Catholic Review Radio

Youth ministry has been undergoing some critical shifts over the last several years within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. George Matysek talks with Stacy Golden and Rena Black from the archdiocese's Institute for Evangelization about what those shifts have been and why they are necessary. Golden is the director of the Office of Family, Youth and Young Adults in the Institute for Evangelization. Bla...

Making music can be a way to celebrate with God and invite others to follow him, according to Catholic musician Seph Schlueter. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty chatted with Schlueter (pronounced SHLEE-TUR) about the inspiration for his music and how one of his tunes went viral in Brazil even before it made it big in the U.S. The interview includes snippets of three songs from Seph’s new L...

In honor of the 1,700th anniversary of the establishment of the Nicene Creed, we have been taking a closer look at what the creed says and means. Last week, we explored the historic circumstances surrounding the creation of the creed and it’s declarations regarding God the Father. On today’s episode, we look at what the creed has to say about God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Our first guest is...

On May 20, Christians around the world marked 1,700 years since the opening of the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Held in Asia Minor—what’s now modern-day Turkey—it was the first ecumenical council in Church history. It set the stage for one of the most important statements of Christian belief: the Nicene Creed. On today’s show—and again next week—we’re diving into the Creed: where it came from, wha...

June 22 marks the launch of the U.S. Bishops’ annual Religious Freedom Week, a time set aside for Catholics to pray, reflect and act to promote religious freedom in the United States and around the world. Joining us to talk about religious freedom is Aaron Weldon, Assistant Director for Religious Liberty at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington. Weldon holds a doctorate in theology...

It’s Books and Authors Week on Catholic Review Radio, and Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with two authors whose books feature literal and spiritual trailblazers. First up is Josh McMullen, who wrote about “The Glacier Priest: Father Bernard Hubbard and America’s Last Frontier,” about the Jesuit’s amazing adventures exploring in Alaska. The second half of the show features Vinita Ha...

As a young woman, Dominican Sister Albertine Cevallos thought for sure that her life would center on science. Growing up in a rationalist, science-focused home, she graduated from Caltech with an astrophysics degree. But along her journey, she discovered serving God and advancing scientific knowledge are not mutually exclusive. Today, she serves as a science teacher at Mount de Sales Academy in Ca...

Jim Hunter, the former longtime play-by-play announcer for the Baltimore Orioles and a fixture in Baltimore sports broadcasting, is a devoted Catholic and an active parishioner of St. Mark in Fallston. Mark Viviano talks with Hunter about his years in broadcasting, his journey of faith, his openness to sharing his spiritual beliefs with others and the importance of family.

Pope Leo XIV was formally inaugurated as the successor of Peter in a Mass May 18 in St. Peter’s Square. Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori was among the concelebrants of the Mass, and he shares his reflections about being there for the historic event, and his hopes for the future of the church with Pope Leo. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty also talks with Matthew Bunson, vice president...

May is traditionally celebrated as a month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church — a time for special devotions, prayers and reflection on her role in salvation history. George Matysek talks with Father Brian Nolan, pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Ijamsville, about why Catholics have such love for Mary and ways for drawing closer to her. Father Nolan also dispels some com...

Millions of people around the world watched or listened to the funeral of Pope Francis live from Rome on April 26 — a solemn and historic moment for the Catholic Church. One of the voices heard during that liturgy was Kielce Gussie, a Vatican journalist who had the honor of proclaiming the first reading at the Mass. A graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg and a reporter with Vatica...

As the College of Cardinals prepares for the conclave to elect a new pope May 7, Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty gets some inside info from Monsignor Richard Hilgartner, pastor of St. Joseph parish in Cockeysville, Md., and former executive director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Monsignor Hilgartner talks about what it was like to be in S...

As the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis April 21 at age 88, Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with people who have experienced the pope personally. Baltimore Archbishop William Lori recalls his encounters with the pope. Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, former archbishop of Baltimore and retired grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, says that the pontiff’s witness...

Earlier this year, Archbishop William E. Lori announced that the standard age for receiving the sacrament of Confirmation will be lowered to 9 in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The previous age had been set at 14-16. George Matysek discusses the reasons for the change with Stacy Golden, director of the Office of Family, Youth and Young Adult Ministry within the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Institute...

It’s a books and authors episode of Catholic Review Radio. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with authors of two new books. First up is Cheryl C.D. Hughes, whose book “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Convert Maker” talks about how the famed televangelist brought people to the Catholic faith – sometimes in well-attended revivals and rallies, and other times one on one. In the second segmen...

Holy Week calls attention to the death penalty, since Jesus Christ himself was an innocent put to death by capital punishment. The topic is top-of-mind these days as the new presidential administration wants to increase the use of the punishment, and some states are using new methods of execution, including lethal gas/suffocation and firing squads. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks wi...

Dante’s "Inferno," the first part of "The Divine Comedy," is widely regarded as one of the greatest poems ever written. The epic journey through hell explores the nature of sin and virtue in a way that remains relevant today. In this episode of Catholic Review Radio, host George Matysek speaks with Jason M. Baxter, a professor and executive director of the Center for Beauty and Culture at Benedict...

As we come to the final weeks of Lent, a new movie takes a look especially at that seminal event for the church – “The Last Supper” – where Jesus showed his disciples what it means to serve and established the Eucharist. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked with Mauro Borrelli, the director of the new movie from executive producer Chris Tomlin, in theaters now, about the themes the film...

Mark Viviano chats with his big brother, Father Tony Viviano, about his unique journey to the priesthood. Father Viviano is a priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo., who discerned a call to the priesthood later in life. Father Viviano, a father of a daughter and grandfather of five, was ordained a priest at age 49 in 2012, and now serves as pastor of two rural parishes in Missouri.

Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Adam J. Parker returns for another round of questions from our listeners in our second-ever "Ask a Bishop" episode of Catholic Review Radio. He fields topics including how to encourage young people to attend Mass, the bishops' presence in Western Maryland, abortion, bringing anger to God and more.

Fasting practices for Lent are not just about giving up chocolate. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with Deacon Greg Kandra of the Deacon’s Bench blog about his new book, “A Handy Little Guide to Fasting” from OSV Books. They discuss the essential practices of Lent for Catholics – prayer, fasting and almsgiving – and how to enhance your spiritual life in this penitential season. He a...

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first-American born saint and one of the great heroines of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Joining us to talk about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and some special events that are coming up to honor the anniversary of her canonization is Rob Judge, executive director of the Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg and a parishioner...

The Oscars are coming, the Oscars are coming! It’s time to take a look at nominees for the top film honors and other trends in Hollywood before the Oscars broadcast March 2, 7 p.m. on ABC and streaming on Hulu. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty, along with guest co-host Ann Augherton of the Arlington Catholic Herald, had a wide-ranging, sometimes wild, conversation with two Catholic movie e...

Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty, along with guest co-host Ann Augherton of the Arlington Catholic Herald, have a wide-ranging, sometimes wild, conversation with two Catholic movie experts: Pauline Sister Rose Pacatte and John Mulderig, film reviewer for OSV News. Hear their recommendations for the winners, and what they wished the entertainment industry would focus on this year. This bonu...

Kathy Wandishin’s youngest child, John, was diagnosed with leukemia when he was just 10 years old. For more than five years, he and his family would undergo many unbelievable trials before the young Archbishop Curley High School student ultimately died just one day before his 16th birthday in 2005. In a new book, “Climbing the Rainbow,” Kathy shares her family’s harrowing journey and offers some p...