Episodios

  • Preaching the Risen Christ: Finding hope in addiction recovery

    Preaching the Risen Christ: Finding hope in addiction recovery
    Apr 13 2026
    “You see the light in people's eyes come back and you see faces start to move instead of being frozen," says Tom Weston, S.J., speaking about his experience ministering to people in addiction recovery. “The humanity is reborn [...] it's resurrection.” In this episode we continue our Easter series on preaching the hope of the resurrection in a broken world. Our guest Tom Weston, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, counsellor, and man in long-term recovery, who has devoted most of his priestly life to working alongside people battling addiction — leading 12-step based retreats, offering counseling and spiritual accompaniment, and lecturing internationally. Together with host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., they discuss how we can all be witnesses to the resurrection and recipients of God’s grace, no matter how dark our lives may seem. Timecodes: 0:00 We can see the resurrection clearly in those in recovery 7:00 Tom Weston’s homily 17:07 God’s grace is greater than our human will power 21:45 How much should a preacher reveal about themselves in a homily? 25:00 Grace isn’t only for those in recovery 26:40 What does the resurrection look like? 28:47 Preaching hope in darkness --- Support this podcast by becoming a subscriber. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠americamagazine.org/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 m
  • Preaching the Risen Christ: A Scripture Scholar on the first witnesses

    Preaching the Risen Christ: A Scripture Scholar on the first witnesses
    Apr 6 2026
    What does it mean to preach resurrection into a broken world? In this first episode of our 2026 Easter series, host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., welcomes Alberto Solano, a New Testament scholar at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California. Together, they open up the post-resurrection appearances in John’s Gospel—Mary in the garden, Thomas in the upper room, Peter by the charcoal fire—and ask why the risen Christ keeps showing up not to the powerful, but to the grieving, the fearful, and the lost. Timecodes: 0:00 The risen Christ first meets the outcast, the fearful, the rejected 1:25 What do the resurrection appearances in John have to offer preachers today? 2:50 Alberto Solano brings scripture scholarship to Preach 4:26 Why does Jesus call Mary Magdalene by name? 8:50 What did “resurrection from the dead” mean to a Jewish people? 18:46 “Doubting Thomas”—or the most faithful disciple? 22:20 Your worst moment isn't your whole story 27:04 Why does the Church turn to John at Easter more than the other Gospels? 34:40 Acts — how the early Church learned to love its enemies as neighbours 38:45 What does Easter call preachers to say? --- Support this podcast by becoming a subscriber. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠americamagazine.org/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 m
  • Preaching the pillars of Lent: Fasting

    Preaching the pillars of Lent: Fasting
    Mar 9 2026
    What is fasting for? What biblical precedent do we have for the practices of fasting and abstinence? And how can preachers steer between the two extremes of self-punishment and loophole hunting? “Preach” concludes its Lent 2026 series on the three classical pillars of the season with a conversation on fasting. Host Ricardo da Silva, S.J. is joined by James Keane — senior editor at America and a writer who has spent some time reflecting and writing on what fasting is and what it’s for. Timecodes: 0:00 What’s fasting for? 2:00 The Brazilian loophole to abstinence during Lent: capibara 3:55 What does the church teach on fasting and abstinence? 6:53 Fasting is meant to bring you closer to God 8:35 Biblical citations of fasting 11:05 Fasting evolved alongside seasons of food scarcity and abundance 14:10 St. Ignatius’ fervour for fasting 16:10 Avoiding the two extremes of self-punishment vs. loophole hunting 18:58 Pope Leo XIV’s message this Lent James Keane’s articles on fasting: On fasting: The difference between our preaching and our practice 7 things you never knew about fasting --- Support this podcast by becoming a subscriber. Visit ⁠⁠⁠americamagazine.org/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 m
  • Preaching the pillars of Lent: Almsgiving

    Preaching the pillars of Lent: Almsgiving
    Mar 2 2026
    What is almsgiving — and why does the Church teach that it is more about justice and right relationship than simply personal charity or philanthropy? As “Preach” continues its Lent 2026 series on the three classical pillars of the season—prayer, fasting and almsgiving—we turn to almsgiving, perhaps the most confronting of the three. In this conversation, Ricardo da Silva, S.J. is joined by Kerry Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA., and author of Imagining Abundance: Fundraising, Philanthropy, and a Spiritual Call to Service, a book that reflects on generosity as a spiritual practice rooted in faith. Timecodes: 0:00 Generosity is at the heart of almsgiving 2:30 Our cognitive dissonance with money and faith 5:43 How Kerry became a steward of her family’s 80-year-old foundation 8:20 About Catholic Charities U.S.A. 11:50 Biblical teachings on giving alms 16:36 Mother Teresa: “never take away the right of another to be generous” 21:30 We need both charity and justice 26:24 New insights from Pope Leo and ‘Dilexi Te’ 28:08 Preach almsgiving with thanksgiving --- Support this podcast by becoming a subscriber. Visit ⁠⁠americamagazine.org/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 m
  • Preaching the pillars of Lent: Prayer

    Preaching the pillars of Lent: Prayer
    Feb 23 2026
    What is prayer? And maybe more importantly for preachers—what are we inviting people into when we stand in the pulpit and speak about it? As “Preach” continues its Lent 2026 series, we turn to the three classical pillars that shape the season: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In this first conversation, focused on prayer, Ricardo da Silva, S.J. is joined by Amy Ekeh, Director of Mission Advancement for the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, retreat leader, author and adjunct instructor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Sacred Heart University. Amy is the author of several books, including: Stretch Out Your Hand: Reflections on the Healing Ministry of Jesus Come to Me, All of You: Stations of the Cross in the Voice of Christ Lent: Season of Transformation Timecodes: 0:00 We can’t be afraid to ask for God’s help 1:25 Who is Amy Ekeh? 2:50 Prayer is relational 7:57 Prayer is nurtured in community 14:30 Good preaching requires you to know your congregation 16:53 Ask for healing! The people in the Gospels did. 21:38 Jesus’ Gethsemane prayer 26:16 Carving out space for silence --- Support this podcast by becoming a subscriber. Visit ⁠americamagazine.org/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 m
  • A Preacher’s Guide to Lent: History and the Sunday readings

    A Preacher’s Guide to Lent: History and the Sunday readings
    Feb 16 2026
    As “Preach” begins its Lent 2026 series, Ricardo da Silva, S.J. sits down with liturgical theologian Anne McGowan to ask a foundational question: what is Lent for — and how do these practices reshape our faith, not just our habits for six weeks? Together, they trace its history from a two-day fast in the early Church to the 40-day season we know today, and explore its theological arc in the Sunday lectionary—from temptation and transfiguration to water, light and life, and finally the passion that leads into Easter, where new Christians are baptised and the faithful renew their baptismal promises. 0:00 Introducing the Lent 2026 series 2:30 Meet Anne McGowan: why she loves the liturgical year 6:20 You can’t understand Lent without Easter 8:10 The history of Lent: from two days to 40 days before Easter 10:40 Lent: a season of challenge and joy 15:05 Compunction and joy: do we have to choose? 20:55 The Sundays of Lent explained: from temptation to the passion 31:13 Preaching the whole journey of Lent 34:49 Preaching more than just the Sunday readings this Lent 36:22 How to come alive this Lent A Preacher’s Guide to Holy Week: These are long liturgies. Be brief! --- Support this podcast by becoming a subscriber. Visit americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 m
  • Catholic preaching in a traumatized Minnesota

    Catholic preaching in a traumatized Minnesota
    Feb 9 2026
    “Things are happening [in Minnesota] that my friends and family elsewhere are really having trouble understanding,” Laura Kelly Fanucci says, “because the media is saying one thing, and all these partisan politicians are saying another thing.” “But sometimes I think what Jesus [is saying in the gospel], is that when you are close to the center, sometimes you will know things about the mystery of God that are going to be difficult for other people to understand.” Award-winning author, Laura Kelly Fanucci, joins host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., to share what she has been preaching on her Instagram account @thismessygrace since U.S. federal immigration agents fatal shooting of Renee Good, and later, Alex Pretti. After attending Mass the Sunday following the killing of Renée Good and hearing no mention of it from the pulpit at her parish, Laura began offering three-minute homilies on Instagram. In this conversation with Ricardo da Silva, S.J., Laura offers practical advice for preaching in this historical moment marked by violence, terror and community upheaval. In her daily Scripture reflections on Instagram Laura models how to thread the needle of preaching the gospel and responding to surrounding events, without slipping into partisan rhetoric. https://www.americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 m
  • There is room for Jesus: a Christmas homily on what Luke’s Gospel really says

    There is room for Jesus: a Christmas homily on what Luke’s Gospel really says
    Dec 24 2025
    Every year we take out the nativity. We arrange it carefully. Mary. Joseph. A baby in a manger. It feels sacred—one of the last spaces in our world left untouched. But contemporary retellings challenge that calm. This year in Dedham, the Holy Family was removed and kept in the sanctuary for protection from ICE. In Evanston, the baby Jesus wrapped in emergency thermal blankets, his hands bound with zip ties. A few years ago in Bethlehem, a Lutheran pastor placed the Christ child on bomb rubble. We demand these displays be removed. But what if the real danger isn’t the frame we construct—traditional crib or contemporary protest? What if it’s that we’re so busy fixing on one perfect pageant or one protest image that we miss the actual context of Jesus’ birth? We assume Mary and Joseph were turned away. Luke doesn’t say that. The Holy Family is welcomed into a warm home, pressed shoulder to shoulder with people doing all they can to make space. The house owner says: this is all we have. And it’s accepted. God is born there. Ricardo tells us in this surprise Christmas Eve homily: God does not wait for us to clear space. He enters even when lives are full, when schedules are packed. Still, room is found. That’s the nativity we are living and called to live. This is Ricardo’s final episode before moving to Rome in January to join the Jesuits’ international communications team. He’ll continue hosting Preach from there. We’re taking a brief break and will return just before Ash Wednesday with a new Lenten series. Please fill out our listener survey—your feedback helps shape what comes next. Merry Christmas! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    19 m