Blessed Sacrament Voices Podcast

What happens when a toddler in boots jukes his way down the church aisle during Mass? Grace. At our 8:30am Mass on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Kristyn Russell's nephew, Rigg, bolted from the pew, ran toward the altar, and narrowly escaped his father's grasp—only to be met at the church doors with smiles, laughter, and words of encouragement from the parish family instead of judgment. His d...

How do you experience the mystery of the Trinity when words and theology fall short? Jean Thiele explores three of the deepest mysteries that keep one returning to the Catholic faith again and again: the Paschal Mystery, the Eucharist, and the Trinity. Through daily acts of dying to ego, receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, and sitting in silence before God, we see how faith becomes less about explan...

What does it actually feel like when the Holy Spirit is at work within us? Terri Schroeder reflects on that question through her long-awaited experience serving on the Guatemala Stove Team, where she arrived excited, nervous, and armed with resurrected 7th-grade Spanish that mostly failed her when it mattered. Yet what she discovered was that the Holy Spirit doesn't depend on fluency. Through gest...

What if heaven isn't only "up there" in the clouds, but also beneath your feet and dwelling within your heart? Beginning with the peaceful image of lying in a hammock on a sunny summer day, watching clouds drift by and imagining heaven above, Christy Granda explores how naturally we place God somewhere far away—up in the sky, beyond our reach. Drawing from Psalm 19, the Ascension, and the image of...

What do Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" and Pope Benedict XIV have in common? For Kristyn Russell , it instantly brings back memories of her classmate Fr. Richie Mercado bursting into "Papa, Papa Ratzi" during Foundations in Theology class at Villanova. But beyond the impromptu performances, something deeper was happening: her understanding and experience of God was blooming in unexpected ways. Drawing on...

Are you the person who remains even-keeled despite the chaos around you, or are you like the disciples—full of anxiety and cautiousness? As Jesus prepares his disciples at the Last Supper, knowing he will soon be handed over, denied, and crucified, he offers them a sea of calm reassurance: "Do not let your hearts be troubled." But Jesus isn't telling us we won't experience anxiety, fear, confusion...

How many times have we heard something but didn't really get the message or get the point? Kevin Shaughnessy's reflection on the Good Shepherd Gospel challenges us to move beyond partial hearing to true listening—the kind that requires focus, interpretation, understanding, and action. Using the story of Jesus healing the man born blind and the Pharisees' stubborn refusal to listen, we're reminded...

What makes a lesson so memorable that a child will carry it in their heart for a lifetime? Corinne Cathcart has accompanied hundreds of children to the Lord's table as they celebrate their first Eucharist, from her days as a teenage catechist in Cincinnati to her current role as Elementary Faith Formation Coordinator at Blessed Sacrament. Drawing on Jesus' own teaching style—engaging storytelling,...

What does it take for faith to move from something taught by our parents to something we truly own? Jean Thiele shares her powerful conversion story, rooted in 1 Peter 1:8-9—a verse she didn't understand at first but heard proclaimed three times in one weekend until she finally "got it." At age 37, Jean experienced an indescribable joy when God spoke to her through Scripture for the first time, tr...

What if the miracle of Easter doesn't happen when Jesus rises, but when we actually believe it? Ansley Dauenhauer takes us from childhood memories of giving up chocolate for Lent (and the delicious relief of Easter morning indulgence) to the profound reality of that first Easter—which was nothing like the joyful awakening we experience today. The disciples woke up heavy with grief, wondering if th...

In this episode, Kristyn Russell tells a childhood story about her blunt 9-year-old brother named Jonny who predicted a "flighty" waitress would spill food—and was proven right. But this seemingly simple anecdote opens the door to an exploration of what it truly means to be a prophet. Spoiler alert: prophets aren't fortune tellers. Drawing on Fr. Richard Rohr's image of prophets as "truth tellers,...

In this this week's episode, Christy Granda leads us on a journey from a playful Barbie Day celebration in the Faith Formation Office to the profound mystery of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Exploring the two definitions of resurrection—revitalization and the literal restoration of a dead person to life—Christy reflects on what we know (and don't know) about Lazarus: a man who hosted Jesus,...

In this personal episode, Corinne Cathcart shares her family's generations-long experience with retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease that causes gradual blindness. Through vivid stories—from learning Punnett squares in middle school biology class, to her grandpa's ingenious organizational systems (including the memorable chili made with green beans instead of kidney beans), to her great-...

In this episode, Kristyn Russell shares the story behind her intentional "spelling mistake" tattoo—a quote from Julian of Norwich that bridges "All shall be well" with the physical well where Jesus met the Samaritan woman. Through vivid storytelling, Kristyn unpacks this beloved Gospel encounter: a woman trudging to the well alone at noon, trying to avoid judgment and gossip, only to meet a Jewish...

In this personal episode, Mike Briggs takes us on a journey to Mount Tabor in the Holy Land, where he and his wife Vicki stood on the very hill where Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. Mike shares the experience of climbing 1,500 feet up steep switchback roads and witnessing sunbeams breaking through clouds over the Jezreel Valley—a moment that brought the Scripture to life in s...

In this deeply personal episode, Dan Tuma shares his journey from childhood prayers to a life-changing encounter with God at a Christian youth camp in northern Michigan. Through candid stories and honest reflection, Dan explores Romans 5 and the profound truth that while sin entered the world through Adam's disobedience, grace and eternal life come through Jesus Christ's obedience. Dan recounts ho...

What did you do with five minutes of downtime before your phone could offer endless scrolling? This simple question, posed by a friend after discussing "The Anxious Generation," becomes the launching point for a timely Lenten reflection on distraction, fragmentation, and the practice of presence. In this episode, recorded live at our Word & Ashes service, Kristyn Russell explores how constant...

In this week's episode, Corinne Cathcart uses a charming story from the Hallmark show "When Calls the Heart"—where a Mountie tells a white lie about loving lemon curd—to explore Jesus' simple yet profound command: "Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no." Corinne reflects on how we live in a world where artificial intelligence and internet misinformation make truth increasingly difficult to fin...

In this episode, Anna Doering explores the timeless gospel message of being "salt of the earth" and "light of the world"—but what does that actually mean for us today? Drawing on Isaiah's call to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, paired with Paul's reminder that our faith rests on God's power, Anna unpacks how we witness to our faith through both grand gestures and small acts of kindness....

In this episode, Vicki Briggs unpacks St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians, exploring how pride and power can blind us from God's truth—just as it did for Paul before his Damascus road encounter. Vicki reflects on how God consistently chooses the lowly and despised to accomplish His work, from the shepherds at Christ's birth to the possibility of redemption even for King Herod. She challenges us t...

In this episode, Cathy Richard journeys through a gospel passage that moves from John the Baptist's arrest to Isaiah's prophecy of a great light piercing despair—and culminates in the instant, radical calling of the first disciples. Drawing on personal anecdotes (including a longing for Jesus' gaze and finding solace in creation), Cathy explores what it truly means to say "Thy will be done," to su...

Pulling back the curtain on the podcast, Kristyn Russell turns our attention to one of the most overlooked—and most relatable—parts of Scripture: the Psalms. Through music, memory, and Psalm 40, we explore how praise and lament often live side by side, just like they do in our own hearts. From prayers that sound like “What the heck, God?” to quieter moments of gratitude, this homily reminds us tha...

From rustic camping trips and the long-awaited relief of a hot shower to the sacred waters of the Jordan River, Christy Granda draws a vivid connection between physical cleansing and spiritual transformation. As Jesus enters the waters of baptism—not out of need, but out of love—he transforms ordinary water into a vessel of the Holy Spirit. This reflection invites us to remember our own baptism, t...

At the close of the Christmas season, the Gospel invites us to linger with the Magi—mysterious seekers who followed signs and wonders until they encountered Emmanuel, God-with-us. In this reflection, Lyn Pajk explores who the Magi really were, what drew them across deserts and darkness, and how a single encounter with Christ changed the direction of their lives. Through a nostalgic journey back to...

Renee Larsen invites us to see the Holy Family not as distant figures, but as a family much like ours—living daily life with love, worry, laughter, and faith. From fleeing danger to raising Jesus in Nazareth, Mary and Joseph show us that holiness is found in ordinary moments and quiet trust in God. As we reflect on their journey, we’re reminded that our own families, too, walk the path of faith an...