God's Playbook

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of God’s Playbook, Fr. Rico reflects on Truth and Reconciliation Day, a time to honour the experiences of Indigenous brothers and sisters and acknowledge the painful legacy of residential schools. With honesty and compassion, he reminds listeners that while the Church has done much good, it also carries responsibility for past hurts that must not be ignored. Fr. Ri...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of God’s Playbook, Father Rico explores the “Characteristics of Faith,” reminding listeners that faith is first and foremost a gift from God — a supernatural virtue infused by Him. Breaking it down into three key aspects — faith as a grace, faith as a human act, and faith and understanding — Father Rico shows how God initiates the gift of belief while also inviting...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, Father Rico reflects on the powerful parable of Lazarus and the rich man from Luke’s Gospel. This story challenges us to think about how we use what God has given us and whether we’re attentive to the needs of those around us. While the world often overlooks the poor, Jesus reminds us that God sees their dignity and hears their cries. Join us...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we celebrate the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, a priest known for his deep compassion for the poor and his mission to reform the Church. St. Vincent reminds us that true discipleship means putting the needs of the most vulnerable first—whether through our resources, our time, or simply our presence. As we reflect on his example, we’re invited...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, Father Rico invites us to reflect on the importance of walking hand-in-hand with one another through life’s journey. Inspired by a beautiful prayer from Michael Buckley, we’re reminded to give thanks not only for the gift of family, but for all the people God places in our lives to guide, protect, and support us. Just as Jesus walks with us al...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we reflect on the powerful words of Jesus in Luke 9:23–25: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Being a disciple was never meant to be easy, and yet it’s in carrying our daily crosses—big or small—that we truly find hope, strength, and purpose in Christ. Just like a good coach who walks with...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to God’s Playbook! Today, Father Rico unpacks the big question: What is generational sin—and do we, as Catholics, believe in it? While some may think the sins of parents get passed on to their children, the Church teaches otherwise, with the one exception of original sin from Adam and Eve. In this episode, Father Rico dives into Scripture, clears up misunderstandings,...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to God’s Playbook! Today, Father Rico reflects on the life and legacy of St. Padre Pio, a humble yet powerful saint of our time. Known for his deep devotion to the Sacrament of Confession, his gift of reading souls, and even bearing the wounds of Christ through the stigmata, Padre Pio showed the world what it means to live as a true friend of Jesus. Through suffering,...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to God’s Playbook! Today, Father Rico unpacks a big church word—transubstantiation—and why it’s at the very heart of our Catholic faith. While the word may be tricky to say, its meaning is powerful: at every Mass, the bread and wine truly become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. In this episode, Father Rico explains this profound mystery with clarit...

Send us Fan Mail Today on God’s Playbook, Father Rico dives into one of the most famous miracles in Scripture—the Feeding of the 5,000 from Luke 9:10–17. With just five loaves and two fish, Jesus not only satisfied thousands but also revealed how God always provides in abundance. Are you hungry yet? Whether it’s physical food or the deeper hunger of the heart, this episode invites us to see how Ch...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, Father Rico invites listeners to take a closer look at the beauty and meaning behind stained glass windows in our churches. More than decoration, these windows have long served as powerful teaching tools, sharing stories from Scripture, the lives of the saints, and the wonders of creation—especially at a time when many people could not read or...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we’re diving into the tradition of incense and why the Church continues to use it in worship. From its roots in ancient Jewish rituals to its role in Catholic liturgy today, incense reminds us that our prayers are meant to rise up to God like the smoke we see drifting toward heaven. Beyond its fragrance, incense engages our senses and draws us...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we’re tackling something every Catholic has noticed but maybe never fully understood—what Fr. Rico likes to call “Catholic aerobics.” Why do we sit, stand, kneel, or even genuflect when we walk into church? These postures aren’t random motions but powerful signs of reverence, prayer, and presence before God. Join Fr. Rico as we unpack the mean...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we reflect on Jesus’ powerful reminder that “the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” The disciples got caught up in arguments about status, but Jesus flips the script—real greatness is found in humility, service, and putting others before ourselves. Father Rico unpacks what this looks like in everyday life, from our families and...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we dive into St. Paul’s powerful imagery of running the race of life from 1 Corinthians 9. Just like athletes who train with discipline and focus, we’re called to stay committed in our spiritual journey, keeping our eyes fixed on the ultimate prize—eternal life with God. Father Rico unpacks how setbacks, stumbles, and even false starts are par...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we dive into one of the most powerful and vivid passages in Scripture—the vision of the dry bones from the prophet Ezekiel. This incredible story reminds us that no matter how hopeless or “lifeless” things may seem, God’s Word has the power to breathe new life and restore hope. Let's join Father Rico as he unpacks how this passage is more...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross—a powerful reminder of the greatest act of love the world has ever seen. Father Rico draws a fun comparison between championship trophies in sports and the cross, showing us how this sacred sign is the true “trophy” of victory over sin and death. Unlike athletes who must win to earn th...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we’re talking about the call to share our faith with others. Inspired by John 7:25-26, we see how even in Jesus’ time people questioned who He was—yet He kept speaking openly and boldly. Like Jesus, we too are called to witness to our faith, not by shouting from street corners, but through authentic, everyday actions and words. Whether it’s sa...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we celebrate the beautiful feast of the Holy Name of Mary. The Church honours Mary’s name because it reflects her deep faith, her “yes” to God, and her role as the Mother of the Church. Just as we show respect when calling our parents “mom” or “dad,” so too we show love and reverence when we say the name of Mary—whether we call her Mary, Mama...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode, Remembering September 11, invites us to pause and reflect on a day that changed the world forever. September 11th is a day of sorrow and remembrance, but also a call to pray for peace and healing—for the victims, their families, and all who still carry the weight of that tragedy. We also honor the courage of first responders and ordinary people who gave everything...

Send us Fan Mail Friends, welcome back to God’s Playbook! Today we’re talking about conversion, which Saint Paul VI reminds us isn’t a step backward but a push forward—much like when an athlete adjusts their game to become a stronger, more well-rounded player. Conversion is like shifting from only playing offense to becoming a true two-way player: it takes discipline, sacrifice, and trust in the c...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to God’s Playbook! In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that what matters most is not how we appear on the outside, but the intentions of our hearts. While the Pharisees focused on looking righteous, Jesus challenges us to look deeper and “clean the inside” by rooting out pride, envy, jealousy, and other struggles that can creep into our lives. When our hearts are grou...

Send us Fan Mail Today on God’s Playbook , we celebrate a very special day—the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Birthdays are always joyful, but this one is extra meaningful because it’s our Blessed Mother’s! Just as we would honour someone we love on their birthday, today is a chance to honour Mary with our prayers—especially through the rosary, which is like holding her hand. Join Fr. Rico a...

Send us Fan Mail  Today on God’s Playbook , we dive into the Sunday Gospel where Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” and teaches us the challenging call to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. But what does it really mean to “deny yourself”? From small sacrifices like passing on dessert to greater acts of putting others before ourselves, Jesus reminds us that real l...

Send us Fan Mail Friends, welcome back to God’s Playbook! Today we’re reflecting on the wisdom of St. Ignatius Loyola, who reminds us that we should never do or say anything we wouldn’t do in the presence of God—because the truth is, He’s always with us. Not in a scary or intimidating way, but in a loving way: God sees our choices, hears our words, and knows our hearts. This episode invites us to...