Speaking of Faith: A Minnesota Catholic Podcast

All Things New Planning Series: In this episode, Jessica Goebel, human resources coordinator at the Diocese of St. Cloud, and Adam Saltmarsh, director of operations for the Parishes on the Prairie ACC, explore human stewardship. The conversation delves into approaching leadership with humility, nurturing God-given potential and seeing teammates through God's eyes.

Did you know that some priests have their own vestments? Learn about this and more as the Diocese of St. Cloud's newly ordained priests, Father Nathaniel Daubner and Father Joseph VanDenheuvel, reflect upon their ordination, celebrating their first Mass and their first three weeks serving in priestly ministry.

Diocesan Chancellor and former editor of The Central Minnesota Catholic Joe Towalski talks with Bishop Emeritus Donald Kettler as he celebrates his 55th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

Throughout his life, PJ Connors has shared his faith and served in ministry in various roles, but his role as Confirmation Sponsor and grandfather to Wyatt Connors is especially special to him. PJ and Wyatt share how their faith journeys have inspired one another.

Aside from her time away for college to study agriculture, Hannah Molitor has lived, worked and worshiped in Stearns County. She immerses herself in life on her family dairy farm, and through her work with the USDA and DHIA, she regularly connects with others in the local farming community. Hannah discusses the intersection of farming and faith in this podcast.

John Thavis is a Former Rome Bureau Chief for Catholic News Service and an author and speaker specializing in Vatican and religious affairs. He is the author of the best-selling books, "The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities, and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church," and "The Vatican Prophecies: Investigating Supernatural Signs, Apparitions, and Miracles...

In episode 2 of our podcast series on rural life in our diocese, Father Gregory Mastey and Father Derek Wiechman talk to Barb Simon-Johnson about growing up on farms and now serving in rural communities.

In this introduction to our series of 3 podcasts on rural life in our diocese, Kateri Mancini and JoAnn Braegelman, team members from the Office of Social Concerns, talk about the upcoming feast of St. Isidore, as well as how our diocesan mission statement addresses rural life and share a bit about what this ministry means for the diocese.

Linda George, parishioner at St. Boniface in Cold Spring, shares how listening plays a role in discernment process – listening to others, to research, to the Holy Spirit. She provides examples of discernment from her life, methods she finds useful and even a nugget of wisdom her daily devotional brought forward on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.

In this episode, part of our ongoing series focusing on the pastoral planning initiative 'All Things New,' we hear a conversation between Amy Hoeschen, administrator for the One in Faith ACC and Jessica Goebel, human resources coordinator for the diocese of Saint Cloud. They share about their experience as lay faithful in the Church and how their choice to enroll in the Emmaus Institute program no...

El diácono Mario Mancilla, gerente de ministerios latinos de la Diócesis de Saint Cloud, conversa con Sandy Cruz García, coordinadora general de ministerios latinos de Casa San Benito de la Abadía de San Juan, para hablar sobre la participación de los laicos en la iglesia, incluyendo la de Sandy. También comparten su experiencia compa al participar en el Instituto Emaús y cómo esta experiencia pro...

Msgr. Michael Heintz, pastor at Saint Pius X in Granger, Indiana and visiting director of the John S. and Virginia A. Marten program in homiletics and liturgics and Dr. Katharine Harmon, director of the Obsculta Preaching Initiative at Saint John's School of Theology who teaches in the areas of liturgical studies and the history of Christianity. They share their thoughts on the state of preaching...

Digital Media Manager Dianne Towalski talks with 90 year-old Father Tony Kroll, a retired priest of the Diocese of St. Cloud. The conversation centers on listening and how being a good listener has helped him in his priesthood and his ministry.

Benedictine monk, David Paul Lange and Benedictine sister, Nina Lasceski provide insight on listening through a Benedictine lens. They explore listening as a a whole-body experience and share ideas on how we better listen to God, to oneself and to others. The practice of Lectio Divina is also discussed.

Gerard Thomas Straub will present the 17th Annual Fr. Wil Illies Heart Speaks to Heart Memorial Lecture on April 5 at Christ Church Newman Center in Saint Cloud at 6:30 PM. Gerry is a documentary filmmaker and the founder and president of Pax et Bonum Communications, which produces films focused on the plight of the poor. The goal of his ministry is to put the power of film at the service of the p...

The Diocese of Saint Cloud welcomes Amanda Achtman. Achtman shares why she fierce advocate against euthanasia in her home country of Canada and around the world. The conversation includes insights from her studies and from saints and Catholic leaders. Her work at dyingtomeetyou.com focuses on humanizing the 'conversation on suffering, death, meaning and hope.'

Philip and Hannah Shefveland speak about their experience supporting individuals through sacrament preparation and how their involvement in young adult groups helps nourish their sacramental life. Hannah teaches second grade at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in St. Cloud and Philip is the director of discipleship and evangelization for the All Called to Christ Area Catholic Community and campus mi...

Father Matthew Crane, the vicar of canonical affairs for the Diocese of St. Cloud and Father Erik Lundgren, parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Wendelin, Luxemburg, the Church of the Holy Cross, Pearl Lake, and the Church of Saint Mary Help of Christians in St. Augusta, join us for a lively dicussion about sacramental life focusing on the question, what is the purpose of liturgy?

Dianne Towalski, digital media manager for the Diocese of St. Cloud talks with Deacon Joe Kresky and Karen Handeland from Sacred Heart Parish in Sauk Rapids about their passion for mission and trips they have been on, including their most recent trip to remote villages in Alaska.

Jon Ruis, owner and principal of Ruis Consulting Group, talks with Joe Towalski, chancellor of the Diocese of St. Cloud.

Emily Ripplinger, Branch Manager and David Stang, Member Advisor from Catholic United Financial and Christine Pinto, Director for Faith Formation for the Diocese of Saint Cloud speak with host, AmberWalling, about sponsoring and presenting at the upcoming Festival of Families on February 2, 2025 at St. Francis Xavier in Sartell, MN. Both Ripplinger and Stang participated in the event in 2024 and s...

Daniella Zsupan-Jerome, assistant professor of pastoral theology at Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary and director of the Sustained Encuentro grant, discusses her new book, Speak Lord Your Servant is Listening: Reflections on Faithful Communication in the Digital Age, with host Amber Walling. Zsupan-Jerome provides insight on the format of her book and how its devotional format is acces...

Barb Simon-Johnson talks with Brenda Kresky, director of planning for the Diocese of St. Cloud and members of the Diocesan Planning Council, Karen Pundsack and Andy Klinnert.

As World Day of the Poor is celebrated around the country, two members of the Service in Christ committee from the Mary Mother of the Church ACC, Marilou Heltemes, interim chairperson, and Bruce Uselman, Good Samaritan Fund liason, join Luke Preussler, rural life coordinator for the office of social concerns at the Diocese of St. Cloud, to discuss how they work locally to encounter and serve those...

Barb Simon-Johnson talks with Brenda Kresky, director of planning for the Diocese of St. Cloud and Mike Laughery from Emmaus Partners about some of the current realities the diocese is dealing with.