Catholic Review Radio

Father John Dear has dedicated his life to promoting peace and nonviolence. The internationally known author, activist and teacher of peace and nonviolence has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize and has worked with St. Teresa of Kolkata, Daniel and Philip Berrigan, Coretta Scott King and many others. A former Jesuit who now serves as a priest of the Diocese of Monterrey, Calif., Father...

Why is communication so important to the church? The Catholic Church dedicates a lot of resources to ensuring that the enduring message of the Gospels is available. Popes and other leaders have said that the church must use all means of communication possible to spread the Word of Jesus. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked with two stalwarts of Catholic communications to discuss the ch...

In May, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori announced the final plan for Seek the City to Come, a parish planning initiative designed to strengthen the Catholic Church’s presence in Baltimore City and some neighboring communities in Baltimore County. Under the plan, the number of parishes in those regions will be reduced from 61 to 23, and the number of worship sites will be reduced from 59 to 30...

What is the miracle that we receive in the Eucharist - the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord? A new documentary, “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist,” looks at the practice of the Catholic faith around the world and devotion to the Real Presence. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty caught up with Jim Wahlberg, one of the producers of the movie, after a screening at the Ca...

It’s baseball season and time for the MLB All Star Break. An Illinois priest was on his way to Major League Baseball when his life took a detour, and he’s now a priest – and the chaplain for the Chicago Cubs. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked with Father Burke Masters of the Diocese of Joliet about his book, “Grand Slam for God.” Father Masters talks about his conversion to Catholici...

What does the Church teach about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist? Research over the last several years has shown that a majority of Catholics don’t believe that the Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus. One researcher wanted to find out if wording the question more accurately could affect the response. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked with Hans Plate, founder a...

For nearly 20 years, a public health program known as “Safe Streets” has been working to reduce violence and deaths by gunfire in Baltimore City. Focusing on training community members in conflict mediation, Safe Streets operates in some of the most troubled area of the city. Catholic Charities of Baltimore runs four of the city’s 10 Safe Streets sites, overseeing Safe Streets offices in Penn-Nort...

The Archdiocese of Baltimore will reduce the number of parishes in the City of Baltimore from 61 to 23, and the number of worship sites from 59 to 30. The move reflects the change of demographics in the city over several decades and aims to have vibrant, viable parishes focused on evangelizing their neighborhoods. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked with Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C....

Four groups of pilgrims departed May 18 from the corners of the United States to process with the Eucharist en route to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. The eastern route, named for Maryland’s own St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, passed through Maryland June 5th through 7th. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked with two of the permanent pilgrims on the Seton Route, Zoe Dongas...

Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss. R. delivered this homily June 7, 2024, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore as part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.

Throughout the centuries, Catholic saints have written countless spiritual classics that have touched hearts and changed lives. But, until now, many of these worked have been inaccessible to modern audiences because they haven’t been translated from Latin. Tan Books has launched a new initiative called TAN Resurrection that is bringing back to life these great works. Father Robert Nixon, a Benedic...

When the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles, were preparing to reinter the remains of Sister Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster, their foundress, in rural Missouri, they made an amazing discovery. When the sisters exhumed Sister Wilhelmina’s remains this spring four years after her death, the body didn’t seem at all decayed and her religious habit was also still intact. The news of what many co...

Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Adam J. Parker and Andrew Middleton, director of the archdiocesan Apostleship of the Sea, visited the stranded ship MV Dali May 1 at the site of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, to bring care packages and visit the crew. Bishop Parker celebrated Mass for some of the Catholic members of the crew, who are all from India. The crew has remained on the ship since...

You may have heard of Peking Man, a breakthrough “missing link” in paleontology and the study of human evolution, but did you know that a Catholic priest was integral to that discovery in 1929 in China? Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with Frank and Mary Frost, producers of “Teilhard: Visionary Scientist,” a documentary about Jesuit scientist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who was part...

It’s another Books and Authors day on Catholic Review Radio. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with Eric Clayton about his book, “My Life with the Jedi… The Spirituality of Star Wars,” and discusses how the religious elements of good, evil and redemption play into the epic saga. Managing Editor George Matysek Jr. chats with Elizabeth “Libby” Smith about her book, “The Coin Flip,” a hi...

Millions of people in the world lack even the most basic necessity of life: clean, safe drinking water. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with Nick Jordan, Founder and CEO of Wells of Life, a ministry that has built or restored more than 1,000 wells in Uganda. Jordan talks about how the work is based on biblical principles and brings water to people in Jesus’ name.

The dragon-slaying tale of St. George is most likely mythological. The saint is not. But who was this elusive figure? With the Feast of St. George coming up April 23, George Matysek talks with Hanael Bianchi, a professor of history at Howard Community College, who holds a doctorate in British history from The Catholic University of America. Bianchi is the author of “St. George's Day: A Cultural Hi...

Matt Maher has been singing and ministering to people around the world for more than 20 years. He remains focused on his Catholic faith and the graces in his life, including as a husband and father. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked Matt in Frederick Maryland about how faith shapes his music, and about the Eucharist as he prepares to lead the music for one of the revival sessions at...

At the end of last year, a new book by Deacon Frederick “Fritz” Bauerschmidt was named the winner of the Michael Ramsey Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious awards for theological writing. Presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony held in December at Lambeth Palace Library in London, the award recognized Deacon Bauerschmidt for his book, “The Love that is God: An Invitation to...

The Easter season is full of great feasts such as Divine Mercy Sunday and Pentecost, and rich Scripture readings, including the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talked with Father Justin Gough, associate pastor of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, about how the season can help Catholics renew and deepen their faith in the risen Lord.

The Serra Club has been promoting religious vocations in the United States and around the world for decades. Today, the local branch of the Serra Club in the Archdiocese of Baltimore is growing and working to support vocations to the priesthood and religious life – while also encouraging men and women of all walks of life to answer the universal call to holiness. Joining us to talk about the work...

What is love? We all use the term in a lot of different ways. “I love pizza.” “I love listening to jazz music.” “I love my kids.” “I love my wife.” But do we mean the same thing when we use the same word? Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with Andrew Buonapane – an assistant director for Marriage and Family Life in the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat on Laity, Marriage,...

The Oscars will be broadcast March 10. As Hollywood folks deck out in their finest outfits and prepare their acceptance speeches, we wanted to get the viewpoints of two catholic film critics on trends at the movies and their takes on the nominees. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty and guest co-host Ann Augherton of the Arlington Catholic Herald talked with John Mulderig of OSV News and Daug...

The Oscars will be broadcast March 10. As Hollywood folks deck out in their finest outfits and prepare their acceptance speeches, we wanted to get the viewpoints of two catholic film critics on trends at the movies and their takes on the nominees. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty and guest co-host Ann Augherton of the Arlington Catholic Herald talked with John Mulderig of OSV News and Daug...

In advance of the March 11 Maryland March for Life in Annapolis, the Catholic Review talks with Erin Younkins about the many ways Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are supporting a culture of life. Younkins shares the latest news on efforts to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Maryland and the upcoming vote on a constitutional amendment enshrining the right to an abortion through nine...