Episodes

  • Grandparents Pt2

    Grandparents Pt2
    Jul 28 2024
    As you know, Sunday, July 28 the Church marks the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Thus, I decided to reprise a conversation I previously had with Catherine Wiley, grandmother and founder of Catholic Grandparents Association (CGA) and Marilyn Henry who coordinates CGA in the United States. (Catherine L, Marilyn R) Both women are grandmothers and both have exceptional lives and stories. As you will hear, Catherine had an idea, a dream that eventually came true with the First World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly! Such a great story of love and determination! And teamwork with Marilyn at her side. Enjoy! Heartfelt congratulations to all grandparents this weekend! Congrats also to the many senior citizens of the world who act as grandparents for the younger generations. By the way, the Apostolic Penitentiary is granting a Plenary Indulgence for the faithful who take part in the fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 28 under the usual conditions of sacramental Confession, reception of the Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Grandparents pt1

    Grandparents pt1
    Jul 21 2024
    Welcome to Vatican Insider on yet another scorching weekend in so many parts of the world. I hope you are staying cool as you listen to the program this week, especially the interview segment with my two special guests. As you know, Sunday, July 28 the Church marks the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Thus, this weekend and next, in the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I reprise a conversation I had with Catherine Wiley, grandmother and founder of Catholic Grandparents Association (CGA) and Marilyn Henry who coordinates CGA in the United States Both women are grandmothers and both have exceptional lives and stories. As you will hear, Catherine was truly the catalyst for this now annual World Day. For years, Catherine had an idea, a dream and, after many meetings with Vatican officials and a couple with Pope Francis, the Pope instituted The World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly!
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Fr Ramil Mother Cabrini Jubilee Pt2

    Fr Ramil Mother Cabrini Jubilee Pt2
    Jul 14 2024
    Welcome to Vatican Insider on what seems to be a torrid weekend in so much of the world! And so many people in the world do not have access to air conditioning or other methods of cooling off so let’s pray for those brothers and sisters of ours! This weekend in the interview segment! I present Part II of my conversation with Fr. Ramil Fajardo, a dear friend from the archdiocese of Chicago. For several years, he was the rector of the shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago. During his time there, he organized a Jubilee Year dedicated to Mother Cabrini and he is now involved in an interesting way with the Church’s worldwide 2025 Jubilee Year. Fr. Ramil, in fact, announced last week in Part I that a statue of Mother Cabrini is coming to Rome for the 2025 Holy Year and will be placed in a garden area of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls basilica. So, join Fr. Ramil and me for that riveting story! When you think of the impact of Frances Xavier Cabrini’s life dedicated to migrants over a century ago and the extensive worldwide plight of migrants today, we know we must do what she did: bring God’s caring love to those who, like our own ancestors at some point, face unknown challenges in a new land.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Fr Ramil Mother Cabrini Jubilee Pt1

    Fr Ramil Mother Cabrini Jubilee Pt1
    Jul 7 2024
    I speak with Fr. Ramil Fajardo, a dear friend from the archdiocese of Chicago who, for several years, was the rector of the shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago. During his time there, he organized a Jubilee Year dedicated to Mother Cabrini and he is now involved in an interesting way with the Church’s worldwide 2025 Jubilee Year. Fr. Ramil, in fact, makes a wonderful announcement about Mother Cabrini and Rome and the 2025 Holy Year. You will be delighted! So, join Fr. Ramil and me for that riveting story! When you think of the impact of Frances Xavier Cabrini’s life dedicated to migrants over a century ago and the extensive worldwide plight of migrants today, we know we must do what she did: bring God’s caring love to those who, like our own ancestors at some point, face unknown challenges in a new land.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Fr Hans Zollner Safeguarding Institute pts 1&2

    Fr Hans Zollner Safeguarding Institute pts 1&2
    Jun 30 2024
    This week I re-air Part II of an interview I did with Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist, because his work is necessary to understanding an important event that took place in Rome this week. In 2012, Fr. Zollner founded and was president of the Center for Child Protection at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University. In April 2021, that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care that he now directs. Fast forward to 2024. The Gregorian University annually holds what is known as the ISC, International Safeguarding Conference, sponsored by the Institute of Anthropology that Fr. Zollner founded. The 2024 conference, June 18 to 21, focused on Safeguarding and Disability, aiming at an approach that puts people with disabilities at the center of discussions,. In view of that conference, I felt it important to re-air my interview with Fr. Zollner about the work of the Institute of Anthropology.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Re-air Fr Hans Zollner SafeGuarding Institute Pt 1

    Re-air Fr Hans Zollner SafeGuarding Institute Pt 1
    Jun 23 2024
    This week and next in the interview segment, I will re-air an interview I did with Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist as his work is necessary to understanding an important event that took place in Rome this week. In 2012, he founded and was president of the Center for Child Protection at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University. In April 2021, that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care that he now directs. We talk about the Institute, the courses and degrees it offers and how dioceses around the world are adopting similar programs. Fast forward to 2024. The Gregorian University annually holds what is known as the ISC, International Safeguarding Conference, sponsored by the Institute of Anthropology that Fr. Zollner founded. The 2024 conference, June 18 to 21, focused on Safeguarding and Disability, aiming at an approach that puts people with disabilities at the center of discussions, addressing issues related to Safeguarding from their specific perspectives. In view of that conference, I felt it important to re-air my interview with Fr. Zollner about the work of the Institute of Anthropology.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Fr Carney and the Holy Face pt2

    Fr Carney and the Holy Face pt2
    Jun 16 2024
    I have a return guest this weekend on Vatican Insider, Fr. Lawrence Carney of the diocese of Wichita, Kansas, known in the U.S. for his devotion to the Holy Face and his recent book, “The Secret of The Holy Face.” As you heard him tell us in Part I last weekend, after serving in the diocese for six years, he accepted the position as chaplain of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, in Gower, Missouri. There he was confessor to Sister Wilhemina, the African-American nun from Missouri who founded the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. Her remains were discovered as possibly incorrupt in May 2023. We talk this week in Part II more about devotion to the Holy Face, the interior life, the League of St. Martin and much more! You can listen to that right after the news summary! Fr. Carney and I met through a common friend in South Dakota, who knows Father, and the head of the travel agency that brought Father, his parents and brother and others from around the U.S. to Rome on a pilgrimage. Ellen took these photos at my home during our interview and then at dinner with the group at a nearby hotel.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Fr David Hulshof NAC apostoloates Pt2

    Fr David Hulshof NAC apostoloates Pt2
    Jun 2 2024
    In the interview segment of Vatican Insider on this first weekend of June 2024, I reprise an earlier conversation with Fr. David Hulshof, director of Apostolic Formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. This weekend is Part II. Part I aired last weekend There are a number of apostolates that are mandatory for all seminarians during their formation years such as working with the poor and homeless, with refugees, visiting patients in hospitals, being a guide in St. Peter’s Basilica and working in an Italian parish. Fr. David explains the apostolates offered at NAC, and you will revel in his passion and joy for the priesthood, the apostolates and especially for the current class of seminarians. And you will feel very positive about the future pastors of the Church in America! As the website of the North American College notes about these apostolates: In each of the five parishes, seminarians are teaching religious education, preparing children for the sacraments of the church, assisting at Mass, and some opportunities for preaching. St. Galla is an Italian speaking parish, St. Maria in Monserrato is the Spanish speaking parish, and St. Patrick’s is the English language parish. Seminarians bring comfort to the elderly, sick and poor at four locations in the Eternal City. They serve in soup kitchens and visit with the poor on the streets. Others minister in a local prison and at a refugee center. Our men also evangelize by leading tours with pilgrims to St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. They assist the USCCB Visitor’s Office in Rome and offer Scavi tours of the excavations beneath St. Peter’s.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins