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Author and speaker Sister Ave Clark explores ways that we can make the Advent and Christmas seasons "a pilgrimage of light" by embracing stillness in a variety of ways, and by looking for God's presence in challenging times. She also offers thoughts on how the infirm and homebound can grow closer to God.

Beloved chef, author, and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich discusses her 25 th   anniversary as a cooking show host on PBS, the blessings that grandparents bring to a child's life, immigrating to the United States with the help of Catholic Charities, how her mother taught her the virtue of helping those in need, and how she continues to live out her Catholic faith.

Deacon Ed Shoener, the co-founder of the Association of Catholic Mental Health   Ministers, reveals the heartbreak of his daughter Katie's suicide (brought on by   bipolar disorder), the need to reduce the stigma and dispel myths around mental   illness in church circles, and the ways he hopes to bring Christ to those living with   mental health issues and their families .

Sister Caroline Tweedy, RSM,  the Executive Director of St. John's Bread and Life  food pantry, discusses the ways in which the program helps thousands of food insecure people every week, her longtime passion for serving society's poor and marginalized, and how working at a home for the developmentally disabled helped her see God's presence in all people, regardless of their physical conditions or...

Stephanie Saldaña, the author of "What We Remember Will Be Saved,"  shares  the story of the Syriac Catholics who were forced to flee their Iraqi homeland after  ISIS attacked, as well as the stories of other refugees from the wars in Iraq and  Syria who managed to maintain their faith and kindness towards others in the most horrific circumstances. 

Award-winning author Lisa Hendey discusses her new children's book "I  Am Earth's Keeper," as well as her recent battle with breast cancer and how her faith and parish community gave her the strength to get through some difficult days  and months .

Christopher Award-winning author Marcy Cottrell Houle discusses her latest  book "The Gift of Aging: Growing Older with Purpose, Planning, and Positivity" and  shares the mental, emotional, and spiritual insights that can help people live fulfilling  lives well into their 80s, 90s, and 100s.

CNN writer/producer John Blake discusses his memoir  "More Than I  Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew,"  how his white relatives moved beyond racism after getting to know him, and how he  himself grew beyond his own prejudices after realizing how much his mother had  suffered due to her mental illness.

Emmy Award-winning journalist Luke Russert discusses his memoir "Look  For Me There," which was inspired by the unexpected death of his father, NBC  News legend Tim Russert, in 2008. Luke reveals how traveling helped him process  his grief, and how prayer and the communion of saints brought him a sense of  peace to move forward with his life.

Christopher Award-winning filmmaker Martin Doblmeier  discusses his  documentary "Sabbath," which explores the Judeo-Christian tradition of  disconnecting from work for one day a week to instead connect with our deeper  selves, our families and friends, and our God.

Ted Green further discusses his  Christopher Award-winning  documentary "The Best We've Got: The Carl Erskine Story,"  the former  Brooklyn Dodgers' star's decision to raise his son with Down syndrome at a time  when children with special needs were often institutionalized – and how that  decision continues to have positive effects for children with special needs today.

Filmmaker Ted Green discusses his Christopher Award-winning documentary "The Best We've Got: The Carl Erskine Story"  about former Brooklyn  Dodgers' star Carl Erskine, a humble man of faith whose actions led to greater  racial equality in baseball and wider inclusion of children with special needs in our  society.

Elizabeth Humphreys, the founder of Mind What Matters shares the  specifics of how she helps dementia caregivers through the organization, how just a  little bit of support can bring light into the difficult lives of caregivers, and why she  believes her mom left her a roadmap through grief in a writing of hers that she found just recently. 

Elizabeth Humphreys, the founder of the nonprofit Mind What Matters,  discusses her organization's mission to assist people who are caregivers for loved  ones with Alzheimer's or dementia, how her own caregiving experience with her  mom shaped that mission, and how she overcame her anger at God because of her mom's illness to find faith again .

Broadcast journalist Marie Coronel from ABC 10 News in San Diego discusses the incident that left her with a broken neck while she was out reporting a  story, the ways that her family and Catholic faith gave her hope and strength during  the rehabilitation as well as during her father's long illness, and where she finds joy today. 

Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Sarah Hart discusses her devotional  booklet about the lyrics of "Amazing Grace," the places she sees grace in the world  today, the reasons she feels drawn to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and St. Mary  Magdalene, and why she is able to trust in God even in times of darkness.

Former ABC News anchor Paula Faris discusses her advocacy for working  mothers through the organization Carry Media and new book "You Don't Have to  Carry It All," what businesses can do to create a more family-friendly environment  that benefits working parents, and the conflict she felt as a Christian who was taught that mothers shouldn't work outside the home.

Author and pastoral counselor Sister Ave Clark discusses the strength it t akes to live a life of peace and compassion, why she believes that "compassion  walks the road to Calvary," how a long ago experience with an eight-year-old girl who had cancer still affects her today, and how we can each serve as angels in each other's l ives.

Leticia Ochoa Adams, the author of "Our Lady of Hot Messes: Getting Real with God in Dive Bars and Confessionals" reveals the traumas she has endured in her life (including being sexually abused as a child and losing a son to suicide), the mistakes she has made, and the ways that God has led her toward healing.

John J. York, the actor who has played Mac Scorpio on "General Hospital" for more than 30 years discusses the Catholic faith in which he was raised, why he drifted away from practicing it for many years, and how his daughter eventually led him to re-embrace his faith.

Nikki DeLoach, the star of the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Christmas movie "The Gift of Peace," discusses the experience of losing her father to dementia, how that affected her celebration of the Christmas season, and what it's like journeying through grief to find joy again. 

Megan Alexander, the "Inside Edition" correspondent and Christopher Award-winning children's book author discusses her UPtv series "Small Town Christmas," in which she visits communities across America to highlight their unique traditions and stories of faith. Megan also talks about the ways she maintains the religious meaning of Christmas for herself and her family. 

Dawn Eden Goldstein, the author of "Father Ed: The Story of Bill W's Sponsor," discusses her biography of Jesuit priest Father Ed Dowling, whose ministry to the suffering and marginalized, especially in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, left a lasting spiritual impact on many.

Amanda Ripley, the Christopher Award-winning author of "High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out" further explores ways in which people with profound differences in beliefs can still learn to respect each other, disagree in a civil manner, and build human connections. She also discusses "the exhausted majority," who are tired of the anger and division so prevalent today.

Journalist and author Amanda Ripley discusses her Christopher        Award-winning book "High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out," which explores the anger and division that affects our relationships and society – and what we can do to move toward a more healthy, peaceful way of living.