Breaking Bread: Stories of Faith & Conversion

What do we do when life doesn't go according to plan? This week, we're joined by our Emmaus sister and dear friend, Diana Carolina Gutierrez , for a heartfelt conversation about trusting God's timing, walking through seasons of uncertainty, and discovering that some of His greatest work happens while we wait. We also debut a brand-new segment, Richard's Rabbit Hole , as our favorit...

As America celebrates Independence Day and 250 years of freedom, we're asking a different question: What does it really mean to be free? This week, our Emmaus brother Samuel Albis joins us for an honest conversation about searching, surrender, and discovering the freedom that only Christ can offer. Through seasons of doubt, disappointment, and grace, Samuel shares how God continued calling him...

What if some of the things we've always considered harmless deserve a second look? This week, Benny Lopez returns to Breaking Bread for a conversation about spiritual warfare, superstition, discernment, and where we place our trust. Together, we explore the evil eye, lucky charms, New Age practices, and other everyday beliefs through the lens of the Catholic faith. Plus, before the conversatio...

How far can someone wander before God brings them home? This week on Breaking Bread: Stories of Faith & Conversion, Brian Horvath and Gil Alfonso sit down with Richard Palmer, Audio Engineer for Radio Maria USA and one of the people working behind the scenes to help bring Catholic radio to listeners across the country. Before sharing his powerful conversion story, Richard takes us into the fas...

What do you do when someone you love is struggling? How do you keep believing, praying, and moving forward when the answers don't come quickly? This week on Breaking Bread , we sit down with Myriam "China" Machado to talk about faith, family, mental health and the power of community. China shares her personal journey of walking alongside loved ones through difficult seasons and how G...

What do children carry with them long after they leave home? In this episode of Breaking Bread , Deacon Tony Perez joins us for a conversation about family, marriage, parenting, faith, and the lessons that truly shape a life. Together, we explore what parents pass on beyond money and success—and why our example, values, and faith may be the greatest gifts we can give. Filled with humor, practical...

Where is God when life hurts? In this deeply personal episode of Breaking Bread , Anthony Vazquez joins us for an honest conversation about grief, faith, music, Our Lady, and learning to trust God through life's most difficult seasons. Many at Our Lady of Lourdes Church know Anthony as the voice behind the Responsorial Psalm at Mass, but tonight he shares the deeper story behind his faith jour...

In Episode 36 of Breaking Bread: Stories of Faith & Conversion , we sit down with our brother and primo, JC Beltran, for a real conversation about gifts, purpose and what it truly means to use what God has given you for something greater than yourself. Together, we ask the question: Are you using God’s gift for you… or for Him? We also open the vault for the very first “ Breaking Bread Hall of...

In Episode 35 of Breaking Bread: Stories of Faith & Conversion , we sit down with Jose Zabalo — longtime servant, retreat leader, head usher at Our Lady of Lourdes, and one of the quiet forces behind countless retreats and ministry events — for a real conversation about faith, service, and what happens when your relationship with God becomes personal. Tonight’s episode asks a simple but powerf...

In this episode of Breaking Bread , we’re joined by our brother Mr. Angel Figueroa, O.P. as we dive into the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the powerful invitation behind it. This isn’t just about understanding something deeper in your faith—it’s about living it. We talk about where this devotion comes from, what the Sacred Heart represents, and how consecration moves your relationship...

When marriage gets hard… what do you do? In this episode, Wadi and Jackie Barreto share their real journey through struggle, distance, and rediscovering their relationship through faith. Now serving in the Retrouvaille marriage retreat, they help couples at every stage—whether you’re facing challenges or simply want to strengthen your marriage. A powerful reminder that even when things feel broken...

On this episode of Breaking Bread , we sit down with Mary Winklaar, fresh off her Emmaus retreat, as she shares a real and honest journey through self-doubt, overthinking, and that familiar response we all give: “I’m good.” But are we really? Mary opens up about learning to face that internal voice instead of running from it—and how silence, journaling, and time with God helped her begin to see he...

What does it really cost to lead souls? This week on Breaking Bread , we sit down with longtime Emmaus leader Reynerio Sanchez — a man whose quiet yes has impacted countless lives across retreats, parishes, and communities. From leading Emmaus Retreats to helping bring the movement to other churches like Christ the King in Miami, FL, Rey shares what leadership in faith actually looks like behind t...

Why do we ignore God… even when we know He’s calling? In this episode of Breaking Bread: Stories of Faith & Conversion , we sit down with our brother Carlos Guerra from Our Lady of Lourdes’ Emmaus community for a real and honest conversation about delayed surrender, spiritual warfare, and the struggle to respond to God’s voice. Carlos shares his powerful encounter with Christ, the internal bat...

In this episode of Breaking Bread: Stories of Faith & Conversion, we join a powerful and honest conversation about what happens when life falls apart… and how God meets us right there in the middle of it. Tonight, we sit down with Luis Sanchez , from Our Lady of Lourdes, whose journey is one of deep struggle, healing, and transformation. From moments that felt like complete shipwreck… to encou...

This week on Breaking Bread: Stories of Faith & Conversion , we sit down with Ivan “Grumpy” Perez of the Emmaus Bikers to talk about faith, brotherhood, and the upcoming Ride for Hope , a motorcycle ride supporting cancer research in partnership with the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center . Grumpy shares how an encounter with God while driving a tractor trailer changed t...

Have you ever prayed and quietly wondered… “Is anyone actually hearing me?” In this episode of Breaking Bread , Brian, Gil, Yinett, and Alexis welcome Deacon Mike Fresneda to the table for a real and honest conversation about prayer, faith, and the moments in life when people begin to question whether God is truly listening. Drawing from years of ministry walking with families through baptisms, ma...

For the first time, Breaking Bread steps outside the studio and into the heart of the 14th Annual ManUp Conference — recorded live from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, Florida , where hundreds of men gathered in faith, brotherhood, and purpose. This extended edition of the episode includes additional conversations, interviews, reflections, and moments that go beyond the one-hour Radio...

What happens when life doesn’t unfold the way you pictured it — the career shifts, the timeline changes, and the road you planned suddenly looks nothing like the road you’re on? In this episode, we break bread around a question all of us face at some point: How do you follow God’s plan when it doesn’t look like yours? Joining us at the table is Omar Babun — husband, father, mental health counselor...

This episode continues our two-part conversation on St. Joseph — moving from belonging into leadership . What does real leadership actually look like in daily life? Joined by Lay Dominican and Consecrati leader Mr. JC Collar O.P, we explore how St. Joseph models quiet, faithful, entrusted leadership — not from spotlight or status, but from surrender, responsibility, and presence. JC shares his per...

What does it really mean to belong? In this episode of Breaking Bread: Stories of Faith & Conversion , we begin a two-part conversation centered on identity, sonship, and trust — starting not with leadership or action, but with belonging. We’re joined by our brother Angel Figueroa , husband, father, lay Dominican, and longtime Emmaus brother, as we reflect on the quiet strength of St. Joseph a...

In this episode of Breaking Bread we’re joined by Fabian Moncada (OMambient) — a musician, graphic designer, and Emmaus brother who creates electronic music as an offering to God. Through conversation, Scripture, and original music, we explore a powerful question: How does God use our gifts — especially art — to bring people back to Him? Fabian shares the inspiration behind his music, including tr...

What do you do when life gets hard… not because everything fell apart, but because you’re simply tired? This week on Breaking Bread: Stories of Faith & Conversion , we’re breaking bread around a question many people carry quietly: How do you stay in the fight when quitting feels easier than continuing? Recorded live from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Miami, Florida , we’re joined by C...

What do you do when life (or your faith) feels like it’s been written off? Tonight at the table, we’re joined by Luis Llerena — a brother from the Men’s Emmaus community at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Miami. Born in Arequipa, Peru , Luis shares how God met him in unexpected places—from a 2003 military deployment to a powerful Emmaus “Lazarus moment” that woke something up in him. We tal...

What happens when a life lived at full speed finally slows down in the presence of God? In this episode of Breaking Bread , we’re joined by our brother Carlos Ribero from St. Timothy , who shares a powerful story of forgiveness, mercy, and transformation — moving from burning through life to discovering a deeper, steadier fire for Christ. From growing up a cradle Catholic, to encountering Christ i...