Roar Like The Lamb: Recent Episodes
Paola and Fr. Sam
A Catholic lay woman and a Catholic priest working together in parish ministry unpack the complexities, joys, and challenges of daily life and how the beauty of the Gospel can bring Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God, into our world. Paola Peña is director of evangelization and former FOCUS missionary living out the call to evangelize in parish life. Fr. Sam Kachuba is a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport and pastor of St. Pius X Church in Fairfield, CT. Roar Like the Lamb is an excuse for them to talk about how much they love ministry and want to share the Catholic faith with all.
This is our last episode for a little while, but we had a good time talking about a bunch of stuff.
Fr. Sam sincerely regrets not having the name Mark Schultz in his brain, but if you'd like to check out the interview with Mark that aired on The Tangent, you should give it a listen here. And check out his amazing song "Walking Her Home" here.
Sabbatical starts soon - Roar Like the Lamb will return in September!
As we confront our mortality as very elderly millenials, our conversation meanders today. As a result, we cover some good ground, but it's hard to nail down a single theme. Anyway, it was good to record again, as our ability to actually get studio time has been limited.
Did you know that "I Can See Clearly Now" talks about obstacles? Fr. Sam sure didn't. Listen in as we talk about clarity and the gift that brings to ministry, and the way God uses consolations and desolations to help us navigate the spiritual life.
Sometimes Catholics or parishes are described as "frozen and chosen," and we have some thoughts on how this might apply in real life, how it might be just a stereotype, and why we need to do some work if we're going to do the hard work of evangelization and growing in holiness.
Show Notes:
Did you miss the last episode? The One That Got Away? We had the video, but the audio didn't seem to work super well. Here's the link to the YouTube https://youtu.be/dPze_ywQ0J0 - check it out!
As we recognize more and more just how little we actually know, we're learning that the answers are usually found when we stop trying to figure it out all by ourselves. Take a step back, look up, and most of all, look to God.
Also... Epiphany is January 6 and should be celebrated as such. The name "Ordinary Time" should be abolished.
We are big fans of Ruuthai's Kitchen. If you're in the greater-Bridgeport area, please support them and enjoy!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Roar Like the Lamb! We're talking about Christmas prep and Christmas recovery. Asking God's blessings on you for 2024!
As we're getting close to Christmas, the season can get overwhelming. Today we're talking about allowing Jesus to really shepherd us through the season so that we can pray and enter in to the most important aspects of Advent and Christmas.
SHOW NOTES
Fr. Dwight Longenecker's "The Secret of the Bethlehem Shepherds" is out now by Sophia Institute Press. Check it out!
This is a delayed release episode...coming out today for no other reason than schedules got hectic and getting it ready for release kept getting put on the back burner. Sorry it's late!
Anyway, we're talking about keeping an eternal perspective in a chaotic world, keeping Jesus front and center, and not running away from our feelings and experiences.
So it's not spooky or anything crazy, but we get lots of questions about Halloween and this seemed as good a time as any to talk about it. Trick or treat and all that.
Oh, and Fr. Sam recently interviewed an exorcist, so you might be interested to check out the episode on The Tangent.
Starting with an excerpt from "In Conversation with God," Paola takes us into a conversation about Mary's silence and how silence in the spiritual life, and Mary's in particular, can help us in our daily walk with the Lord. You should get yourself a copy of these meditation books, they're really good. Link below.
SHOW NOTES
In Conversation with God - https://scepterpublishers.org/collections/in-conversation-with-god
Check out The Tangent episode w/Fr. Basil Nortz on holy silence: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-tkwaz-147f361
It's not easy to preach about justice issues - you'll be accused of being too political, not political enough, focused on earthly things rather than spiritual, and on and on. Still, if we preach the Gospel in fullness, we're going to have to talk about a lot of things. We talk about that sometimes treacherous walk in this episode.
We...well, Fr Sam at least...almost forgot about our scheduled recording time for this episode. But we had fun anyway. Enjoy our almost forgotten conversation!
Oh, and we referenced "Acts 23" and completely butchered the name. Sorry about that! In fact, it is called Acts XXIX (Acts 29). Please see the link below to learn more.
Show Notes
33 Days to Greater Glory
Prime Soil
Acts XXIX
We are never a finished product. Continuing to grow, to learn, and to be formed is a need for all of us, especially in the life of the Church.
Today we're talking about reaching parishioners and the challenges attendant therein. It is very important to communicate well, and good tools like Flocknote are tremendous aids for parishes. At the same time, we need healthy staffing for our parishes (both clergy and lay staff), and a healthy engagement of lay people in the life and ministry of parishes. This was a fun conversation to have, and even though we haven't figured out all the answers, it's a blessing to be able to try to figure it out together!
SHOW NOTES
Catholic Young Adults in Fairfield County
Word on Fire podcast - Why Parishes Fail to Engage 93% of Parishioners
"Why They Follow" - by Matthew Warner
Roar Like the Lamb is produced by Chris McHugh - McQ Marketing Group
We're ranging a bit in this episode as we talk about a whole slew of different things. All of it comes back, as usual, to our tremendous need to listen to the Lord. Check out the show notes for links to some of the things we reference!
Show Notes
ReCon podcast
"Poustinia" by Catherine Doherty
"Luv is a Verb" - DC Talk official music video
List of Catholic podcasts (since recording, we seem to have fallen a bit in the ratings, which is good for our humility)
Paola & Fr. Sam are working through the Catholic Psych certification; learn more here
"All the People Said Amen" - Matt Maher
Paola shares some beautiful testimony in this one, gives some tremendous vulnerability and lays out where she's experiencing healing, grace, and growth. She's talking insecurities, wounds, new perspectives, what it is to feel re-created, and the ways she is finding deeper and more perfect integration. It wasn't what I (Fr Sam) was expecting, and I was so moved to hear her speak this way. See what happens when people stop being polite and start being real...oh wait, sorry, that's the intro to 90's reality show The Real World... Best thing about all this - Paola never leaves anything just for herself. This is a healing and growth that she is not just sharing verbally, but is also allowing to impact her ministry.
First, we would like to apologize for the long delay since we last released an episode. There have been lots of schedule issues throughout the spring and into the summer, so we've been behind on our production plan!
In this episode, we talk about representation and how it works, or doesn't work, why it matters, or doesn't, and how we can navigate what can be a tricky area with charity.
As summer progresses, we'll try to be regular with episodes, but may continue to experience delays. We appreciate your patience, and that you stick with us!
We've been after him for a long time to make an appearance, and it finally happened! Our producer Chris McHugh is with us! We're talking about Fr. Sam's homily on Divine Mercy Sunday, physician assisted suicide, and the tremendous gift of human life.
If you'd like to hear Fr. Sam's homily, here it is - the Gospel starts around 17:20
Imagine you, like Roar Like the Lamb, are a small Catholic podcast. One day, an email comes from EWTN, asking if one of their hosts (The Catholic Sphere) can join you for an episode to talk about a super important book (The Prayer Book for Tired Parents: Practical Ways to Grow in Love of God and Get Your Family to Heaven). We were blown away and super excited, then we met Debbie Cowden, and it got even better! Debbie and her husband Dave have produced a powerful book to help parents, let them know they are seen and supported, and offer practical tips for building up a strong foundation for family life. We're happy to call her a friend and fan of the show!
We're bringing you a special talk given by Paola to the St. Pius X Walking With Purpose group. With Edith Stein (St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross) as her guide, Paola opens up a philosophical and biblical understanding of woman, the feminine genius, and how all of us (male or female) are called into relation with God.
We were very privileged to have Mother Olga join us at St. Pius X on March 11, 2023 for our Seek 2023 conference. Mother is the foundress of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth. She shared some beautiful stories with us about finding God even in suffering. While the audio isn't quite the quality we would like it to be, we hope you'll listen and enjoy her amazing words!
If you'd like to see more of Mother Olga, here's a quick video in which Mother shares some of her life from Iraq to the US and God's grace along the way.
You might also enjoy this longer interview she gave at the 2022 Given Forum.
On a very special episode of Roar Like the Lamb, Paola is drinking Bailey's and you better believe it's hilarious. But the real point this week is to talk about the power of having our Catholic faith really imbue everything we do. Catholic culture is real and how beautiful when we allow our faith to have space in every facet of our lives.
What God Is Not Podcast with Mother Natalia
The Being Human Podcast with Dr. Greg Bottaro
Regretting that we have't recorded together in a few weeks, but excited about some recent interviews Fr. Sam had for The Tangent on Veritas Catholic Network, we start talking about those, before getting back to Ash Wednesday, Lent, and prayerful discernment. It's important to pay attention to the desires in our hearts, to speak those desires to the Lord, and to allow God to form, purify, and confirm the graces He offers.
Lenten video resource from Dr. Scott Hahn and the St. Paul Center
Women Made New has some great stuff for Lent from Crystalina Evert
Some of you sharp-eared listeners may notice a shift in our audio about 16 minutes in. That's because we had some technical issues and we're sorry, but assure you that they were not intentional. If you don't notice an audio change, then this was all a dream...
Starting with a new word Paola learned from a FOCUS missionary, we move into a conversation about 1 Thessalonians 2:8, comparing English translations of the Bible, parsing some of the words, and overall discussing the great gift of love and friendship in the context of ministry and mission. Check out C.S. Lewis’ The Four Loves. Crinkle. Or Krinkle. Whatever. Crush it.
The Four Loves
The Fellowship of Catholic University Students
Just talking about the joys and challenges of leading in ministry, knowing when to step forward, when to stay back in support, and when to know the difference.
Long-time listeners already know...Paola's name is hard for some people to pronounce, and Fr. Sam loves a good chocolate chip cookie. In this episode, we talk about both. Oh, and we also read Pope Benedict XVI's Spiritual Testimony and talk about his incredible theological output and papal legacy.
It's not quite a Christmas episode, but we were hoping it would be ready in time for our Lord's Nativity, and here it is on St. Stephen's Day (or Boxing Day for our British and Canadian listeners)! The reason it's not a Christmas episode is that we ended up talking about another, non-holiday-related topic: marriage. Sometimes it seems like the Church has a lot of rules about weddings and marriage, but we're taking a peek behind the rules to better understand how the truth and beauty of marriage is made apparent through the processes and rules supporting the sacramental celebration of matrimony. All in all, we think marriage is a pretty great thing, and so does the Catholic Church!
This week, we're talking about the importance of the language we use and why we shouldn't be afraid to define our terms, use even the words that seem most challenging, and think more seriously about the the full meaning of the way we speak. Think deeply about the words you use and hear, and you will be amazed at what is being communicated!
SHOW NOTES
For more on the importance of language, check out "Abuse of Language, Abuse of Power" by Josef Pieper
Need a good, Catholic Christmas gift? Check out the Building Blocks of Faith Series by Kevin and Mary O'Neill.
We actually don't say much about Thanksgiving, but we do talk quite a bit about Advent and some thoughts as we start this amazing season. As we so often do, we're happy to talk about Hallow and the Pray 25 Advent Challenge. Happy Thanksgiving!
In this short episode, we talk about being good even when we don't see the benefit, doing what is right because there is an intrinsic value to virtuous living, and not getting too caught up in what other people seem to have in spite of not always following the rules. St. Martin de Porres figures large in the conversation, so why not ask for his intercession today?
Advent is coming and somehow feels sneaky, even though we know exactly when it's coming. Not only is Advent almost here, it's four full weeks! So what's the excuse for not preparing now?
Choosing between good things is not always easy. As much as we might see lots of good opportunity in front of us, and recognize that God is generous in giving us so many good things, we also have to understand our own limitations, and discern which of the goods God truly desires for us. That's what we're talking about today!
SHOW NOTES
I teased Paola a fair bit about retelling a story incorrectly. Now, I didn't know anything about the story, had never heard it before. I'm still fairly confident she didn't quite get the story right. HOWEVER, Paola's story was an attempt at communicating some things said by Jackie Francois-Angel in a talk at a Steubenville Youth Conference. The talk is fantastic and full of other stories, which will make you forget Paola's story. Totally worth the time, and I'm grateful to Paola for tolerating me every day.
Also, over on the Tangent, I talked about discernment in an episode, and if you want to listen to that, I won't argue with you.
Separate studios for us today so Fr. Sam's cold doesn't infect Paola! We'll hear all about Paola's recent retreat with the Sisters of Life, talk about God's abundant gifts to us, and more!
SHOW NOTES
Sisters of Life
You can watch "The Chosen" over at formed.org - make your free account today!
That re-baptism controversy we were talking about? Going back to St. Cyprian of Carthage (martyr) and Pope Stephen in the 200s, and continuing to the Donatist heresy in the fourth and fifth centuries, it was a big deal. But from this controversy, the Church was able to articulate the theological idea of ex opere operato, that the grace of the sacraments do not depend on the worthiness of the one administering the sacraments, as well as highlight the enduring grace of baptism even when marred by sin!
Paola and Fr. Sam went on retreat! In this episode, they're talking about some of the fruits of that retreat, dreaming with the Lord, and what those dreams look like currently, might look like in the future, and just plain old rediscovering the capacity to dream.
SHOW NOTES
Check out "Searching For and Maintaining Peace" by Fr. Jacques Philippe
The Tangent on Veritas Catholic Network
And even though we're not sponsored by anyone, we love to plug the Hallow app!
The Community of the Lamb
With the feast of the Archangels just passed, and the feast of the Guardian Angels to come (sort of...Sunday takes precedence this year), we're looking at angels both arch and guardian. Plus some fun discussions on Genesis, creation, and how God's love for us is reflected back to us.
SHOW NOTES
Check out the men's retreat that the Sisters of Life are hosting next week. And just in general, check out their retreat offerings!
In something of a continuation of last week's episode, we're still talking catechesis, this time with a special focus on the kerygma, or first proclamation of the Gospel. In the end, we are all entrusted with the kerygma, though we have different ways of bearing witness.
Some light reading to go along with this episode:
"The General Directory for Catechesis" - available free on the Vatican website, but you might want a printed version.
"Lumen Gentium" - also available free on the Vatican website. If you've listened to us for a while, it's about time you read it.
"Gravissimum Educationis" - Vatican II's document on education...go figure, available free on the Vatican website.
"Ministry or Apostolate: What Should the Catholic Laity be Doing?" - by Russell Shaw (2002). Not free on Vatican.va, sorry
New season just because we can do a new season. With a new catechetical year underway, and Paola's graduate studies beginning, we're talking catechesis and the need to teach the faith well. Check out Pope St. John XXIII's address at the opening of the Second Vatican Council.
Gaudium et Spes, the Second Vatican Council's Pastoral Constitution on the Church serves as our jumping off point for a whole bunch of stuff. Helps us talk about our mission, art in the world, liturgy, and more. And Paola is a generous non-uber driver.
SHOW NOTES
Check out Dr. Larry Chapp and https://gaudiumetspes22.com/
The "method modeled by the Master" is something you might have heard us talk about in the past. It comes up especially when we're talking about discipleship and evangelization. The phrase is used to great effect by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). Today we go in-depth with the method and add some pieces.
Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" gets us talking about meaning in our lives, boredom, automation, striving for purpose, and being more human. Which somehow brings us to the Pastoral Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, which Fr. Sam has long held as his least-favorite document of the Council...but something is changing. Keep listening to find out why he's being converted to this beautiful document. And sorry for the abrupt end, but Padre did a bad job at time management.
We'll get there eventually. Talking about accountability and leadership, drawing on an essay written for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) alumni by our newest friend-of-the-show Andrea Halfmann (Andrea, we hope someday you'll listen to the show!) and the SLII Leadership Model developed by Ken Blanchard. We all need to be accountable, but before we can expect anyone to hold us accountable, we need to be accountable to ourselves.
SHOW NOTES
For more on SLII - https://www.kenblanchard.com/Solutions/SLII#:~:text=LEADERSHIP%20MODEL,D4%20%E2%80%93%20Self%2DReliant%20Achiever.
We hoped to be able to link to Andrea Halfmann's essay "Hate the word accountability? Me too...But that doesn't mean you don't need it," but we've only found it in e-mail form, sent to FOCUS alumni. Nevertheless, we want to give her credit for a thought-provoking piece and confirm her status as friend-of-the-show. Thanks, Andrea!
Paola questions Father's ability to bless things, discussion of the evilness of cats ensues, followed by the best reaction Fr. Sam has ever gotten from Paola on the podcast. And that's all in the first five minutes! All this to get us into the idea that God comes looking for us, wants to walk with us, and what a joy it is to step forward and allow God to find us and accompany us on the way. Helping us dive into this...yet another RLTL "Leisure the Basis of Culture" reference!
Also...stay tuned for a HUGE personal sharing from Paola.
--- SHOW NOTES ---
Pray for Shannon! https://nunsforpriests.org/
“When we really let our minds rest contemplatively on a rose in bud, on a child at play, on a divine mystery, we are rested and quickened as though by a dreamless sleep. Or as the Book of Job says, “God giveth songs in the night” (Job 35:10). Moreover, it has always been a pious belief that God sends his good gifts and his blessings in sleep. And in the same way his great, imperishable intuitions visit a man in his moments of leisure. It is in these silent and receptive moments that the soul of man is sometimes visited by an awareness of what holds the world together:” ― Josef Pieper, Leisure: The Basis of Culture
And if you want to WATCH Paola's reaction to Shannon's picture, check it out here: https://youtu.be/Tck8fKrGcHI
Awareness of our culture can help us understand our spirituality. Today we're looking at some of the cultural history that has found its way into our American Catholic spiritual worldview and some of the ways we need to depend on God more than our own efforts.
"Obedience means falling in the abyss of God's love." Cardinal-designate Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ
A very messy rectory prompts discussion of how physical clutter impacts ministry, how priests might struggle to take care of their living arrangements because they're torn between simplicity of life and building maintenance, and more.
We started slow on this one, then forgot to post it, then recorded a different episode which we posted last week. But here we talk about how the church, especially in local parishes, could use a good, collaborative boost. If all together, we Catholics could realize that we may need to make some sacrifices to get to Mass, or that parishes should not be in rivalry with one another, we'll be able to get stronger in faith, have more robust community life, and take on a growth mindset, rather than a maintenance model.
In the aftermath of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX, we want to talk about the Christian response to such evil. Everything we do must start with prayer. It is when we turn to God that we invoke divine guidance and healing on those who suffer, that we process our own outrage and grief, and that we receive inspiration for action. Please remember the victims of the Uvalde shooting by name in your prayer.
Eva Mireles
Irma Garcia
Uziyah Garcia
Xavier Javier Lopez
Eliahana Cruz Torres
Jose Flores
Alithia Ramirez
Amerie Jo Garza
Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez
Jackie Cazares
Rojelio Torres
Jayce Carmelo Luevanos
Jailah Nicole Silguero
Eliahna Garcia
Nevaeh Bravo
Makenna Lee Elrod
Miranda Mathis
Tess Marie Mata
Layla Salazar
Maite Rodriguez
Alexandria Aniyah Rubio
The shooting at Robb Elementary follows shortly after a horrific attack on a supermarket in Buffalo, NY. Please pray also for those who were murdered in that shooting, and for their families and community.
Roberta Drury
Margus Morrison
Andre Mackniel
Aaron Salter
Geraldine Talley
Celestine Chaney
Heyward Patterson
Katherine Massey
Pearl Young
Ruth Whitfield
We're talking about the word "just" and how we just can't seem to stop saying it. Then 4 things about the Catholic Church and how we see the Church reflected in the Bible. We had a lot of fun with this one.
Show Notes
His mother was a mudder...this horse loves the slop!
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist - by Dr. Brant Pitre
Paola, for reasons inexplicable, does not like baseball, or talking about baseball, or anything having to do with the subject of baseball. So listen in as Father Sam insists on talking about baseball, the metaphysical superiority of baseball over other games, and the profoundly beautiful spiritual lessons to be learned from such a beautiful game.
NB - we're a little late publishing this episode because Holy Week got busy. Happy Easter!
SHOW NOTES
A Perfect Game - by David Bentley Hart
Athenians and Visigoths - by Neil Postman
OK, so we don't actually have cholera. The mild inconvenience of a slight cold got Father's attention as he looked at Paola power through an ACTUAL illness (still lingering) and sparked a whole conversation without resolution about ministry in the Church (clerical or lay), complementarity of vocation, ministering differently but together, and so much more. Again, we haven't figured it all out yet, but what a great thing to talk about.
Here's the information we talked about regarding paid family leave, and a petition you can sign, too!
From Disney movies to agenda-driven education issues, we're going to bounce around a bit today. Tradition grounds us, and is discarded only at our peril. Parents have both the right and obligation to educate their children, especially in the faith - what a beautiful gift! All that, plus the songs stuck in the heads of Paola and Fr. Sam.
“Tradition means giving a vote to most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead.” Chesterton goes on to say: “Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our groom; tradition asks us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our father.” - G.K. Chesterton "Orthodoxy" ch. 4
We're a little late getting this episode to you. If we could do it honestly, we'd blame supply chain issues or something like that, but really we just fell behind because of some busy days following recording. Apologies for being late. Anyway, here we're talking about the end and how we get ready for it. How often do we think about preparing for heaven? Do we equally consider preparing for the second coming of Christ? Here we talk about the consequences of these questions for our lives of faith.
The big mystery from our last episode has been solved. But there's more important stuff for us to worry about. It's so important for us to engage the content of our faith in both an intellectual and spiritual way.
Please pray for Ukraine!
Happy feast of Our Lady of Lourdes! Today we're tackling a great mystery, and hope to resolve the case as soon as we can. Meanwhile, conversation about healing and the Blessed Virgin Mary's role ensue. See Mark 7:31-37
Season two of Roar Like the Lamb is finally here! Today we’re talking St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and her spiritual advice to allow God to love us in prayer. What does it take for us to be able to give God that space in our lives?
Show Notes
A Ron Swanson party
The Litany of Trust
Pray the Litany of Trust with the Sisters
Our last episode of 2021!
But we won't give a year-in-review discussion. No, instead we're talking about what good resolutions look like and how to get moving in the new year of grace.
We'll see you in 2022! Happy New Year!
Welcome to our Christmas spectacular! While we don't actually mention Christmas until pretty late in the episode, and even then only in the context of ranting about least-favorite Christmas songs, it's the Christmas episode. So Merry Christmas!
From the beginning of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "FATHER,... this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." "God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" - than the name of JESUS.
God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life."
SHOW NOTES
Want more about Jeff Cavins? Check him out at jeffcavins.com. You might also like his work with Ascension Press or the St. Paul Center. He's also got a pretty impressive author page over at Amazon.
Get the Hallow App at hallow.com and pray well!
As for watching "The Chosen," you'll want to head to the app store and download the app or check out the website. Well worth the time!
This week we bring your Part 2 of a whole bunch of questions. Remember, the Grinch hated Christmas, and Jesus would definitely be a dog person. Also, some way more important questions pertaining to Scripture and God's plan for salvation and unity among His people!
The wonderful ladies from our local Walking With Purpose submitted a bunch of questions to Fr. Sam for a Q&A session. They're asking all kinds of things from the problem of evil to Scriptural credibility and more. Here's part 1 of our discussion of their questions.
The notion of memory in the Mass is powerful. What does it really mean to say "Do this in memory of me?"
A Biblical Walk Through the Mass - Dr. Edward Sri
Paola's been counting her years in youth ministry and wondering how six years can fly by so quickly.
So here's our look at how it's possible for time to pass, why we don't get more retrospective (and why we should change that), how ministry impacts our lives, and good ways for us to grow in holiness and grace as we carry out the work before us.
All that, plus some points from Joel Stepanek. If you're really interested in some ministerial leadership tips, check out his webinar.
You cant watch the podcast if hearing our voices isn't enough for you.
Today we talk about some of the lessons about spiritual direction Paola has been learning in her class. The role of a spiritual director is to help guide you in your spiritual journey. Sometimes that just means being a good listener, sometimes it means challenging someone to do better, to step into the challenges, and spiritual direction always means praying with and for someone.
1 Cor. 3:6-9
And sometimes you wish spiritual direction would look more like this.
We really hope the phrase "10 Minute Topics" is not trademarked. Whatever, we won't be giving 10 actual minutes to each topic, some might get more, some might get less. Let's see what happens.
Instability, identity theft, getting locked out of the apartment...is Paola's life a romcom?
Music transcends so many aspects of life and forms in us a place for spirituality. Which leads us to Stephen White's article about virtue and saints.
Luke 13:1-9
1 Cor. 2:6
New projects, dream projects and getting started on new things. Some celebrities and Fr. Sam's father are used as examples.
Watch the video here.
We are all over the place in this one. Everything from Yetis to self-help, to recognizing our sinfulness, to Duke barking in the background, and eventually the relative ethics of time travel and superheroes, Marvel movies, and saints. This one was a lot of fun. Not really sure what it was about, but this was a good time. Thanks for listening.
Check out the video here. And here you get to see Bobby Knight throw a chair.
How Arrested Development Taught Me to Read The Scriptures
We learned some new things about our genetics (and Duke's!) this week. But more importantly, we dive into some of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius without ever actually quoting from them. The exercises are a powerful way to make progress in the spiritual life, find healing, and make lasting life-changes in favor of virtue and in favor of a Christ-centered life.
More on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
Here's a great place to go to make a retreat according to the Ignatian method: St. Joseph Retreat House
The Monastic Community of Bethlehem, of the Assumption of the Virgin, and of St. Bruno, where Fr. Sam likes to go on retreat.
One of our shortest episodes ever, we're talking about prayer and degrees of separation from Ken Burns. Prayer, whether rote or spontaneous is so important, and the more prayer takes root in our life and heart, the more that foundation supports us in time of need. Special shout out to Sr. Laura Marie Meskill, RSM, who is Fr. Sam's great-aunt and just celebrated 75 years of religious life! In your charity, say a prayer for her!
So often we hear that the Church has too many rules. But what if we understood why rules and laws exist? What if we saw obligation as something more than a burden? What if the law united us, both as a community and with God? That's the whole point!
Show notes
Check out the Canon Law Made Easy blog
A multi-part podcast that dives into the Church's approach to law
We're joined by real-life college student and Fairfield Life Teen alumna Caroline Taylor. She's a pretty amazing woman of faith who has experienced the challenge of going away to college and struggling to live the Catholic faith. On campus, Caroline discovered a newfound appreciation for her relationship with God. Listen in for her phenomenal testimony!
Get more about living your faith on campus!
https://www.focus.org
https://newmansociety.org
Weird dreams and Spanish radio. Incredible highlighters that don't destroy your books. Inspiration from the Holy Spirit to speak the Gospel. All this and more in this week's Roar Like the Lamb. Check out the links for some of the references we made in this episode, and most of all, don't be afraid to get close to Jesus and invite others to do the same!
Steve Harvey Introduces Jesus
Youth Pastor Decides to get onions
Besides a breakdown of Fr. Sam's fishing trip, we're talking about the desire for communion present in the human heart and all its different manifestations. We want Communion - the Eucharist. We want communion - to share the unity of faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. We want communion - to be part of a community. And yes, the brilliant podcasters over at Catching Foxes did in fact talk about this recently and you should listen to their take, too.
Romans 12
While Fr. Sam is away fly fishing in Montana, join Paola as she interviews Liam and Nora Finneran about their summer of encounter with God. Liam and Nora are part of Student Ministry here at St. Pius X and participated in their first summer trips with Damascus and Catholic Heart Workcamp.
Learn more about
- Damascus Camp: https://cysc.com/
- Catholic Heartwork Camp: https://heartworkcamp.com/
- Student Ministry at St. Pius X: www.fairfieldlt.com
So exciting to have Renzo and Monica Ortega on the podcast this week! They are an amazing married couple, parents to five kids, youth ministers, coaches, bloggers, authors, and so much more. They established Two Become Family to share some of their story of Catholic marriage and parenting. You can find them on social media @twobecomefamily.
If that's not enough, Renzo recently published "Go to Joseph: 10 Day Preparation for Consecration to St. Joseph" and you can find it on Amazon! Finally, Renzo and Monica were asked to be part of a special new series put out by the Knights of Columbus that will air on ABC affiliates nationwide beginning Oct. 10, 2021.
Watch the entire conversation here.
All the links for this episode:
twobecomefamily.com
Knights of Columbus special: https://www.kofc.org/en/news-room/st-joseph/index.html
Renzo's book: https://www.amazon.com/Go-Joseph-Day-Preparation-Consecration-ebook/dp/B096Y71TXG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=renzo+ortega&qid=1628901263&sr=8-1
Paola's running from the police, and Fr. Sam is watching the Olympics. Let's talk about the spiritual lessons of the Olympic Games and the teaching of St. Paul.
Heaven is for real, but how often do we think of it? Do we contemplate our eternity? In this episode, we talk about what heaven is, what our we hope eternity to look like, our misunderstandings about the afterlife, and the confidence we have in Christ for the gift of eternal life.
Check out this great talk by Sr. Josephine Garrett, that was part of the inspiration for this episode!
You might also enjoy Francis Thompson's poem "The Hound of Heaven."
Check out this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1aRwpBQISDU
On July 16, Pope Francis issued the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which limits the use of the 1962 Roman Missal. The accompanying letter explains some of his reasoning. With due respect and deference to His Holiness' office, the letter and the document itself are disappointing. We talk about it and how we can respond well.
Check out our conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/d0GJAKazkwY
We need hobbies, we need recreation. But how often do we really find that restorative time that rebuilds us? In carrying out ministry, we need to keep time for prayer and the Lord as a priority. Leisure time needs to be true leisure. Take advantage of summer and examine your own life - this is a perfect time to recognize where we're weak, where we're strong, and how God can work in our hearts to call us to something greater.
Leisure the Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper is a classic examination of how leisure is best used and it's theological/philosophical purpose.
Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hih9p3IlnPU
After a week at Catholic Heart Workcamp, Paola and Fr. Sam reflect on lessons learned, and a refreshed awareness of the challenges facing young people especially going into a post-covid world. The trip was great (in spite of Fr. Sam having bus insomnia and taken the easy way out by flying home on the return leg), and the teens had an amazing week of service and spiritual growth.
After a year with lots of isolation, our teens inspired by their example, and gave us a lot to think about.
Check us out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PtjFe3-gsio
Paola is back from Spiritual Director training with FOCUS and the Life Teen national youth ministry convention! In the first half, we talk about lessons learned about spiritual direction and the need for good formation. In the second half, we'll talk about the beauty of youth ministry and Fr. Sam's fool-proof defense against poolside pick-up lines.
Check out the great work done by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students and Life Teen!
One of the biggest influences in Fr. Sam's faith journey is a man named Sean Forrest. Sean was the youth minister at St. James in Stratford, CT, where he introduced young people to Jesus in a powerful way. From there, the Lord took him to performing music and speaking on a national level. Sean has recorded and published, and several years ago, founded Haiti 180, an incredible orphanage, school, medical clinic, and charitable outreach to people in need.
Check out Sean's work with Haiti 180 at haiti180.com
For more on Sean and his ministry, visit www.seanforrest.com
Check out the video of this conversation at https://youtu.be/Ez_q4BlJIRs
Samantha Kelley is a former Division 1 soccer player for UConn. After college she worked with student athletes for five years through FOCUS and Varsity Catholic. She currently holds a Masters in Catholic Psychology from Divine Mercy University and is pursuing Theology of the Body teaching Certification through the Theology of the Body Institute.
Samantha speaks nationally on topics of Sport, Femininity, Theology of the Body, Prayer, and any other topics that fit within the mission of FIERCE Athlete, Inc.
While Paola is away, Sam was conned by Fr. Sam into recording an episode of Roar Like the Lamb. She's a great person, incredibly talented, and is doing great things to minister to women.
Please have a look at the great work done by FIERCE Athlete at https://fierceathlete.org. Check out the podcast and social media offerings!
Check out the video of this episode: https://youtu.be/dg8ubnFRp9g
This one is low on content, high on shenanigans. That's why it's a bonus episode.
We’re making this one up as we go and learning how to be wrong while still trying to be right. And even there, you better believe we’re finding spiritual lessons. Also, summer plans discussed.
Show notes: The House just voted to make pizza Connecticut’s state food (update: the bill died before the expiration of the legislative session, and there was wailing and grinding of teeth)
Catholic HEART Workcamp is a great service organization providing opportunities for Catholic youth to put their faith in action each summer, and we’re thrilled to be able to work with them each year https://heartworkcamp.com
Description: In this special audio-only episode of Roar Like the Lamb, Paola is in the hot seat answering questions about evangelization and being a missionary. She and Fr. Sam discuss the best approach to sharing the Gospel and the different ways lay people and priests can be in mission to the world.
Show notes:
If you don’t already know about the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, please do yourself a favor and visit www.focus.org.
We talk about 2 Timothy 2, but the verse Paola was searching for was 1 Thessalonians 2:8: “With such affection for you, we determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but also our very selves, so dearly beloved had you become to us.
Description: How heavy is a cloud? Paola knows! And the leadership lessons we can learn from Joseph (the Old Testament Joseph) and from suffering, and how to start leading others in service.
Show notes:
(Book) The Catholic Vision for Leading Like Jesus: Introducing S3 Leadership -- Servant, Steward, Shepherd by Owen Phelps
https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Vision-Leading-Like-Jesus/dp/1612788750
Description: We know the world needs mercy, that we need mercy. But how do we become instruments of mercy – how do we bring mercy to the world? Forgiveness is hard, and necessary, and possible! SPOILER Paola probably cries a little
Show notes: For an amazing testimony of forgiveness, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkoE_GQsbNA
From the John Paul II Healing Center, prayerful steps for forgiveness
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you who you need to forgive (family, friend, abuser, God, yourself).
- Picture the person in front of you and pay attention to what you feel.
- Make an account of the debt they ow you (what did they take from you, how did they hurt you? It is OK to feel angry).
- Imagine yourself telling them what they did to hurt you and how it has affected you.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what you believe about yourself based on that incident (identity lie).
- Renounce the identity lie. (For example: “I renounce the lie that I am not loved or cared for”)
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the judgments you hold towards that person who hurt you.
- Renounce the judgements (see prayer above).
- Renounce inner vows (see prayer above).
- Ask Jesus to forgive the person.
- Forgive the person.
- Pray a prayer of blessing over that person – ask God to bless them in the opposite way that they hurt you.
- Ask Jesus to seal this forgiveness and heal the wounds.
- Thank God for his healing.
The world’s need for mercy is reflected in our own, personal need for forgiveness. Dealing with the reality of our sin and God’s desire to forgive us will change the world. Fr Sam’s beard is for sale.
Show notes:
Beard Fundraiser Link: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML1JVGM9SVQMX/checkout/OPOQVHMFV2COBWW5PDCC6EHX
Isaiah 43:1-7
1 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2
When you pass through the waters I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
4
Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.
5
Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
6
I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
7
every one who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Probably a multi-part episode, we’re looking at the landscape of a world that is deeply divided and suffering. For example, we experience some division on the pronunciation of the word “pusillanimity.” We get over it. The late Francis Cardinal George once wrote: “In the United States, everything is permitted, even encouraged. … But, while practically everything might be permitted, practically nothing is forgiven. By contrast, in the Church much is not permitted. … But while much is not permitted, everything can be forgiven. Our culture pulls us towards vengeance, our faith towards mercy.” The lack of mercy in the world doesn’t have to be permanent. Our faith teaches us to bring mercy into the world, to bring forgiveness and healing. And speaking of healing, listen to how Paola fixed a toilet. Mercy, Lord, sweet mercy!
Show notes: Check out the good work of the John Paul II Healing Center: https://jpiihealingcenter.org
St. Josephine Bakhita is an amazing example of forgiveness and healing, one who not only showed mercy to those who sinned against her, but also became an instrument of God’s mercy for so many people. The movie about her life is a powerful watch! https://watch.formed.org/products/bakhita-from-slave-to-saint
Do you think it’s possible to connect coffee beans extracted from cat poop to reflections on Holy Week? SPOILER ALERT: it’s not. But we try anyway. Holy Week is great and it gives us that necessary reset to put our lives back in proper order so that we can enter more deeply into a relationship with God.
Show notes:
- Cat poop coffee comes from the civet, and is properly called Kopi Luwak. We are willing to try it.
- Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi is a Latin phrase meaning “The law of faith is the law of belief is the law lived.” The way we pray profoundly influences what we believe, and our belief in turn, teaches us how we are to live.
Fr. Sam provides definitive Biblical and theological proof that Paola is wrong about cats, and dogs are superior. Also, a robust discussion of the reality that effective ministry can't be done alone. God is at work in the Church! We all can play a role in the Church's mission and ministry. The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. Pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, pray for faithful people willing to share their gifts and talents for the sake of the good work of the Gospel, pray to know your own gifts so they can be shared!
Sharing the Gospel is difficult, but often most difficult within the Church. In certain situations, talking about Jesus is easy - someone's never heard of Jesus, someone expresses an interest in the Gospel, you have nothing to lose by talking. But sometimes it's a lot harder - what if this congregation doesn't like what I say and writes to the Bishop? What if people aren't receptive and won't come back to our ministries? In this episode, we wrestle with the challenges and joys of preaching the Gospel.
Episode Description: Paola skipped her reading assignment! Ha! But this year of St. Joseph that Pope Francis has called is exciting and we’re going to look at his apostolic letter Patris Corde, and open up some of the 5…or 7…characteristics of St. Joseph that are important for this year. In this year, let us go to Joseph (Ite ad Ioseph) and find in him a model of Christian living.
Show notes: “Ite ad Ioseph” is pronounced “EE-tay ahd YO-sehf”
Check out Pope Francis’ letter Patris Corde, http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html
Episode Description: Paola got “peace” as her word of the year. Now Fr Sam shares his word, “freedom.” There’s discussion of the teaching office of the Church, the risks of mansplaining, why clericalism is just the absence of spiritual fatherhood, and how the spirit of freedom that comes from Christ gives us everything we need to be witnesses of the Gospel.
Show Notes:
Paola sneezed, but she does not have covid. Everything is OK.
The three “munera” or “office/duty” of the priest are the “munus docendi” - the teaching office; the “munus regendi” - the kingly/ruling office; the “munus sanctificandi” - the sanctifying office.
Romans 8:14-17:
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Paola hikes with llamas. Fr. Sam likes Cheerios.
In this episode, we explore the need for and dangers of competition in a Catholic ministry setting. Is being competitive antithetical to good ministry?
Show Notes: the Litany of Humility https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-humility-245
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
With no preparation and no idea what the topic is, Paola and Fr. Sam sit down to record. Spoiler alert. Paola cries. But it’s the best kind because it’s about the way God is moving powerfully in the hearts of people. So listen in and find out how the Lord worked through SEEK21 and in other ways to transform hearts and lives.
Show notes:
From St. Teresa of Avila
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Few things in life are as challenging as conflict and correction, whether you are the one who has to do the correcting or the one being corrected. But the Christian life demands a willingness, in charity, to call our brothers and sisters in faith to greater virtue and holiness.
Show Notes:
For some self-reflection check out: Litany of Fraternal Correction by Clare McCallan
If for some reason you’re not already listening to the #1 podcast out there, do yourself a favor and subscribe to “The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)”
We reference “Crucial Conversations” a great book that helps you learn how to address conflicts head-on while maintaining interpersonal and personal peace. Check it out: Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071771328/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_elZcGbB5ZYH3S?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Paola and Father Sam celebrate a milestone with due solemnity and joy, while looking at a world that seems totally thrown into chaos and confusion. How ought a Catholic respond to such craziness while maintaining sanity and sanctity?
Show notes:
St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s four degrees of love can be found in a longer treatise called “On Loving God.” You can read the whole thing here: https://www.catholicspiritualdirection.org/onlovinggod.pdf
Fr. Sam talks about rejection in evangelization and Paola tells him how to deal with it all and still be a successful missionary. If you're trying to share the faith with people and hitting challenges along the way, we're here for you.
Show Notes:
- "Making Missionary Disciples" by Curtis Martin
- If you like Thai food, please check out Ruuthai's Kitchen. They're amazing. http://www.ruuthaiskitchen.com
- Movie recommendation: For Greater Glory - awesome film about the Cristero war in Mexico and the witness of Catholics in the face of serious state persecution
Cliches, aphorisms, truisms, and platitudes are all part of our common speech, and we all cringe a little whenever we hear them. In youth ministry or pastoral care, there is a whole set of them that get used way too much. In this episode, we explore a few of them and confess to using them, to our shame.
Show Notes:
“Saint John Paul the Great: His Five Loves” by Jason Evert. Paola didn’t know the title to this book even though she’s “reading” it.
When we worship God, we're brought into relationship with Him. The act of worship is not limited to liturgical action, but can actually be seen in everything we do, in all our moral decisions. In this episode we talk about how following the Commandments help us worship. And how Matt Fradd's Aussie accent makes his podcasts even more wonderful.
Show notes:
- Servant of God Fulton Sheen’s book “Your Life is Worth Living: 50 Lessons to Deepen Your Faith”
- Check out Matt Fradd's awesome podcast "Pints With Aquinas"
- The Community of the Lamb (the Little Sisters and Little Brothers of the Lamb) are an awesome, holy monastic community present in countries all over the world. Here in the US, you’ll find them in Kansas City, KS. http://www.communautedelagneau.org/en/little-monastery-lumen-christi/
- One title, two different books: “The Spirit of the Liturgy” – by Romano Guardini, and “The Spirit of the Liturgy” - by Joseph Ratzinger
What is worship and what do we value? In this episode, we’ll start looking at the way our act of worship, especially at Mass, connects us to God and to one another. We’ll also see how worship is a fulfillment of God’s law. There will be some liturgical nerdery at work.
Show Notes:
- Check out the Servant of God Fulton Sheen’s book “Your Life is Worth Living: 50 Lessons to Deepen Your Faith”
- The Community of the Lamb (the Little Sisters and Little Brothers of the Lamb) are an awesome, holy monastic community present in countries all over the world. Here in the US, you’ll find them in Kansas City, KS. http://www.communautedelagneau.org/en/little-monastery-lumen-christi/
- One title, two different books: “The Spirit of the Liturgy” – by Romano Guardini, and “The Spirit of the Liturgy” - by Joseph Ratzinger
We’re really tired. So in this episode we probably won’t stumble over any of our words or forget names or make any exhaustion-related mistakes. But we’ll be talking about being tired, the way exhaustion impacts ministry, and how God works through us even when we have no energy to offer. Check out our only late-night recording and find out why we usually record in daylight!
Show notes:
- The Eisenhower Matrix, also referred to as Urgent-Important Matrix, helps you decide on and prioritize tasks by urgency and importance, sorting out less urgent and important tasks which you should either delegate or not do at all. https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/
- Check out Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend’s book “Boundaries” - https://smile.amazon.com/Boundaries-Updated-Expanded-When-Control/dp/0310351804/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=boundaries&qid=1607617323&sr=8-1
Some of our reading recommendations in this episode:
“Brideshead Revisited” by Evelyn Waugh
“Supreme City: How Jazz Age Manhattan Gave Birth to Modern America” by Donald L. Miller
“The End of the Modern World” by Romano Guardini
“The Fire Within” by Thomas Dubay
Did you know that being quarantined increases your likeliness of starting a podcast by 82.5%? We have no data to back that up, but if it’s not true it should be. In our inaugural episode, we’re talking about the challenges the quarantine has posed to priestly ministry, parish life, working with our youth, and personal spiritual growth, and the blessings that have come out of the pandemic. This podcast is born out of a place of prayer and a desire to deepen community in our church.