CONVERSATIONS WITH MACRINA
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GO AND TEACH
April 7, 2008, 10:55 min.
This year, the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico celebrates 25 years. While the diocese is small by most standards, it is a diocese near to the hearts of many Basilians. Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, D.D., who shepherds the Church there, is also a Basilian. It is also a diocese that speaks to many of the recent studies on religion in the United States as its population is largely Hispanic, mostly of Mexican descent.
One of the challenges faced by the diocese concerns how the faith is transmitted. The Diocese of Las Cruces can be considered a missionary diocese because of the number of priests present there. The Church has always emphasized the primary importance of the family as educators of children and it is this message that Bishop Ramirez has emphasized in his most recent pastoral letter, "Go and Teach".
Bishop Ramirez joined me over the phone to discuss the contents of this letter and speak to some of the responsibilities and challenges faced by the family today. Throughout this interview, you will also hear excerpts of his letter, "Go and Teach".
LIGHT OF THE EAST
March 29, 2008, 17:51 min.
In his apostolic letter, Orientale Lumen, the Late John Paul II invites all Catholics to listen to the Churches of the East, the "living interpreters of the treasure of tradition they preserve."
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been asking the question: what those of us in the Western Catholic Church can learn from our brothers and sisters in the Eastern Catholic Churches. It is a complicated question because most of us are hardly aware that there are 23 Catholic Churches — 1 in the West and 22 in the East. Futhermore, many of us in the West confuse Orthodox Churches with Eastern Catholic Churches. So consider this episode a crash course on the Eastern Catholic Churches and some of the elements of their liturgy that I have found, should resonate with those of us who participate in a Roman liturgy.
To assist me in this explanation are two priests: Fr. Philip Acqauro is a Basilian Father who is biritual in both the Roman Church and the Ruthian Church and Fr. André Lulach is a married priest in the Byzantine Catholic Church as well as a campus minister at the University of Saskatoon. Fr. André also had the responsibility of coordinating all the Eastern Churches for World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002.
CHANGED BY THE JOURNEY
March 15, 2008, 16:07 min.
Over the past few weeks, we have been thinking about pilgrimages — journeys that become episodes of transformation in our lives. They are moments of grace and endurance as well as joy and sadness. While each story we have heard is different, they all share a common thread in their action upon the lives of those who willingly turned their lives over to the experience. Of course, many of us know that some pilgrimages begin because of the events that are thrust upon our lives. One such example is today's guest, Rocco Rossi, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. A few years ago Rocco was on the fast track up the corporate ladder, but after the death of a colleague, he realized that it was time to re-evaluate his life. The result was a journey that began with the Camino in Spain and continues as he is now working to bring miracles to families across Ontario. As the years have added between now and those life changing events, Rocco shares with us his perspective on the journey and how it changed the terrain of his life.
PILGRIMS WITH THE EUCHARIST
March 8, 2008, 9:53 min.
2008 marks the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Quebec City, the first permanent French settlement in North America. One of the many events taking place this year is the International Eucharistic Congress. It is a time when Quebec is asked to remember her roots and host the Universal Church to celebrate the Living Christ.
This experience of faith will be held in a festive atmosphere, with believers of all ages coming together from every part of the world. The Congress pilgrims will gather for a week of celebrations from June 15 to 22, 2008.
To prepare the hearts of Canadians for this event, the organizers of the Congress commissioned The Ark of the New Covenant. It is a first in International Eucharistic Congress history. For the past several months the Ark has traveled from city to city providing a special opportunity for many people to gather in Christian reflection to deepen their understanding and celebrate the mystery of the Eucharistic, "gift of God for the life of the world."
The last leg of the Ark's travels are organized by our guest today, Jerry Grzadka who speaks to us about the Congress, the Ark and the meaning behind the pilgrimage he is organizing.
BEYOND ROCKET SCIENCE
March 1, 2008, 11:47 min.
During this Lenten Season, we continue to hear from individuals who have made significant and extraordinary journeys, all the while understanding that it is God who has allowed for the journeys to be a part of our lives. Over the last couple of weeks, we have been reminded though the season of Lent, that the destination is often not nearly as important as the journey itself. Lent is a season in which I often reflect upon the words of Mother Teresa, "God does not demand that we be successful, only that we be faithful."
Of course, journeys are often very personal and it is usually unfair to judge the journey of one person to another, but today's guest has made a journey that, I think we will all consider, is rather significant. On June 22, 2007, Astronaut Danny Olivas returned home after serving in space as a mission specialist on STS-117 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Danny has been employed at NASA since 1998, logging 336 hours in space including two spacewalks. In addition, he teaches third grade catechesis at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. Raised in El Paso, Texas, Danny is an engineer of Mexican descent now married with five children. During my recent trip to my own hometown of Houston, I was thrilled to spend some time with Danny at NASA to talk about his own journey to NASA and eventually into space; and how that journey has impacted his own journey of faith.
SMALL STEPS AROUND THE WORLD
February 23, 2008, 14:17 min.
As we continue to look through the lens of Lent at the journeys of the lives of young adults today, we also remember that Lent is not only a period of giving up, but of also giving more. In today's program, we spend time with two young women at the University of St. Thomas. Cheryl Castillo is a senior majoring in International Studies and Maurielle Balczon is a sophomore majoring in International Development.Both represent the Micro Credit Program at the University.
Micro Credit has been recently popularized by Kiva.org, which they utilize to manage the relationship between the lendees and lenders from St. Thomas. As they will share, micro credit is a means by which anyone can lend, or invest, in an entrepreneur in a developing country. It is not simply an act of charity, but a means by which people are helping others break the cycle of poverty and sustain entire communities one person at a time.
MISSIONARIES OF THE NEW EVANGELIZATION
February 16, 2008, 9:51 min.
The season of Lent, which we now dwell within, is ultimately a season of transformative journeys. Most of us recognize Lent as a period marked by what we give up, of abstinence and fasting. However, these practices are only as effective as the awareness and transformation that they bring forth.
Over the next couple of weeks, I am spending time with young people who have lived through, or are still living in, these kinds of transformative journeys. It is a chance to hear about the work they are now involved in and what brought them to embrace their ministry as a life's work.
We begin with Eric Chow, a 26 year old CCO Missionary I met while in Calgary. He now works on staff at Catholic Christian Outreach as the Pacific District Director, and he shares with us what made him change career paths from engineering to full-time missionary work; from a salaried job, to one that required he raise funds to pay his own salary.
REACTIONS TO NEW STUDIES
February 9, 2008, 15:15 min.
Last week, we heard from Dr. Reginald Bibby, who offered the fruits of his research on the status of religion in Canada. I have heard from several people this week who were surprised about the impact of religion on societal values and shocked about the numbers Dr. Bibby revealed. As a sociologist, Dr. Bibby offered his thoughts on the data that comes from his research — to say that he was thought provoking is an understatement.
So I wanted to get another take on the data.
Immediately after Dr. Bibby's presentation, I asked fellow Basilian and CEO of Salt and Light Television, Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB to share with me, and with all of us, his thoughts on Dr. Bibby's presentation and religion in Canada.
NEW STUDIES AND NEW LIFE: RELIGION AND SOCIETY
February 2, 2008, 17:52 min.
Everyone loves statistics, but to quote today's guest, Dr. Reginald Bibby, numbers are not half as important as good ideas. In today's episode, Dr. Bibby reveals the real facts about religion in Canada, and even more importantly, what these facts have teach Catholics about their role in society. Dr. Bibby is a Canadian sociologist and professor at the University of Lethbridge. In 2006, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada, and over the past three decades, has been monitoring social trends in Canada, through a series of well known national surveys of adults and teenagers, in the process gathering pioneering and historic data on religion and youth. He is the author of Fragmented Gods (1987), Unknown Gods (1993), There's Got to Be More! (1995), Restless Gods: The Renaissance of Religion in Canada (2002), and Restless Churches: How Canada's Churches Can Contribute to the Emerging Religious Renaissance (2004) as well as others.
CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN OUTREACH
January 26, 2007, 13:56 min.
Since 1988, Catholic Christian Outreach, or CCO, has been challenging university students to live in the fullness of the Catholic faith, with a strong emphasis on becoming leaders in the renewal of the world. Between Christmas and New Year's, CCO holds its annual Rise Up! Conference, where I had a chance to sit down with President Jeff Lockart and discuss the movement, the need, CCO's impact and the theme of this year's conference, "Renaissance of Hope."
CITIZENSHIP WITH THE SAINTS
January 19, 2007, 19:17 min.
By now many of us are starting to feel the pinch of our New Year's resolutions, so I thought it might be the perfect time to look for a little extra motivation. And where else to Catholics look for motivation but in the company of the saints? In fact, I have wanted to record an episode on the saints for a long time — after all, they are the examples given to us by the Church as to how we can follow the Gospel more completely. However, the saints are much more than good examples, as we will hear today from Fr. Tom Rosica, Basilian priest and CEO of Salt and Light Television in Canada.
I had the privilege of attending the 2007 Catholic Christian Outreach Rise Up! Conference in Calgary with Fr. Tom recently, where he spoke about the saints. What follows are excerpts of his presentation as it was given to over 450 college students from across Canada. Though it is a bit different from the usual interview format (and a little bit longer), I believe you find Fr. Tom inspiring and engaging as he presents "An Extreme Revolution of Holiness: Citizenship with the Saints."
A CONVERSATION WITH MSGR. PETER SCHOENBACH
January 12, 2007, 11:31 min.
Over the holiday season, I was in Ottawa where I stayed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. It is the largest French speaking parish in the Archdiocese of Ottawa and lead by Pastor, Monsignor Peter Schoenbach, P.H.. We shared a mutual friend, so it was the first time Monsignor Schoenbach and I ever met. It was not long into our conversation that I realized he had a wealth of experiences that would make for a great interview. So it is with great pleasure that I bring you the insights of Monsignor Peter Schoenbach, who has worked for the Government of Canada as the chief of the program division of Historic Parks in Canada (prior to priesthood); the Secretary to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1998 to 2004; rector of the Notre Dame Basilica in Ottawa, Director of Vocations and now Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Orleans, on the outskirts of Ottawa.
CHRISTMAS EDITION: WHAT THE EVANGELISTS ARE TRYING TO TELL US
December 22, 2007, 13:28 min.
Christmas time is finally upon us. Over the past few weeks, I have watched the lights go up; the store front windows decked out in holiday splendor, and laughter and song have filled our evenings at holiday parties and cheer. Now, at least from my home in Toronto, the snow has accumulated on the rooftops and in the streets, leaving us with a remarkable winter wonderland. And while all these things are beautiful, they are but an accompaniment to the focus of this time of year. During the four weeks of Advent, we have been preparing ourselves for the incarnation of God. In contrast with the busy-ness of the marketplace, our hearts wait in the stillness and prepare a place for the Lord. But we do not wait alone. Not only in our celebration, but also in our prayer, Advent and Christmas are seasons when we come together as friends, family and common heirs of the Kingdom of God in our midst. So it is with this community in mind, that I have asked my own family, the Basilians I live with in Toronto, to join me in a special Christmas edition of Macrina. I was curious as to what they believe is the heart of the Christmas message, as conveyed by the evangelists, Luke and Matthew. What is it that these men are trying to tell us through the infant narratives?
THE TRIUNE GOD
December 15, 2007, 13:32 min.
The notion of the Triune God or the Holy Trinity is, perhaps, one of the most difficult doctrines of the faith for people to grasp. "Three in one and one in three" just doesn't compute with our logic. While many people profess their belief in the Trinity when they recite the creed, their articulation of that belief would suggest some sort of a representation, hierarchical or polytheistic understanding. To shed light on the notion of the Trinity is my own professor of the Triune God, Dr. Margaret O'Gara of the University of St. Michael's College Faculty of Theology in Toronto. Recently, Dr. O'Gara was also named the Chair of Systematic Theology by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto.
WHAT WE LEARN FROM ADVENT
December 1, 2007, 11:23 min.
The sights and sounds of our cities take a more festive (and usually hectic) flavor this time of year. There is no mistaking that Christmas is on its way - lights in trees and in store windows remind us that something is different from the usual pace of things. Most of us approach Christmas with the same goal in mind these days, relax more, shop less, spend more time with friends, and make it easier than before. Of course, in Church, things are different too. The colors have changed from green to purple, the songs are different, the readings are different and there is now a wreath prominently placed with four candles in the sanctuary. It is Advent. For many, including myself, it is a season that brings particular fondness, which can seem odd since many of the readings are about waiting and repentance. Have we lost the significance of this season? What is it supposed to be about? Why does the Church provide these four weeks before Christmas? To answer these questions, I recently spoke with Glenn McDonald, newly ordained Deacon with the Basilian Fathers and stationed at a Basilian parish in Rochester, New York. Glenn joined me over the phone of which I share with all of you some of his reflections on Advent.
CONTRACEPTION AND NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING, PART II: IN PRACTICE
November 24, 2007, 11:47 min.
Last week, we heard from Dr. Moira McQueen about contraception as it is understood and taught by the Church. This week we continue that theme as we discuss natural family planning as an alternative to artificial contraception. Perhaps it is a bit presumptuous, but I believe that as an idea, many people would be willing to admit that NFP is a good practice; however, it is simply not practical. So to help us understand NFP on a practical level, I have invited Bret and Flannery Salkeld to join us today. Bret and Flannery have been married just over two years, recently had a wonderful little boy and have practiced NFP as a part of their relationship.
CONTRACEPTION AND NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING, PART I
November 17, 2007, 14:49 min.
A few months ago, we welcomed Dr. Moira McQueen, Director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute and ethics professor at the University of St. Michael's College in Toronto to help us understand the Catholic teachings on sex. For this program, we welcome her back as we discuss contraception and NFP, or natural family planning. It is a topic I believe many of us know, on one level, a great deal about, but when it comes to what the Church teaches and WHY - most of us probably know very little. So why has the Church been so outspoken against contraceptives? Is the Church willing to evolve its position on contraception? And what is NFP all about? We will look at these and other questions in the first of two episodes.
EVOLUTIONARY CREATION
November 10, 2007, 16:02 min.
Religion and Science has often had a difficult relationship - regardless of the religion or the science in question. Yet, most theologians understand that one of the hallmarks of Catholicism is found in the recognition of their importance - both of them. Nevertheless, the debate seems never ending and no topic seems to bring this to the fore front as much as the theories of evolution and creation. But this does not have to be a love-hate relationship - in fact many scientists have been encouraged by their faith to find harmony between evolution and creation. One such person is Dr. Denis Lamoureux, assistant professor of science and religion at the University of Alberta, St. Joseph's College.
BIBLICAL SERIES, VOL. III - THE PSALMS
November 3, 2007, 12:54 min.
Our Biblical series continues, with a look at the Psalms. By some respects, they could be considered the most popular book in the Hebrew scriptures and yet their origin and purpose is often misunderstood. Their style is unique as a collection, but they seem to speak to many of the same events that can be found else where. Today, the Psalms are often used to give reassurance, or give words to the joy and sadness a person may be experiencing at the time, but was that their intention?
I spent some time speaking with Fr. Bill Irwin, a Basilian and Hebrew scholar at the University of St. Michael's College Faculty of Theology about the Psalms, their origin, purpose and how we can better understand and pray with them today.
BIBLICAL SERIES, VOL. II - WISDOM LITERATURE
October 27, 2007, 12:25 min.
Our Biblical series continues with a look at the collection of books that make up the Wisdom Literature of the Hebrew Scriptures. Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, and Sirach are perhaps some of the most difficult books to understand while at the same time, particularly relevant for today's society. Each of these books is chiefly concerned with instruction, though that instruction does not focus directly on God's authority. Rather, it is from human experience, teachers and family that counsel is given and learned. But human experience is quite different now and in fact, we rarely hear from these books in the Catholic lectionary - why is this? To help us with this and other questions about the Wisdom Literature, I am joined by Fr. Michael Kolarcik, Jesuit and professor of scripture at Regis College at the University of Toronto.
BIBLICAL SERIES, VOL. I - ST. PAUL
October 20, 2007, 12:48 min.
At the very heart of the Catholic faith lie two pillars that support all that Catholic believe: scripture and tradition. Sadly, many Catholics are grossly under-educated about scripture despite its prevalence in the life and ministry of the Church. As a result the Bible is often left unexplored as a source of inspiration in the Catholic Faith. And while some of us are faithful to the scriptures, this episode is a first look at the books of the Bible that cause even the most devoted to stumble. The Psalms, Wisdom Literature, Revelation and our focus today, the letters of St. Paul stand out as books that are often misinterpreted or taken out of context. As the most prevelent writer in the New Testament, St. Paul has been used to justify a variety of beliefs and injustinces ranging from slavery to sexism. Paul statements on justification by faith were used by Martin Luther as part of his platform that would eventually lead to the Reformation. Even today, Romans, Galations and Thessalonians provide but a few of the many proof-texts that misrepresent the ideas of St. Paul. So to help bring clarification to the theology and context of St. Paul's letters, we are joined by Fr. Scott Lewis, a Jesuit priest and professor of scripture at Regis College in Toronto.
PERFECT LOVE THAT CASTS OUT ALL FEAR
October 13, 2007, 13:24 min.
I imagine that when many people think of the Catholic Church, certain images come to mind: The Pope, high liturgies, priests, and women religious teaching in schools or working in hospitals. Indeed, whether people know it or not, many of the social institutions in place today are the result of women who have dedicated their lives to those struggling to live a better life. But changes in society has caused many women's religious communities to become almost invisible — a fact that has left many Catholics with a void. However, just this past month, Toronto has begun to see that void filled with the presence of three Sisters of Life. They are here at the request of Archbishop Collins to address issues of human dignity and life, and they sat down with me to share the story of their community, their lives as young religious and what they have learned about God and life through their work with pregnant women.
BEHIND CHANGES IN THE LITURGY
October 6, 2007, 11:59 min.
For many people the mass is the one constant they treasure during the week. It represents the eternal and unchanging part of our humanity that comes to us through our relationship to God. However, in recent years, the mass has undergone some changes and even more recently there have been rumors and confusion about further changes. Just this summer, Pope Benedict XVI issued a Motu Propio that received a great deal of media attention for its comments on the Trindentine mass. Yet, many people are still confused about this an other recent changes in the liturgy.
To help us clarify some of these issues and the ideas behind them, we are joined by Dr. Christian McConnell, a professor of liturgy and ministry at the Unviersity of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto.
FORMING DISCIPLES
September 29, 2007, 13:52 min.
Last season, we heard from the president of the World Youth Alliance, Mary Halpine. It was an interview that impressed many people. And that got us thinking — where is leadership among our young cultivated and how does it develop? What tools and methods are employed the next generation of leaders — specifically in areas of service within and around the Church? To answer these questions, we spoke with Jaason Geerts, director of the College of Prefects based in Toronto about his program and the insights he has learned about transforming youth into disciples.
CONSCIOUS LIVING
September 22, 2007, 10:00 min.
Simple living. The scriptures are full of demands to live simply, and to remain focused on God. But how are we to do this? Marketing companies are constantly promoting new products that will make our lives more simple, easy and improved. But is this what God had in mind? Today we hear from Fr. John Reddy of the Basilian Fathers as he turns to Paul's letter to Philemon and from Dave Wempler, Founder and Director of the Simple Living Network, to help us understand what steps we can take to live a simple, conscious life.
FOR THE HONOUR OF GOD . . .
September 14, 2007, 13:38 min.
This weekend, three Basilians will profess their final vows to the Congregation of St. Basil. The following day they will be ordained deacons and in April, Priests. Over the years I have had the privelidge of calling these men friends and confreres. We have lived, studied, prayed, laughed and traveled together over the past couple of years. So before Andrew Leung, Glenn McDonald, and José Del Toro begin this next stage of their journey, they sat down with me, in this special and first installment of a new season of Conversations with Macrina, to reflect upon their 8 or 9 year experience in formation, the memorable moments, learnings, joys and hopes while preparing for their service to God and others as priests in the Catholic Church.
SEX AND OTHER SOCIAL TEACHINGS
July 28, 2007, 15:39 min.
The rumor is that a man thinks about sex every seven seconds and a woman thinks about it at least every minute, but how often does the Church think about it? Ask just about anyone and they would tell you: all the time. In fact, it is probably safe to say that of all the social teachings of the Church, the only documents Catholics people could name (if any) are the ones that address matters of sexuality. Yet, the actual number of teachings on issues related to sexuality only make up a small number of the Church's social teachings. Add this misconception to the large number of misconceptions about the teachings people can name and you are left with a huge lack of understanding.
I am joined today by Dr. Moira McQueen, ethics professor at the University of St. Michael's College and Director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute to help us, well, put sex in perspective.
Also, please note that the next episode of Macrina will not air until mid-September as I break for my summer vacation. But, I look forward to returning with new thoughts and ideas, refreshed and renewed.
WILL YOU BE MY VOLUNTEER?
July 21, 2007, 12:38 min.
Today's subject is volunteerism — a topic many are familiar with, but how do these actions impact our faith, especially on an ecumenical level? And how do we approach the questions many of us are faced with as a result of these actions? To help us understand these answers, I am joined by Michelle Sheridan, Director of Volunteer Services at Seton Hall University
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS?
July 14, 2007, 11:37 min.
Catholic schools are receiving a lot of attention lately – competition with public schools, regulations, costs and freedoms are just a few of the issues that have made the press in recent years. But even with all the discussion from the outside, the real battles are taking place inside these institutions – about the very thing that makes them so distinctive – their Catholicity. So what does it mean for a Catholic school to be Catholic; how is their curriculum different from the curriculum of a public school and how do these schools respond to the increased diversity in culture and religion?
To help us answer these, and other questions, I have invited Fr. Mario D'Souza, philosopher and professor at the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto as well as fellow Basilian.
THE ADVANCEMENTS OF VATICAN II
July 7, 2007, 13:11 min.
The Second Vatican Council has been called one of the most extraordinary reorganizations of government in the world. By some estimates, it represents the largest internally driven, pro-active change of any organizing body in history. For Catholics, it is a house-hold name because of the changes it promulgated in the mass – now spoken in the vernacular, the priest facing the congregation and the inclusion of the faithful as part of the mass. But these are just a few of the changes that resulted from Vatican II.
I am joined today by Dr. Michael Attridge from the University of St. Michael's College in Toronto to discuss with us some of the other advancements of Vatican II that may not be so universally known. As a scholar of Vatican II, Dr. Attridge will also share with us some of perspectives and stories of the council fathers – some of which, I have found rather humorous.
AN ALLIANCE THE WORLD OVER
June 30, 2007, 15:31 min.
Recently, I had a chance to visit the North American headquarters of the World Youth Alliance. It is a remarkable, international coalition of youth people committed to promoting the dignity of the person and building solidarity among young people ages 10-29, from developed and developing nations. It is not an explicitly Catholic or even religious organization, but their message is clearly based on Gospel values, even if anonymously. Founded in 1999 at the UN in New York by a young woman from Toronto, the Alliance has experienced amazing growth and success. To share some of these stories with us, is current president, Mary Halpine.
A DISCUSSION ABOUT RELIGIOUS LIFE
June 23, 2007, 11:03 min.
Today, I speak with Sr. Julie of the Immaculate Heart of Mary or IHM sisters. Sister Julie has recently received a great deal of attention from the media because of her popular blog entitled, “A nun’s life.” This blog is exactly as sounds – an electronic journal of what it is like to live as a nun today. In her own words, she hopes that this blog will reduce the number of misconceptions about religious life and the Church. Sr. Julie joined me over the phone from her office at Loyola Press in Chicago to discuss the state of religious life and its place in the life of the Church in the world today.
GK CHESTERTON
June 16, 2007, 14:03 min.
G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) was the towering figure of Christian apologetics in the first half of the twentieth century. A playwright, poet, novelist, journalist, editor, theologian and philosopher, Chesterton converted to Catholicism in 1922. His biographer Maisie Ward described Chesterton's works as the attempt "to get outside Christianity and see for the first time its uniqueness among the religions of the world."
Today, Chesterton is thought to be as relevant now as he was then. So much so, that a number of Catholic colleges have dedicated institutes to the preservation and study of Chesterton's ideas. One such place is Seton Hall University, where I spoke with Fr. Ian Boyd, Director and fellow Basilian, about Chesterton, his relevance, and ideas for the world today.
HOW TO PROMOTE THE COMMON GOOD?
June 9, 2007, 14:25 min.
In the last episode, I made mention of a seminar at the United Nations, sponsored by the Holy See Mission, which was attended by 53 college students from all across the country. The purpose was quite simple: to learn from the example of the Holy See how social justice is promoted across very diverse nationalities, beliefs and values. At the end of this seminar, I had the opportunity to sit with some of the students present at the conference, not simply to discuss what they had learned, but really to hear their thoughts on what it means to promote the common good. Therefore, this episode does not necessarily reflect the teachings of the Church, but the struggle of those Catholic and non-Catholic to arrive at a common understanding of what is good for all peoples. Some students are staunch Catholics, and others self-proclaimed atheists and agnostics – but all have a desire for social justice in the world today – and after spending a week with them, I was quite pleased they agreed to grapple with this most difficult question in front of the microphone.
MEDIA AND THE GOSPEL
June 1, 2007, 13:40 min.
For the past week, I have been in New York City with a film crew from Salt and Light Television covering a group of students invited to the United Nations as guests of the Holy See Mission. In the coming weeks, you will hear from these students and their experience at the UN, but since this is the week of Pentecost, it seemed most appropriate to speak with my two friends, Kris and Matthew, about their experiences in the world of Catholic media.
Salt and light Television is based in Toronto and broadcasts throughout all of Canada. It offers both 24/7 television programming and supports documentary productions – one of which will be on the Holy See Mission to the UN. Salt and Light was born in the wings of World Youth Day 2002 continuing its spirit as it is staffed almost entirely by young people.
WHAT'S IN A LABEL?
May 25, 2007, 12:41 min.
This past week, I was reading an article about an underground Catholic youth program that consists of Eucharistic adoration, rock and hip-hop music combined with Latin chants, silent meditation, scripture and the rosary. The article was from a secular source that featured Catholics in both support and criticism of this program. It was the criticism that caught my attention – the group was identified as “conservative” but it was unclear as to what that meant. This left me thinking – what are these terms, liberal and conservative, anyway? Why are these terms used so frequently? Do they have particular meaning? And are they useful in understanding the Church and its message?
I spoke with two college students, Kaity and George about this issue. Both are leaders on their campus and quite candid about these labels which are so frequently used.
MEGA MISSION: EVANGELIZATION FAMILY STYLE
May 18, 2007, 12:02 min.
Today, we hear from a family of missionaries. They are most certainly unique, but not alone, as they are one of many families that recently participated in a "Mega Mission." This mission is one of many examples of the New Evangelization of the Church. Today, Curtis and Denise, along with their 5 children join me to discuss the subject of evangelization and the mission they recently completed. What follows is a discussion that peaked my own curiosity since all that I knew was that Curtis and Denise participated in this mission with a number other families who spent their weekend walking and knocking door to door to speak and listen to people they had never met about the Gospel and the Catholic Church.
ST. BASIL COFFEE
May 12, 2007, 10:10 min.
Much of the content featured on this podcast speaks of ideas relevant to the Church today, but today, we listen to two people who have manifested these ideas into a project that has provided people they have never met with an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. The idea was simple: Identify an item that people use all the time and sell it in a manner that will benefit people in need. In this case, it was coffee, available through the internet and the people impacted by the good works of the Basilian Missions in Colombia. And it was named: St. Basil Coffee
St. Basil Coffee began with a conversation between two men and both of them join me remotely from Houston, Texas and Bogotá Colombia respectively. Jim Boyles, President of St. Basil Coffee and Fr. Vince Thompson, a Basilian priest living and working in Bogotá Colombia.
ADULT FAITH FORMATION
May 4, 2007, 12:25 min.
This episode, we look at adult catechesis – a topic I decided need a bit of clarification after I read an article that commented on young Catholics. This article cited young adults as less likely to accept church teachings and more prone to have a distanced relationship with their parish. As I read this article, I found myself asking who’s job it is to impart the faith to these young adults. The answer to this question is quite simple: the family – according to Familiaris Consortio and Gaudium et Spes to name just two of many documents that talk about the role of the family in the life of Church and in relationship with the world. Of course, the problem is that parents are often under educated themselves. Time and responsibility often combine with a decreased priority of Church in the life of many adults. So if the kids depend on the parents for their faith and the parents are under educated – this seems to be a problem. Joining us today to help us find a solution to adult catechesis are Fr. Vince Dulock, Basilian and professor at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas and Lynn McDonald, Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation at St. Basil’s Parish in Toronto.
THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS
April 26, 2007, 11:26 min.
This week, we look at the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office. It is the official prayer of the Catholic Church. Designed to consecrate every hour of the day to God, it is prayed by priests, religious and the lay faithful across the world. Yet, few know such a prayer exists, and for those that do, it is often veiled by a shroud of mystery and confusion. To help bring some clarity to this prayer, I have invited two Basilians, Morgan Rice and Ben Martin.
WHY GO TO CHURCH?
April 16, 2007, 10:51 min.
In this episode, we ask the very basic question: Why should people belong to, and attend church? Among church leaders and sociologists, there are literally dozens, if not hundreds of articles on this topic. All of them provide the same conclusion: Sunday mass attendance is on the decline. The reasons are well documented: people find God just as easily outside the Church, mass is boring, I don't have the time and the list could go on. . . Still, there are many people who do attend mass throughout the week. We were curious as to their thoughts about why mass is so important and how it might become a better experience for those who have lost their reasons to go as well as those who only attend mass out of habit. To help me explore today's topic, I have asked fellow Basilian, Morgan Rice, who joins me here in Toronto and good friend, Colleen, who joins us remotely from Austin, Texas.
THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS
April 13, 2007, 11:38 min.
We take a look at the universal call to holiness. Luke, chapter 12, verse 48, states that to the one whom more is given, more is demanded. The Second Vatican Council Fathers, in Lumen Gentium speak of a responsibility that all Catholics have to improve our world. And to develop an ecclesial consciousness that pervades all areas of our life. Indeed, it seems the Church is demanding something more than mass on Sundays and various forms of devotion, but what? And to what end? How has this call impacted our parishes and what are the challenges it presents? To help me explore this topic, I have invited two students from the University of St. Michael's College Faculty of Theology to today's show: Andrew Leung, a Basilian seminarian and Lindsay Moore, Theologian and campus minister at the University of St. Michael's College.
POPULARIZING THEOLOGY IN MINISTRY
April 6, 2007, 11:08 min.
How does one popularize theology in the world today? Our first look at this discussion addresses it from a ministerial point of view. What are ministers trying to do on the ground level to create a welcoming environment that emphasizes the need of God in the lives of people. In this first look, we discuss youth ministry with Michael Valka, a youth minister at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Houston, Texas.
