Catholic Review Radio

The first session of the Second Vatican Council opened 60 years ago, but the work of the church to Sanctify the world that was at the heart of the council continues now. Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with author George Weigel about his new book, “To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II.” The author discusses why the documents that came out of the church’s 21st plenar...

If there were no Catholic churches in the City of Baltimore, what kind of church would the city and community need? That question lies at the heart of a new initiative announced by the Archdiocese of Baltimore in late September focused on renewing parish ministry in the city, called “Seek the City to Come.” Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, urban vicar,...

Father Steven Roth speaks with Father Kevin Ewing about ministry to college students. Father Ewing is the Catholic campus minister at Towson University.

It’s been eight years since the death of Monsignor Arthur Valenzano, former rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a longtime pastor of St. John in Westminster. Father Brian Nolan and Paul Gallagher, director of faith formation at Sacred Heart in Glyndon, shares memories of an amazing priest.

What do God and the Catholic Church say about money? About 10 years ago, Jonathan and Amanda Teixeira were $24,000 in debt. Eight months later, they were completely debt-free. Since eliminating all their debt they focused on saving, investing and giving. They also started WalletWin, crafted from years of personal experience living out a financial plan based on Catholic principles and helping other...

Catholic Review Associate Publisher Christopher Gunty talks with Megan Gilbert, communications officer for Catholic Relief Services in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Six months into the war in Ukraine, Gilbert discusses the situation there and how CRS is helping with shelter, jobs and education. She also talks about a new campaign to address climate change that CRS will launch Oct. 4....

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore open for students Aug. 29. Dr. Donna Hargens, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, joins us to talk about enrollment trends, efforts to keep children safe and special projects for the new academic year.

Kristen Fisher speaks about a new book she co-authored called “The One Best Thing: A Practical Guide for Raising Families of Faith.” She shares how every person has a deep desire and pattern of preference for either beauty, truth or goodness. Knowing one’s primary preference helps a person to thrive spiritually. Fisher is the executive director of Ablaze Family Ministries that works with families...

Aug. 15 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joining us to talk about the significance of this feast is Monsignor Charles Mangan, a theology professor at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg. Angelus Virata, director of evangelization at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, talks about special Assumption events planned for t...

Since 1907, Camp St. Vincent has provided children from low-income families an annual summer camp that features everything from fun activities such as swimming to academic support. Sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore, the camp today exclusively serves children from families experiencing homelessness. Mary Helfrich, chief advancement officer for St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore and a parishione...

Is there intelligent extraterrestrial Life elsewhere in the universe? And if there is, what do the Catholic Church, Scripture and theology have to say about it? Catholic Review Associate Publisher Christopher Gunty talks with author and theologian Dr. Paul Thigpen about his new book, “Extraterrestrial Terrestrial Intelligence and the Catholic Faith: Are We Alone in the Universe with God and the An...

It’s been about a year since Archbishop William E. Lori established the Office of Parish Renewal to help strengthen faith communities throughout the archdiocese and support parishes in forming missionary disciples. Joining us to talk about the mission and ministry of parish renewal is Julie St. Croix, director of the Office of Parish Renewal. St. Croix first joined the archdiocese in 2012. She is...

Matt Brady speaks about “That Man Is You,” a program at Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville and an apostolate of Paradisus Dei through which men are called to honestly address the pressures and temptations they face and challenged to grow in virtue to become the husbands, fathers and men after the heart of Christ. Brady is a founding core team leader for “That Man is You” since its beginning at...

In “Subversive Habits: Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle,” Dr. Shannen Dee Williams provides the first full history of Black Catholic nuns in the United States. We speak with Dr. Williams about what inspired her to write this history and what she learned in her extensive research, which included a look at the Baltimore-based Oblate Sisters of Providence.

Is the United States of America in a healthy place politically and socially as we approach Independence Day 2022? Political scientist Michael Towle, a professor at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., doesn’t think so. Catholic Review editor Christopher Gunty talks with Dr. Towle about where we went wrong and whether we can heal, as a nation.

Being able to reflect on our own stories and the everyday details of our lives is critical to growing in our faith. Eric Clayton, a parishioner of St. Ignatius in Baltimore who serves as deputy director of communications at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, joins us in this encore episode of Catholic Review Radio to talk about the importance of storytelling. Eric, who previous...

George Matysek interviews Adrienne Curry, the newly appointed director of the Office of Black Ministry for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, about her vision for Black Catholic ministry. They also discuss the significance of the Juneteenth holiday.

Carmelite Father Michael Driscoll shares the story of St. Titus Brandsma, a Dutch Carmelite priest who vehemently opposed the Nazis. St. Titus inspired Father Driscoll as a priest and it was through the saint’s intersession that Father Driscoll was healed of later-stage melanoma. Father Driscoll, former pastor of St. Jude Church in Boca Raton, Florida, is now cancer-free for 18 years.

Mary Ellen Bilenki is a parishioner of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in Woodstock and the mother of Deacon John Bilenki, a recently ordained transitional deacon for the Archdiocese of Baltimore who is expected to be ordained a priest for the archdiocese next year. She shares a parent’s perspective of watching a son journey toward the priesthood.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore will close the Year of the Eucharist with a special Mass and eucharistic procession June 19 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. That date, the feast of Corpus Christi, will also kick off a three-year National Eucharistic Revival sponsored by the U.S. Catholic bishops. This week on Catholic Review Radio, Christopher Gunty talks with Bishop Andrew Cozzens, chairman of th...

With the Supreme Court considering overturning Roe v. Wade, Monsignor James Farmer speaks about the dignity of all human life and the call to be witnesses for life. Monsignor Farmer is the pastor of St. Thomas More in Baltimore and a longtime spiritual director to Respect Life in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Prior to entering seminary he practiced law in Baltimore.

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori celebrates his 45th anniversary as a priest May 14th and his 10th anniversary as archbishop of Baltimore May 16. Chris Gunty, associate publisher of Catholic Review Media, sat down with the archbishop for a wide-ranging chat about his ministry and pastoral plans. In excerpts from that interview, the archbishop comments about evangelization, the Eucharist and mo...

In honor of Mother’s Day, Kelly Ann Guest shares some insights about Catholic saints who were also moms. Kelly is a former Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia in Nashville who is now the mother of nine children. She is the youth minister at St. Bartholomew in Manchester and the author of a new book, “Saintly Moms: 25 Stories of Holiness.”

Pope Francis will canonize Blessed Charles de Foucauld May 15 in Rome. Who is this soon-to-be saint? Sister Cathy Wright, a Little Sister of Jesus and author of “St. Charles de Foucauld: His Life and Spirituality,” joins us to talk about the amazing life of a man who was a cavalry officer in the French Army, an explorer, a reformed sinner, a hermit and a priest who showed the importance of what Po...

Bernie Antkowiak, a musician, song writer, husband and father of 7, shares stories of faith and how the message of Divine Mercy entered his life. He became a promoter of Divine Mercy, including promoting the chaplet through music. He is a parishioner of St. Isaac Jogues in Carney.