Carolyn and Sean Loub
It’s not unusual for Catholic moms to consider the priesthood for their boys, but Carolyn Loub admits she didn’t pray for a priestly vocation. As a matter of fact, when their third son left a note for his parents saying he’d discerned a call to the priesthood, they were shocked. Carolyn felt they hadn’t done anything special to encourage his vocation, saying, “I didn’t think I was a mom who raised a future priest. It’s a God thing.”
Their son, Sean, candidly shares how his first nudge came while he was a young altar server watching the gestures of the priest. His prayer life was nominal until high school when he felt the Holy Spirit drawing him into a deeper relationship. Close friends invited him to a Latin Mass and, although reluctant, he fell in love with the reverent liturgy, eventually asking God to give him clear signs if the priesthood was his vocation. God gave Sean the assurances he needed, and he applied to and was accepted by the Institute of Christ The King Sovereign Priest. Sean graduates high school in the spring of 2024 and will begin his candidacy as an Oblate with the Institute in the fall of 2024.
Sean is an incredibly gifted young man, serving as the President of both his school’s Student Council and Students for Life. He is also captain of the school’s tennis team and enjoys playing pickleball.
Sean is also a member of the “Men of St. Joseph” as well as the “Knights of the Holy Temple” at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish. He is also an altar server.
Carolyn Loub has sung in the choir since she was a child and is a former home blogger and interior designer who has taken her life up a notch since becoming a “pickleball fanatic” – designing a line of pickleball apparel under the name “The Pickle Chicks.”
Sister Mary Ann Fatula, author
As one of eight children, Sister Mary Ann Fatula felt drawn to the Mass at a young age, never missing a day since receiving her First Holy Communion at age seven. Now 81 and retired, Sister Fatula declares herself a mere youth among the other Dominican nuns she cares for at their nursing home.
A prolific writer, Sister Fatula’s book, The Wonders of the Mass and the Eucharist: Insights of the Saints, will give you a greater understanding of the Communion of Saints through the profound and tender writings of 10 saints who also loved the Mass. These saints will teach you about the immeasurable graces the Lord gives you at Mass and through the Eucharist. You will hear that when Jesus comes down onto the altar, He brings all of heaven with Him, opening up to us the many profound mysteries invisibly taking place at each Mass. Through Sister Fatula’s eyes of faith, you will never experience Mass the same way again.
Sr. Mary Ann Fatula, O.P., received her PhD in Systematic Theology at Catholic University of America and then was a professor of theology at Ohio Dominican for over 30 years.
Books by Sister Mary Ann Fatula:
Co-hosts of The Family Room, Mari Cleveland from St. Jude and Craig Wesemeyer from St. Peter Chanel, talk with Marci Nunnery from the Cathedral of Christ the King who shares about the beauty of the rosary.
Dr. Paul Chaloux, moral theologian and author
Dr. Paul Chaloux just completed the third book in his trilogy on the three great mysteries of life: suffering, death, and love. His latest, called Heaven’s Currency: A Study of Love, builds upon the first two: Why All People Suffer and Dying Without Fear. Combined, all three show us how love is Heaven’s true currency.
Listen as Dr. Chaloux explains how understanding eternity relies on our ability to stop focusing on the here and-now by understanding that God permits suffering and even death as gateways to love. Suffering is not a punishment, but a vehicle.
With a PhD in Moral Theology, Dr. Chaloux draws on not only textbook knowledge but from first-person suffering, including his own diagnosis of early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Theologically rich and emotionally powerful, Dr. Chaloux can help you understand why Heaven’s currency really is love.
Dr. Paul Chaloux earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and worked for IBM as an engineer, manager, and strategist for over 33 years. In 2014, Dr. Chaloux earned an MA in Religious Education from Fordham University and in 2020 earned a PhD in Moral Theology from the Catholic University of America. Dr. Chaloux has been married for more than 35 years and has four grown children and three grandchildren. He teaches theology at Catholic University as well as religion classes at his parish in suburban D.C.
Mary Jane Zuzolo, author
Most Catholics would recognize the sixth Station of the Cross, Christ’s face imprinted on Veronica’s veil. This sacred relic is kept safely in the Vatican, but few know about the Holy Face Devotion which was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1895. Mary Jane Zuzolo shares from her book, Unveiling the Sixth Station of the Cross: Reparation to the Holy Face, Mother of All Devotions, about many miracles attributed to Veronica’s veil, which has generated more miracles than the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Hear Mary Jane’s engaging recount of her family’s deeper faith journey and discovery of her ancestor, a Carmelite nun from the 1800s to whom Christ shared messages of the Holy Face Devotion. The devotion makes reparation for the rejection of God, particularly against the first three Commandments. Reparation through this Devotion is meant to help alleviate the real suffering these sacrileges present against God, thereby renewing the Image of God on the souls of those who make reparation.
Clarence Burkholder and Brian Lee from St. Paul Street Evangelization
The word evangelization often evokes negative emotions in people, but St. Paul Street Evangelization offers a friendly and safe approach to sharing the Gospel and planting seeds which can have lasting effects on people. Hear how two experienced evangelists trained in this approach, Clarence Burkholder, the Atlanta Team Leader covering colleges and universities in a 4-state area, and Brian Lee, the National Director of Evangelization Teams, share heartwarming stories of how God has used them to bring total strangers into the Catholic Church — often years later.
Clarence and Brian also share four steps - listen, befriend, proclaim, and invite - that are sure to help would-be evangelists be successful. Discover how to evangelize by focusing on the other person’s story first in order to understand them, building a bridge that leads to answering questions to clarify misunderstandings and encouraging them to investigate Catholicism further.
Dr. Patrick Fagan, director of MARRI at The Catholic University of America
As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Patrick Fagan likened his role to that of a priest due to the personal access he has to peoples’ deepest secrets. Early in his career, his life was forever changed when he learned that federally-funded programs often worked to undermine family stability rather than strengthen it. Hear how Dr. Fagan, determined to help shed light on the problem, pursued his doctorate and transitioned his career over to Public Policy, hoping to influence legislation on Capitol Hill by showing that strong families are critical to a thriving country.
Beth Von Arx, former teacher and homeschooling mother of nine
After interviewing John Paul Von Arx about his wildly successful song,”He’s Different,” which aired on our December 27, 2023, episode, it became clear that there was another celebrity in the family, John Paul’s mother, Beth Von Arx.
Beth and her husband, Joe, raised their nine children with the primary goal to help each member get to Heaven, and, initially, homeschooling was not part of their plan. As a former teacher, Beth remembers sitting in the teacher’s lounge echoing the common opinion that homeschooled kids were destined to be socially backward. Nine homeschooled children later, Beth shares that it’s the best decision they ever made because homeschooling gave them – and not the culture – the joy of becoming their children’s biggest influencers.
Beth stresses how homeschooling gives parents the pleasure of discovering each child’s gifts in a natural way and allows each child to blossom into the person they were always meant to be without the overwhelming peer pressure to conform to the culture. Beth’s humor as she describes the controlled chaos while simultaneously homeschooling nine children will give you hope. Her creativity will put wind in your sails, giving you the encouragement you need to step into the crazy but eternally-rewarding world of homeschooling.
Joelle Maryn, writer, producer, speaker, actress
Joelle Maryn’s adult life seemed like a dream, but being a successful model, actress and the creator of a high-end cosmetic line didn’t compensate for the fact that her whole life burned to the ground when she was only six. Her family home was destroyed in a fire which killed her only sibling and destroyed the emotional stability of her parents, who couldn’t cope with their own grief. Joelle literally lost everything that night.
Joelle felt abandoned by God and pursued a life which would bring her glamour and fame in Hollywood. She succeeded beyond her wildest dreams, but a mountaintop moment on Rodeo Drive drove home how empty her life was. God captured Joelle’s heart in a very personal way in 2012. She responded by devoting herself to ministry. Her book, Master of the Pieces, is not simply an autobiography but a roadmap to healing for those struggling to overcome the pain of their past.
Joe and Nicole McGivney
Just days after Christmas in 2020, Joe McGivney’s mind became trapped in the hallucinations of alcohol-induced Korsakoff psychosis, also called “wet brain.” After decades of chronic drinking and being a high-functioning alcoholic, Joe had hit rock bottom after COVID-19 provided the perfect storm to take his drinking to the next dangerous level. Within weeks of Joe’s diagnosis, his family was shaken to their core as Joe, incapacitated and violent, had to be monitored 24/7 in a locked psych ward. Joe’s family was told that he would never recover and would need to be institutionalized for the rest of his life. Hear the amazing story as Joe and his wife, Nicole, share how their journey took them from the pits of despair over a life of addiction to the miracle that brought Joe back to his family and, ultimately, to God. Joe’s experience includes an interesting link between his healing and many intercessory prayers, including those to his distant relative, Blessed Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus. Joe’s story of redemption has been chronicled in You’re A Miracle: My Story of Alcoholism, Miraculous Healing and God’s Infinite Power and Love, a book that The Family Room host John Gordon admits finishing in one sitting, unable to put it down.
For Dr. Bill Thierfelder, the warmth, affection, and love of his family of 12 bears fruit for God’s Kingdom here and now. We learn about the founding of the only Catholic college between Virginia and Florida, Belmont Abbey College (near Charlotte, North Carolina), and Dr. Thierfelder recounts how the Holy Spirit called him to become President of the college. He also reveals his personal love for the Blessed Mother, explains three, unchanging pillars of our Catholic faith (in a way that is easy to share), and gives a memorable example of peak performance on both human and spiritual levels.
Above all, Dr. Thierfelder shares an inspiring glimpse into married life with his wife, Mary.
Vince Frese, author, creator of the Recovering from Divorce Program
Vince Frese, co-author of Divorced. Catholic. Now What? and creator of DivorcedCatholic.com, shares about his journey to truth and healing amid his recovery from a divorce. Vince describes a key moment when, once he learned how he needed to give himself totally (not just a piece) to God and surrender, the doors were thrown open and opportunities for healing and growth resulted. A key he shares to recovering from divorce: get as much Jesus in your life as possible. Vince stresses that, as Catholics, we have a great direct route through Mass and the Eucharist, which is foundational to the healing process. Vince also shares practical tips such as focusing on things you can control to help move forward on the road to recovery. He describes tools and resources he provides to share what he has learned with others and guide divorced Catholics to recovery and abundant life by helping them more fully learn and live their faith.
Co-hosts Mari, John, and Craig and Production Manager Dave Savage
In this 100th episode of The Family Room, co-hosts Mari, John, and Craig field questions from The Quest’s Production Manager, Dave Savage, to reminisce about how the show started and where it has been plus look ahead with excitement to shows in the new year.
John Paul Von Arx, musician, Coordinator of Worship at Franciscan University
John Paul Von Arx is passionate about raising awareness of people with Down Syndrome and showing the beauty of their lives. John Paul’s music video for his original song “He’s Different” is about his youngest brother, Sam, who has Down Syndrome, and tells the story of how Sam is different than he is in all the best ways – in how he sees life with joy and simplicity and loves people unconditionally. John Paul wants to bring hope to parents expecting a baby with Down Syndrome and express his solidarity with families of people with special needs. Far too often, there is a stigma surrounding people with special needs, and John Paul wants to combat and eliminate it and show their dignity to the world.
John Paul Von Arx started playing guitar when he was 11 and writing his own music at 15, which was also when he and his siblings started a family band. To this day, he has a love for performing covers of oldies that his family used to play. After high school, he traveled the country on tour with two bands as their lead guitar player and made lifelong friends and gained valuable live performance experience. After being on the road for four years, he decided to finish his undergraduate studies and raised the funds to finance his debut album, “Break Through,” via a Kickstarter campaign. Soon after beginning the recording process, however, tragedy struck his family with the passing of his brother Max. Above all else, this loss forced him to find answers for purpose in the midst of pain. With the grace of God and the support of his community, he began to fully embrace pursuing a music career without reservation. Since the release of his first album, he has played acoustic and full-band shows for a variety of audiences all over the United States and Europe. He also leads worship for conferences and parish events and serves as the Coordinator of Worship at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter.
Dr. Ray Guarendi, father of ten, clinical psychologist, author, TV/radio show host
With wit and wisdom, Dr. Ray Guarendi shares from his book, Standing Strong: Good Discipline Makes Great Teens, which gives parents the tools they need not only to navigate the teen years but also to enjoy them. Dr. Ray offers practical approaches such as simple house rules that lead to success, consequences to curb nasty talk, ways to monitor your child’s use of technology, and a strategy to motivate underachievers. Dr. Ray provides parents with strategies to becoming stronger parents with calm, loving resolve while learning how to foster quality time with your teens and have real fun together.
Dr. Ray is a Catholic father of ten, clinical psychologist, author, professional speaker, and host of the radio show, “The Dr. Is In,” and the EWTN television series, “Living Right With Dr. Ray.” Dr. Ray has given over 3,000 talks on various topics including parenting, marriage, family, and the Catholic faith. He captivates audiences with his compelling humor-laced presentations providing practical advice and proven techniques.
Dr. Allen Hunt, author and Senior Advisor at Dynamic Catholic
Dr. Allen Hunt shares ideas from The Fourth Quarter of Your Life: Embracing What Matters Most, which he co-authored with Matthew Kelly, Founder of Dynamic Catholic. This practical guide contains ideas that many will wish they had been exposed to earlier in life, even those who are not yet in their fourth quarter. Hunt shares the importance of developing intentionality, which is the key to living based on proven life principles and establishing meaning and direction for your life. In sharing how to develop the clarity necessary to make good decisions to learning to say no, Hunt reminds us that it is never too early to think seriously about what matters most.
Dr. Allen Hunt was an ambitious young man working for a prestigious management consulting firm on Wall Street whose life changed when he heard the Holy Spirit whisper in his ear, “Allen, when are you going to stop serving yourself and start serving me?” And that is what he did. God’s path led him from a PhD in New Testament and Ancient Studies at Yale University before ultimately culminating in his dream job as the senior pastor of a mega-church in Atlanta, one of the largest Methodist congregations in the Unites States. His search for truth and a deeper relationship with Christ Jesus brought him to another life-changing decision: he would step down from his senior pastor position and convert to Catholicism. He now partners with Matthew Kelly and serves as the Senior Advisor at Dynamic Catholic.
John Martignoni, author and TV and radio host
Popular apologist John Martignoni discusses his book, A Blue Collar Answer to Protestantism, which uses common sense, simple logic, and the Bible for his plain yet provocative analysis of individual Protestant doctrines and dogmas. Using concise, candid, power-packed arguments from Scripture, history, and rational thinking, Martignoni’s treasure trove of apologetics shows how Protestantism as a whole and in its individual parts is illogical and lacking in both common sense and biblical sense. Martignoni also shares reasons why the Catholic Church is indisputably the Church that Jesus founded, which beliefs are essential to authentic Christianity, and how to prove that Jesus is really present in the Holy Eucharist.
Fr. Timothy M. Gallagher, author, speaker, spiritual director, and retreat leader
Fr. Timothy M. Gallagher has been referred to as “America’s preeminent writer on Ignatian spiritual direction and discernment.” Fr. Gallagher shares wisdom from his book, Discernment of Spirits in Marriage: Ignatian Wisdom for Husbands and Wives, to help couples apply St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Rules for Discernment to their role as a husband or a wife. In this book, Fr. Gallagher aims to free couples from discouragement and assist them in finding peace in their spiritual lives and in their marriage. His book helps couples determine what is of God and what is not and discover ways in which God strengthens husbands and wives who seek to grow spiritually.
Timothy M. Gallagher OVM was ordained to the priesthood in 1979 as a member of the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. He is an author of many bestselling books on the theology and spirituality of Ignatius of Loyola as well as other themes of the spiritual life and has also published articles in Catholic periodicals. He appears frequently on Catholic television and records many podcasts, radio interviews, series on YouTube, and virtual events
He served for twelve years in formation of seminarians, for ten years as provincial superior of his Catholic religious congregation, the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and since 2000, has been dedicated to a ministry of writing, public speaking, retreats, digital events, and spiritual direction.
Stephen Auth, missionary, author, and business executive
Stephen Auth describes with humor and humility how, in the midst of a long career on Wall Street, he has a conversion experience in 2002 that leads to an incredible missionary journey, one that involves taking on what he describes as “mission impossible” projects. Following where he feels God is calling him, Stephen starts a New York City street mission that is all about transforming and bringing Catholics back to the faith. Stephen shares that he has seen how the Lord transforms us and our faith by the experiences we have when we work hand in hand with Him. Stephen’s book, The Missionary of Wall Street, includes riveting and often funny stories of how he and his group of missionaries - ordinary Catholics from the financial sector - work shoulder-to-shoulder with Christ, feeling God’s grace, as they evangelize their wary New York neighbors.
Stephen Auth has had a long career on Wall Street and since 2000 has been with Federated Investors, where he serves as executive vice president and a chief investment officer of Federated Global Equities. Steve is a frequent guest on CNBC, Fox Business News, and Bloomberg TV, and is a long-standing participant in Barron’s annual investment outlook panel. He earned his undergraduate degree at Princeton University, where he graduated summa cum laude, and his graduate degree at Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar. Steve is a member of the Regnum Christi movement and sits on the national board of the Lumen Institute, which he helped found in New York. He has participated in missions in Mexico, and with his wife, Evelyn, has led the New York City street mission for ten years. Steve and Evelyn have two wonderful sons, Richard and Michael Auth.
Sr. Mary Josefa from The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and Elizabeth Pham, mother and author
Join us for a lively discussion with two guests sharing God’s joy and hope through fun and beautiful children’s books. Sr. Mary Josefa of the Eucharist, a cloistered nun, gives a glimpse into the joy-filled lives of religious sisters, brought alive for children with heartwarming illustrations and captivating verse in the book Brides of Christ by The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. Sr. Mary Josefa discusses how the book also helps de-mystify the religious life for parents to better understand how it can be a wonderful calling that overflows with joy. She shares that though the lives religious sisters lead may seem mysterious to others, their lives of prayer and sacrifice and the graces from that go beyond the cloistered walls to spill over to the world. We are reminded that the more united we are to Christ, the more we experience real, abiding joy.
We also hear from Elizabeth Pham, a mother of six (soon to be seven) children, who shares what lead her to write The World Waits, a portrayal of all of humanity’s longing for Jesus (both in the past, current, and future) through beautiful illustrations evoking a sense of joyful anticipation. Mostly targeted for younger children, it is also a book for all ages to enjoy, as Elizabeth shares how her favorite children’s books also draw in her older children and speak to her as a parent. In this book, perfect for Advent, with picture references from Noah’s Ark to the Star of Bethlehem to the tabernacle on the altar, we are reminded of God’s hand in all of history, guiding us through the darkness and on toward the light. We see how we wait for Jesus’ coming at Christmas each year, we wait for His coming in the Blessed Sacrament during Mass, we wait for His coming at the end of time, and we wait for His coming into our hearts in all seasons and situations.
Phil Nagel, CEO and Founder of firstPro and parishioner of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Atlanta
Phil Nagel shares his compelling story of hope and redemption due to God’s love and faithfulness.
Phil and his wife founded firstPRO, a full service, independent staffing and recruitment firm.
John Bursch, VP, Appellate Advocacy for Alliance Defending Freedom
John Bursch shares points from his timely and incisive book, Loving God’s Children: The Church and Gender Ideology. John helps explain what the Catholic Church teaches about the human person and why modern culture’s embrace of “gender ideology” is not only wrong but terribly dangerous for parents and families, female athletes, medical professionals, and especially those experiencing gender confusion. John’s book provides straightforward reasons to defend the Church’s teaching on human sexuality and ways to develop virtue and courage to withstand the rising persecution of those who promote and defend the Church’s teachings. It covers a range of topics including how to
approach the use of pronouns in the workplace, ways to accompany those struggling with gender confusion, and how to respond to practical questions with factual information and authentic spiritual guidance.
John Bursch serves as Vice President of Appellate Advocacy for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the largest public-interest law firm in the world defending religious liberty, free speech, parental rights, marriage and family, and the right to life. John has argued twelve cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, including cases defending the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage and sexuality. John speaks frequently to groups — both religious and secular — about topics including marriage, human sexuality, the right to life, and religious liberty.
Andrew Laubacher, Executive Director of Humanality, speaker, and musician
Humanality is a non-profit corporation that exists to help people live more meaningful lives through a limited use of technology. Andrew Laubacher shares about the ambitious road ahead of the organization whose goal is to help people find a right relationship with technology: one that serves and points to engagement with the real world and one another, rather than distract from it. As studies are starting to show just how destructive technology use has been for people, families, and the young in particular, Humanality wants to encourage a better way, a more human way, by helping people live in the modern age, utilize the tools offered by technology, and discover how to master our devices rather than be a slave to them.
Andrew Laubacher (known as ALOB) is a songwriter, worship leader, and speaker based in Southern California. After straying from the Lord in high school, he was brought back into relationship with God through youth conferences, powerful prayer experiences, and the witnesses of many influential people in his life. After graduating from Franciscan University in Steubenville, he began to pursue ministry full-time. His heart for worship and his belief that God is always at work in our lives shine through in his music. He released his first EP, Living Water, and followed that with a full-length record, No Match for Love. He tours the U.S. and abroad sharing his music, praying with communities, and helping people embrace the miraculous, healing, matchless love of God.
Mary Beth Bracy, consecrated virgin, writer, and speaker
In celebration of the feast day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (October 1), Mary Beth Bracy shares commentary on two beloved books about this great saint and Doctor of the Church. From I Would Like to Travel the World by Guy Gaucher, bishop emeritus of Bayeux and Lisieux, Mary Beth relates fascinating modern-day healings obtained through St. Thérèse’s intercession. Gaucher’s book shows how St. Thérèse lived one of the most faithfully and universally apostolic lives in the history of the Church and encourages readers to imitate the spiritual childhood of “the greatest saint of modern times.” Mary Beth also shares about I Believe in Love by Fr. Jean D’Elbee, a spiritual classic on the teaching of St. Thérèse of Lisieux as a set of meditations, covering topics including having confidence in God even amid sufferings, how to love our crosses, and what we must cherish in our souls to learn to love as Jesus loves.
Mary Beth Bracy is a consecrated virgin of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York. She is a writer who is blessed to research, publish, and speak extensively on various aspects of Catholic spirituality.
Betsy Orr, board president of Heritage
Betsy Orr shares about the vision of Heritage, located in Taliaferro County, Georgia, and how her own faith journey led her to this ministry of creating a sacred place to seek, find, and renew faith. Heritage is rebuilding a community of faith and restoring the first Catholic settlement in Georgia into an entire Catholic district, which includes: Locust Grove Cemetery, the oldest Catholic cemetery in Georgia, established in 1790; the Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built by the first Catholic congregation in Georgia; The Retreat, a 200-acre retreat center with cottage accommodations, prayer and fellowship spaces, walking trails, and sacred art; and The Farm, a working farm that provides food and programming for the Retreat. With its mission to provide a welcoming Catholic environment that serves communities through beauty, peace, and historical connection, Heritage is opening its arms to invite guests to impactful experiences with the opportunity to explore and deepen life’s most meaningful relationships.
Co-hosts Craig, John, and Mari
The Holy Spirit leads the conversation as Craig, John, and Mari share what’s currently on their hearts.
Teresa Mull, author, editor, conservative journalist
Teresa Mull talks about her book, Woke-Proof Your Life, and shares easy and practical ways that the silenced majority, who feel overmatched, can stand up for themselves and restore America’s values and culture. Teresa gives concrete advice to traditional-minded Americans who are looking to regain their peace of mind, health, and happiness and re-steer our country toward the future we envisioned for ourselves and our families before progressive activists turned every aspect of our lives into some radical, sociopolitical cause. Teresa discusses points from her book such as: the actual definition of woke; tips on growing in faith, educating children, and cultivating community; how to avoid “toxic empathy,” and tenants to focus on when you feel trapped in the maze of woke culture.
Teresa Mull was blessed to grow up in her ancestral home in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania. She received a degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Dallas and interned for Laura Ingraham and at The American Spectator magazine in Washington, DC. Teresa traded the fast-paced lifestyle of our nation’s capital for the mountains of Idaho before returning to her roots and her coal-mining hometown, all while continuing to grow her career in conservative journalism. Teresa’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, Baltimore Sun, Miami Herald, New York Post, Fairbanks Daily News Miner, American Conservative, and many other publications.
Dr. Ian Murphy, writer and speaker
Ian Murphy’s book The Road to Self -Awareness: A Therapy Book for Christians provides a comprehensive approach to true healing, not cheap gimmicks masquerading as inner peace. Unsatisfied with the typical “self-help” books that limit their scope to mere problem-solving, symptom management, or pain alleviation, Ian set out to demonstrate through his own broken quest for well-being that there is a path to true betterment — one that recognizes and celebrates a person’s inherent dignity as someone made in the image and likeness of God. Ian shares his story that is both authentic and amusing, a journey into total and lasting healing that can be replicated by anyone who feels trapped in self-doubt or anxiety, toxic messages or addictions, lethargy or misspent energy.
Dr. Ian Murphy experienced a stirring journey into Christianity out of agnosticism. His subsequent ministry to reach other skeptics with the Gospel unexpectedly rocketed to public attention when his valedictorian speech about Jesus made headlines nationwide, inspiring a Congressional Law from the desk of Senator Arlen Specter. This momentum landed Ian into the position of head pastor at a Baptist church in Texas, where his ministry remained centered until his decision to enter the Catholic Church. Shifting career direction, he became a professor of theology, most recently at Divine Mercy University. Ian currently works as a full-time Catholic writer and speaker and resides near Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife, Rachel.
Bear Woznick, author, adventurer, Benedictine Oblate, husband, father, man of God
Bear Woznick shares points from his book, 12 Rules for Manliness – Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?, to unveil what is deep in every man’s heart: a call to live the heroic way. Bear explains how the cowboys of old were, in many ways, the models of manliness. They were perceptive, decisive, and lived by a personal creed - and they knew how to make a stand. Bear discusses the importance of men having a plan that helps them learn how to develop a proper personal creed. He also shares how to avoid being a drifter but, rather, to seek God’s purpose for your life.
Bear’s amazing biography is filled with “eMANgelization” projects and tons of adventure, including pedaling his bicycle from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, holding the very rare NINJA blackbelt, and being a two-time Masters World Tandem Surfing Champ and an inductee into the Catholic Sports Faith Hall of Fame.
Teresa Tomeo, talk show host, author, and journalist
Teresa Tomeo shares laughs and lessons from her book Everything’s Coming Up Rosie: 10 Things My Feisty Italian-American Mom Taught Me About Living A Godly Life. Through unforgettable “Rosieisms” from Teresa’s mother, a “street-smart theologian” from Jersey City, you’ll come to appreciate the value of your sufferings, big or small, and how they can help you and your loved ones live a sensible, well-grounded, godly life. Teresa shares how Rosie’s life, example, and practical advice will help you cultivate virtue in your life as you learn about: how “go ride your bike!” relates to health (and it’s not what you think), ways to always see the glass as half full, a bit of wisdom that Tomeo learned from both her mother and the Rolling Stones, how round-trip guilt trips can be a good thing, and why you should listen to your mother and “keep smiling.”
Join Teresa Tomeo for her WINE (Women in the New Evangelization) online book study Sept 5-Oct 10 when the book selection will be Everything’s Coming up Rosie. Sign up via Catholic Vineyard and receive the book, a prayer card, a journal, and access to live and recorded sessions.
Teresa Tomeo is an author, syndicated Catholic talk show host, and motivational speaker with more than 30 years of experience in TV, radio, and newspaper, 20 of which were as a secular reporter/anchor in the Detroit market. In 2000, Teresa left the secular media to start her own speaking and communications company, Teresa Tomeo Communications, LLC. Teresa appears frequently on the EWTN Global Catholic Television Network and is also a correspondent for EWTN News In Depth.
Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, Thomistic theologian, liturgical scholar, and choral composer
Dr. Peter Kwasniewski shares concepts from his book, Treasuring the Goods of Marriage in a Throwaway Society, including the nobility of marriage, the “pulsating heart of marriage” and why it is critical to marriage and family, ways parents can teach their children about authentic sexuality, and how to combat what sometimes feels like overwhelming forces attacking marriage. Dr. Kwasniewski also discusses how the nuptial vow has ties to the Old Testament and to Mary’s Fiat: “Be it done unto me according to thy word.”
Biography: Dr. Peter Kwasniewski earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from The Catholic University of America. After teaching philosophy and theology at the International Theological Institute in Austria and music for the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Austrian Program, he joined the founding team of Wyoming Catholic College in Lander, Wyoming, where he served as the first Director of Admissions and Assistant Academic Dean, directed the Choir and Schola, and taught, over time, all of the theology courses and most of the philosophy and fine arts courses. In 2018 he pursued a career as a freelance author, public speaker, editor, publisher, and composer, with the intention of dedicating his life to the articulation and defense of Catholic Tradition in all its dimensions. Over the past twenty years, Kwasniewski has published over 1,300 articles on sacramental and liturgical theology, the aesthetics of music, Thomistic thought, and the social doctrine of the Church. He has written or edited twenty books. Many of his approximately 150 musical works have been performed in liturgical settings and in concert. Kwasniewski has also worked with The Aquinas Institute that is editing and publishing the Opera Omnia of the Angelic Doctor in some 60 volumes. He is a Fellow of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies and a Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center in Steubenville.
Anthony DeStefano, author, television host, and activist
Anthony DeStefano believes that as more and more people today struggle with depression and loneliness, self-help programs need to be less about “self-help” and more about “God’s help.” God, after all, is the Author of life; He knows what will make us happy — and what won’t. Anthony shares about breaking out of self-delusion and taking small, practical steps to transform your life from head to soul. He discusses ways that people who feel overwhelmed by life can immediately take control of their lives. He also shares how to set goals in a way that is both humanly effective and spiritually intelligent and three things that are most important when it comes to goal setting and taking action.
Anthony DeStefano is the bestselling author of over twenty-five Christian books for adults and children. His books have been published in eighteen different countries and twelve different languages and have been endorsed by The National Day of Prayer committee as well as many prominent religious leaders and mainstream celebrities. He has appeared on the 700 Club, Fox and Friends, CNN, Huckabee, and hundreds of other national and local media shows. He has also been the host of two television series on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), as well as a frequent guest on that network. A Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Anthony is an avid pilot and lives in New Jersey with his wife, Jordan.
John Edwards, host of Just a Guy in the Pew podcast
John Edwards has known firsthand many of the struggles men go through. He struggled with addiction, went to jail, and almost lost his marriage. As John says: “It wasn’t until I felt the presence of Jesus as I walked out of a jail cell that I realized how much I wanted to change and how I could only do that with His help.” When John came back to Jesus, he struggled to find other men to support him in his walk with Christ. He founded Pew Ministries to help parishes start men’s groups where guys can find the support they need to become the men they’re meant to be. He stresses how parishes need to put boots on the ground to save our families from all the attacks of our secular society. John’s ministry focuses on helping men grow in Christ to fill those boots to become the husbands, fathers, and leaders God calls them to be. John shares about his experiences while challenging us to acknowledge who we are and whose we are.
Dr. Ian Murphy, writer and speaker
Dr. Ian Murphy experienced a stirring journey into Christianity out of agnosticism. His subsequent ministry to reach other skeptics with the Gospel unexpectedly rocketed to public attention when his valedictorian speech about Jesus made headlines nationwide, inspiring a Congressional Law from the desk of Senator Arlen Specter. This momentum landed Ian into the position of head pastor at a Baptist church in Texas, where his ministry remained centered until his decision to enter the Catholic Church. Shifting career direction, he became a professor of theology, most recently at Divine Mercy University. His autobiography entitled Dying to Live: From Agnostic to Baptist to Catholic, which includes a foreword by Dr. Scott Hahn, was published by Ignatius Press. His second book is a 2023 offering from Sophia Institute Press entitled The Road to Self-Awareness: A Therapy Book for Christians. Ian currently works as a full-time Catholic writer and speaker and resides near Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife, Rachel.
Peter Herbeck, Executive Vice President and Director of Missions for Renewal Ministries
Peter Herbeck, co-author with his wife, Debbie, of the book Lessons From the School of Love: Cultivating a Christ-Centered Marriage, shares key lessons that he and his wife of 37 years have learned to build up their marriage and family to become more Christ-centered. Peter addresses topics including how to give God permission in our marriages and families, the sacrificial nature of true love, having the will to change, asking for and extending forgiveness, helping children encounter Christ (“parents are the pastors”), Christian marriage as “a supernatural thing,” and remaining strong amid Satan’s attacks on marriage and the family.
For more than thirty years, Peter Herbeck has been actively involved in evangelization and Catholic renewal throughout the US, Canada, Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Peter oversees the work of lay mission teams throughout the world who work to equip Catholic lay people, bishops, priests, and religious to respond to Blessed Pope John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization. Peter and Debbie have four children and eleven grandchildren. They reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Dr. Paul Vitz, American psychologist, Senior Scholar/Professor, and author
Dr. Paul Vitz discusses the profound effect a father has on the mental and spiritual health of a family, a topic he has been studying since the 1980s and especially in the 90s when his work turned to personality theory and Christianity and to the psychological importance of fathers. The latter culminated in a book titled Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism on what Vitz claims are the psychological factors which produce atheism. Dr. Vitz also shares points from a webinar he presented for Legatus entitled “The Father’s Important Impact on the Family” in which he examined the emotional and behavioral effects of a father’s absence, positive effects of his presence, special effects of bad fathers on religion of children, effects of substitute fathers, and an understanding of a father’s enduring impact.
Dr. Paul Vitz is an American psychologist and a Senior Scholar/Professor in the Institute for the Psychological Sciences at Divine Mercy University in Sterling, Virginia. He is Emeritus Professor of psychology at New York University where he taught for many years. Dr. Vitz’s teaching and research is focused on the integration of Christian theology, especially Catholic anthropology, with psychology. This requires breaking from the modern secularism and post-modern relativism prevalent today. Dr. Vitz’s career changed markedly in the mid-seventies with his conversion from atheism to Christianity and later, in 1979, to Catholicism.
Fr. Robert Sirico, author; President Emeritus of Acton Institute
In The Economics of the Parables, Fr. Sirico pulls back the veil of modernity to reveal the timeless economic wisdom of the parables. Thirteen central stories including “The Laborers in the Vineyard,” “The Rich Fool,” “The Five Talents,” and “The Faithful Steward”serve as his guide, revealing practical lessons in caring for the poor, stewarding wealth, distributing inheritances, navigating income disparities, and resolving family tensions.
Rev. Robert A. Sirico is president emeritus and the co-founder of the Acton Institute. In that capacity, he lectures at colleges, universities, and business organizations throughout the U.S. and abroad. His writings on religious, political, economic, and social matters are published in a variety of journals. Fr. Sirico is often called upon by members of the broadcast media for statements regarding economics, civil rights, and issues of religious concern. Fr. Sirico received his Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic University of America following undergraduate study at the University of Southern California and the University of London. During his studies and early ministry, he experienced a growing concern over the lack of training religious studies students receive in fundamental economic principles, leaving them poorly equipped to understand and address today’s social problems. As a result of these concerns, Fr. Sirico co-founded the Acton Institute with Kris Alan Mauren in 1990. In April of 1999, Fr. Sirico was awarded an honorary doctorate in Christian Ethics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and in May of 2001, Universidad Francisco Marroquin awarded him an honorary doctorate in Social Sciences. He is a member of the prestigious Mont Pèlerin Society, the American Academy of Religion, and the Philadelphia Society, and is on the Board of Advisors of the Civic Institute in Prague. Father Sirico also served on the Michigan Civil Rights Commission from 1994 to 1998. His pastoral ministry has included a chaplaincy to AIDS patients at the National Institutes of Health. He is the Pastor Emeritus of Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Fr. John Bartunek, LC, author of The Better Part
In this third segment of “Ask a Priest,” Fr. John Bartunek, author of The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer, outlines five essential elements for Christian discipleship and digs deeply into the third element: Learning More about our Faith! Fr. Bartunek also answers listeners questions on a variety of topics. Join us for this enlightening conversation, and e-mail us questions of your own to: TheFamilyRoom@TheQuestAtlanta.com
Five Essential Elements: 1. Prayer and Sacraments 2. Mission 3. Learning More about our Faith 4. Growing in Virtue 5. Fellowship and Relationships
Mari Cleveland from St. Jude the Apostle and John Gordon and Craig Wesemeyer from St. Peter Chanel
Craig, John, and Mari, co-hosts of The Family Room, talk about the Holy Spirit including the gifts of the Holy Spirit, an honest look at how the Holy Spirit works in our lives, what it’s like to be obedient to Him, and what prompts us not to be obedient to Him.
Fr. John Riccardo, host of Christ is the Answer & ACTS XXIX Exec. Dir., & Mary Guilfoyle, The Rescue Project lead
Fr. John Riccardo and Mary Guilfoyle, Fr. John’s co-host on their newest podcast, You Were Born for This, discuss ACTS XXIX’s new offering, The Rescue Project. The Rescue Project team passionately believes that the most urgent task is the compelling proclamation of the gospel, one that not only shares it in an attractive – and concentrated – way, but that also offers people a way of seeing reality, and of making sense of the world, history, and life that is vastly different from the story our modern culture tells. Until this happens, the Christian faith is often experienced as a mere set of rules and disciplines, and simply going to Church isn’t likely to lead a person to embark on the great adventure that is following Jesus and continuing His mission of the rescuing of this world. The Rescue Project is an experience of the Gospel surrounded by food, conversation, and prayer. It seeks to proclaim the Gospel in a compelling and attractive way over eight weeks in a small group format. This experience is imbued with beauty, authentic humanity, and accompaniment, and it can be offered in any setting, including your home!
Fr. John Riccardo, missionary and ACTS XXIX Executive Director, was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996. In 2019, after 23 years in parish ministry, he founded ACTS XXIX to proclaim the gospel in an attractive and compelling way and to equip clergy and lay leaders for the age in which God has chosen us to live. Fr. John is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the Gregorian University, and the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.
Mary Guilfoyle, missionary and The Rescue Project lead, is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is a former parish Director of Evangelization and Discipleship and has equipped more than 100 parishes in prayerfully discerning how to best care for those in the pews and reach the fallen away and the lost. Mary is passionate about helping disciples form small group communities in order to live more authentically human lives. Mary is a graduate of Washburn University.
Tom Hoopes, author, Vice President for College Relations and writer in residence at Benedictine College
Tom Hoopes shares about his new podcast, The Extraordinary Story, drawn from his personal faith journey and lifelong fascination with the person of Jesus. He speaks of the importance of faith, community, and scholarship, the motto of Benedictine College (Kansas) and a grounding factor in his life. In The Extraordinary Story podcast, Tom draws on his skills as a journalist and storyteller to help listeners find answers in Jesus in unexpected ways and encourages them to practice telling the story of Jesus themselves. The podcast is both a revelatory teaching and a tool for evangelization.
Tom Hoopes is also author of The Rosary of Saint John Paul II, The Fatima Family Handbook, and What Pope Francis Really Said. A former reporter in the Washington, D.C., area, he served as press secretary of the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee Chairman and spent 10 years as executive editor of the National Catholic Register newspaper and Faith & Family magazine. He writes for the National Catholic Register and Aleteia. His work frequently appears in Catholic publications such as Catholic Digest. He lives in Atchison, Kansas, with his wife, April, and their nine children.
Fr. John Bartunek, LC, author of The Better Part
In this second segment of “Ask a Priest,” Fr. John Bartunek, author of The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer, outlines five essential elements for Christian discipleship and digs deeply into the second element: Mission! Fr. Bartunek also answers listeners questions on a variety of topics. Join us for this enlightening conversation, and e-mail us questions of your own to: TheFamilyRoom@TheQuestAtlanta.com
Five Essential Elements: 1. Prayer and Sacraments 2. Mission 3. Learning more about our Faith 4. Growing in Virtue 5. Fellowship & Relationships
Joe Sikorra, therapist, Stillpoint Family Resources
Joe Sikorra shares the moving story of how his family found joy after their hopes and dreams were shattered by the rare, fatal, neurological illness of their two sons. He recounts the way he and his wife received the courage and the support they needed to give their children abundant, fulfilling lives in spite of their gradual decline.
What initially seemed to be a tragedy for Joe’s family became a story of human triumph, an outcome made possible by the compassion and mercy of God. Their example can help those facing unexpected losses and challenges to believe that by placing their trust in Providence, they, too, can overcome hardships with the most powerful force on earth — God’s love.
Joe Sikorra is a marriage and family therapist at Stillpoint Family Resources in Southern California. Joe is also an author, speaker, television and radio personality, and podcast host of Always Forward. He is most well-known for integrating faith, Scripture, and psychology. He’s lived, walked, and worked with those who find themselves in the most bleak and dire of circumstances. The Sikorra story has been optioned for a feature length film and Joe’s book, Defying Gravity, published by Ignatius Press, has captured the #1 spot for new releases on Christian social issues. Joe and his wife, Lori, have been married for 30 years and have a son with special needs.
Fr. Dan Reehil, Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena parish in Columbia, Tenn.
Fr. Dan Reehil shares his beautiful and miraculous journey from Wall Street to parish priest. After a long and successful career in global trade and finance in New York City, a pilgrimage to Medjugorje led to a miraculous conversion. Jesus’ proclamation in Matthew 19:26, “with God, all things are possible!” comes to life as we hear Fr. Dan’s incredible faith story and how God entered into his life and drew Fr. Dan personally and persistently into the deepest relationship with Him as a Catholic priest and exorcist. Prepare to be inspired by the opportunity to grow in faith by understanding the importance of docility, obedience, and radical Christianity. Fr. Dan’s insights gained from his work as an exorcist will arm you to be “battle ready” to overcome attacks of the evil one and take back what rightfully belongs to God.
In addition to being pastor of St. Catherine of Siena parish in Columbia, Tenn, Fr. Dan Reehil is Dean of the South and the exorcist of the Diocese of Nashville. He also hosts a radio show/podcast called “Battle Ready” which airs daily on Radio Maria at 9 a.m. (CT) and is available as podcast via all streaming platforms.
Tom Peterson, Catholic evangelist, network television producer, and author
Tom Peterson shares his thoughts from 25 years of evangelization and over 100 interviews with converts and “reverts” to the Catholic faith. Hear practical suggestions and encouragement for us to pray every day to lead someone closer to Christ. Learn about the importance of the virtue of humility when evangelizing, and the simple, yet impactful, phrase, “Forget about me; I love you!” and how it can be a powerful tool when evangelizing family members.
Tom Peterson is the founder of two media apostolates: Virtue Media which creates and broadcasts sanctity of life media messages and the popular Catholics Come Home EWTN television series which airs on Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m. (ET) and also creates messages which air in ten languages, helping to bring souls home to Jesus and the Catholic Church.
Conor Gallagher, CEO of TAN Books and father of 15 children
Conor Gallagher shares how he uses what he learned in business to manage and lead, along with his wife Ashley, a family of 15 children. Conor earned his Masters in Philosophy and Juris Doctorate from The Catholic University of America. He is CEO of TAN Books, a successful publishing business that has been in the Gallagher family for four generations. He shares how his marriage to Ashley and their 15 children are the things he values most and what offers the greatest challenges and rewards in his life.
Listen in and learn how elements of a solid business plan apply to the business of raising a family of any size, including having a family mission statement, core values (hint: they are virtues), and key success metrics that help ensure the mission is accomplished.
Discover what fuels the Gallaghers’ “family business,” how and why the family chose a patron saint, their family beatitudes, and how the rosary, even if not always elegant, plays a key role. (Conor and Ashley have their children on a path to petition the intercession of the Blessed Mother 1,354,150 times in their lives!) Conor also shares about the principle of “plungerability” and “no scorekeeping” and why they promote peace in the family.
Mike and Alicia Hernon, parents of 10 children and co-founders of The Messy Family Project
Mike and Alicia Hernon share their joyful wisdom borne from the experience of parenting ten children and creating resources to empower moms and dads to embrace their calling. Hear discussions on four key principles of parenting, parenting as a team, the role of grandparents, and the importance of “family culture.” As Mike and Alicia say, “We serve messy families! We believe that being a good parent starts with being a great spouse. But being a good parent or even a great spouse is hard, messy work. And we’re not meant to do it alone! So, join us on this journey, because we believe that not only is marriage and family life a path to holiness, but it’s an incredible adventure!”
Hosts Mari Cleveland from St. Jude the Apostle and John Gordon and Craig Wesemeyer from St. Peter Chanel
Craig, John, and Mari, hosts of The Family Room, share their own faith journeys - how they seek God and find Him in unusual ways. Join them as they get personal about how they developed a personal relationship with Christ and how they continue to seek and grow in Him. Their conversation encourages us to find ways in which we can share a relationship with Jesus with those around us, especially our children and grandchildren.
Caroline Camick, speaker and parishioner of Holy Cross Catholic Church
After ten years of infertility, Caroline and her husband, Paul, opened their hearts to “Open Adoption” and God showed up in beautiful ways! Caroline shares their faithful journey - from following the Church’s teachings as they faced infertility to God’s perfect timing and plan to increase their family in ways beyond what they could have hoped for or imagined.
Caroline and Paul have both been teachers and coaches, and Caroline is currently an artist and muralist. They are members of Holy Cross Catholic Church and serve in a variety of ministries. God is also using Caroline to share the hope and joy found in open adoptions through numerous speaking engagements. To reach Caroline with questions or invitations to speak, please contact her at c_camick@comcast.net.
Patrick and Sarah Metts, trained counselors
Patrick and Sarah Metts offer their personal insights and professional suggestions for protecting, sustaining, and growing marriages. Their practical tools and real-life experiences are encouraging and easily implementable and can be accessed via their new online resource or live through a variety of offerings.
Patrick is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has a Master’s in Marriage and Family Studies from the John Paul II Institute in Valencia, Spain. He currently works as the Associate Director of the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Patrick also helps with the Tribunal as an expert witness for some of the annulment cases that need a psychological evaluation. Additionally, Patrick has created an online marriage resource called restorecatholicmarriage.com for couples seeking to grow, strengthen, and heal their relationship. Sarah also is trained as a counselor and now homeschools their sons, ages 13 and 9. She has written articles for Catholic Exchange and Catholic News Agency and has just finished her first historical fiction novel. Patrick and Sarah have been married for 15 years as of June 2023.
Prayer for Families – Pope St. John Paul II Lord God, from You every family in Heaven and on earth takes its name. Grant that Your grace may guide the thoughts and actions of husbands and wives for the good of their families and of all the families in the world. Grant that the young may find in the family solid support for their human dignity and for their growth in truth and love. Grant that love, strengthened by the grace of the sacrament of marriage, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. We ask this of You, Who is life, truth, and love with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Albino Aragno, Director of Cenacolo in the Americas, and two members of the community
Hear incredible stories of how addictions have been overcome and lives have been resurrected through loving service in the Cenacolo Community. At Cenacolo, Albino Aragno and additional members of the community experienced the rediscovery of the joy of faith, the beauty of life, and the growth of true freedom.
To learn more about Cenacolo, including how to apply, serve, or donate, visit hopereborn.org
History and Overview of Cenacolo: On July 16, 1983, the day the Church remembers Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sister Elvira Petrozzi, known today as Mother Elvira, started the Community. It was a response of God’s tenderness to the cry of desperation of so many young people who were lost, deceived, and disappointed. They were seeking the true meaning of life in the false light of the world. A place was born that welcomes life in loving service. Over the years this loving service has become a source of hope and resurrection for many people lost in the world of darkness, who are sad, marginalized, desperate, drugged. They are freely welcomed and are offered true friendship, discipline, and fraternal sharing. “Ora et Labora” – prayer and work; these are the pillars through which people rediscover respect, order, hope, dignity, peace, and the joy of being alive. The community lifestyle of faith, sharing, and service drew many young volunteers, lay people, families, brothers (including some priests), and consecrated sisters who dedicate themselves full-time to the service of Mother Elvira’s work and vision. The Cenacolo Community has been recognized by the Church, at the Pontifical Council for the Laity, as the International Private Association of the Faithful. Currently there are 72 houses present in 20 countries of the world.
Fr. John Bartunek, LC, author of The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer
In this first segment of “Ask a Priest,” Fr. Bartunek outlines five essential elements for Christian discipleship and digs deeply into the first element: Leveraging prayer to overcome strongholds. Join us for this enlightening conversation, and e-mail us questions of your own to: thefamilyroom@thequestatlanta.com
Five Essential Elements: 1. Prayer and Sacraments 2. Mission 3. Learning more about our Faith 4. Growing in Virtue 5. Fellowship & Relationships
Mari Cleveland from St. Jude and John Gordon, Craig Wesemeyer, and Jeff Showalter from St. Peter Chanel
Dr. Greg Popcak, co-founder of CatholicHÔM and Catholic Counselors and co-host of More2Life
Dr. Greg Popcak shares meaningful and practical ways for family members to draw closer to one another by living out their faith in their everyday home lives, starting with forming a deep, personal relationship with Christ. As a real, personal encounter with Jesus, The Eucharist should change everything, Greg notes, especially how we live and love each other as families. Greg discusses how the CatholicHom program teaches families to bring the grace of the Eucharist home and make the faith its center. Greg takes us through a model of family spirituality called the Liturgy of Domestic Church Life and provides ideas on how to live out our Baptismal priestly, prophetic, and kingly missions through three main areas: Christian relationship, family rituals, and reaching out. Greg calls the Eucharist the super-food we need to consume to fulfill our mission as a family. God puts us in families with particular gifts, and when we connect everything to Eucharistic grace, we put ourselves on the path to be healthy, happy, and holy. It’s about meeting the Lord, inviting Him to be the most important member of your family, and being more intentional about walking with Christ all day long. Having presented the Liturgy of Domestic Church Life model to family ministers in 30+ countries on 5 continents, Greg notes that it works with all types of families - from those who identify with the Cleavers to those who mirror the Simpsons - including families that have experienced divorce and single-parent, fostering, grandparenting, or step families.
Dr. Greg Popcak. Ph.D., MSW, LISW-S, is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, the author of almost 20 popular books and programs integrating solid Catholic theology and counseling psychology, and an expert on the practical applications of Pope John Paul the Great’s Theology of the Body. He is the Chair of the Marriage and Family Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and serves as an adjunct professor of both psychology and graduate theology at Franciscan University. Dr. Greg Popcak and Lisa Popcak were honored to be the Vatican’s choice to present the opening keynote on the Liturgy of Domestic Church Life model at the 2022 World Meeting of Families in Rome.
Husband, father, and grandfather, Tom McCabe shares the challenges and freedom inherent in the Christian vision of forgiveness. Tom is the founder of Emmiwell, a research-driven, collaborative, and education initiative that helps people cultivate freer, more meaningful lives at the service of Christ and others. For the past 30 years, Tom has been a teacher, writer, and entrepreneur serving in Church and non-Church circles. He has been working with countless people through spiritual direction, mentoring, and life coaching to help people live happier and holier lives. In this episode, Tom reflects on moments in his own life when it was difficult to forgive.
Jackie Mulligan, Chief Eucharistic Officer and foundress of Reform Wellness
Jackie Mulligan shares her personal, Holy-Spirit led journey to found a Christ-centered functional health and holistic wellness ministry. Taking up her older sister’s challenge to practice a DAILY holy hour, Jackie found her life, her career, and her vision transformed, and as she discovered “wholeness and holiness are for everyone.” Join us for this beautiful conversation in which Jackie encourages us to practice obedience, simplicity, and consistency as we rely on peace, faith, and trust in the Lord.
Jordan Burke, Content Coordinator with Avila Institute
Jordan Burke shares his powerful and personal story of overcoming a pornography addiction to bring truth and healing to others. Jordan shares how all kinds of addictions can result from using things to seek consolation and comfort instead of turning to God. He explains how an addiction is a type of self-medicating to overcome pain and inebriation to avoid a deep wound. As an adolescent, Jordan had a computer with unlimited Internet access and warns that pornography wasn’t something he sought out but happened to stumble upon and that’s when the hooks sunk in. Jordan also discusses in understandable terms the physiological and neurobiological components of addictions that can make them especially strong and addictive with just one encounter, impacting one’s reasoning and cognitive development. Jordan’s story of healing culminates in a beautiful moment of the right form of intimacy, leading to experiencing the deep love and touch of God Who wants to enter into our pain and order our relationships and lives correctly. Through his experience and research, Jordan shares five practical steps to help overcome an addiction.
After spending a little over half a decade protecting and serving Birmingham, Alabama, as a police officer, Jordan felt called to serve others in a different way by helping people avoid falling into pornography addiction and to free themselves from addictions. Through developing his own company, he found creating YouTube videos to be one of his many natural talents, ultimately leading him to discover his passion for all things digital media. Since 2014, he has continued to develop these passions and callings and now enjoys putting his talents to use serving others through the Avila Institute. He resides in South Alabama with his beautiful daughter.
Free digital downloads available on Jordan’s websites: www.DoTheHarderThing.com
Christian treatment and healing for those damaged by pornography and other forms of sexual addiction: Bethesda Workshops
Software accountability tools designed to help you and those you love live free from pornography: Covenant Eyes
Education, training, encouragement, and resources to break free from pornography, heal relationships, and to assist parents in preventing and responding to pornography exposure which is so devastating in the lives of our children: Integrity Restored
Blogs, podcasts, and videos for spiritual direction through an apostolate of the Avila Foundation.
Spiritual education and formation from the Avila Institute
Romans 1:28 - “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper.”
Luke 22:31-32 - “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:60-61 - “But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”
John 21:17 - “[Jesus] said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
Hebrews 12:4 - “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - “For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ…”
Ben Baron, Janice Givens, and John Henry Spann talk about The Quest’s new show for young adults
Ben Baron, Janice Givens, and John Henry Spann - all from the Archdiocese of Atlanta - talk about The Quest’s new locally-produced show for young adults, by young adults, and with young adults called Honest To God! Each Saturday from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. and streaming anytime via YouTube and anywhere you get your podcasts, you can join an energetic and Holy Spirit filled panel of Catholic young adults while they discuss anything from Disney Movies to finding Mr. or Miss Right! To offer show ideas, inquire about being a panelist, or learn more, reach out to them at: youngadults@thequestatlanta.com.
You can also find information about Honest To God on The Quest website.
Guests: Catholic school parents from Archdiocese of Atlanta
Are you curious about why you should send your children to Catholic school? Listen in as numerous parents share their experiences with a variety of types of Catholic schools. We even get to hear from a recent graduate about how her Catholic school experiences are making a difference in her life during her college journey.
Craig, John, and Mari share some of their favorite interviews of 2022
Join John, Craig, and Mari as they comment on some of their favorite interviews of 2022. Relive the fun and recall the wisdom of The Family Room guests!
Co-hosts Craig, John, and Mari with surprise guest, The Quest’s producer, Dave Savage
Craig, John, and Mari share intimately about what God did in their lives in 2022 and how He informed how they walk into 2023. Surprise guest, our producer Dave, shares his thoughts as well!
Bob and Karen Botte, parishioners of St. Oliver Plunkett Catholic Church in Snellville, Georgia
Bob and Karen Botte are blessed with four children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. As cradle Catholics raised in loving homes, their own marriage seemed destined for “a lovely magic carpet ride” as Bob describes. Join us as the Bottes share their candid marriage journey and how the practical program “Retrouvaille” has helped them and many other couples rediscover the blessings of marriage and the keys to rebuilding a loving relationship.
Evan Lemoine discusses the impact of Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body
Evan Lemoine discusses the impact Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body had on his life and the lives of those that he and his wife minister to throughout Latin America. During a time when identity, sexuality, and happiness are hot topics, the wisdom and prescient teaching of Saint John Paul II provide clarity and hope.
“Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart’s desire.” Psalm 37:4
Evan Lemoine, born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, an expert on John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, was drawn to Mexico in 2004 to discern a possible vocation to the consecrated life. As a missionary there, he began to teach the Theology of the Body full time around the country and throughout the Spanish-speaking world. After 8 years of vocational discernment, he found his call to marriage, and boarded a plane to Philadelphia to continue his formation in the Theology of the Body Institute, and there, in the Philadelphia Airport, met his wife, María Fernanda Gómez Solórzano. Both Evan and his wife shared the calling to dedicate their lives to studying and spreading the Theology of the Body throughout the world, and together founded the Amar al Máximo Institute in 2013.
Evan has been studying the Theology of the Body since 2002, when this deep and transformative teaching on human love and sexuality changed his life forever. He is a graduate in the Masters Program on Marriage and Family in the John Paul II Institute in Mexico City, where he was later a post-grad professor. He is also a graduate from the Theology of the Body Institute in Philadelphia, where he has specialized on the vision and teachings of John Paul II. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from Louisiana State University with a Minor in Psychology, and a Masters in Humanities from the Anahuac University in Mexico City. He has worked for the past 14 years working with youth and adults in Mexico and throughout the Spanish-speaking world, having given thousands of conferences and courses in local, regional and national events. He was a keynote speaker for the Spanish track at the past two Theology of the Body Congresses. He has given the Spanish track alongside Christopher West on several occasions with the COR Project. He is presently teaching an online Theology of the Body course in Spanish through the University of Dallas and is the founder and main Speaker of the Theology of the Body Specialization Program in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. He has a compelling ability to reach the heart of his audiences and bring the elevated teachings of John Paul II down to Earth and apply them to the daily life of both youth and adults. He is not only bilingual (Spanish and English) but also bi-cultural, thanks to his upbringing in Louisiana and his 14 years living in Mexico.
Jason Evert, apologist, speaker, and author
Jason Evert has spoken to more than one million people about the virtue of chastity. He is a best-selling author of more than ten books, including “Theology of the Body for Teens,” and “How to Find Your Soulmate without Losing Your Soul.” Jason earned a master’s degree in theology, as well as undergraduate degrees in counseling and theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is a frequent guest on radio programs and his television appearances include Fox News, the BBC, MSNBC, and EWTN. Jason and his wife Crystalina live in Denver with their children.
Anna is a clinical social worker in practice since 2006 in the Atlanta area.
She has worked in several different settings including residential mental health, private practice, and substance abuse work. In particular, her clinical experience as a cognitive behavioral therapist with convicted sexual offenders propelled her to pen her debut book, Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target.
As a clinician, Anna saw firsthand, not only why but more importantly, how families and children are groomed. Grooming, the obligatory process of building trust to earn access to a potential victim, is intentional, gradual, and observable. This revelation was only fully understood after Anna had a family of her own.
As the mother to five children, Anna witnessed her own children in setting after setting where she had to evaluate the potential risks of adults and minors. Her book, Duck Duck Groom, is the manual for parents of young children who want to learn how to protect them from a potential groomer.
Anna Sonoda now provides consultation for individuals, communities, and agencies exploring how to handle grooming proactively in order to interrupt the process and protect our most vulnerable, our children.
Favorite Prayer: St Patrick’s Breastplate (Abbreviated Extracts)
In addition to completing a background check, reference checks and follow through, and basic information, such as address, school, phone number, social security number, and date of birth, use the questions below to get you started in your in-person interview of the candidate. You may not need all questions, but directly addressing these topics will strengthen your decision when hiring caregivers.
Source: Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target
Fr. John Bartunek, LC, S.Th.D
Fr. John Bartunek received his BA in History from Stanford University in 1990. He comes from an evangelical Christian background and became a member of the Catholic Church in 1991.
After college he worked as a high school history teacher, drama director, and baseball coach. He then spent a year as a professional actor in Chicago before entering the religious Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1993. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 2003 and earned his doctorate in moral theology in 2010. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
He provided spiritual support on the set of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ while researching the 2005 Catholic best seller, Inside the Passion, the only authorized, behind-the-scenes explanation of the film.
Fr. John has contributed news commentary regarding religious issues on NBC, CNN, Fox, and the BBC. He also served as the English-language press liaison for the Vatican¹s 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist.
His most widely known books are “The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer” and “60 Days to Becoming a Missionary Disciple“.
In 2016 he published a series of meditation books delving into the spiritual values behind the natural world: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Meditations. A compilation of his many online answers to questions about the spiritual life was published in book form called, Answers: Catholic Advice for Your Spiritual Questions. Dynamic Catholic approached him to write a book on prayer in 2017 called, A Quiet Place: How Daily Prayer Can Change Your Life.
His most recent book is Spiritual But Not Religious; The Search for Meaning in a Material World.
He has also written three Regnum Christi Essays: “Sharpening Your Tongue: An RC Essay on Charity in Our Words”, “What Is Regnum Christi? An RC Essay the Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation and the Rule of Life for Lay Members”, and “Our Formation Pathway: An RC Essay on Integral Formation and the Journey to Christian Maturity.”
His series of Do-It-Yourself online Catholic Retreat Guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org.
Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as a member of the Legionary Territorial Council.
Quoted from: Fr. John Bartunek’s Bio
Join John, Craig and Mari as they get personal while reflecting on Advent and Christmas!
Kathy Powell, a passionate nonprofit and faith-based communications professional
Join us as we speak with Kathy Powell on how to walk through grief with Jesus. Kathy shares her personal story of miscarriage and the healing ways to address grief. Kathy, a big-picture thinker, lives in Roswell, Georgia, with her husband Kent and three children. When not brainstorming up new ways to push Becky out of her comfort zone, Kathy spends her free time reminding her kids to use their inside voices, cooking without recipes, and walking with families who have lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss.
Join Kathy for Praying with Jesus During Advent: Receiving Light in the Darkness a live virtual Evening of Reflection on Thursday, December 1.
If you like the Examen of a Day of Crisis, we invite you to visit the Guided Audio Ignatian Prayer Library (beckyeldredge.com/guided-audio), made possible through the Ignatian Media Lab, a program of the Jesuit Conference of the US & Canada. With over 30 guided audio prayers, including an extended recording of Kathy’s Examen of the Day of Crisis (Beldredge98 – Examen-of-a-day-of-crisis). This is a free resource for your personal prayer and one you can share with others.
More from Kathy & Becky Eldredge, LLC / Ignatian Ministries:
All Embrace, Inc is a local Atlanta organization that serves families who have lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. Visit https://www.facebook.com/allembrace for more information.
Lisa Wheeler, president of Carmel Communications
Lisa Wheeler talks about living out the Gospel message through foster parenting and adoption.
Lisa Wheeler talks about living out the Gospel message through foster parenting and adoption.
Becky Eldredge, Ignatian-trained spiritual director
Married for nearly 20 years and parents of three children ranging in age from 8 to 15,
Becky and Chris Eldredge know the challenges facing families trying to find time to pray
and discern God’s will amid busy lives. In this episode, Becky, an Ignatian-trained
spiritual director and retreat leader, reflects on her own journey of faith, including
how and when a “lived practice” of the Catholic faith became a reality for her.
Prayer is a passion for Becky who inspires us to prayerfully read the Scriptures, the Living Word of God; God’s Word “reads our hearts,” she says. Becky’s eight-year-old daughter, Mary, enjoys leading a simple, family-friendly version of the Ignatian examen prayer. As is the case in our human relationships, spending time together with God in prayer is how we grow in love.
After many years of leading others closer to God as a spiritual director, Becky assures us that wherever we are in our prayer life, “God’s got more for us.” Discerning how God is moving in our lives helps us see that God cares about every facet of our lives, not just our spiritual lives.
Becky’s website
Guided Audio Reflection: Examen for Couples
Praying the Examen as a Family
Living Intentionally: OnDemand Virtual Retreat on Inviting God into Your Planning & Goal-Setting
Becky’s book on prayer within a busy life, Busy Lives & Restless Souls: How Prayer Can Help You Find the Missing Peace in Your Life
Creating a Spiritual Plan
We Are Christ’s Presence 3 Minute Retreat (Being Christ’s Presence in the World through Marriage)
Family Life: Concrete Gestures of Holiness
Prayerfully read: Psalm 46
Luke 11: 1, “He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”
Heather Triggs of the DeSales Secular Institute
There is a sense that all Christians are called to consecrate every aspect of their lives (family, work, leisure) to Christ and be conduits of grace, love, and mercy in a world both fallen and redeemed. Heather Triggs, a consecrated woman of the DeSales Secular Institute, gives testimony to the
providential love and care of God the Father in her life, as she has come to discern, over a number of years, this vocation to “be the leaven in the world for Jesus.” (See the DeSales Secular Institute in the resources.)
Steeped in the wisdom and spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, these consecrated women share a rule of life and vows (poverty, chastity, obedience), and they live in the world. They live the consecrated life espoused to Christ Jesus, bringing His salvation and compassion into daily life. The mission of the Church is evangelization, and this vocation beautifully fulfills the Church’s mission!
Delve into the Church’s teaching on the consecrated life: Vita Consecrata
Inspiring books recommended in this episode are The Fulfillment of All Desire and Introduction to the Devout Life
Randy Hain, business consultant and coach
Randy Hain has us on the edge of our seats sharing his journey into the Catholic Church. The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist comes to life in Randy’s story. God, family, and work (and in that order!) are sources of grace and wisdom for this husband, father, successful businessman, and author of eight books. Randy and Sandra Hain have two sons, Alex and Ryan. Randy gives us a
glimpse into his son’s being diagnosed with autism, inspiration from his wife to convert, and practical ideas for daily and family prayer.
Randy Hain’s latest book, Essential Wisdom for Leaders of Every Generation, and information about his other books
Randy Hain is Founder and President of Serviam Partners and Co-founder of Integrated Catholic Life
Randy recommends nurturing daily prayer with The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva and In Conversation with God by Fr. Francis Fernandez
Thomas Clements, author and founder of Zenith Ministries
Thomas Clements shares how God’s hand showed itself in his healing, sobriety, and ongoing recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. The experience of the love of God brought Thomas to found a healing ministry, Zenith Ministries, to serve men and women, ages 18-45, in a mission “to build community, help the hurting find healing, and accompany each other to living life to the full.” God wants to heal those trapped in addiction and lead them to a beautiful life of freedom, which Thomas describes in his e-book, Seven Steps to Overcome Addiction.
Services, including mentoring, offered by Zenith Ministries
Sign up today for the free e-book, Seven Steps to Overcome Addiction
Zenith Ministries podcast
Genesis 1:2-3: “…and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters—Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light.”
John 10:10: “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Brenda Sharman, advocate for inner beauty and modesty
Brenda Sharman encourages us to think about the meaning of true beauty and modest fashion.
As a young adult, she was crowned Miss Georgia USA and, having worked as a successful model,
she knows the fashion and modeling industry as an insider. She has served the Catholic
Church as a leader in the globally-acclaimed apostolate, the Pure Fashion Show.
Brenda gives us a more profound, joyful, and faithful vision of beauty and love in the face of social challenges to be humble and modest that are magnified by current entertainment content (e.g., social media, music, movies). As a wife, mother, and advocate for inner beauty and modesty, she shares tips and wisdom for how to raise sons and daughters mindful of the foundational virtue of humility. What a delight to hear how her husband Steve, God, and Transcendent Beauty acted together to attract Brenda to convert to Catholicism. She shares her love of Our Lady, the rosary, and the saints, who give us messages of hope. A humble heart like that of St. Teresa of Calcutta helps us clothe ourselves with humility (1 Peter 5:5). As Christians, following Christ is truly beautiful and enables us to be the change we want to see in the world.
Be inspired by this article, “‘Pure Fashion’ Spurs Rousing Revolution of Modesty,” in The Georgia Bulletin
Paragraph 2521 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church on modesty
Peter Attridge, director of Holy Family Counseling Center
Clinical director of Holy Family Counseling Center, Peter Attridge, joins our co-hosts in an encouraging discussion about communicating, openly and fruitfully, in our families. As the father of three growing girls, Peter shares creative strategies for parenting that are informed, both by his clinical practice, and by personal challenges that we all face which are unique to our times. Peter is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in the State of Georgia and supervises other professional helpers.
As a “cradle Catholic,” Peter’s Catholic worldview, his relationship with Christ the Redeemer, and his devotion to our Lady inform his parenting and his clinical practice. This episode will inspire you to step back from your fears and communicate with those you love, especially children and young people, in an open and faith-filled way.
“Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us!”
Learn about the story of the mission and philosophy of Holy Family Counseling Center (HFCC)
Books, retreats, and resources recommended by the clinicians at HFCC
Make your own laminated card for your family fridge that gives the child permission to share. In this episode, Peter mentions his creative prompt: “I’m bringing this to you (parent) because I want to tell you something, but I’m afraid that you might not take it well.”
Dr. Kevin Vost, PSY. D. - Catholic author, speaker, professor, radio host, and television guest
Dr. Kevin Vost shares about his approach to attaining optimal health and true harmony of mind, body, and spirit within the context of a well-rounded devotional life - which he outlines in his book, You Are That Temple: A Catholic Guide to Health and Holiness. Dr. Vost reflects upon teachings from Scripture and St. Thomas Aquinas on the sacredness of the human body. The book addresses how Scripture instructs us to love and respect our body; developing healthy habits to enable us to love God with our whole self; cultivating moral, intellectual, and theological virtues to make our body a holy temple; avoiding illness through diet and exercise; and how practicing wellness fosters brain health.
Dr. Vost is the author of more than a dozen books with more in press, bringing his knowledge of classical Greco-Roman and medieval scholastic philosophy, modern cognitive psychology, and High Intensity Strength Training to bear on issues of Catholic catechetics, apologetics, saints’ biographies, spiritual growth, and physical fitness. Dr. Vost has presented dozens of talks on all of his books and also leads and speaks during pilgrimages to Ireland. Dr. Vost taught psychology and gerontology at Aquinas College in Nashville, the University of Illinois at Springfield, MacMurray College, and Lincoln Land Community College. He has also served as a Research Review Committee Member for American Mensa and as an Advisory Board Member for the International Association of Resistance Trainers. Dr. Vost obtained his Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. He has appeared on EWTN’s The Abundant Life and Women of Grace, The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi, and Bookmark with Doug Keck. He has done several hundred radio interviews and several multi-part series on all of his books and other topics on programs including Catholic Answers Live, Kresta in the Afternoon, Catholic Connection, and many more.
Laraine Bennett, author and speaker
Laraine Bennett has a B.A. in philosophy from Santa Clara University and an M.A. in philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She created the brand-new game, Know Thyself! The Game of Temperaments (Sophia Institute Press, 2022) and has written two solo books, The Little Way of Living with Less: Learning to Let Go with the Little Flower (Sophia Institute Press, 2022) and A Year of Grace: 365 Reflections for Caregivers (OSV, 2014). She and her husband Art have co-authored five books: The Temperament God Gave You, The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse, The Temperament God Gave Your Kids, The Emotions God Gave You, and Tuned In: The Power of Pressing Pause and Listening. Art and Laraine are frequent speakers on marriage and family issues, both nationally and internationally. They have four adult children and eight grandchildren.
Guests: directors from four Atlanta Catholic pre-schools
Catholic Pre-school Directors Barb Gordon from St. Peter Chanel, Beth Cunningham from Holy Trinity, Theresa Martin from St. Brigid, and Kate Viets from Holy Family discuss the importance of Catholic pre-school as a foundation of learning for our children.
Fr. Robert J. Altier, author and priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota
In the amazing book, God’s Plan for Your Marriage: An Exploration of Holy Matrimony from Genesis to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, inspired by the Holy Spirit and recommended by faithful leaders including Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke and Dr. Bob Schuchts, Fr. Robert Altier gives us a powerful weapon to use in the current battle being waged against marriage. Join us as we discuss this new book with Fr. Altier and experience what Dr. Schuchts describes below:
“In our culture, which champions self-centered and disposable ‘love,’ this book, God’s Plan for Your Marriage, is a breath of fresh air. From beginning to end, it is filled with wisdom. As I read through it, I was awed by Fr. Altier’s insights into Sacred Scripture, the Church’s teaching, and Theology of the Body. As I read through the book, I was deeply challenged and convicted of my own self-centeredness throughout the years of my marriage. This book is desperately needed in our time. Everyone who is married, or planning to marry, needs to read this. It will save them much heartache. This book will also be a source of healing for those who have gone through the pains of divorce or broken relationships. Finally, this book should be required reading for marital therapists and for everyone who helps prepare couples for marriage.” — Bob Schuchts, Founder of the John Paul II Healing Center
Fr. Robert Altier is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota. He was ordained in 1989 and is currently the parochial vicar at the Church of the Holy Trinity in South St. Paul. Fr. Altier taught the comprehensive, sixty-part catechetical series Beauty, Truth, Goodness: The Fundamentals of Catholicism, which has been aired on eight Catholic television networks throughout North America, Mexico, and Central America. He has been a frequent contributor on Relevant Radio.
Bob and Karen Botte, parishioners of St. Oliver Plunkett Catholic Church in Snellville, Georgia
Bob and Karen Botte are blessed with four children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. As cradle Catholics raised in loving homes, their own marriage seemed destined for “a lovely magic carpet ride” as Bob describes. Join us as the Bottes share their candid marriage journey and how the practical program “Retrouvaille” has helped them and many other couples rediscover the blessings of marriage and the keys to rebuilding a loving relationship.
Mike and Laurie Carlton, parishioners at St. Peter Chanel in Roswell, Georgia
Mike and Laurie Carlton share with us over a decade of experience in parish-based support for marriage. The Carltons know what it means to hit a wall in your marriage. Helping couples who may have become hopeless is a passion for Mike and Laurie. They each give personal witness to the sources of inspiration that brought them to focus on meeting each other’s deepest needs and to living a simple, vibrant faith in their marriage and family of eight. The Carlton’s story bears
witness to the power of the sacramental graces of marriage.
The 5 love Languages website
Learn more about Helen Berry Andelin and Fascinating Womanhood
The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with others, and Growing Closer to God by Art and Laraine Bennett
A wealth of resources for creating parish-based faith formation at FORMED by the Augustine Institute
Ephesians 5:2: “…and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.”
Ephesians 6:10: “…draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.”
Dan and Stephanie Burke testify to the real and ongoing spiritual warfare involved in living a Christian marriage. Their apostolate involves marriage retreats and other live and online resources that explore what it means to live a vibrant spiritual life in Christ. In this episode of The Family Room, we open ourselves, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, to cast our nets into the deep waters of the discernment of spirits in ourselves and in our relationships. To know the Voice of God is to experience true freedom.
Recommended books, including those by Dan Burke
Subscribe and receive podcasts to Divine Intimacy Radio
Dr. Ralph Martin discusses his book, A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward, his journey of faith, and how the Word of God in Sacred Scripture enlivens his life, vocations, and works of mission and evangelization. Dr. Martin shares about his personal relationship with Christ and leads us to want to spend more time with our Lord who, in Word and Sacrament, helps us through troublesome times. We also hear a beautiful story about Ralph and Anne Martin’s baby granddaughter, Maggie, who helps us feel the profound Love of God.
Dr. Ralph Martin’s book, A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward, is available on Renewal Ministries’ website.
The Choices We Face began in 1985 and is currently the longest-running Catholic television program in the world.
Dr. Martin points us to Dei Verbum to encourage our love of Christ and His Church in His Word.
John 17; 1 Corinthians 6; Galatians 5; Ephesians 5; Romans 1; Revelation 21
Join us in The Family Room for a quick-witted and energetic conversation about apologetics that will likely change
your ideas about how to defend the Catholic faith. John Martignoni’s broadcasts and new book,
Blue Collar Apologetics, give us four strategies and simple rules of engagement to help bring
our loved ones back to the faith, to engage “Bible-only” Christians, and to evangelize in friendship
any person of good will. John tells us how he came to found The Bible Christian Society in 1996 - what a story!
The Bible Christian Society: https://www.biblechristiansociety.com/about_us
John Martignoni’s book, Blue Collar Apologetics: How to Explain and Defend Catholic Teaching Using Common Sense, Simple Logic, and the Bible: https://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/blue-collar-apologetics-book/p/BKEPUB81135
Contact link to have John speak at an event: https://catholicspeakers.com/profiles/john-martignoni
Link to season one of Blue Collar Apologetics on EWTN television: https://ondemand.ewtn.com/Home/Series/catalog/video/en/blue-collar-apologetics
Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/0
Katie Warner, Catholic author and speaker
The daily walk of faith with her husband and children is what matters most to Catholic author and speaker, Katie Warner. Katie shares how the Holy Spirit has surprised her, guided her, and taught her the value of living an intentional faith. One of her favorite quotes, from St. Francis de Sales, is, “God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps.” Start today with a new spiritual motto or see the links below for resources on Katie’s website.
Listening for God: Silence Practice for Little Ones by Katie Warner, illustrated by Amy Rodriguez: http://katiewarner.com/product/listening-for-god
Head and Heart: Becoming Spiritual Leaders for Your Family by Katie Warner: http://katiewarner.com/product/head-heart-becoming-spiritual-leaders-for-your-family
A Spouse Who Prays: A Guide to Praying for Your Spouse and Your Marriage by Katie Warner: http://katiewarner.com/product/a-spouse-who-prays
Katie’s website: http://katiewarner.com/
Recommended books and tools for building a Catholic culture at home: https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-3fdea609
“7 Steps to Designing a Family Mission” by Katie Warner: http://katiewarner.com/?s=family+mission
Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.” https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/6
Dr. Bob Schuchts, Founder of the John Paul II Healing Center
Dr. Bob Schuchts shares his personal journey through early family tragedy, trauma, and divorce to a powerful encounter with Christ, marital healing, and true devotion. Dr. Schuchts gives us practical ways to pray with, and for, our spouses, including a couples’ meditation on the “Our Father.” He gives us real examples from his own personal, marital, and family struggles and growth. This episode concludes with a beautiful meditation on marriage and the Mass.
John Paul II Healing Center: Transformation in the Heart of the Church: https://jpiihealingcenter.org/
Dr. Schuchts’ book, Be Devoted: Restoring Friendship, Passion, and Communion in Your Marriage: https://jpiihealingcenter.org/product/be-devoted-dr-bob-schuchts/
Restore the Glory podcast: https://www.restoretheglorypodcast.com/
Upcoming events at the JPII Healing Center: https://jpiihealingcenter.org/events/
Genesis 2:24: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.” https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2
Colossians 2: 6-7: “So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/0
Dr. Edward Sri, husband, father, theologian, and author
Dr. Sri discusses his new book on the virtues, The Art of Living: The Cardinal Virtues and the Freedom to Love. Dr. Sri shares personal examples of the three ways we grow in virtue to live and love well in our marriages and families.
Mary Ann McNeil and Liz Youngs of PATH, Post Abortion Treatment and Healing
Mary Ann McNeil founded PATH, Post Abortion Treatment and Healing, almost 30 years ago in response to the sorrow and suffering she witnessed in friends who had abortions. She and many volunteers, including Program Director Liz Youngs, have ministered to hundreds of people through retreats and Bible studies specifically designed to offer hope and healing to post-abortive women and those who grieve the loss of abortion including the fathers and siblings of those lost to abortion.
Marc Greenberg, Jewish convert to Catholicism
Marc Greenberg shares his beautiful story of conversion that begins as the beloved great-grandson of a Russian Orthodox Jewish immigrant and is completed upon meeting his Catholic American wife and surrendering to the love of Jesus. Marc shares the ways that God continues to weave his Jewish heritage into his ministries as a Catholic husband and parishioner – from teaching Christians the beauty of Seder suppers to surrendering to God’s love in pre-Cana classes. Marc encourages us to point ourselves to Jesus, seek after God, and surrender our will to His.
Cathy Schneider, Right to Life Coordinator at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Johns Creek, Georgia
Cathy Schneider, wife, mother, nurse, and Right to Life Coordinator at St. Brigid, offers insight and inspiration drawn from years of meeting expecting moms and couples at abortion clinics and providing them hope and encouragement as they walk into parenthood. Her compassion and love are contagious, and her practical ministry and service are inspiring. Join us to learn what you can do to serve moms and couples who have been led to believe that abortion is their only choice.
Susan Milani, Parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena in Kennesaw, Georgia
Raised in a very Jewish home in Charleston, South Carolina, Susan is the only child of immigrant parents, a Polish Jewish survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp, and a German Jewish escapee from East Germany. Through beautiful experiences and people Susan encountered from a young age, God wooed her into the Catholic Church. Susan lives her faith out loud in practical and winsome ways that draws others to Jesus and the Catholic Church. Her witness encourages us to step into opportunities to evangelize in our everyday lives.
Susan and her husband Bob are parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena in Kennesaw, GA ,and own the Lazy Labrador Coffee House in downtown Kennesaw where they offer God’s love to all who enter.
Dr. Greg Popcak, co-founder of CatholicHÔM and Catholic Counselors and co-host of More2Life
Dr. Greg Popcak shares meaningful and practical ways for family members to draw closer to one another by living out their faith in their everyday home lives, starting with forming a deep, personal relationship with Christ. As a real, personal encounter with Jesus, The Eucharist should change everything, Greg notes, especially how we live and love each other as families. Greg discusses how the CatholicHom program teaches families to bring the grace of the Eucharist home and make the faith its center. Greg takes us through a model of family spirituality called the Liturgy of Domestic Church Life and provides ideas on how to live out our Baptismal priestly, prophetic, and kingly missions through three main areas: Christian relationship, family rituals, and reaching out. Greg calls the Eucharist the super-food we need to consume to fulfill our mission as a family. God puts us in families with particular gifts, and when we connect everything to Eucharistic grace, we put ourselves on the path to be healthy, happy, and holy. It’s about meeting the Lord, inviting Him to be the most important member of your family, and being more intentional about walking with Christ all day long. Having presented the Liturgy of Domestic Church Life model to family ministers in 30+ countries on 5 continents, Greg notes that it works with all types of families - from those who identify with the Cleavers to those who mirror the Simpsons - including families that have experienced divorce and single-parent, fostering, grandparenting, or step families.
Dr. Greg Popcak. Ph.D., MSW, LISW-S, is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, the author of almost 20 popular books and programs integrating solid Catholic theology and counseling psychology, and an expert on the practical applications of Pope John Paul the Great’s Theology of the Body. He is the Chair of the Marriage and Family Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and serves as an adjunct professor of both psychology and graduate theology at Franciscan University. Dr. Greg Popcak and Lisa Popcak were honored to be the Vatican’s choice to present the opening keynote on the Liturgy of Domestic Church Life model at the 2022 World Meeting of Families in Rome.
Fr. Larry Richards, pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community in Erie, PA
A gifted and captivating preacher, retreat master, and author, Father Larry Richards discusses the importance of knowing Jesus Christ by having a heart-felt relationship with Him and sharing that love of Christ with the world. Essential elements of an intimate relationship with Our Lord are daily committed prayer time, which must entail listening to God, and spending time with His Word. Fr. Larry also shares practical ways to be daily in Christ’s presence with a simple 5-point method.
Ordained to the priesthood in 1989 for the Diocese of Erie, Fr. Larry Richards serves as pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community in Erie. He is also the Founder of the Divine Mercy Encounter Retreat Program for the Diocese of Erie. Fr. Larry Richards is the founder and president of The Reason for our Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to ‘spreading the Good News’ by educating others about Jesus Christ.
Jordan Burke, Content Coordinator with Avila Institute
Jordan Burke shares his powerful and personal story of overcoming a pornography addiction to bring truth and healing to others.
Jordan shares how all kinds of addictions can result from using things to seek consolation and comfort instead of turning to God. He explains how an addiction is a type of self-medicating to overcome pain and inebriation to avoid a deep wound. As an adolescent, Jordan had a computer with unlimited Internet access and warns that pornography wasn’t something he sought out but happened to stumble upon and that’s when the hooks sunk in. Jordan also discusses in understandable terms the physiological and neurobiological components of addictions that can make them especially strong and addictive with just one encounter, impacting one’s reasoning and cognitive development. Jordan’s story of healing culminates in a beautiful moment of the right form of intimacy, leading to experiencing the deep love and touch of God Who wants to enter into our pain and order our relationships and lives correctly. Through his experience and research, Jordan shares five practical steps to help overcome an addiction.
After spending a little over half a decade protecting and serving Birmingham, Alabama, as a police officer, Jordan felt called to serve others in a different way by helping people avoid falling into pornography addiction and to free themselves from addictions. Through developing his own company, he found creating YouTube videos to be one of his many natural talents, ultimately leading him to discover his passion for all things digital media. Since 2014, he has continued to develop these passions and callings and now enjoys putting his talents to use serving others through the Avila Institute. He resides in South Alabama with his beautiful daughter.
Free digital downloads available on Jordan’s websites: www.DoTheHarderThing.com
Christian treatment and healing for those damaged by pornography and other forms of sexual addiction: Bethesda Workshops
Software accountability tools designed to help you and those you love live free from pornography: Covenant Eyes
Education, training, encouragement, and resources to break free from pornography, heal relationships, and to assist parents in preventing and responding to pornography exposure which is so devastating in the lives of our children: Integrity Restored
Blogs, podcasts, and videos for spiritual direction through an apostolate of the Avila Foundation.
Spiritual education and formation from the Avila Institute
Romans 1:28 - “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper.”
Luke 22:31-32 - “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:60-61 - “But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”
John 21:17 - “[Jesus] said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
Hebrews 12:4 - “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - “For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ…”
Melissa Foley, founder of the healing ministry Loved Already, shares some conversation tools in a lively discussion about how we can speak life, healing, and restoration in Christ into our relationships. Part two of a two-part series.
Melissa Foley, founder of the healing ministry Loved Already, joins us in The Family Room in a lively conversation that inspires us to consider our identity in Christ as beloved sons and daughters of a providing Father. Part one of a two-part series.
Resources:
It is too easy in our times to get stuck in the many divisive and destructive social, cultural, and political realities. In this banter episode, our co-hosts ponder and discuss the Lord’s inheritance of blessings across the generations in our families. Each of us is uniquely gifted by God to fulfill a deeply happy and productive life. How have your parents, grandparents, and significant mentors helped build virtues and God’s Kingship in you and your life? Pondering our spiritual inheritance, we can enact the verses in Psalm 16:5-6, “Lord, my portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure. Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance.”
Psalm 16: 5-6: “Lord, my portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure. Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance.”
Proverbs 22: 6: “Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.”
Brenda Sharman encourages us to think about the meaning of true beauty and modest fashion. As a young adult, she was crowned Miss Georgia USA and, having worked as a successful model, she knows the fashion and modeling industry as an insider. She has served the Catholic Church as a leader in the globally-acclaimed apostolate, the Pure Fashion Show.
Brenda gives us a more profound, joyful, and faithful vision of beauty and love in the face of social challenges to be humble and modest that are magnified by current entertainment content (e.g., social media, music, movies). As a wife, mother, and advocate for inner beauty and modesty, she shares tips and wisdom for how to raise sons and daughters mindful of the foundational virtue of humility. What a delight to hear how her husband Steve, God, and Transcendent Beauty acted together to attract Brenda to convert to Catholicism. She shares her love of Our Lady, the rosary, and the saints, who give us messages of hope. A humble heart like that of St. Teresa of Calcutta helps us clothe ourselves with humility (1 Peter 5:5). As Christians, following Christ is truly beautiful and enables us to be the change we want to see in the world.
Be inspired by this article, “‘Pure Fashion’ Spurs Rousing Revolution of Modesty,” in The Georgia Bulletin
Paragraph 2521 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church on modesty
Husband, father, and grandfather, Tom McCabe shares the challenges and freedom inherent in the Christian vision of forgiveness. Tom is the founder of Emmiwell, a research-driven, collaborative, and education initiative that helps people cultivate freer, more meaningful lives at the service of Christ and others. For the past 30 years, Tom has been a teacher, writer, and entrepreneur serving in Church and non-Church circles. He has been working with countless people through spiritual direction, mentoring, and life coaching to help people live happier and holier lives. In this episode, Tom reflects on moments in his own life when it was difficult to forgive.
Our co-hosts are joined by Dave Savage, production manager for 1160 AM The Quest, to reflect upon the rich spiritual nourishment given to us by the guests on The Family Room. We revisit themes of healing in marriages and in families, of the Light of Christ in prayer, and the life-giving truth that woundedness and suffering do not have to be the final word. Pull up a chair and taste and see the goodness of the Lord!
Mari inspires us to reflect on Terry Polakovic’s book, Women of Hope: Doctors of the Church
For Lent, John is in a Bible study based on Dr. Sri’s book, Into His Likeness: Be Transformed into a Disciple of Christ
Colossians 2: 6-7: “So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Philippians 4: 9: “Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
Clinical director of Holy Family Counseling Center, Peter Attridge, joins our co-hosts in an encouraging discussion about communicating, openly and fruitfully, in our families. As the father of three growing girls, Peter shares creative strategies for parenting that are informed, both by his clinical practice, and by personal challenges that we all face which are unique to our times. Peter is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in the State of Georgia and supervises other professional helpers.
As a “cradle Catholic,” Peter’s Catholic worldview, his relationship with Christ the Redeemer, and his devotion to our Lady inform his parenting and his clinical practice. This episode will inspire you to step back from your fears and communicate with those you love, especially children and young people, in an open and faith-filled way.
“Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us!”
Learn about the story of the mission and philosophy of Holy Family Counseling Center (HFCC)
Books, retreats, and resources recommended by the clinicians at HFCC
Make your own laminated card for your family fridge that gives the child permission to share. In this episode, Peter mentions his creative prompt: “I’m bringing this to you (parent) because I want to tell you something, but I’m afraid that you might not take it well.”
Inspired fiction writer, Robert W. Ross, comes into The Family Room with his wife, Rachel, and his daughter, Autumn, both of whom support his writing in unique ways. Robert left behind a lucrative career in information technology to answer God’s call to write. His family forms a creative team with him to bring these marvelous books into being. Fans around the world receive connection and inspiration. As a Catholic, Robert does not write “Catholic fiction.” At the same time, Robert’s vocation to writing comes from God, and the stories will take you out of this world! Creating authentic characters that appeal to fans of many walks of life is part of Robert’s vocation as a writer. Robert’s “yes” to God is bearing fruit that will last.
Enjoy connecting with Robert W. Ross’s books and characters on his Patreon page
Robert’s print and audiobook series on Amazon
Robert’s Facebook page
One Heart that Beats for Two, by Robert W. Ross, released at the end of 2021
Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
The Rosses have been listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz’s The Bible in a Year podcast
Christopher West returns to The Family Room to discuss the first book from the Theology of the Body Institute Press, God is Beauty: A Retreat on the Gospel and Art. In 1962, Karol Wojtyla (St. Pope John Paul II) delivered this retreat to a group of artists. It is now available to us for the first time in English. When we open our hearts in faith, we allow God’s beauty to flow through us. The human body is meant to be an instrument of the Divine Beauty. Christopher and our co-hosts ponder how the teachings in this retreat inspire both love of God and the fulfillment of our deepest longings.
A beautiful video and information on the book, God is Beauty: A Retreat on the Gospel and Art
Matthew 11:5-6: “…the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
Mark 7:34, “then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (that is, ‘Be opened!’)”
Romans 1, Christopher invites us to meditate on Chapter 1 of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans
Married for nearly 20 years and parents of three children ranging in age from 8 to 15, Becky and Chris Eldredge know the challenges facing families trying to find time to pray and discern God’s will amid busy lives. In this episode, Becky, an Ignatian-trained spiritual director and retreat leader, reflects on her own journey of faith, including how and when a “lived practice” of the Catholic faith became a reality for her.
Prayer is a passion for Becky who inspires us to prayerfully read the Scriptures, the Living Word of God; God’s Word “reads our hearts,” she says. Becky’s eight-year-old daughter, Mary, enjoys leading a simple, family-friendly version of the Ignatian examen prayer. As is the case in our human relationships, spending time together with God in prayer is how we grow in love.
After many years of leading others closer to God as a spiritual director, Becky assures us that wherever we are in our prayer life, “God’s got more for us.” Discerning how God is moving in our lives helps us see that God cares about every facet of our lives, not just our spiritual lives.
Becky’s website
Guided Audio Reflection: Examen for Couples
Praying the Examen as a Family
Living Intentionally: OnDemand Virtual Retreat on Inviting God into Your Planning & Goal-Setting
Becky’s book on prayer within a busy life, Busy Lives & Restless Souls: How Prayer Can Help You Find the Missing Peace in Your Life
Creating a Spiritual Plan
We Are Christ’s Presence 3 Minute Retreat (Being Christ’s Presence in the World through Marriage)
Family Life: Concrete Gestures of Holiness
Prayerfully read: Psalm 46
Luke 11: 1, “He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”
Sara Sullivan and Kristine Bruce met by phone one day in 2021 to discuss Kristine’s apostolic initiative called “Praying for Our Prodigals.” In the conversation, they shared their love of prayer, especially praying the holy rosary for special intentions. This episode is about how efficacious our prayers and redemptive sufferings are for those we love who are away in some way from the Faith. Sara is an adult convert to Catholicism. (She was 33 the first time she celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation and made her First Holy Communion. She was baptized as an infant in a Methodist church.) Sara shares some of her conversion story, and Kristine shares the providential way God put the “Praying for our Prodigals” apostolate on her heart, and then, out into this hurting world, a world so in need of prayer, self-sacrifice, and God’s merciful graces. Fasting is touched on in a beautiful way.
Join Kristine Bruce and others in praying the rosary every Wednesday for prodigals
The rosary is a spiritual weapon. Read Father Calloway’s book, Champions of the Rosary: The History and Heroes of a Spiritual Weapon
What are the steps to becoming Catholic? Sara entered Mother Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The USCCB webpage, Christian Initiative of Adults is excellent.
Delve into the power of fasting with this blog post from The Catholic Gentleman
Christopher and Wendy West, parents to five children, have been called to a special mission within the Church. They share the gift of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Christopher West shares how the Theology of the Body radically changed his life in the early 1990s. The deepest hungers and desires of our hearts are placed in us by God to lead us to Him now and to an eternal wedding feast. Yes, Christopher tells us, “God wants to marry us.”
In this episode, we take a deep dive into questions such as: What does it mean to be human? Was the Incarnation God’s “plan B?” How do I talk to and pray with my children and grandchildren in a way that upholds God’s creating the human person male and female? What does it mean to have a body and that the body is for the Lord, as St. Paul exhorts? Theology of the Body is for everybody, a gift of the Fire of Divine Love.
Revised edition of Christopher West’s Theology of the Body for Beginners: A Basic Introduction to St. John Paul II’s Sexual Revolution
Studies, courses, and events from the Theology of the Body Institute
Christopher and Wendy West answer questions about faith, life, love, and sexuality, in light of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body on the Ask Christopher West podcast
For K-12 Theology of the Body Curricula, Christopher recommends Ruah Woods Press
St. John Paul II’s “Letter to Families”, a perennial inspiration to all persons
To know more about overflowing with God’s Wine, read Father Cantalamessa’s Sober Intoxication of the Spirit: Filled with the Fullness of God
Ephesians, chapters 5 and 6: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/0
1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”
Ordained in 2001, Father Martin Connor, L.C., has turned his attention to having life-giving (not death-dealing) conversations with young adults about the total and unconditional gift of self that is true love. In his books and podcasts, Father Martin interviews young people who yearn for the deeper, lasting relationships that truly satisfy our hearts. He does not shy away from the troubling waters of our times, like the hook-up culture, cohabitation (which predicts relational dissatisfaction and divorce), and pornography use. Healthy dating involves slowing down and introspection. Spiritual direction, self-assessment, and support from family and friends help us all love others as Christ loves us. The resources below will help you start those conversations that lead to authentic love and dating for the noble purpose of married life.
Father Martin’s Wired to Love podcast
The book Reclaiming Love: Connecting the Head and the Heart, by Father Martin and more tools to reclaim authe ntic love
Visit the Wired To Love web site
There is a sense that all Christians are called to consecrate every aspect family, work, leisure) of their lives to Christ and be conduits of grace, love, and mercy in a world both fallen and redeemed. Heather Triggs, a consecrated woman of the DeSales Secular Institute, gives testimony to the providential love and care of God the Father in her life, as she has come to discern, over a number of years, this vocation to “be the leaven in the world for Jesus.” (See the DeSales Secular Institute in the resources.)
Steeped in the wisdom and spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, these consecrated women share a rule of life and vows (poverty, chastity, obedience), and they live in the world. They live the consecrated life espoused to Christ Jesus, bringing His salvation and compassion into daily life. The mission of the Church is evangelization, and this vocation beautifully fulfills the Church’s mission!
Delve into the Church’s teaching on the consecrated life: Vita Consecrata
Inspiring books recommended in this episode are The Fulfillment of All Desire and Introduction to the Devout Life
Whether you have been married for decades or want to find the husband or wife who will fulfill the desires of your heart, you will find hope and encouragement about marriage as well as vocational discernment in this episode. Our co-hosts, Mari, Craig, and John, each share stories about courtship and dating, the wedding day, the role of marriage prep, and the challenges faced by both individuals and the couples themselves. What if you are discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life? Vocational discernment is also discussed. God’s light and providence come into play in our hosts’ stories, as does being open to God through prayer and the sacraments.
Proverbs 31:30: “Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Psalm 37:4: “Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire.”
Ephesians 5:28: “So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”
Business consultant and coach, Randy Hain, has us on the edge of our seats sharing his journey into the Catholic Church. The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist comes to life in Randy’s story. God, family, and work (and in that order!) are sources of grace and wisdom for this husband, father, successful businessman, and author of eight books. Randy and Sandra Hain have two sons, Alex and Ryan. Randy gives us a glimpse into his son’s being diagnosed with autism, inspiration from his wife to convert, and practical ideas for daily and family prayer.
Randy Hain’s latest book, Essential Wisdom for Leaders of Every Generation, and information about his other books
Randy Hain is Founder and President of Serviam Partners and Co-founder of Integrated Catholic Life
Randy recommends nurturing daily prayer with The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva and In Conversation with God by Fr. Francis Fernandez
Thomas Clements shares how God’s hand showed itself in his healing, sobriety, and ongoing recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. The experience of the love of God brought Thomas to found a healing ministry, Zenith Ministries, to serve men and women, ages 18-45, in a mission “to build community, help the hurting find healing, and accompany each other to living life to the full.” God wants to heal those trapped in addiction and lead them to a beautiful life of freedom, which Thomas describes in his e-book, Seven Steps to Overcome Addiction.
Services, including mentoring, offered by Zenith Ministries
Sign up today for the free e-book, Seven Steps to Overcome Addiction
Zenith Ministries podcast
Genesis 1:2-3: “…and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters—Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light.”
John 10:10: “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Mike and Laurie Carlton, parishioners at St. Peter Chanel in Roswell, Georgia, share with us over a decade of experience in parish-based support for marriage. The Carltons know what it means to hit a wall in your marriage. Helping couples who may have become hopeless is a passion for Mike and Laurie. They each give personal witness to the sources of inspiration that brought them to focus on meeting each other’s deepest needs and to living a simple, vibrant faith in their marriage and family of eight. The Carlton’s story bears witness to the power of the sacramental graces of marriage.
The 5 love Languages website
Learn more about Helen Berry Andelin and Fascinating Womanhood
The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with others, and Growing Closer to God by Art and Laraine Bennett
A wealth of resources for creating parish-based faith formation at FORMED by the Augustine Institute
Ephesians 5:2: “…and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.”
Ephesians 6:10: “…draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.”
Dan and Stephanie Burke testify to the real and ongoing spiritual warfare involved in living a Christian marriage. Their apostolate involves marriage retreats and other live and online resources that explore what it means to live a vibrant spiritual life in Christ. In this episode of The Family Room, we open ourselves, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, to cast our nets into the deep waters of the discernment of spirits in ourselves and in our relationships. To know the Voice of God is to experience true freedom.
Recommended books, including those by Dan Burke
Subscribe and receive podcasts to Divine Intimacy Radio
Our guests this week share their vocation stories, their musical gifts, and their love of the Lord. Father John Klein, LC, is a songwriter and began his musical apostolate as a street evangelist. Making music is a means for Emily Roman, CRC, to live a vibrant, consecrated religious life. Both Father John and Emily serve youth and families and record music and music videos with the Regnum Christi Music Collective.
The music and story of the Regnum Christi Music Collective
Website and spirituality of Father John’s congregation of priests, the Legionaries of Christ (LC)
Fr. John and Emily are both part of the ecclesial family of Regnum Christi. Information on the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi (CRC)
Co-hosts Craig, John, and Mari personally reflect on two previous fall episodes with guests Dr. Edward Sri (September 8, 2021) and Dr. Bob Schuchts (October 20, 2021). In this week’s episode, our co-hosts speak in a down-to-earth way about how they take to heart the wisdom and truth presented by our guests. The journey of faith is personal and relational: Pull up a chair in The Family Room to re-visit opposing vice with virtue and being devoted to God and one another.
The Art of Living: The Cardinal Virtues and the Freedom to Love is available through Dr. Sri’s website, along with his many uplifting books and videos: https://edwardsri.com/books/
Schuchts’ book, Be Devoted: Restoring Friendship, Passion and Communion in your Marriage: https://jpiihealingcenter.org/product/be-devoted-dr-bob-schuchts/
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part Three, “Life in Christ,” Article 7, paragraph 1805, “Four virtues play a pivotal role and accordingly are called “cardinal”; all the others are grouped around them. They are: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.” https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
A link to The Litany of Humility: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-humility-245
Matthew 6: 25-34: “…do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”
Philippians 4: 4-7: “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”
Dr. Ralph Martin discusses his book, A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward, his journey of faith, and how the Word of God in Sacred Scripture enlivens his life, vocations, and works of mission and evangelization. Dr. Martin shares about his personal relationship with Christ and leads us to want to spend more time with our Lord who, in Word and Sacrament, helps us through troublesome times. We also hear a beautiful story about Ralph and Anne Martin’s baby granddaughter, Maggie, who helps us feel the profound Love of God.
Dr. Ralph Martin’s book, A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward, is available on Renewal Ministries’ website.
The Choices We Face began in 1985 and is currently the longest-running Catholic television program in the world.
Dr. Martin points us to Dei Verbum to encourage our love of Christ and His Church in His Word.
John 17; 1 Corinthians 6; Galatians 5; Ephesians 5; Romans 1; Revelation 21
For Dr. Bill Thierfelder, the warmth, affection, and love of his family of 12 bears fruit for God’s Kingdom here and now. We learn about the founding of the only Catholic college between Virginia and Florida, Belmont Abbey College (near Charlotte, North Carolina), and Dr. Thierfelder recounts how the Holy Spirit called him to become President of the college. He also reveals his personal love for the Blessed Mother, explains three, unchanging pillars of our Catholic faith (in a way that is easy to share), and gives a memorable example of peak performance on both human and spiritual levels. Above all, Dr. Thierfelder shares an inspiring glimpse into married life with his wife, Mary.
Dr. Bill Thierfelder’s book, Less Than a Minute to Go: The Secret to World-Class Performance in Sport, Business and Everyday Life https://lessthanaminutetogo.com/book-summary/
More information on Dr. Thierfelder and Belmont Abbey College: https://belmontabbeycollege.edu/about-us/college-leadership/dr-william-k-thierfelder/
1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1thessalonians/0
Join us in The Family Room for a quick-witted and energetic conversation about apologetics that will likely change your ideas about how to defend the Catholic faith. John Martignoni’s broadcasts and new book, Blue Collar Apologetics, give us four strategies and simple rules of engagement to help bring our loved ones back to the faith, to engage “Bible-only” Christians, and to evangelize in friendship any person of good will. John tells us how he came to found The Bible Christian Society in 1996 - what a story!
The Bible Christian Society: https://www.biblechristiansociety.com/about_us
John Martignoni’s book, Blue Collar Apologetics: How to Explain and Defend Catholic Teaching Using Common Sense, Simple Logic, and the Bible: https://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/blue-collar-apologetics-book/p/BKEPUB81135
Contact link to have John speak at an event: https://catholicspeakers.com/profiles/john-martignoni
Link to season one of Blue Collar Apologetics on EWTN television: https://ondemand.ewtn.com/Home/Series/catalog/video/en/blue-collar-apologetics
Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/0
The daily walk of faith with her husband and children is what matters most to Catholic author and speaker, Katie Warner. Katie shares how the Holy Spirit has surprised her, guided her, and taught her the value of living an intentional faith. One of her favorite quotes, from St. Francis de Sales, is, “God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps.” Start today with a new spiritual motto or see the links below for resources on Katie’s website.
Listening for God: Silence Practice for Little Ones by Katie Warner, illustrated by Amy Rodriguez: http://katiewarner.com/product/listening-for-god
Head and Heart: Becoming Spiritual Leaders for Your Family by Katie Warner: http://katiewarner.com/product/head-heart-becoming-spiritual-leaders-for-your-family
A Spouse Who Prays: A Guide to Praying for Your Spouse and Your Marriage by Katie Warner: http://katiewarner.com/product/a-spouse-who-prays
Katie’s website: http://katiewarner.com/
Recommended books and tools for building a Catholic culture at home: https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-3fdea609
“7 Steps to Designing a Family Mission” by Katie Warner: http://katiewarner.com/?s=family+mission
Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.” https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/6
In this episode, our hosts explore a topic close to each of their hearts: men as the spiritual leaders of the family. We fight a spiritual battle, with spiritual resources, knowing our Triune God goes before us. Mari, Craig, and John revisit chapter 3 of Genesis highlighting man’s unique role as defender of the Faith.
Key Scripture: Ephesians, chapters 5 and 6.
Chapter 3 of Genesis: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3
Dr. Meg Meeker’s book, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know https://www.ignatius.com/Strong-Fathers-Strong-Daughters-P2203.aspx
From CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) paragraph 1666: The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called “the domestic church,” a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity.
Dr. Bob Schuchts, Founder of the John Paul II Healing Center in Tallahassee, Florida, comes in to The Family Room to share his personal journey through early family tragedy, trauma, and divorce to a powerful encounter with Christ, marital healing, and true devotion. Dr. Schuchts gives us practical ways to pray with, and for, our spouses, including a couples’ meditation on the “Our Father.” He gives us real examples from his own personal, marital, and family struggles and growth. This episode concludes with a beautiful meditation on marriage and the Mass.
John Paul II Healing Center: Transformation in the Heart of the Church: https://jpiihealingcenter.org/
Dr. Schuchts’ book, Be Devoted: Restoring Friendship, Passion, and Communion in Your Marriage: https://jpiihealingcenter.org/product/be-devoted-dr-bob-schuchts/
Restore the Glory podcast: https://www.restoretheglorypodcast.com/
Upcoming events at the JPII Healing Center: https://jpiihealingcenter.org/events/
Genesis 2:24: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.” https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2
Colossians 2: 6-7: “So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/0
Melissa Foley, founder of the healing ministry Loved Already, shares some conversation tools in a lively discussion about how we can speak life, healing, and restoration in Christ into our relationships. Part two of a two-part series.
Melissa Foley, founder of the healing ministry Loved Already, joins us in The Family Room in a lively conversation that inspires us to consider our identity in Christ as beloved sons and daughters of a providing Father. Part one of a two-part series.
Resources:
In this episode, our hosts explore a topic close to each of their hearts: men as the spiritual leaders of the family. We fight a spiritual battle, with spiritual resources, knowing our Triune God goes before us. Mari, Craig, and John revisit chapter 3 of Genesis highlighting man’s unique role as defender of the Faith.
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Very Rev. Daniel Ketter, JCL, the Judicial Vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, provides encouragement and hope to couples who want to keep improving their marital relationship. In a lively and informal discussion, Father Ketter identifies four strategies to keep your marriage off his desk.
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Dr. Edward Sri, husband, father, and theologian, discusses his new book on the virtues, The Art of Living: The Cardinal Virtues and the Freedom to Love. Dr. Sri shares personal examples of the three ways we grow in virtue to live and love well in our marriages and families.
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