Talking Catholic

How is a school like an organism? Or human body? What role does the administration play in the health of a school vs. the students themselves? This week, cohosts Pete Sanchez and Mike Bress sit down with Camden Catholic High School ’s new president, James Hozier to explore these questions and more. Hozier starts by sharing his journey to the new role, from studying science (hence the organism ques...

New Year's resolutions: You either love ‘em or hate ‘em.  This week, Deacon Dean Johnson stops by Talking Catholic to take some of the pressure off by suggesting we ground our New Year goals in faith. Want to stress less? Turn to Saint Teresa of Ávila, who said: “Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.”  Looking to exer...

On this week’s episode of Talking Catholic , we bring together some hosts and some communications colleagues to recap what we loved about 2025 and what we’re looking forward to in 2026. Enjoy this chat with Mike Walsh, Maria Toci D’Antonio, Jennifer Mauro, Mike Bress, Pete Sanchez and Andrea Herrera.  Listen to Talking Catholic everywhere podcasts are found or at talking.catholicstarherald.org/tal...

After a time of intense persecution, with a steady hand and fervent faith, Pope St. Sylvester led the Church out of the catacombs into a time of great flourishing. On this episode of Talking Saints, Pete and Laurie dive into the facts and legends surrounding this early 4th century saint who laid the foundations for the Christian Rome that we know today.   Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Power...

On this week’s episode of Talking Catholic , cohosts Marianela Nuñez and Mike Bress step into the Advent and Christmas spirit with a visit to St. Peter School in Merchantville, where they sit down with music and religion teacher - and choir director - Sarah Duvall Pearson. Ms. Pearson shares her journey to becoming a full-time educator at St. Peter, her deep love for teaching music (especially Cat...

It’s a full triumvirate of Mikes on this week’s episode of Talking Catholic as hosts Michael Bress and Michael Walsh welcome Michael Chambers , President of Paul VI High School, in Haddonfield, NJ. Mr. Chambers – the longest current serving president of any Catholic high school in the Diocese of Camden – reflects on his more than 30 years at Paul VI as a student, parent, teacher, and administrator...

Catholic Star Herald fan-favorite columnist Deacon Dean Johnson steps into the co-host chair on this week’s episode of Talking Catholic ! He’s joined by Deacons Barry Steele and Doug R. Stetser , newly ordained this fall, for a thoughtful and hope-filled conversation on Advent. “We prepare for Christmas… but what are we doing to prepare for eternity?” Deacon Barry reflects, as the trio dives into...

This week on Talking Catholic , we welcome a long overdue guest: Robin Strough, Director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection for the Diocese of Camden. Robin joins us to share important updates from her department and to explain her mission — ensuring that every child entrusted to the Diocese is protected, supported, and surrounded by a safe environment. She also walks us through how the D...

As host Mike Walsh shuttled colleagues from Atlantic City to Philadelphia International Airport, he fired up the podcast gear and captured a conversation while criss-crossing New Jersey. Riding along in the passenger seats are: • Janelle Gergen , Chancellor and COO of the Diocese of Crookston • Montie Chavez , Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Las Vegas • Paul Schratz , Editor of T...

“Now let me fight for God.”  With these words, St. Martin of Tours, officer in the Roman Emperor's cavalry, put down his sword to follow Christ.  Join us for this episode of Talking Saints, as Pete and Laurie explore the life of this soldier turned monk, then bishop, who's act of charity toward a beggar ultimately changed the course of his life.    Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Powe...

This week on Talking Catholic , host Mike Walsh sits down with Joanna McGill-Gardner, Esq., an immigration attorney and former Catholic Charities of South Jersey colleague. Joanna shares how her early experiences in service and journalism led her to a vocation in immigration legal work, where she now accompanies individuals and families navigating some of the most complex and emotional legal chall...

“So I have a meeting at the Vatican…” That’s how this week’s episode begins — as members of the Diocese of Camden’s leadership reflect on their pilgrimage to Rome from Oct. 23–28 for the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies at the Vatican. Joining us to share stories from this extraordinary experience are most of the delegation that included: Bishop Joseph Williams , Father Jon Thomas...

“Your life has meaning.”   That’s one of the important messages this week’s guests have for Talking Catholic’s listeners.   On this week’s episode, Father Tom Piro and Father Stephen Robbins – who are both associate directors for the Office of Vocations – talk about the Diocese’s newest initiative: “Called by Name.”   This November, every parishioner is being asked to prayerfully consider young me...

This week on Talking Catholic, Marianela Núñez and cohost Mike Bress celebrate a century of faith, family, and Ram pride at Gloucester Catholic High School . They’re joined by Tom Iacovone, Principal, and Kathy Dougherty, Director of Marketing, to reflect on 100 years of tradition, community, and Catholic education in South Jersey. From the halls that shaped generations to the alumni who carry Ram...

Each year, the Office of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Camden brings together elementary and high school principals for a two-day conference in Ocean City. The gathering covers a range of important topics while also providing opportunities for fellowship among colleagues. On this week’s episode, cohosts Marianela Nuñez and Mike Bress speak with two new elementary school principals — Bill H...

On this episode of Talking Catholic , we sit down with two distinguished members of Legatus , the national organization of Catholic business leaders committed to living and sharing their faith in the corporate world. Joining the conversation are BJ Kraemer , Managing Principal of MCFA, and Greg Passanante , CEO and Northeast Market Administrator for Shriners Children’s Philadelphia. Together, they...

On this week’s episode of Talking Catholic , host Mike Walsh is joined by guest co-host Lisa Lauria for a conversation about the upcoming Catholic Charities of South Jersey Annual Dinner. Their guests are Executive Director Maria Elena Hallion, Ph. D. , and Stacy Napolitano , Director of Development for the Diocese of Camden. Together, they highlight this year’s Saint John Neumann Award honoree, E...

On this week’s episode of Talking Catholic, two well-respected pro-life advocates join us to talk about the upcoming Mass for Life, rally and march taking place Sept. 25 in Trenton.   Jennifer Ruggiero, director of human life and dignity for the Diocese of Metuchen, and Rachel Hendricks, coordinator of the Respect Life Ministry in the Diocese of Trenton, discuss the misinformation being spread and...

Join us for a deeply inspiring episode as Kari Janisse and Mike Walsh sit down with Rowan University’s Catholic Campus Ministry executive board members—Donovan Kenny, Anthony LaPiana, and Peter Romeo—fresh from their pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee of Youth. These engineering seniors not only witnessed the global heartbeat of youth faith in action but brought their own stories of transformation...

This week we spotlight a special presentation series hosted by Saint Joseph’s Polish Apostolate of the Diocese of Camden titled: “With God in Camden.”  The series explores the extraordinary life of Servant of God, Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J.—a Pennsylvania-born Jesuit missionary who endured decades of imprisonment and hard labor in Soviet Russia for his Catholic faith. His remarkable story of survival...

On this episode of Talking Catholic , hosts Mike Walsh and Jen Mauro are joined by Laurie Power and Pete Sanchez, co-hosts of our sibling monthly podcast Talking Saints , for a conversation about the upcoming canonizations of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati . Together, they explore the extraordinary lives of these two soon-to-be saints, the virtues that made them powerful witnesses of faith...

In this episode of Talking Catholic , hosts Mike Walsh and Jen Mauro sit down with Fr. Jason Rocks, Chancellor of the Diocese of Camden, to look back at the first 100 days of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. From his calm, unifying tone and revival of beloved papal traditions to his bold engagement with modern issues like artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV has set a distinctive course for the Church...

As Catholic schools prepare to kick off another academic year, excitement is building not only in the classrooms but also on the fields. This week, co-hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Bress sit down with longtime Catholic Star Herald sports reporter Mark Zimmaro for a deep dive into the upcoming high school sports season. Mark shares insights on standout athletes to watch, programs on the rise, and the un...

On this week’s episode of Talking Catholic, two young women on fire for the Lord share their experiences and wisdom on how they built the Young Adult Group at Saint Peter Parish, Merchantville.   Bella DeFeo and Nadia Foster, close friends in their 20s, often heard their peers express a desire to grow deeper in faith beyond Sunday services. After lots of prayer, talks with the pastor, planning and...

“Do all you can with the means at your disposal and leave all the rest calmly to God.”  In today’s podcast, Pete and Laurie dive into the life and legacy of St. Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint, a woman of unwavering compassion, tenacious faith, and deep humility.  While excommunication is not often part of the story of a saint, learn how her faithfulness and patience in the face of injusti...