Episodios

  • Baptism isn’t just about the baby

    Baptism isn’t just about the baby
    Sep 29 2025
    “This isn’t just about the baby, this isn’t just about the parents and godparents. This is about all of us and it is about our faith.” This is the realization that came to Con O’Mahony, Vicar for Education in the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario, and pastor at St. Margaret Mary Parish, while attending a Baptism at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Standing in a filled cathedral before John Nava’s magnificent tapestries depicting the communion of saints, he suddenly understood: “We are not doing this alone. We’re not doing this in isolation. We are doing this with the whole church—there’s something bigger than ourselves.” Con explains that preaching doesn’t start at the ambo—it begins in personal encounters, especially when preparing for sacraments as personal as baptism. He connects with families before any paperwork is done, even if only for a few minutes before the ceremony, asking about the child’s name and listening to their stories. Often, his best homily material comes from these everyday conversations—like a second grader’s humorous definition of Baptism: “When the priest gives you a bath in church so that God will like you better.” Con sees truth in this—baptism is God washing us—but with one crucial correction: not to like us better, but to prove God’s unconditional love was there for us all along. Con and host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., connect this love to not only the person being baptized but to the whole community and to the faith. The conversation moves from the practical—how Con prepares, what makes a good baptismal homily—to a deeper shift in how we approach these moments. As Ricardo reflects, too often “we tend to preach for people that we don’t think we’ll ever see again.” What if instead we “preach as though you want to see them again and you are going to see them again? This is not a once and for all—this is a once and then.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 m
  • ‘What do you ask of God’s church for your child?’: Preaching the Rite of Baptism

    ‘What do you ask of God’s church for your child?’: Preaching the Rite of Baptism
    Sep 23 2025
    For Christina Mines, director of evangelization and catechesis for the Diocese of Hamilton in Ontario, the moment that moved her most at her children’s baptisms wasn’t where most might expect: the pouring of water, the anointing with sacred oils, the lighting of a candle. “It was when our pastor approached us in the first few moments of being in the church and asked my husband and I, ‘What do you ask for your child?’” she tells “Preach” host Ricardo da Silva, S.J. “This is the moment where we get to present our children to the church as God’s own beloved child—just like Christ was at his baptism: ‘This is my child, with whom I am well pleased.’ And it is the responsibility of the church, in that moment, to embrace and welcome and delight in that child in the same way.” That simple yet profound question opens up a world of pastoral possibilities. In this episode of Preach, Christina and Ricardo explore the opportunities and challenges of preaching for Baptism: from engaging millennial parents and practicing radical hospitality, to inviting families into the full life of the parish and into an experience of God’s love that is inclusive and without judgment. Ricardo shares how Christina’s experience connects to the Gospel often proclaimed at baptisms. “Sometimes I walk up to the child and say, ‘This is my daughter, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased,’” he says, echoing the words spoken from above when John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan. He then reminds the congregation that those same words are spoken over each and every one of us at our Baptism, and asks: “How does that change the way you approach the sacrament—your life—to know that you are loved, that you are cherished, that you are beloved, that you are chosen?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 m
  • ‘Sacraments aren’t vending machines’: Preaching God’s grace as encounter, not transaction

    ‘Sacraments aren’t vending machines’: Preaching God’s grace as encounter, not transaction
    Sep 15 2025
    This week on Preach, we launch a new series: Preaching for the Sacraments—how homilists can bring depth and imagination to their preaching during some of the Catholic Church’s most meaningful rites. To set the stage, host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., speaks with Anthony Ruff, O.S.B., Benedictine monk and professor of liturgy at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary in Minnesota. Together they unpack what sacraments truly are—and how to preach them with both depth and imagination. “A sacrament is not a vending machine where we put the thing in our action and then the thing comes out automatically,” Anthony explains. “God acts through symbols such as water and oil and laying on hands and exchanging the peace with one another and singing together.” Grace is not dispensed mechanically, but unfolds through real human experience: “If I’m becoming more human and growing in community, I’m being divinized.” Preaching at sacramental celebrations must therefore begin with the lives of those gathered, not abstract theology. “I really try to say, what’s the word that will be Christ for them, that will resonate with their experience?” Anthony reflects. “We really have to think about the whole life of this community—and then our homily is a part of that.” In this episode: 00:00 – ‘A sacrament is not a vending machine’ 01:10 – Introduction 02:40 – Meet Anthony Ruff: monk and teacher 04:00 – About the Compelling Preaching Grant 08:10 – What is a sacrament? Encounter, not simply ritual 08:48 – What is the core purpose of the sacrament? 13:20 – A sacrament as a sign of peace 15:50 – Mystery, not magic 17:38 – Becoming aware of the God's presence in your life 19:48 – Sacraments vs. sacramentals: what’s the difference? 21:40 – Sacraments for community and the individual 24:05 – A final word on sacraments 27:05 – What preaching is for? 28:45 – Homilies at sacramental Masses: rite or readings? 33:10 – Symbols as stage directions 36:40 – Challenges and pitfalls of preaching the sacraments 38:50 – How long does it take to prepare for a sacrament 40:50 – Keeping the mystery of the sacraments alive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 m
  • Preaching that cuts deep: the sharper edges of God’s Word

    Preaching that cuts deep: the sharper edges of God’s Word
    Sep 8 2025
    The third season of “Preach” begins with a fundamental reminder: What is preaching, and what is it for? To explore that question, host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., invites the Rev. Lynn Barger Elliott—a preacher who has inspired him to think about this question in recent months. As a fourth-generation Presbyterian pastor and consultant for the Compelling Preaching Initiative—the Lilly Endowment project that supports this podcast—Lynn brings the wisdom of that legacy to remind us that preaching takes root in lived experience. “I personally needed a story to help interpret [Scripture] so that I could make [it] meaningful in my own life,” Lynn says, explaining her approach to good preaching. In this episode Lynn recalls how witnessing her mom undergo back surgery gave her new insight into a passage from Hebrews, where the word of God is likened to a two-edged sword, “piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow” (Hebrews 4:12). “It gave me a new way to interpret words of Scripture,” Lynn says, “that are double-edged and sharp in every direction.” “Preach” is made possible through the generous support of the Compelling Preaching Initiative, a project of Lilly Endowment Inc. Get daily Scripture reflections and ⁠⁠⁠support⁠⁠⁠ “Preach” by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 m
  • Bonus: Season 2 Survey + The Spiritual Life with Father James Martin, S.J.

    Bonus: Season 2 Survey + The Spiritual Life with Father James Martin, S.J.
    Jun 30 2025
    Season two of “Preach” has wrapped. Before we pause until fall, please share what moved you this season, what you’d like more or less of, and any ideas for future episodes to shape next season's lineup. In this bonus episode, Ricardo and Maggi Van Dorn – his co-producer on “Preach” and producer of America Media’s newest podcast – introduce “The Spiritual Life with Father James Martin, S.J.” They discuss what preachers can gain from the show and share the first episode featuring Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe. Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe is a Dominican friar, former Master of the Dominican Order, and a widely respected author. Pope Francis chose him as retreat leader for the Synod on Synodality. In this episode, he shares insights on Dominican spirituality, friendship with God, and living with cancer. “The Spiritual Life” is hosted by Father James Martin, S.J., a Jesuit priest, bestselling author, editor-at-large at America Media, and founder of Outreach. The show explores how people pray and find God in daily life. Each episode features listener questions answered by Father Martin and his guests in a relatable “Dear Abby of the soul” style. Guests include Stephen Colbert, Whoopi Goldberg, Pete Buttigieg, and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe. 🎧 Take the “Preach” listener survey and follow “The Spiritual Life with Father James Martin, S.J.” every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts. “Preach” is made possible through the generous support of the Compelling Preaching Initiative, a project of Lilly Endowment Inc. Get daily Scripture reflections and ⁠⁠⁠⁠support⁠⁠⁠ “Preach” by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 2 m
  • The Eucharist is more than ritual—it makes us what we receive

    The Eucharist is more than ritual—it makes us what we receive
    Jun 16 2025
    “We become like the things we contemplate,” the Rev. Hank Hilton says. In this homily for Corpus Christi, Year C, Hank draws on ancient philosophy, childhood boat rides on the Jersey Shore, and his mother’s wisdom to reflect on the transforming power of Christ’s kindness—to friends, enemies and strangers. In this episode of “Preach,” Hank shares the three-step preaching method he’s used for decades: concept, exegesis, application. He explains why he usually starts with a story instead of a quote, and how conversations at the church door shape his message. He also introduces Holy Chow, his parish’s food-truck ministry serving not only meals but the peace of Christ. Guest: Hank Hilton is pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Hillsborough, N.J. A former Jesuit, he holds advanced degrees in theology, philosophy, psychology and economics, including a Ph.D. in land resources. “Preach” is made possible through the generous support of the Compelling Preaching Initiative, a project of Lilly Endowment Inc. Get daily Scripture reflections and ⁠⁠⁠support⁠⁠⁠ “Preach” by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 m
  • ‘There’s a monk in me’: Pope Leo's Scripture professor and an introverted preacher

    ‘There’s a monk in me’: Pope Leo's Scripture professor and an introverted preacher
    Jun 9 2025
    Most people hear “Holy Trinity” and think “mystery”—something abstract and hard to explain. But for Dianne Bergant, C.S.A., the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Year C, is a chance to root the doctrine in daily life. She invites us to see it instead as “the relationship that human beings have to the Creator.” God, she says, “literally serves us”—through creation, Christ, and the Spirit, who “does not go alone” but “works through us.” In this episode of Preach, Dianne reflects on preaching as an introvert, why she never writes her homilies, and her memories of teaching exegesis at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago—including to a quiet, thoughtful student now known as Pope Leo XIV. “He was a very good student,” she recalls. “I have kept every grade, a record of every grade. So when I say he was a good student, I have evidence.” Guest: Dianne Bergant, a Sister of St. Agnes and distinguished scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures, taught for over 40 years at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and served on the Pontifical Biblical Commission. ⁠⁠⁠⁠ “Preach” is made possible through the generous support of the Compelling Preaching Initiative, a project of Lilly Endowment Inc. Get daily Scripture reflections and ⁠⁠support⁠⁠ “Preach” by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 m
  • More wild goose than gentle dove: a surprising Pentecost homily

    More wild goose than gentle dove: a surprising Pentecost homily
    Jun 2 2025
    Say “Holy Spirit” and most picture a dove or gentle fire. But Anthony SooHoo, S.J., turns to a wilder Celtic image: a honking goose in flight—untamed and impossible to ignore. It’s how he preaches Pentecost: the Spirit who startles us into new life and calls the church to fly together—rather than just waddle along. For the Solemnity of Pentecost, Year C, Anthony draws on the physics of flight and a Kierkegaardian parable about ducks. In conversation with host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., he explores imagination in preaching and the art of going off-script—especially when the Spirit honks. Guest: Anthony SooHoo, S.J., professor of ancient Near Eastern studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and pastoral staff member at Caravita, an international English-language Catholic community. Get daily Scripture reflections and support “Preach” by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠ “Preach” is made possible through the generous support of the Compelling Preaching Initiative, a project of Lilly Endowment Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 m