisieux’s autobiography Story of a Soul? If not, today is your day. It is one of the most important spiritual writings in the history of the Church and arguably the most critical for our Church today. It had a big impact on Srs. Elizabeth and Lucia. Give it chance to have an impact on you.

How much of a priority is prayer in your life? How can it move closer to Number One?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/e9YyXRxXmiA

Synopsis: Meet Sony Garcia. Wife. Artist. Singer. Guitar Player. Director of Pastoral Juvenil (Youth Ministry) for our Office of Hispanic Ministry. Teacher at Little Flower. Director of Music for Spanish Mass at St. Catherine’s. And much more! Listen how the Lord brought Sonya to our Native Soil from Puerto Rico. Marvel at how the Lord got her attention to get involved in our Church in so many different ways!

Dig In Further:

Are you artistic? Where did that gift come from? It is rather mysterious to consider. How might God be calling you to put your artistic gifts at the service of God and his people?

Have you ever experienced a song take you to a place very close to God? Had a song open your heart to hear God’s voice or feel his presence? Take a minute to thank God for this moment. Thank God for the gifts he has given the artists in our lives. And consider what kind of music…art in general you want to surround yourself with.

Have you ever been to a Spanish Mass? If not, why not give it a try? Experience the width and breath of Christ’s Body here on our Native Soil. Open yourselves to the different languages, rhythms and songs that cry out to God in our midst.

The youth need much encouragement, care and inspiration in the faith. How can you come alongside Sonya and other youth ministers throughout our Archdiocese to help form our next generation of Catholics?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/GObFN3WMWw8

Synopsis: Meet Dc. Clarence Darrington. A Montgomery native. Grew up at the City of St. Jude. Through a divorce in his family, went to the Baptist Church for years and became a leader. Listen how the Lord brought him full circle back to the Catholic Church, led him to his Catholic wife and revealed a call to become a permanent deacon. A true story of God’s providence!

Dig In Further:

What aspects of being raised in the Catholic faith really sunk in? What things stick with you to this day?

Have you ever seen the “Providence” of God in your life? Like you get a clear look at the plan he has been working on all your life? When was it? What were the circumstances?

Have you ever felt called to do something…and then been surprised at the timing or circumstances that God asked you to start responding?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/1RRD2ca8rug

Synopsis: Meet Marguerite Murphy. Wife. Mother of 8. Secretary at St. Michael High School in Fairhope. Originally from Brooklyn, marvel at how the Lord nurtured her faith over the years and eventually brought her and her family down to put their roots down in our Native Soil.

Dig In Further: Do you have any roots in New York? So many of us do! Consider all of the details that had to come together for you and your family to wind up where you are! What does God want to do with you HERE…NOW?

Have you ever found yourself wanting more from the faith but not knowing what exactly or where to turn? Take some time to research Catholic schools, universities and educational resources. Give yourself a chance to sink your teeth, mind and heart deeper into the faith. The Soil is not gonna dig itself!!!

Have you ever had certain circumstances come together in such a way that you feel God is speaking to you? Have you ever felt like the Lord put someone in your faith to encourage you and/or confirm a decision you have made? Take time to reflect on these moments, thank God for them and share them with someone, giving testimony to God’s goodness in your life.

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/tyRXBAiXfdQ

Synopsis: Meet Justin Castanza. Teacher, Principal and how President of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory Schools. Hear how he discovering his calling to work with young people. Also how he discovered his call to marriage and children. He is a Montgomery native and a product of Catholic schools. Montgomery has always had a certain gravity in his life. Let’s dig in.

Dig In Further:

Do you have a certain sense of belonging to the place you live? Why or why not?

Where did you learn how to serve? How has that translated into your life now? How can you teach others to serve?

What are you passionate about? How did you come to know you were passionate about that? How is God currently calling you to live out that passion?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/6OcRjozwCVI

Synopsis: Meet Grace Galligan. Project Manager for Native Soil! Originally from Philadelphia. Hear how she wrestled with two great passions growing up—running and photography. See how the Lord guided her each step of the way. Discover what brought her to Alabama. You will appreciate her honest words about uncertainty, loneliness and God being attentive to the desires of our hearts.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever been torn between two passions of yours? How did you resolve the dilemma? What does it look like to seek the Lord’s guidance in such a moment?

Have you ever felt lonely? How did you deal with it? Did you get to know anything different about yourself?

How do you trust God when you are not sure what is next? What are you to do in the meantime? How can you be present to the gift of each day, but still discern where the Lord is leading you?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/9fliKvOVZtY

Synopsis: Meet Joe Arensberg. Husband. Father of 7. Grandfather of 13. One son is a priest—Fr. Pat Arensberg, Pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Mobile. Head of the Theology Department at McGill Toolen in Mobile and football coach. Growing up in Hawaii, hear his amazing story of how Mobile came to be his Native Soil. Also, originally a paramedic, listen in to hear how the Lord called him to teach the faith and the many sacrifices he had to make to answer that call. So many students have been blessed by this movement of God here on our Native Soil.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever felt called to do something, but shied away from it because of financial considerations or other fears? How might the Lord be calling you to Trust Him more?

Do you feel like you are just floating along in your faith? Going through the motions to some degree? Ask the Lord to take you deeper as the Lord did with Joe through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima.

How do you look at the children and grandchildren in your life? At times, do they seem burdensome? How might the Lord be calling you to be more generous with regards to this most precious gift among us?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/PJpA_n5AyeM

Synopsis: Meet Sr. Mary Jordan. Originally from Ohio. Now called to spend the rest of her life, praying for us on our Native Soil. Today she explains the origins of cloistered Dominicans, their monastery in Marbury, their mission as well as how the Lord brought her to Alabama.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever asked some cloistered nuns to pray for you? If not, consider doing so. Take advantage of this gift here on our Native Soil.

Have you ever had a dream that seemed to be from God? Have you responded to what you felt called to do in that dream? If not, what is holding you back?

Have you ever considered a called to the religious life? If not, why not? Might God be calling you to be united to him in this special way?

WATCH: https://youtu.be/wifhAd79tW4

Synopsis: Meet our Native Soil’s newest priest—Fr. Alex Crow. Hear how he went from being anti-Catholic to Catholic to a Catholic priest!!! Share in his excitement and thankfulness for his newly assumed priesthood. He is currently assigned as the Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Parish in Mobile.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever had a time you have felt at odds with God? With the Catholic Church? How did God work through that? How do you still need him to work through that?

What God calls us to do can be surprising! Are you completely open to whatever God wants to do with your life? If not, what is holding you back?

Have you ever asked God if he is calling you to be a priest? If not, Why Not? If not, Why not now?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/GFGiWYWwtc4

Synopsis:

Meet Lauren Hoyer. Religion teacher at Montgomery Catholic High School. Since childhood, she had a strange pull towards Alabama. She also had a desire to teach the faith at a Catholic school. Listen to how the Lord, in His timing, brought both of these desires to fulfillment.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever been attracted to something from a young age? Or had a certain affinity for something, you knew deep down was meant to be?

Has God ever spoken to you through the timing of events in your life? If so, when? How?

What can you do to deepen you and your family’s knowledge of the Catholic faith?

WATCH VIDEO: https://youtu.be/McW9ubJJmvI

Synopsis:Meet Dc. Hector Donastorg. Director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry. Originally from the Dominican Republic. Listen in to see how he felt CALLED to be married, be a deacon, settle his family here in our Archdiocese and much more.

Dig In Further:

How did God bring you and your family to the Archdiocese of Mobile? What plans do you think the Lord has for you HERE?

Dc. Hector met his wife at a young age. He did not know that would be his wife until many years later. Do you have an awareness that the Lord has put certain people in your life? How have the purposes been revealed to you over the years?

How might the Lord be calling you to support Dc. Hector and his Office of Hispanic Ministry?

Synopsis:

Today Father Victor closes out season two by reflecting upon his experience attending the dedication mass for Saint Ignatius his new parish church. It was a unique moment of seeing so much planning, detail and preparation poured into one moment of worshiping God. The details of this rich liturgy of our faith give us much to consider as people of faith, members of the body of Christ, and children of God.

Dig in Further:

Have you ever attended the dedication mass of a new Catholic church? If so, what moment stuck out to you the most? Either way, consider praying with the words of this powerful liturgy and contemplating what God is saying to you about being the church.

https://columbuscatholic.org/documents/2017/4/Dedication%20of%20a%20Church%20.pdf

https://adoremus.org/2018/11/enter-his-courts-with-songs-of-praise-a-walk-through-of-the-revised-liturgy-for-a-church-dedication/

Do you feel like you are worshiping God as best as you can? Do you feel like your parish is worshiping God as best as they can?

If not how might God be calling you to participate more fully and actively in the life of worship of your parish? How might God be calling you to invest all of your heart, all of your mind, all of your body, and all of your strength into Your participation of the Eucharist?

If somebody was looking at your life objectively and holistically, would it be clear to them that worshiping God through the Sunday Eucharist is the most important aspect of your life? What about if they assess the collective lives of the people in your parish?

What would have to change for that to become clear to an outsider? To your fellow parishioners? To your family members? To yourself?

Synopsis: Meet Mary Young. One of our oldest and most avid followers here on Native Soil. She is married and pregnant with her second child. She is also the new Director of Montgomery Area’s pregnancy resource center—COPE. Hear how she fell in love with her faith over the years growing up in Prattville and attending Troy University. Be inspired by her drive to serve the young families on our Native Soil.

Dig in further:

How can you help build the young adult community in our parishes?

How is God calling you to be more “pro-life” here on our Native Soil? What talents and resources do you have to support our local mothers in need?

What talents and resources do you have that God can use to support other vulnerable, needy people in our backyards— The poor, imprisoned, homeless, the unborn, the lonely, the addicted, the elderly, and the outcasts

How can you maybe support COPE? If there is not a resource like this in your area, perhaps God is calling you to start one?!

Synopsis: Meet Michael Zoghby Junior. He comes from a big Lebanese Catholic family that has been in the Mobile area for several generations. Today he shares how the faith of his family was modeled for him to not just follow but truly except and live. He also gives us an honest word about being a young parent and the challenges that come to pass the faith along and also try to find faithful connections with peers at the Parish level.

Dig In Further:

How was faith shared and your family? What things really helped you? What things were not as helpful?

How can you learn from your experience growing up and share the faith with your family now? Could you start praying with your spouse? Could you start praying over your children each night as Michael felt compelled to do?

How can we develop more opportunities for Young couples to be supported and plugged in in our parishes?

Synopsis: Meet Sarah Hirschfeldt Schmidt. Newly married. A native of Spanish Fort. First really evangelized by a Methodist Youth Group. Revived in her sense of being “Catholic” by a summer working with Capuchin Friars of the Renewal in the Bronx. Enlightened about what a “godly man” is by her father and her fiancé. Still trying to figure out her role in a parish. Join us as she takes us along her faith journey as a young adult in our pews.

Dig In Further:
So many young people like Sarah grow up unaware of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. How can we better introduce our young people to have a real relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist?

Fathers, what kind of guy do you want your daughters to marry? What kind of faith would you like him to have? Work ethic? Character? Are you modeling those qualities? If not, how can you take the first step toward being the “St. Joseph”…that godly example in her life?

Young adults often are not sure where to plug into the life of a parish. How can we welcome our young adults into the lives of our parishes? Can we intentionally create spaces for them to gather, engage and plug into parish life?

Synopsis:
Meet Chris Valencia, Brittany Eccles & Zachary Vincent. They hail from the three big universities in our Archdiocese that feature campus ministry—Troy, South Alabama & Auburn. See what the realities of “Eucharist,” “Parish” and “St. Joseph” mean to them. Consider more deeply what they mean to you.

Dig In Further:
How has your relationship to the Eucharist evolved over the years? How can it more and more be the center of your life? How can the Eucharist serve as a stable anchor for the chaotic life of a college student?

How can our young people be welcomed and incorporated more fully into the lives of our parishes?

How can our parishes provide opportunities for young people to be mentored in the faith? How can young people be invited to participate in the ministry, planning and evangelism of our parishes?

How can we encourage our young Catholic men to be true, godly men? How can St. Joseph call our young men to a higher standard? How can he provide them with a template to follow as they become the future husbands, fathers, deacons and priests of our parishes?

Synopsis:

Meet Jude Evans, Gracie Barranco and Edward Cowles—three seniors from our three Catholic high schools. See what the realities of “Eucharist,” “Parish” and “St. Joseph” mean to them. Consider more deeply what they mean to you.

Dig In Further:

What did the Eucharist mean to you in high school? What about now?

How have you felt the love and support of your parish community? How is the Lord calling you to share that same love and support to others in your parish today?
How can St. Joseph be held up more robustly to our young people as a model of a godly man? A good husband and father?

Synopsis:

As this series has show, the roots of our Native Place…our Native Soil go deep! Learning where our roots are helps us understand how we are being called to grow today. In God’s Providence, the Lord has brought many people to plant seeds of faith into the ground upon which we now stand—Michael Portier, Thomas Judge, the Visitation sisters, Harold Purcell, the many Vincentians and the list goes on and on. Now is our time! Consider how God wants to weave you into the next chapter of the rich history of our Native Soil.

Dig In Further:

Which episode of this series has resonated most with you?

What person that was talked about or interviewed struck a chord with you? Why is that?

The Holy Spirit moves through each of us a particular way. As you see the Holy Spirit move through the persons featured throughout this series, what movement of the Holy Spirit resonates with you? How is the Spirit nudging you to become part of this rich legacy of our “native place”?

Synopsis:

In 1624, St. Vincent de Paul started the Congregation of the Mission dedicated to the religious instruction of the poor, the training of the clergy, and foreign missions. This very same mission found its way to our Native Soil in 1896. Fr. Bruce Krause, the pastor of St. Mary’s in Opelika—the first Vincentian mission in our Archdiocese and the last remaining parish still staffed by Vincentian priests—helps us explore the Vincentian roots in our Native Soil. Then Charlie Moore, the current president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in our Archdiocese, helps us to see how the spirit of St. Vincent has rooted itself all around our Archdiocese through their many conferences dedicated to

“Seeking the Face of Christ in the Poor.”

Dig In Further:

Does your parish have a conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul? If not, might you be the one God is calling to get one started?!

How have you seen the “Face of Christ” in the poor? How have you been able to serve Christ in the poor? Is there a way that Christ is calling you to be closer to him in the poor?

How can your parish more and more be a place where the poor feel welcomed and served? How can your parish help to not only respond to the physical needs of the poor but the spiritual needs as well…even first and foremost?

Synopsis:

Father Harold Purcell, the founder of the City of St. Jude, came to Montgomery, Alabama in 1934. His dream was to create a “center for the religious, charitable, educational and industrial advancement of the Negro people.” And amazingly…despite being a Yankee…despite being white…and despite being a Catholic priest, he was able to do just that! In this episode, Roberta James, a long-time parishioner of St. Jude, helps us to explore this rich history. Then we sit down with a current legacy of this same history—Fr. Manuel Williams. Fr. Williams grew up in Montgomery, attended St. Jude High School and currently serves the Black Catholic community and beyond as pastor of Resurrection Catholic Missions.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever visited the City of St. Jude in Montgomery? How about the grave of Fr. Harold Purcell? Consider making a pilgrimage there sometime soon. Stand at Fr. Purcell’s grave, say a prayer and consider how you can build upon the powerful, Spirit-filled legacy he left here on our Native Soil.

How does God want to use you as an agent of “Communion” here on our Native Soil? How can God use you to break down walls that separate us here in the Body of Christ—racially, denominationally, socioeconomically and beyond?

Like Fr. Purcell, how can you use the gifts, talents and privileges he has given you to advocate for the poor and the minority in our midst today?

Synopsis:

How important is prayer? How powerful is it? How much does it affect us here on our Native Soil? Our first bishop Michael Portier really believed in prayer. So much so, at the onset of his ministry, he worked hard to bring the Visitation Sisters to Mobile—cloistered nuns who would dedicate themselves above all to saturate our Native Soil with prayer. Meet Sr. Rosemarie as she walks us through the rich history of the Visitation here in Mobile, their mission, and how the Lord brought her to Mobile to be a part of their prayer for all of us.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever visited the Visitation Monastery in Mobile? Any cloistered monastery? If not, consider making a visit and spending some time in prayer on this sacred soil. Also, take some time to prepare some prayer requests relevant to your family, parish and our Native Soil. Bring them to the sisters so that can “go to work” lifting up your intentions to the Lord.

Have you ever tried “Heavenly Hash” made by a nun? If not, it's time to TREAT YO SELF!!!

Does the contemplative…cloistered life challenge you in any way? How? Have you ever considered such a calling? If not, could you open your heart to the Lord…to give him the chance to call to be a powerful intercessor for all of us here in the Archdiocese of Mobile?

How can you structure your life more to include moments of prayer? How can you safeguard these moments? You will have to truly believe in the power of prayer for your good and that of many others.

Synopsis:

Did you know that a religious order started right here on our Native Soil? Have you ever heard of Fr. Thomas Judge? If not, now is the time! The Lord called Fr. Judge to come to our Archdiocese and minister to the poor, both spiritually and physically. He discipled the people of our area and empowered them to do the same with his conviction “Every Catholic, An Apostle.” This is a cry that Lauren Alley, a teacher at McGill-Toolen, has heard echoing in her heart today. Be amazed at how the Lord also brought her to our Native Soil and is now calling her to evangelize the poor among us in a new venture called “Vagabond Ministries.”

Dig In Further

How are you being called to be an “apostle” to our Native Soil?

Who are the poor in your backyard? Physically? Spiritually? How may God be calling you to minister to their needs?

Is there a ministry, a part of town, a part of your parish that is suffering…in need of renewal…that has caught your eye? Pray about it. Consider how God might be calling you to respond.

Synopsis:

In his latest encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis challenged us with these words— “We need to sink our roots deeper into the fertile soil and history of our native place, which is a gift of God” (145). In this series, we intend to do just that! And the roots here on our Native Soil go deep! Studying our local church history, we will better understand how Christ and his Church came to our Native Soil. Then we will better understand how we are called to carry-on that same mission today. Today we sit down with our shepherd archbishop Thomas Rodi and learn about our very first Bishop Michael Portier. Amazingly these two men have been called to lead the Church through so many of the same challenges. Let’s dig in!

Dig In Further:

How does the example of Bishop Portier speak to us today? How are you being called to help bring the life of the church into the “frontiers” of our Native Soil today?

Who are your spiritual forefathers? In your family? In your parish? In ministries you belong to? What can you learn from their experience? How can the Holy Spirit use you to build upon the foundation they laid?

What obstacles, discomfort or even danger are you willing to face the build up the kingdom of God here on our Native Soil? Bishop Portier faced alligators, diseases, foreign culture, foreign landscapes, a poverty of resources and help. He faced them all with great courage and an even greater faith. How do your courage and faith need to deepen so the Holy Spirit may use you too to advance the life of Christ here in our Archdiocese?

Synopsis: This marks the final episode of Native Soil’s first season. Join Fr. Victor as he looks back over the ground thus far explored. Consider the blessings that have come from this ministry so far. Further consider what ground ought to be covered in Season Two and what ways God is calling you to bring renewal to our Native Soil.

Dig In Further:

What Episode has resonated most with you this season? Why?

How have you felt called to bring renewal to your neck of the woods?

How can you respond to Pope Francis’ call for us to “sink our roots deeper into the fertile soil and history of our native place, which is a gift of God”?

How can we be more aware and appreciative of the gift of our Native Soil? How can we be better stewards of it?

How can you really enter in to this upcoming “Year of the Eucharist and The Parish”? How can you let the Eucharist be rooted more deeply in your life such that you bring His life to bear more powerfully in your parish...on our Native Soil?

Synopsis:

How is it that we can get away with praying in the field of sports more than most any other area of public life? How is it that we raise the bar of our expectations for our young people who are athletes—expecting excellence from them both on and off the field physically, morally and spiritually? What can we learn from the dynamic of coaches, players, prayer and pursuing excellence that could be integrated into other fields of our Native Soil?

Dig In Further:

How can we raise the bar of expectation for our young people in our parishes? For our parish life in general? For our children?

Who are the people in your life the Lord has given you a chance to “coach up” into godly men and women?

What can we learn from effective coaches about passing on the faith in a holistic way to the next generation?

How can we create a culture of excellence, passion and commitment in our parishes? How can we empower our brothers and sisters to “coach each other up” in the faith?

Consoling Our Mother

Synopsis: A distraught mother is a tough thing to witness. Our Mother in heaven is distraught about the hate in the world and our lack of love for her Son and each other. The only thing that can really console her is our repentance. Let us do our best to console Our Blessed Mother and allow Peace to reign in our hearts and our land.

Dig In Further:

Where in your life do you need to repent and ask God to forgive you?

Can you see any seeds of hate in your heart that have been silently growing for awhile?

Have you ever heard of Our Lady of Kibeho? If not, take some time to read about her in Immaculee’s Our Lady of Kibeho. How do Our Lady’s messages speak to you? How do they challenge you to be a better child of God, brother of Jesus and son/daughter of Mary?

Synopsis:

Meet Simon Cortopassi. A Mobile native who grew up at St. Pius and McGill and now coaches at St. Michael Catholic High School. Hear about he had to “grow up early” becoming a father at the age of 19. The lessons the Lord has taught him along the way, he now is able to share with the young people God has put on his path.

Dig In Further:

Did you have to “grow up early” in one way or another? How did this shape you? How does it affect the way you coach/mentor the young people God has placed in your life?

What is your Effort, Energy and Attitude level when it comes to your relationship with Christ? Your involvement with your parish? Your engagement with renewing our Native Soil?

How can we grow such a culture or engagement here on our Native Soil?

Synopsis:
Meet Anthony Stiell. A native to Mobile. A deacon candidate from Prince of Peace parish. Listen to how the Lord got him into coaching and gave him a chance to mentor hundreds of young people over the years. A long time coach at Leflore High School, Coach Stiell never shied away from praying with his students and even his opposing team…every game!

Dig In Further:
How can you make prayer more commonplace in the place that God has you? How can you reach out to others and invite them into prayer?

One definition of vocation is this—“Where your greatest passion and the world’s greatest need intersect.” Are you open to where this surprising intersection maybe? Coach Stiell did not go to college to be a coach. But he had a passion for it from a young age. The need for his niece’s basketball time first drew him into that intersection…the Lord moved him along from there.

Synopsis: Someone has to have ultimate power and authority over our lives. Who will we choose? Jesus wants to be the one. Only in giving him power and authority will we receive our truest selves in return.

Dig In further:

In what ways have you tried to be your own “king”?

Is there someone in your life you Have tried to make your king? Become overly dependent on them for your happiness?

Have you ever allowed evil to rule your life or some aspect of your life?

How can you choose Jesus daily as your King?

How can you daily welcome him to Shepherd you? To guide and protect you?

How can you look more to Jesus to show you your place in his Kingdom?

How can you love Jesus more? How can you search for him, hidden in the poor more earnestly?

Synopsis:

Meet Fr. Pat Arensberg. He grew up at St. Mary’s in Mobile and then attended
McGill-Toolen. He helped with the McGill football team during his college years at Springhill. His dad and brothers have been involved in coaching. Listen to how God used these experiences to foster his walk with Christ and call to the priesthood.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever had a coach challenge you about some aspect of your life and call you to a higher standard? How did you respond?

How may God be calling you to be a “coach”/mentor figure in someone else’s life?

Is there anyone in your life that you feel God might be calling you to let them mentor you?

Synopsis: It’s easy to focus on what we don’t have in life. But God calls us to focus on the “talents” he has given us and to simply “Use What You Got.” Three things commonly keep us from doing so—comparison, fear and lack of faith.

Dig In Further:

What are the greatest talents God has given you?

What is holding you back from fully “Using What You Got”?

Is there any resentment in your life for “What You Got” or “Don’t Got”? How can you deepen your trust in God’s Providence? That “What You Got” is exactly “What You Need”?

How does “What You Got” line up with “What the World Needs”?

Synopsis:

Sports is a huge part of the makeup of our Native Soil. Consequently we are all impacted by “Coaches” in one way or another. Fr. Victor shares some of the coaches who were most influential in his life and invites us to consider how these people can more and more contribute to the renewal of our Native Soil.

Dig In Further:

What coach has had the biggest impact on your life? What lessons did you learn from him/her? How did they help form you to be a better person?

How have you seen a coach model their faith in Christ well? What kind of impact do you see it have on their players? School? Community?

How can Coaches help to put God more at the center of our sports-centric culture here in Alabama?

Synopsis: Fr. Victor spent this week at St. Martin de Tours in TROY. Today he invites the people there to consider how great a gift Priesthood is. Particularly, he invites them to contemplate the Priesthood of their Pastor Fr. Chris Boutin. A clear consideration of it all should lead you to conclude: God is Real, God is With You & God Loves You.

Dig In Further:

How have you encountered Christ through the ministry of a priest?

Have you ever considered how much God must love you to invite men to give their lives to be priests so that you can be closer to God and his Love for you?

How might you pray for, encourage and support your priests more fervently?

How might you, your family and your parish help to pray for, promote and encourage more answered vocations to the Priesthood here in the Archdiocese of Mobile?

Might God be calling you?

Synopsis:

There are many blessings that come with converts. Their enthusiasm, intentional living out of the faith and eagerness to be involved in parish life has breathed new life to so many places around the Archdiocese of Mobile and beyond. One special fruit that has also blessed our Archdiocese is vocations to the priesthood! As converts go deeper into their relationship with Christ, willing to follow him down the windy road of conversion, many times, an awareness of a deeper call to ordained ministry bubbles up. See how this dynamic is playing itself out in our own backyard!

Dig In Further:

As you have felt called deeper into Friendship with Christ, have you ever noticed another “calling” emerge? Maybe to get involved at something in your parish? To reconcile with a family member? To start seriously discerning your vocation?

What can the average Catholic take away from the experience of the Converts in our midst? How can we be challenged by their zeal? How can we help them be further incorporated into our Catholic community?

Have you been blessed by the ministry of one of our convert priests—Msgr. Farmer, Msgr. Kee or Fr. Jones? Pray for them. Ask to hear their stories. Thank them for the courage to answer the Call to Convert and to become a priest!

Synopsis: Meet Pepper Huff. A native to Mobile. Grew up attending UMS-Wright. Through a casual comment made by a friend, God nudged him to transfer to McGill-Toolen for his Junior and Senior year of high school. Walk with Pepper on the journey that this has taken him on ever since. A journey of “dying to self” and being “invited deeper into the life of Christ.”

Dig In Further:

Have you ever had someone suggest something to you in your life casually, that the Lord used with great force in your life? When and where did this occur? Why do you think the Lord spoke to you in such a way?

What is the difference between “Inviting Christ into your life” and “Christ inviting you into his life”? Both aspects are important parts of a friendship with Christ. Where do you find your relationship with Christ dwells? Is there one side of this coin you may need to venture further into?

Pepper fell in love with a beautiful Catholic woman. This was the practical reason why his conversion to Catholicism began. He had no idea the depths that God would take him! Have you ever had an experience where you agreed to do something for one reason, but in time the Lord entered into the situation and took it to a depth and meaningfulness you could have never anticipated?

Synopsis: On the Feast of St. John Paul II, we see a man who did “set the world on fire” with the love of God. He was thoroughly Polish and was able to thus preach the Gospel to the people of Poland in a particularly powerful way. His example gives us a template to pray about as we consider how God is calling us to “Set Alabama on Fire.”

Dig In Further:

How might you be more immersed in the history and culture of Alabama? Are there places you need to visit? Books you need to read?

How does knowing a place better prepare us to better evangelize and serve it’s needs?

What is one foothold here locally that the Lord has given you with a certain group of people, an organization or place where you can kindle the fire of God’s love?

Synopsis:

Meet Brenda Christian. She grew up Protestant living in a housing project in downtown Montgomery. For the past 25 years, she has served in several capacities at St. Dominic Parish in Mobile. Hear how this grace-filled journey took place. Share in Brenda’s conviction that the words of the prophet Jeremiah ring strong with her story—“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

Dig In Further:

Who in your life let you know that you are “wonderfully made?” Has God used you as his instrument to let another know they are such? What is involved in showing others their worth in God’s eyes?

How can Brenda’s conviction to see everyone in the Body of Christ as equals challenge the way you tend to “label” or “talk about” others?

How have you seen the hand of God in your life? As you look back, can you see some of the ways he has engineered your circumstances to help bring you to where you are? Even the circumstances surrounding your very birth, can you see God’s presence there with you?

There is great diversity in the Body of Christ. On one hand, Brenda shared that she
wants to just be known as a “Catholic” and not a “Black Catholic.” However, on the other hand, she resonates with Sr. Thea Bowman’s statement—“What does it mean to be black and Catholic? It means that I come to my church fully functioning…I bring myself, my black self, all that I am, all that I have, all that I’m worth, all I hope to become. I bring my whole history, my traditions, my experience, my culture, my African-American song, and dance and gesture, and movement and teaching and preaching and healing and responsibility as a gift to the church.” How should we approach “diversity” in the Catholic… “universal” Church? How do we at once affirm our unity in Christ and in the Eucharist but also not just allow but celebrate the different gifts, talents, and expressions of our faith from different cultures in the Body of Christ?

Synopsis: Jesus invites us to consider today that everything belongs to God. Everything is His that he gives to us as a gift. Realizing this we are called to give God heartfelt thanks. Then filled with gratitude, realizing all we have is his, to ask him “What do you want of me Lord?”

Dig In Further:

How can you deeper your appreciation for everything being a Gift from God?

Is there any part of your life or your resources that you see exclusively as “yours”...where God is not permitted to ask anything of you?

What area of your life could you be more opened to be used as God’s instrument?

Synopsis: Meet Tom Riello. An Italian, New Yorker Catholic that got intrigued by Evangelical Christians on TV which led him on a faith journey involving becoming a Presbyterian, a PCA minister and pastor and then somehow made a turn back to the Catholic faith?!?! If that wasn’t enough, he then found his way to Montgomery, AL to teach at our Catholic High School. Marvel at this story of grace and conversion.

Dig in Further:

Have you ever been disillusioned with your Catholic Faith? Have you seen something seemingly more vibrant in another faith tradition? How did your resolve that tension?

Have you ever had a Saint really make an impact on your life like St John Paul II had on Tom?

Do you think you would have The faith and courage to move to a totally city if God called you?!

Synopsis: Have you ever turned down an invitation that you later regretted? God invites us daily into deeper communion with Himself and each other. But do we hear it? Are we attentive to His invitations he makes known to us in prayer, people he puts in our path, and through the circumstances of our lives? His invitations always have our Joy in mind.

Dig In Further: How have you heard God’s invitation in your life? Where have you responded well? Where have you turned down his invitation? How can you be more attentive to God’s invitation in your daily life? How can you invite him to make his invitations known to you? What is holding you back from responding to God’s invitation in your life? Fear? Busyness? FOMO?"

Synopsis: As we have been reflecting, Protestants bless us as Catholics in many ways. Perhaps the most powerful way is when some of them become Catholic! They bring new zeal, study, devotion and perspective into our midst. They challenge all of us to reconsider and treasure anew the gift of our Catholic Faith.

Dig In Further:

Do you know any converts to the faith? How has their faith journey impacted yours?

Do you feel called to deeper conversion in your faith? Is there a part of your walk with Christ that could be more mature? Intentional? Integrated?

Are you able to explain the Catholic Faith to others who have questions? Yourself? If not, what can you do to come into a better understanding of our Catholic Faith?

Synopsis: We can forget that God is the “landowner” of everything. We can consequently resent it when he asks something of us from a certain portion of the vineyard of our lives. But God does want us to be happy. He wants many times to bring us to a sacred intersection—where our greatest gifts and the world’s greatest needs align. There we enjoy the blessing of utilizing our God-given abilities and being a blessing to the world around us.

Dig In Further:

What gifts has God given you? What passions? What needs in the world bother you...burden you personally? How is God calling you to be a blessing?

Is there an area of your life that you feel is “off limits” to God? That you feel is totally “yours”?

Is there an area of the vineyard of your life you feel called to attend to? Is there an area you have worked in that you realize was a good experience but that you are being call elsewhere.

Synopsis: Young Life is a national non-denominational ministry aimed at evangelizing the unchurched and getting them plugged into local church communities. Today Fr. Victor shares how this ministry's template helped to “raise the bar” of expectation, evangelization and vision for the Youth Group at St. Michael’s in Auburn, AL.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever seen a program in a non-Catholic Church that struck you as creative, effective and/or Spirit-filled? If so, ask God if perhaps he is calling you to study that program and see how it’s template may serve to bring about new life in your parish.

How valuable are the young people in your parish? What are you willing to do to make sure they know they are loved and that they come into a lifelong friendship with Jesus Christ and his Church?

Does your parish have a Youth Group? If not, how can your parish work together to begin this important ministry? If yes, can it be more inclusive and effective? How can you study what is working in other Catholic parishes, non-Catholic churches and other youth ministry efforts to enhance this ministry at your parish?

How might you be called to “Win the Right to be Heard” by the young people in your life? Are there any young people, in particular, God might be calling you to serve?

God has only one plan to make the world a better place—Christians. How is God calling you to be part of building the kingdom of God where you live? You are his plan. He doesn’t have a back up!

Dig In Further:

How do you feel God might be calling you to work in the “vineyard” of the world around you?

What is a local problem that you feel called to help with?

What gifts, talents And resources has God given you? How do they line up with the needs in your midst?

What is holding you back from being part of making the realities of heaven more present here on earth?

Synopsis: The Holy Spirit knows what we need way better and way beyond what we could ever understand on our own. Listen to this story of how the Holy Spirit put a prayer in the heart of Fr. Victor which revealed itself to be the answer to a prayer of a group based in Mobile he had never even heard of! Marvel at how the Holy Spirit, in these trying times of pandemic, brought together people of many different faiths along with people of good will to pray for the healing of our Hearts and Home.

Dig in Further:

How can God use this trying time of pandemic to bring healing to our Hearts? What are the things for which you need to repent for that healing to begin? What are things for which we need to repent as a society to welcome God’s healing?

How can we come together as brothers and sisters here on our Native Soil to pray with one heart and mind, imploring the Lord to heal our Hearts and our Home? Our Families and Our Land (2 Chronicles 7:14-15)?

How can we make sure that there is a “Canopy of Prayer” covering each city that we live in? Each neighborhood? Each family?

As people of faith, are we ready to take spiritual responsibility for our Native Soil? To dedicate our selves to covering it in prayer and working diligently to till the soil, plant seeds and see to it that it is fertilized? In other words, are we willing to daily seek what we can do to tend to the needs of our neighbors?

Synopsis: Hear the story of US Navy Seal Michael Monsoor and his relationship with Fr. Paul Halladay, a priest from Mobile. Consider the ways in which God called them to lay their lives down to love and serve their neighbor. Consider how God is calling you to lay down your life like Christ.

Dig in Further:

What is your rooftop? Who are the people there with you? What is the grenade at your feet?

How do you think Christ is calling you to lay your life down in Union with his Spirit?

Who are people in your life you have seen lay their lives down like Christ?

How can Christ train you to respond to persecution, difficulty, poverty, need, threats and the like as he did for us?

Synopsis: Fr. Victor first heard his calling to be a Catholic priest at a non-denominational summer camp out in California. The first group of people he shared his sense of call with were non-Catholics. In his college years, God used a couple key Protestant friends to help his calling to resurface and encourage him to respond. As you listen, allow your understanding of what it means to be part of the “Body of Christ” to deepen and expand.

Dig In Further:

Has God ever used someone unexpected in your life to get your attention? To share his word with you? What were the details of that encounter?

Friendship is a powerful tool can use in our lives. Seemingly insurmountable difference of faith and belief can be overcome to reveal unexpected common ground? Have your sense of the common ground we share with non-Catholic brothers and sisters of faith ever been broadened by a friend?

Can the Holy Spirit only work among Catholics? Separately among Methodists? Separately among Baptists? How can we be more open to the movements of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Among the people God places in our paths and the unfolding of circumstances in our daily lives?

Synopsis: Meet Mike O’Neil. A cradle Catholic from Mobile, AL. Hear his story of how attending a non-denominational weekend retreat called “Outback" changed his life and led to him starting a Catholic men’s organization that has now spread itself around the world!

Dig In Further:

Did you know that the Men of St. Joseph started here in the Archdiocese of Mobile? Have you been touched by this ministry? Is there a chapter at your parish? If night, might God be calling you to start one?

How can you come alongside the mission of MOSJ, and help “Put the Family in the hands of the Father”?

Have you ever encountered God in a powerful way outside of the Catholic Church? Have you ever seen something effective done by a non-Catholic brother or sister and adopted it into your own walk of faith?

Have you ever been able to share something beautiful particular to your Catholic faith with a non-Catholic brother or sister? What blessings came from this sharing?

Synopsis: What if you found out your next-door neighbor was destined to die 25 years before you? How would you respond? What would you be willing to sacrifice if you knew you could help shrink that disparity? Listen to the testimonies of three local young professionals who were confronted with that exact scenario and marvel at how Christ inspired them to respond. Keep your heart open to what Word God might speak to you along the way.

Dig In Further:

How would you define the “bubble” that you live in? Have you had any “eye opening” experiences outside of it?

Are their ways you feel called to address the loneliness and pain of someone in your own family? Circles of family and friends?

How can you become more “proximate” to the needs of our neighbors? What is one thing you can do to “empty yourself” in order to “love your neighbor as yourself” in the community where you live?

Fr. Victor shares his favorite memory from a backwoods town in Alabama.

Synopsis: Common sense is a good thing, but God calls us Beyond it. In the movie “42” depicting the life of Jackie Robinson, we find a compelling example of how God inspired a few brave souls to “deny themselves and take up their crosses” to help bring about the renewal of the minds of America.

Dig In Further:

St. Paul says “Do no conform yourselves to this age.” Are there any ways you have allowed yourself to be too conformed to our day and age?

Is there any area of your life that you have leaned too much upon common sense and gotten in a rut dug out by Comfort, Convenience and Self-Preservation?

How does God want to use you to help inspire the renewal of the minds around you? To discern what is the will or God?

What is good and pleasing and perfect to God?

What aspects of your life are keeping you from being completely good and pleasing and perfect before God?

Synopsis: Fr. Victor’s friend Greg pointed out a big part of our Native Soil to reckon with—Protestants. This is a huge part of the landscape of the southern half of Alabama. Even St. John Paul II was aware of that! Unity amongst Christians is near and dear to the heart of Jesus. It was the last thing he asked he Father to do before he entered in to his passion (John 17). If we are going to seriously take up the task of renewing our Native Soil, it is going to involve us as Christians banding together to do this!

Dig In Further:

Has another person of another denomination ever helped you to grow in your faith? When and how? If not, how you can you put yourself in a position to allow that to happen?

Why do you think the unity of his followers was so important to Christ…especially as he stood at the brink of his passion?

What can you do to help build bridges and heal wounds in the Body of Christ locally?

What do you feel your denomination especially has to offer the entire Body of Christ?

What is a way you feel your denomination could be enriched by the special gifts, talents and/or blessings of another denomination?

Synopsis: St. Paul quotes Job today in the seconding reading and invites us into the mystery of God which leaves us speechless and urges us to surrender to God...to completely depend upon God. As we see Peter, a rash, hotheaded fisherman, receive the keys to the kingdom of heaven, we are invited further to trust in God’s seemingly crazy...inscrutable...and unsearchable plan.

Dig In Further:

What areas of your life do you struggle to find purpose? God’s presence? God’s purposes?

How can you surrender even these...especially these areas of your life to God? How can you depend upon God more completely?

How has God worked in your life in ways that are inscrutable and unsearchable to you?

How does God want to work in your life against all the odds? How does he want to use you against the odds to sanctify the world around you?

Synopsis: Fr. Victor shares the story of how, in God’s Providence, he wound up Catholic and growing up in Alabama. It invites us to reflect in our own lives about our history, our family’s history and God’s Providence in our own lives.

Dig In Further:

How did you come by your Catholic faith? How did you come to live where you live? Can you see the hand of God working in those circumstances?

Why do you think he has you in Alabama? How does he want to use you as an instrument?

Are you grateful to God for the many family members, friends and circumstances the Lord has allowed in your life? Are you resentful about any part of your life? Is there any part of your life history you need to trust that God can redeem and weave into his loving plan for your life?

Synopsis: How odd of God to choose Israel! Such a small nation he chooses to be the vehicle of redemption for the entire world! God rooted himself in a covenant with that nation. He sent his Son to be born in that nation and to root his saving mission there. Now he calls us to extend that mission by being rooted in the place he has chosen us to be.

Dig In Further:

What does it take someone to be “rooted” in the place where they live? In their community? In their parish?

Why do you think God chose to root himself in such a small nation like Israel? What lesson is there in such a choice for us?

How can you be more “rooted” where you live? How can the fire of Christ’s love spread from your heart to the world around you?

Synopsis: Today Native Soil welcomes its first guest—Fr. Norbert Jurek! Fr. Norbert shares how he felt the calling to be a priest and then later in life how he felt called to leave his native Poland and adopt Alabama as his new “Native Soil.” It is a powerful story of grace, calling and place.

Dig In Further:

How could you be more connected to our Native Soil? How can you connect in a more intentional way to your family? parish? community? neighborhood?

How can you be more open to where God is calling you to invest in your life? Do you pay attention to God’s timing in your life through the circumstances in your life? People he places in your path? The words he whispers to you in prayer?

Prayer brings us into communion with God. In prayer, we give God a chance to blend our thoughts, our will and our life with his. He never intended for us to live our lives apart from him…separated from his life and power. Let’s take the time to let God do this essential work in us!

Dig In Further Questions:

Have you ever had a thought that you knew came from God?

Is there an area in your life that you know God is speaking to you about, but you haven’t found the will to respond to his word?

Is there an area in your life that you need to rely on God’s power more? An area that you find yourself straining and seemingly beating your head against a wall to no avail? If so, what would it look like to rely more on God? How can you present yourself before God in prayer and allow him to blend his thoughts, will and power into your life so that you quit trying to tackle the problem by yourself?

Synopsis:

There are certain places on earth that are “holy.” God has touched these places in a special way and it seems there is a “thin” barrier between heaven and earth. As Christians, we are called to help expand God’s “dominion” here on earth. By encountering God in our sacred places, we are supposed to be transformed and sent back into the world to help “sanctify our soil.” Think about getting some soil representative of where God has placed you and putting it in a jar on your kitchen table. Let it remind you of both the blessings and burdens that that soil represents and consider how God is calling you to be an agent of sanctification for that soil.

Dig In Further Questions:

What “soils” are significant in your life? How do you feel called to be an agent of sanctification for these “soils?”

What places have you visited that are “sacred?” How have visiting those places changed you? Sanctified you? How could such experiences inspire your relationship to our “Native Soil?”

Consider visiting EJI’s Community Soil Collection Project in Montgomery at their Peace and Justice Memorial Center—414 Caroline St, Montgomery, AL 36104. Think about the legacy that our “Native Soil” contains. All the burdens. But also, all of the blessings. How does God want you to Dig In & Sanctify?

Synopsis: God desires to work miracles on earth through our participation. He wants us to play a part. In Faith, he wants us to offer the little that we have so that he can take it and work miracles in our midst. A powerful testimony of this came to Mobile this past week through the “Shrink the Divide” event. A few families offering a few words of forgiveness allowed God to work the miracle of reconciliation and initiate several new initiatives of racial reconciliation throughout the city of Charleston. What little do we have that God wants us to offer? What miracles might he intend to do through our offerings?

Dig In Further:

Is there a problem in the world that makes you feel like you cannot do anything to help? How does God want you to offer your “five loaves and two fish” regardless?

Have you ever given a little bit away out of faith and love and been shocked to see what God did with it?

Is there someone in your life that you don’t think you can forgive? Can the testimony of the families in Charleston give you the inspiration you need to let God work this miracle or forgiveness and reconciliation in your life?

Synopsis:

Every generation wants to provide the next generation with a “Better Life” than they had. But many times in the pursuit of doing so, they end up depriving the next generation of the very things that made them great in the first place. What will it mean for us to pass on a “Better Life” for the next generation here on our Native Soil. Surely, there are many issues of Social Justice that need to be addressed. Surely there is great disparity about the rich and the poor that needs to be addressed. But at the end of the day, what is most valuable in our cultures and communities that we would like to preserve and pass on?

Dig In Further:

What Gospel values have been lost in your family over the past couple of generations? Are there any you would like to try to restore and replant into your family’s lives?

How would you define a “Better Life” for the next generation?

How “comfortable” should we allow our children’s lives to become? How much should we do for them? vs How much should we make them do for themselves? How do we know when our children’s lives have become “too comfortable” such that they start to lose a sense of worth, responsibility, gratitude and appreciation for what they have?

What special values exist in your family and culture that you want to make sure to pass onto the next generation? How can you proactively work to do this?

Synopsis:
God has a plan for our lives. He has marked out a “plot of land” for each of us and our holiness consists in figuring out where it is and then fully claiming it. In order to do this, we must beg, like Solomon, for God to give us an understanding heart. Only God can help us to understand the “field” and the “treasure” that he has held out for each of us. Only God can help us to grow into an understanding of how “all things” can work for our good. It’s time for you to Claim Your Ground.

Dig In Further:

In what area of your life could you use some more of God’s “understanding?”

What “plot of land” is God calling you to claim? To take full possession of, responsibility for and engagement with?

What area of your life do you feel is outside of God’s reach to work into his loving plan for your life? How can you trust him more that he can use it for “your good?”

Synopsis:

How did we get here? This is a common question you hear as a priest. People look at the struggles in our society and our Church and wonder—How did we get here? We do not need to complicate the answer. Jesus tells us very plainly—“You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Plainly speaking, we have been choosing “mammon” (money/stuff) over God pretty consistently. And we are reaping the consequences. How can we here on our Native Soil turn the tide? How can we choose to make God the center of our lives not just in name but in practice?

Dig In Further:

How has stuff taking the number one position of God in your life at various times and places?

What changes would need to be made in your life, for God to be a part of all of your thoughts, choices, job-related queries, family priorities, etc?

Is there an area of your life that you feel hesitant about welcoming God into? Why is that? What fears, anxieties, false senses of control is at work?

What is one step you can do to help move God to the center of your life? Your family’s life? Your workplace? Your neighborhood? Your circles of friends? Your town? Your city?

Synopsis:

It is not always clear to us what is a weed is what is a fruitful plant. Sometimes we even cut down and destroy what we believe to be weeds only to find out later it is actually a healthy blueberry bush! Because we do not have the ability to judge one another, Jesus calls us to tend more to the garden of our own hearts—always a mixture of weeds and plants. Through regular repentance and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Christ can help to make sure that we ourselves do not become weeds in the Kingdom of God.

Dig In Further:

Have you ever completely misjudged a healthy plant for weeds and destroyed it?

Have you ever completely misjudged someone’s character and consequently spoken mistakenly about them? Hurt them in some other way?

How often do you take time to repent in your life? To take an inventory of the “weeds” in your heart and ask God that he forgive them and pull them away and destroy them?

How often do you pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance? For a clear understanding of yourself? For clear vision of both the fruits and the weeds in your hearts?

Consider making Repentance and praying to the Holy Spirit a daily part of your life of faith.

Synopsis:

We continue our study of our Native Soil with a look into our “Pueblo Hispano,” our “Hispanic Community.” There is a richness that our Hispanic brothers and sisters contribute to the Body of Christ. Among the many things that could be pointed out, today I share a few stories to illustrate three important witnesses they give to our entire Archdiocese— (1) The parish is a place to celebrate life (2) It is worth taking time to celebrate life well (3) Our families are sacred gifts to be cherished

Dig In Further:

How could you more fully belong to your parish? How could it become a place you not just have to visit, but a place you look forward to being? To celebrating your faith? A moment in your life?

How could you make the effort to connect more personally with our Hispanic brothers and sisters?

Are you happy with the time and quality of time you spend with your family? If not, is there some small step you could make to relish some more time with your family?

Synopsis:

The seed that falls on rich soil is the one who hears and understands the Word of God. Listen to how God spoke to two ministers in Mobile and invited them to “hear and understand” one another better. See how God bore fruit through them a “hundredfold.” Consider how God wants you to hear and understand...ie love God’s word and your neighbor’s word more.

Dig In Further:

Would you be willing to take this pledge? —“I pledge to love my neighbor and to reject my own tendency to distance myself from those different than me.”

What group of people do you tend to distance yourself from, even if subconsciously?

How can you more intentionally seek to “hear and understand” God’s word in your life? Your neighbor’s word?

What is holding you back from being “rich soil” for the Word of God to plant itself and yield the fruits of heaven here on earth?

Synopsis:

Here on our Native Soil, God has blessed us with many different members of the Body of Christ. Each culture has spiritual gifts and talents that are intended to be blessings to that community and to the entire Body of Christ. Today we explore some of the particular blessings God has gifted to our African-American brothers and sisters. A 1984 pastor letter written by the Black Catholic Bishops entitled “What We Have Seen and Heard” will serve as our guide. Let us not be afraid to “See” and “Hear” these blessings, so that we may be better stewards of our Native Soil.

Dig In Further:

How can our Black brothers and sisters’ “Contemplative Stance” be something that we incorporate more into your spirituality?

How can we learn from their Holistic spirituality? How can we praise God, sense God, communicate with God with all that we are—body, heart, mind, feelings and spirit?

How can we learn from their indomitable spirit of Joy? How can the “Joy” we have in our friendship with Christ enable us to offer forgiveness, healing and understanding where there is hate, hurt and misunderstanding?

Synopsis: There is a big difference between doing things “for” God and doing things “with” God. Many times the “yoke” we carry is of our own making—heavy and burdensome and filled with anxieties. However, today Jesus invites us to carry his yoke—easy and light, one he wishes to carry with us. Giving up our yoke and being willing to take on his yoke starts with one simple but life-changing prayer—“I give you everything! And I want everything you’ve got for me!”

Dig In Further:

Can you identify moments or perhaps chapters in your own life when you were living “For God?” Can you see moments when you were acting, thinking or deciding “WITH God” instead? How did those experiences differ?

Have you ever giving everything to God? Your life? Your spouse? Your children? Your job? Your house? Your car? Your past? Your future? Your strengths? Your weaknesses? Your sins?

If not, why not? What is holding you back? Is there a fear or nervousness that creeps in? What would that fear entail?

Have you ever totally opened yourself up to “What God’s got” for you? If yes, what was that like? How did it change your life?

If not, again, what is holding you back? Do you fear God might give you more than you can handle? That he might direct you to somewhere different than you already are?

In all of these considerations, remember that God is our loving Father. He is a Good God. Who wants nothing than the best for us. He sent his Son to live and die for us. He comes to us meek and humble, riding on an ass. He comes with a yoke perfectly crafted for you and He to carry together. Compared to the heavy burdens we choose, this “yoke is easy and it’s burden light.”

Synopsis:

In order to truly take care of our Native Soil, we must first realize to whom it all belongs. We must be willing to enter into the zany, uncomfortable task of learning to belong to one another so that together we can link arms, dig in and work for renewal. Fr. Victor shares a couple of stories of his experience in our Hispanic Community where he entered into this “Blessing of Belonging.”

Dig In Further:

How is God calling you to be uncomfortable so that he may welcome you further into the “Blessing of Belonging?”

Are there brothers and sisters on our Native Soil that you don’t know well? Have never really spent time with? Do you have any fears or nerves you would have to overcome?

Have you had any experience of entering into the “Blessing of Belonging” with another culture, race or social circle? What was zany about it? Uncomfortable? How did it bless you? Enrich you? Change you?

If you have had such an experience, look for a chance to share your story with at least one person this week.

Synopsis: When we welcome someone into our lives in God’s name, miracles happen. Jesus tells us “whoever receives you, receives me.” In the stranger, the lonely, the newly arrived, the different we are called to receive Jesus into our lives. And in response, Jesus will work miracles in our midst.

Dig in Further:

Have you ever felt that God put someone into your life for a reason? How did you welcome them into your life? What miracles occurred as a result?

Have you ever failed to welcome a new person in your midst with the heart of Christ? How did that feel? What did you regret? What miracles do you think you might have missed out on?

Consider sharing one of these reflections with someone this week. Either how your were blessed after your offered welcome to someone in God’s name or how you missed such an opportunity because of fear or laziness and the subsequent weight you experienced.

Synopsis:

Hombres Por Cristo…AND PARA CRISTO! A large part of our family here on our Native Soil is Hispanic. They bring an incredibly rich culture with them that in so many ways is infused with the Catholic faith. Getting to know and love another culture is an incredibly rich experience but inevitably it will be messy, difficult and certainly at points hilarious! As I share some of my experiences with the Hispanic community, get ready to laugh and to consider how might God be calling you to enter into this messy yet incredibly rich and essential space?

Dig In Further:

Have you ever had an intercultural experience that was messy but incredibly rich and hilarious? What did you learn from these experiences? How did it change your perception of that culture? How did it change your ability to interact with and appreciate that culture?

Is there any way you could challenge yourself to engage more with our Hispanic brothers and sisters? What would that look like? Attending a Spanish Mass? Inviting Hispanic friends to your parish? Your house for dinner?

How could you live more as an Hombre o Mujer Por Cristo Y PARA CRISTO?!

Whispers. They can be incredibly good or incredibly bad. They can be the cause of communion or division. How are we as a Church called to hear one another’s “Whispers?” Particularly today, how can we invite our black brothers and sisters to share confide in us…to share their truth with us…that is to share their “whispers” with us? Having heard their whispers, we are called by Jesus to proclaim this truth from the “housetops” and love our neighbor in light of this truth.

Just about 30 miles north of Montgomery. Only 11 years before the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott. Nuns, both black and white, began to live and pray together on our Native Soil—something that had never been done in American history. And things have never been the same since…

How disappointing would it be to get snubbed at the banquet table in heaven?! Heaven is a place free of all division and prejudice. And Jesus is “living bread came down from heaven.” He nourishes us with that heavenly reality. But as Catholics, are we uniquely agents of that reality? Are we distinctly, in our families, neighborhoods and city, Agents of Communion?

What is it like to be a young black Catholic here on our native soil? One conversation three years ago opened my eyes to the answer to this question. It also led to an entirely new retreat here on our native soil—ENIGMA. It was a poignant lesson to me about the power of listening.

The Trinity is our remedy. Trinity Sunday Homily.

An experience I had with my mother, while I was in seminary, changed how I saw those around me.

How can you invite God to “Come Along With You” in your life? How does God’s Spirit want to Live in you to renew the “earth” where you are? Your family? Your neighborhood? Your parish? Your town?

We know the saints by the place that they're from, or where they served the people of God. So too, God is calling you to be a saint, in your native place.

Homily from Sacred Heart Parish in Grovehill, AL.

Daily Mass celebrated in the Archbishop's residence in Mobile, Alabama. May 16, 2020

Daily Mass celebrated in the Archbishop's residence in Mobile, Alabama. May 3, 2020

Daily Mass celebrated in the Archbishop's residence in Mobile, Alabama. May 7, 2020

Daily Mass celebrated in the Archbishop's residence in Mobile, Alabama. April 29, 2020

Daily Mass celebrated in the Archbishop's residence in Mobile, Alabama. May 2, 2020

While everyone else might have been asleep, or scrolling on their phones, I learned two very important life lessons from my sisters' graduation ceremonies.

Have you been wondering where God is calling you? There’s a chance he could be calling you somewhere you don’t expect…somewhere like your own back yard.

Hey ya’ll! Fr. Victor and 4PM Media here. Welcome to Native Soil! We're pumped to share our first episode of this collaborative project with you. Check it out!