"Hey everybody, for today’s episode of the Daily Refill I have a special announcement that is bittersweet. This episode of the Daily Refill–the one you’re listening to right now, will be the last one in this current iteration. Because of some changes going on here at Spoke Street Media, the Daily Refill is going to be paused for some time, possibly to be picked up in the future by another host and in another form. However, at this moment, this is a small farewell.

For a little over a year now, we’ve been able to go through the news together and, to the best of our ability, take it all in and look at it from a Catholic perspective. The world is a crazy place and it always has news for us to keep up with. From the tragedies of shootings, war, and scandal, to the joys of church life and triumphs of the human person’s dignity, to silly things like the Barbie / Oppenheimer opening weekend, we’ve covered a lot of ground together.

If you take anything away from this little 2 minute show we’ve done, I hope it’s a couple of things. First, the world, for all its troubles, is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. History isn’t just a subject we study in school–it's a reality we live and make together as people. The news is just us doing that in real time with real people. Second, despair lurks around every corner, and it’s not something to fear, but it is something to be aware of. It’s going to propose itself as the solution to every problem, but it will never actually help in the slightest. Which brings me to my final note to take away–live life and read the news with hope.

Not hope in the perfection of people, but hope in the goodness of God. If things in your own life or in the world are weighing heavily on your heart, just remember that the Lord knows far better and more fully what's actually going on, and he's got it all covered. And more than anything else, he wants us to turn to him and trust him in all of it.

That’s all I’ve got, everybody!  Thanks for letting me share the news with you all this time, it’s certainly been a pleasure for me!  So for the last time, this has been the Daily Refill! I’m Vince Faurote, signing off."

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For more on these stories, check out the links below:

The Burger / Mask Debacle

• https://www.npr.org/2023/07/19/1188706519/in-n-out-burger-bans-employees-from-wearing-masks

Russia Doubles Down on Port Attacks

• https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/07/19/world/russia-ukraine-news

“Barbenheimer” Premiere Weekend

• https://www.npr.org/2023/07/21/1189062921/barbie-oppenheimer-barbenheimer-movie-double-feature

Also, check out more at spokestreet.com!

For more on these stories, check out the links below:

Sweden’s Embassy in Baghdad Stormed

• https://www.reuters.com/world/swedish-embassy-baghdad-stormed-set-alight-source-witness-2023-07-19/

Shooting before Women’s World Cup

• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66252727

China Hits Back at Kerry

• https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/world/asia/xi-china-climate-kerry.html

European Bishops Condemn E.U. Abortion Rights Proposal

• https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254836/bishops-condemn-european-unions-drafting-of-right-to-abortion

Also, check out more at spokestreet.com!

For more on these stories, check out the links below:

Russia Keeps Striking Ukraine

• https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/07/19/world/russia-ukraine-news

U.S. Soldier Detained in North Korea

• https://www.npr.org/2023/07/19/1188530348/what-we-know-about-travis-king-the-u-s-soldier-who-crossed-into-north-korea

Also, check out more at spokestreet.com!

For more on these stories, check out the links below:

Afghanistan Cardinal to Leave Country

• https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/iraqi-cardinal-to-leave-baghdad-after

US National Detained in North Korea

• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66233797

Russia Strikes Odessa Grain Port

• https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-strikes-ukraine-grain-port-after-pulling-out-export-deal-2023-07-18/

Also, check out more at spokestreet.com!

For more on these stories, check out the links below:

Crimean Bridge Explosions

• https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/07/17/world/russia-ukraine-news

Russia Suspends Black Sea Grain Deal

• https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-halts-participation-black-sea-grain-deal-kremlin-says-2023-07-17/

Cardinal Zuppi Visits D.C.

• https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-07/pope-francis-sends-cardinal-zuppi-usa-peace-mission-ukraine.html

Also, check out more at spokestreet.com!

Today, let's talk about the papacy and what we can do when we feel challenged by our Holy Father.

Check out more at spokestreet.com!

Pope Benedict's Quote Origin:

• https://www.cuapress.org/9780813225791/the-garden-of-god/

Pope Francis' Quote Origin:

• https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2016/september/documents/papa-francesco_20160908_simposio-americas.html

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